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THE

MODERN PART

OF AH

Univerfal Hiftory,

FKOM THE

Eadkft Account of Time,

CaapkdinB

Original Writers.

ByAc Authors rftbc Am T I emtPaet.

VOL. vm.

LONDON:

Krioted for S. Richardson, T. Osborkb, '* ~
A. Millar* John Rivihotoh, S. *'
P.DatRT andB.LAW,T.Ix>MOMAN, an

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THE

M ODERN P A RT

or AM

Univerfal Hiftory,

Ettlieft AccovNT of Ts»iit.

VOL. vra.

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. A 1 •)

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THE

MODERN PART

OF AN

Univerfal Hiftory,

FROM THE

Earlidl Account of Time.

CoiB|Mled aom

Original Writers.

By the AuTHO-Rs of the Antient Pakt,

«i I I IlilhJ**— ^—h^h^i.

VOL. vm.

MtaiMMMMiMiriHMdl

LONDON:

^"?'^/°' ^ R»chArdsok, T. Osborwb, C, Hitch,
A. MtLLA&« John Rivinoton, S. Crowder,
P. DAVtT and B. Law, T. Ix>noman, and C. Ware.

M-Dccxix. ■ nTT^lr

-*. . * V,.

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[>)

Modem Hiftoiy.*

B £ I N G A

CONTINUATION

O F THE

Univerial Hiftory.

BOOK XIII.»

C H A P. L

The Empire of China^

S E C Ty I.
A general View of the Chinefe Empire.

THIS vaft and opulent empire is fituate on the mofl h$fitum*
eaftem verge A Afia ; and comprehends, as hath Hon^ tx»
been already hinted^ the kingdom of China, pro- tent^^ tec.
perly fo called, and the Chinefe , or, as it is fome- «
times ftyled, Great Tartary. We have formerly given a
^lort account of its foundation, antient flate, extent, reli« '
pon, laws, ifc. as far as it could be attained from antient
authors and records * ; and have brought down their hiftory
to thdr ninth monarch Shim ; in whole £unily the crown be-
ing become hereditary, we thought it the propereft period to
b^gin the modem one^. In thofe early days this monarchy y/ir///ji/

JIate,

* See Univ. Hift. vol. xx. p. 109, & feq. ^ Ibid. p. 150.

♦ The reader is defired to oKcrvc*,*that, by miftakc, Book I.
is inferted in the title line of thp. even pages of this volume, from
page 4 to page jii Inclaiive, inftead of Book XII J.

Mod. Hist. Yoj,. Yin. A was

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2 TbeHiJlifyofChiML. B. XIII.

was confined withia narrow bounds, or perhaps within the
Croivtb, compafs of one finslc province* ; whofe firft colonies, having^
once planted themlelves in it, feem to have taken fuch care
to bar all the ave^es to it from the ref^of mankind,^ as
never to be^^peiTEd'to afiy brit ambSIlfflbrs froth othar'ftates ;
by which' mkans they had n6t oniy Wr poffifele opf)ortiimtics
of extendhig their dominions, founding then- government, and
improving arts and fciences frorii thefeadieft times ; and have
fo far fpread themfelves, as to become the noblell and largeft

raonftrchy hitherftrdifiovered'^, arid to be luftly eftegfted th^
rifc!iiil,largeft, aiid m&ftpopirfloui5,of any tlmt isTKy^g^vernca
by one prince. Its whole extent^^ from the fortrefs of Cay-
pirn, in the province of Pe-king, fit(iate^ under the 41ft degree,
to the moft fouthejn part of the ifland of Hay-na^^ under the
1 8th degree of nortl| latittfde,* is 2\ degree?, ^rpm ncffthTto
foutfr. llicrer are feVeiil othef w%5^ dp^tepdiogite \ength
ancfbAadlfh to more advantage, which the reader may lee in
Form and xh& margin (A). However, according to the beft and latefl

extent.

« Univ. Hi(h* p.'i24^,(K). < t)i/HAVDE, vol. i. p. i.

(A) To compute the whole German, or 1269 of our miles,
extent of this large cbuTitry iq An(| ff ifte meafured from the
length and breadth, the former town oT Tct^rxhnvan^ iituace on
mull be taken froirf the north- the' utmoR eaftern verge of
eadern frontier-town of-Xag- Lyau-toftg, on. the frontiers of
javeftf in the province o^Lya^'^ Areh, -quite to that of Tfing^
toffg, unto the lad city of that of , tau^ on the moft weftf rn part of
T'unnanyCz\ttdCJbytnU^ei»*/znd: th^Yi^^irite of "S/^*/?, it will
theft its greateff length wiH be he JliD cpnfid^rably >vi4exX j).i».

' about 4po Ger^AaH; or i 660 En'" Falfier'X^ Cmftt; vTho fop-^
gJiJh miies ; to which if ore add poied the Cfnn^e entire t{j be
the ifland of i//7j?-««>r, which cinmfaf, gavie it ftill a morjjBx-
likewHe belongs -to Ghlna, and- tenJvcbrcadtR ; tho'^^he agreed,
liesfouthof,^tt/ii?^-/o«jr,orCi7«- in ,ttie iijaHi,.?s. to i^^ lengl;^.,
tvHj two degrees, or 1 20 miles. But it hath been fully prpved by ;
moYemuft be added to its length.' new furveys to be of an oval

- J<s brftadth-may baat((fttfretfth; ■ifefiB'ifmdi confequentljCyihat
cd to a greater extent, by mea- its breajth, where broadeft^
furing it from the town of JV/w- came fhort of its length 6y fotne- .
po^ a fea-pojft to;\;n in the pro- whkt above a fourth p'art (2) ; '
vince of Che-kyang^' to i\it ot- that is, that it extends itfelf .fo-'
moll boundary of that of Se- much farther from north to
chuai^ or Su'chuei^i by which fouth, than- fi^oin eaft to weft
it will amount to about 315 (3).

HaiJe, MigJiHan, Cf ai , ^3} Dh Hs.'Jc, p. 2.

S forveys,

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I fOTCfs, h is fooad to be not of a drcular, but oval figtii^

' otcDdiag moft from north^to Ibutb, as was hinted in the
note; and that its leaft extent, which way foever meafnred ia
aAnutliae, anouats to 360 leagues/ of 20 to a (kffree, or
to6o of our miles ^ The moft recent writer ^ves it ftill a
greater extent ; viz. 34 degrees from north to iouth, or 680
kagoes; and conflderably above 300 from csil toweft^ evea
wiirc it is narroweft ; fo that, according to him, the whole
drcoitof it extends above 1800 leagues f ; but upon what
sew difcoveries he founds his dimenfions, we are not told.
CHINA is bounded oa the north by Tartary; from which Boundm^,

'it k parted by the famous Cbinefe wall, of which we ihall give ria.
afblfer account in its proper place ; and, on tlie eaft, by the
pftera or Chine/e ocean ; on the fouth, by the fouthern or
hdian fea ; and, on the weft, by a vafl fandy defart, arfd a
loag ridge of inacceiSble mountains, which divide it from
>»efiena Tartary and the kingdoms of Tibet ^ &c. It contains Pro^incifj.
fifteen provinces (exclufive <rf that of Lyau^tong^ which is
iitaate wi^om the great wall, tho* under the &me dominion) ;

'each (rf which nrght, for their largenefs, fertility, populouf--
ncfs, and opulence, pafs for fo many diftinft kingdoms.
Thdr names and fite are as follows : i. Shen-Ji ; 2. Shan-Jii
^d, 3. Pe-ckeli ; which extend themfelves on the north, ialong
theCio^ wall- Four more are iituate along the eaftern ocean ;
W. 4. Sban-tcmg ; 5. Kyan-nang ; 6. Che-kyang ; and, 7. Fo^
fyen. Four odiers ftretch themfelves towards the fouth and
^; viz. 8. ^uang-tong; 9. ^^ng-Ji, 10. Tu-nan; and,
". Sc^huen. The four laft, viz. 12. Ho-nan; 13. ffu"
Vf^gl 14. ^uey-chew; and, 15. Kyang'fi\ take up the
midfie part : of all which, as wdl as of that of Lyau-tong^
v^e ftall ^ve a fuller account In a proper place, according tp
'thdtordqr(B).

* Du Hau»£, v(rf. i p: a. See alfo Macaillan, Le-;
coyPTE, M ARXiNifiRB, & al. t Hift. de la Chine, vol. i,

(B) It will not be improper who have written oftliis country)

here to apprife oar readers,.once we have folio Nved the judicioua

ferall, that in the orthography Eaglijh tranflater of 1 ather Dn

of thcfe provinces, and all Halde^ who hath taken no fmall

oAcrs, proper names of men, pains to reduce it, as near as

tiues, y^ , (which arc fo differ- was poflible, to the Inglljh idiom

tfltlj fpdt by all the authors (4), both in. the n-aps,'iand in.

(4) Stt hii fftfaa to that ^.trk, ^, «, & fifj

As ^h^

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? \ ne Hijiory .of Chirn: B- !•

Climate. As China extends fo far from fouih to north, as from tlie
' fccond to the fifth climate, fo mufl its temperature vary ac»

cordlngly. The difference of the length *of its days is little
more than four hours ; the longefl, in the moft northern
parts, being about fourteen hours and three quarters ; and
the ihortcft, in the moft fouthern, about tenhburs and three
quarters ; and the nights proportionably ^ It is, however.

' Vid. Magaillan, Lecompte, Mahtinieri, &al.
DON gram, part ii, ch. 2. fed. 2.

the body of the work. The
power and found of the Chinefe
Utters, vowels as well as confo-
nants, differ fo vaftly from thofe
of Eurepe, that thofe authors
have fpiitthemfelvcs into an al-
moft irreconcileable, as well as
unintelligibUydiiTonancy, ill en-
dfeavouring to convey thofe
founds«> which can only be
Caught by the ear, by fuch let-
ters of their refpe£tive alpha-
bets as they thought came near-
eSi to them : fo that, confider-
ing the vaft difference of pro-
nunciation between moil Euro-
fean nations, it was impoffiblc
for them to convey thofe lounds,
without fpelling them each ac-
cording to the pecul.ar pronun-
ciation of his own country : and
hence proceeds that vaft differ-
ence ot writing the fame name
between the Spaniards^ Portu-
gneffe^ Englijh^ French ^ Italians^
High 2inQ Lonv Dutch, &C.

What adds flill more to this
variety, is. the number of let-
ters, or founds, peculiar to the
Xlmnefe ; to which none of our
European alphabets afford us any
thing equivalent, or even ap-
proaching to. This peculiarity,
moreover, extends itfelf not on-
ly to vowels and confonanti,
but much more with refpeft to
fome of their j^utturals and coro-
pouid letters ;inftances of which
the reader may fee in great num-
bers in the preface aJbove-men-
liE>ned But, with refped to

Gon-

the gutturals, we .(hall b^ ta
fubjoin a fingular one, wnich
that ingenious author hath not
tdken notice of, but which hath
been a pregnant caufe of this
variety of Ipellings.

TheChine/e language abounds
in gutturals, which few of our'
police Europeans have. One of
them, in particulair, is fo deep
and harfii, that neither the He^
hreWf Chaldee^ Syriac, Greeks or
any other tongue, except per-
haps the Arabic, \izvt anythhig
anfwerabletoit. This the .J^ii-
nijh zxiAPortugurfe expreffed, as
well as they could, by their X,
which, with them, ispronounced
gutturally, tho' nothing fo deep.
But as that letter hath a 4aite
different found among other
European nations, each of them
was forced to fubditute fonie
other to it, fuch as feemed to
them to come neareft to the ori-
ginal ; fome by a i, others by a
r, others by cht ^c. And hence,
to prevent all confufion and
mifunderflanding, as much as
poifible, we (hafi not only con-
fine onrfelves to the orthography
above-named, a^ the moft ad-
apted to our Englip pronuncia-
tion 5 but (hall likewife, when-
ever it differs fo much from any .
ocher authors quoted in the fe«
quel, give thofe names accord-
ing to their own way of writ-
jpg it, that there may be no
doubt about our meaning the
fame perfon or place.

generally

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C I. ^e Btfiory of China.

generally reckoned very moderate^ except only towards the
north, where the cold is extremely piercings not fo much from
its northern iite, as from the ridges of mountains that inter-,
thofe parts, and are vafUy high, and moftly covered with deep
ibows. £vea in thofe parts which run under the tropics, the
viods that blow thither from the large and mountainous parts
of Tartary^ make the cold weather exceeding piercing and
fevcre during the three, and fomciimcs four, winter months (C).
The fouthem parts, on the other hand, muft be fuppofed to
be exceeding hot and dry, the n^ju-er they draw towards the
tropic, or extend beyond ^t ; but thofe heats are the siore ea-
% borne by the help of their fine cooling grottoes, groves^
cooling (hades, and other refrefhing retirements, to which
they rejpair during the heat of the day ; at which time there
is the lame univerfal filence, and ceflation from bufmefs, as .
if it was midnight. Thefe fouthem parts have indeed neither
froil not (now ; but they are much troubled with (lorms, and
violent rains, about the time of the equinoxes, efpecially the
autumnal, which is all the ^nter they have ; all the reft of
the year being crowned wth a ferene (ky, and a moft de-
lightful verdure. Upon the whole, it is univerfally owned by Hwv tm
thole who have vifited that large empire, that where natur* fro%/td.
hath been moft unequal in the^ diftributjon of her gifts, the
Chinefe indufh-y hath fo far fupplicd that defeft, by levelling
whole ridges of mountains in feme provinces, and raifmg of
artificial ones in others ; by providing proper fences againft
exce(five colds in fome, and heats ,and droughts in odiers ;
and by varying their agriculture, their manuring, planting,
and fowing, according to the different foils and climates, that
every fpot almoft of that vaft territory produces more thati
enou^ to make its inhabitants rich and happy, and the whole
country delightful and fertile,, populous, healthy, and opu-
lent ; all which is farther improved by the vaft number of
canals cut from one river to another^ and the innumerable

credited, were it not confirmed in January and February^ that he

to HIS by moft' travellers that was forced to lie by till the ice

liave vifited thofe parts at the Could be broken for his pai^e

cold feafon, and particularly by over the river Hoamha ; which,

Y^JiJasx Le Compte I who, in the though one of the largeft ia

relation he gives of his journey C^/«a, was then, almoii frozen

from Nimpo lo fe-king^ afiures over (s]% '<

(5) iMttr }ft, tkifn^ VU. ST Martini^ Ma^atllan^ Du Halde, & aK

A 3 carriages.

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farious
tames.

carnages they ke^p up by laod, by which each cantoa naay
eafily comnaianic^te its own peculiar produd to all the reft, a^
we ihall fee more fully in the fequel.

Upon all thefe ac<;ounts, the Chinefe entertained fuch extra-
ordinary notions of themfelves and country, that they Icxjitoed.
upon all the reft of the wprld, and its inhabitantSi with th»e
utmoft contempt (D), . efpecialiy till they became better ao-
quainted with the Europeans^ or even till their laft cooqueft
by the Tartars. We have formerly fpoken of the various
naines which antient authojcs, and the neighbouring naticMis,

(D) The advantages which
they had over thofe neighbonr-
Ing nations they knew or heard
of, appeared fo confiderable to
them,' that they looked upon
themfelves as the only favourites
of hcavcfi, afid all the reft of
mankind as barbarians, whom
they reprefentedas dwarfs, mon-
gers, ,and contemptible crea-
tures. They looked upon their
country to be placed in the cen-
tre of the earth ; and themfelves
ts the only people who had a
Oman form, Me, and fhape t
whilft all the other nations, or
tEiiig4oms, which they made to
jamount to Ceventy-two, were
fcattered about in fmall idands,
wifthout any order ; the biggcft
of which, according to thjejir
maps, was not fo large as the
lean of the Chinefe provinces ;
and thcfe were ftiick up found
their empire (to which they gave
■& fjuadrangular form), as fa
many nut- fhells, or fmall fatel-
lite« attendijng on their gr««t
planet, and deiigned on^ to
ferve anS adorn ifi. I'hey gave
indeed the preference to mcir
.four neighbouring kingdoms 'Of
fartary, Japan, Tofig-king^^n^
Korean whom, riiou^ they Aili

ftyled barbarians, they imagined
to have received fome conuder-
able improvements by their vi-
cinity to China 5 but as to the
red, they were looked upon as
outcafls into the extreme parts
of the earth, as the drofs and
refafe of nature 5 and chara-
fterifed them accordingly, in
their 'maps, with foch emblems
as were apteft to iafpire their na-
tion with difdain and contempt
of -them (6).

It was therefore no fcnall
matter of wonder to them,when^
upon their coming acquainted
with the Europeans^ they not
only fofind them as pdi^ and
k-ational as thanie4ves, but fsr
faperior |o them in aU kinls of
leariung : rieither could chcfr
conceive how it wa-s |)offible iot
them to havie arrived to fudi a
perfetlion in all fcienf:es, with*
out the afliftance of their own
writings ; fo that they, who, till
then, had looked upon thcm-
-felves as the only people wbom
heav«n had ble€ed with eyes,
Wh^lt all the reft of mankind
were left to gKope In tlie dark,
were now forced to allew the
Eutvpeans to have one eye at
leaft (7).

(6) MMrtifti, Mazailhn, Du Haldi, & al, Vid. et Lt CompU^ htter 5. iVj-
varetu^ La Martinme fub vCf, Du Hal*?. ® */. W/. (l) U Qmti,

ubijup* l2f al» fup, citat, '

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C f . the Bifiary «/ Chbuu ^

five .to Ais country ^ that of Chong-qm^ t>y wWdi thcjr
cfaeniel^es flyle it, jSgaJfies tie king£m rf the miJJk, they
f^pof^ it C0 be fittiate in ^he^eacre of the ^^rld : to this
tliqriK>t only joined (he names of the l^ad <^ each dynafty,
as^ea as the goirenuiieBt pafed fit>m one £umly to another,
aa accoant of wlacfa the reader wiU iee in tfie 4bUowing
mjtt (£) ; but added Itkcwife foBie fompois ^le to the gua^ Pomp99s
wliich i^oifies a kmgdom ; fiidi as, Tum-mdng-fpia^ the lang^ titUss
don of br^tnefs, or perfbdion ; Tayn-chin-qila, the king-
Awn (rf" purity ; Tyen-hu-quoj or the JdofiEdom Mrhich contaiils ,

all diat is Bnder heaven; and others (^ toe like import. Tlie

< Univ. Hift. 'vpl. xx, p. i lo, II? feq.

{£) We have fonnerly gMren
a fliort account of the firlt dy-
nafty^ from Fo-hi and his •eig^t
fbcceffors, down to Shun (Z).
The odiers, in number, twenty-

tvpp, together ^vich die number
of emperors belnnging to eaah
£imily,ajKl the aumer of years
they peigned, may be ie^ at
one view in the foUosving table;.

Dynaftics-

£f]iperors.

YearJ

i^ Hya — —

—

458

2. Shang —

— *

—

^44

3. Chew

•*-

—

873

4. Tfin alChin —

^—

— .

5. Han — —

.*.

— .

426

0. Henu-han *^

—

7. f Ki», or G^/if ad

.-^

«5

— .

>55

«. ^^jfg', •r ^0i0f —

— i-

—

9. 7W, orC^i —

.—

10. Lyang —

*-*

11. C^, /r/. iG« —

.»

—

12. 5<«;/, ^m/ — ^

^«

—

13. T^«r^, TtfW —

—

14. HeW'lytaig — •

■—

--*

15. HetW'tang —

•■—

— -

16. He^-t%in —

.—.

17. HenV'ban ^^

.—

. — »

18. Hnv-chrio .—

—

-«-

1 9. ^oirg', or 5atff« -—

—

.18

319

ao. i^^» — -7-

<r-

•w-

21. Msngf ovMim-^

^-*

»7

' 4-«

zt6

2,2. Txitt, Chim, —

—

' r-

jEhig laft now reignii^. So that
China had to its origmal naai^
fif Choftg-qjut the a^i>e]lative of
each one of tbofe dynadies add^

(8) u»iv. Bft- 'vol. Jtx. p, 13^^50.
Jp. 145, G^JS^f . tS al» fu^^ (itau

ed to it, whi^ the. government
iconuoaed in it; 3^ ,CJbong-^Ma^
hyuf Cb^g-qua-fixtngi Chong-^qua^
ckmif,Uc. (9)# . • ' *.v!

{^,&fe DttiUld0 in EngUjH

toj^taru.

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a The Hiftary of China. B. I.

Tartarr, though they naturally hated the pompous pride of

the Chinefe^ are yet fond of diofe fwolien tides, fmce they

have made themfeives mafters of that noble kingdom, and

become Icfs and Ids avcrfc to the foftncfs, eafc, and luxury,

China, of their new fubjefts. As to the name of Chiruif which feme

whence fi derive from Cf/m, or 7)&i, one of their andent monarchs %

namd. ^^^ oxis^% from their fdk, which is called Chin *» ; it is moft

/likely the Eurapfoni brought it firft from Perfia^ or htdiar

whither that commodity was firft imported^ and where it U

called Chin^ or TJin K

What imperfieft notion the antients had of this vaft em-
pire, and what commerce they had with it, we have elfe«
When firft where endeavoured to flicw K The firft European traveller
difcfwered that we know of, who vilited it, was Fra.Pauto^ a Venetian,
h '^^ E^* more coxtimonly known by the name of Paulas Fenetus,
ropcans, ^ p^^j ^ Venetian, about the end of the thirteenth cen-
tury* But his f\Kollen account of the great cham, or empe-
ror ; of his capital, which he calls Cambalu ; and other ex-
traordinary particulars which he related of that country ; not
only led. his readers to imagine, that he there defcribedthe
empire of Tartary^ but that this greateft part of it was too
exaggerated to deferve any credit, or a better charafter than
that of a fine ro9iance. The whole, however, was after-
wards fufficiently verified by the difcbvery of China by the
Portuguefe ; when it plainly appeared, that it was this noble
empire he had been defcribmg ; and that Cambalu,^ by the
particular! account he had been giving of it, was no other
than the Chinefe metropolis, now called Pe-king (F). Since

which

* Navaretta Martini Hift. Sinic, lib. vi. fuh inlt. Vid.
,et La Martidier^, & a1. Tup. citat. * See t]ie Englifh

tranilation of Du Halde, p. i. not. (E). ^ Umv. Hift,

¥ol, jcx. p. 1 20, Be ftq,

(F) It is now generally ac the former, in order to b^

knowleged, that Cathai is the more at hand to fupprefs the

rorthern part of Chitta ; and inroads which the 7tfr/«ri were

Cambalitf thq capital of it, to be continaally making upon them

the fame city as is now called from that fide. It apj^ears more*

te-hing ; which name, fignify- over, from the reladon of the

in^ the northern court, in oppo« Kujpan ambaiTy to Chinas Ann9

\ fition to.A^«ff^//9^,%vhich is the 1653, that the Mufco^ites ftill

fouthern one, was doubtlefs gi- call that northern part of it

▼en it when the Chinefi mon- Chatai^ or Kathal^ and its me<r

archs were obliged to remove tropolis Cambabij or, according

th«iT court frcun tbe latter to to Ibm^ others, Camla/eif whicS

namca

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C. i: ^bi HifUry of China. ^

wkich dmcy the more they have become acqnakted with
QHm^ the better they have been fatisfied of the laithfulnefs
«f that Venetian traveller.

Accordingly, when the Portuguefe firft difcovered this ^ht CU*
wontry by fea, above 200 years ago, they were fo furprifcd ncfe/<r-
at the beauty and opulence of it, as well as at the ingenuity /'^^'«'
and politeneis of its inhabitants, fo far beyond what they had ^^^ j^
ohfiavcd in any other country they had hitherto met with, '^^ ^
they fcarce knew whether they ought to believe their own^' '*^^*
eyes : and indeed they had fo much morecaufe to be furprifed
at it, as they found them a people that lived wholly within
theinfelves, and who confequently had received no helps or
imjurovements from any other nations : neither could their Th Eoro-
firft accounts of them meet with any greater credit here in pcans m§
Earo^, than thde of Pattlus Venetut had done before, till ^'/'fo ^
dicy were confirmed by a cloud of other eye-witncflcs, whom pf^^^
dthercuriofity, commerce, or religion, invited into thb new^**""^***
and furprifing worH ; efpccially Cnce the year 1 580, when the
pope began to fend, and hath continued pouring, a great
number of jefuits and other priefts into it, in order to bring
as many of tiiat j)olite nation as he could into the pale of
Us church. Nor were the relations of thefc laft fo.univer*
ially credited (efpecially as many of them appeared not only
exaggerated, but .even in a great meafure romuntic, at leaft ia
whatever related to religion, or their numerous convcrfions),
fill we had them^ or at leaft a great part of them, further
confirmed by perfons of other nations and religions, and lef^
liable to be fufpeded. So that, upon the whole, it was^no
fcfe matter of wonder to the Europeans^ than to the Chinefe^
to find a part of the world, at fuch a diAance from them, fo
like thenw^es in learning and politenefs ; while all the vaft
tra&s that lay between them, are ftill fo far inferior, not to
byoppofite to them, in both refpefts. It muft be owned,
however, that the Chinefe found us much fuperior to them in
the liberal fciences ; witnefs thofe vaft improvements they
have made to them by the ailUlance of the miiTionaries, and* .
0f that vaft apparatus of inftrnments which have been fent to
them irom France, and other parts : but, in point of rich-
neis, opulence, fundry manufactures, handicrafts, and, to fay
lK>tfaing of their excellent agriculture lately mentioned, and

aames fignl/y the city of God when we come to the divlfion of
til). We fiiail -have further that empire, and the defcriptioa
<Nxafion to fpeak of them both, of the city of Pihi»g.

(u J rt*tr*. ar <>/. rU. ttpi/. da Tartsr. P'UtrltUf Juh Kiaskat, &

the

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to The Hiftcry of Chlha. B. £•

the many excellent ways they have of fertUiziog aod Mpponi^

even their moft barren lands, it wUl be hardly deaied that

they exceed any country in Europe ; all which will more&ljly'

appear in the (equel.

China, Tvi'E Chinefe emph-e hath been long Cnce divided 4ttt9

hwoi' northern and fouthern ; the former of wh£b, comnaonly kaovrs

miM't among the Indians^ PerfianSy Ruffians ^ &c by the name of

Ctfatai, or Katai, contained fix of its provinces ; and the latter

diftfng«i(hed by the name of Mangi, which contains the other

nine. CambaJu, or, as it hath been fince caJled, Pe4cing^ vw

the capital of the one, and Nang-ki^tg that of the other *.

We have already given the name and ntuatioo of thdfe fso^

end con- vinces which compofe this vaft territory; and Aiall <Milyobt-

fiiUat^. ferve here, that, as they divided the whok heavens into oM

conftellations, fo they did their provinces; each of whsdl

' latter they placed under one of the former, without Jbariqgr

any of them for the reft of the globe* To each pnmnce

they allowed not only an unreafonable length and tocadth ;

t)ut likewife dignified them with fome fwoUen title, «iftrer*

able to thofe which they gave to the empire in general. Thcf

have indeed been taught fmce, by the Europeans^ t, hcxta

fort of.aftronomy and gepgraphv, and how tio judge mmt

fheir truly of the reft of the world ; but it muft be ownod* that,

great ad' till then, the great advantages they enjoyed abpve tbofc finr

wantages nations they knew, might naturally enough iaifpire them '■dtk

9ver other ^t partial vatue and opinion they had S their own.

natious. THEtR country is fo divided by art and nature fron

the reft of the world, as' if defigned to have been AiU on-

jjow de- tained within its own fimits ; being bomaded, as was lateijr

pndtd, hfOted, on ^e eaft and fouth, by the ocean ; on the

weft, by defarts and* inacceflible moontains ; aod, on the

north, by a wall of fuch length, height, and Arenglh, that

it is jiifHy efteemed the greateft piece of art that the worU

can boaft of : fo that the coafts aloi\g the &a being .defendol

cither by prodigious high rocks, flxelves, .aadfmall i£laods, cr

by a vaft number of fea-ports ecpially ilwmg and comtnodiona;

itnd their frontiers on the weft and north by fortified towns,

taftles, and other fortrefles, and large garriA^as ; it ieeau as

if x\ic€hinefe monarchs had had no other view than to. fecurc

themfehres from all foreign invafioas, without any def^isf

€nfergTng'their cjomihions beyond thofe limits. Their hiftory

hath however ftiewn us, that they wore aiftatoeniatwth their

reckonings ; fince they have not only hoen more th^n oncfc

tonquered by the Tartars^ .wder whofe doDwucin Acy notk

' ' ' ' • ■

} Yid noc tFl,'i&'»uft.4bi citat. ^ ' "" .

'arc,

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t U ^be Hijiory ttf Chiaa. U

arc; and themfelves have alfo been ob%ed to extend thdr
coaqoefts into ibme of the Tartarian provinces, in order to
|)ref eat the frequent and dreadful incurfions they made on the^i
A'om that fide, notwithdandii^ their Aroi^ barrier ; all which
iiffidently Aiews die (hortae^ of human forecaft ; fmce it
was their too great confidence in the^ and fame other advaQ-
tages we are going to mention, that lulled them into that
fiate of luxury aiKi indolence which made them &li fo eafy a
prey into the hands of their warlike neighbours, when they
the leaft thought of it, or were leaA able to make head againfl
them.

Another advantage, for whkh this country has been Vaft mmm
{zmcd from the carli^ times, was, the vaft number of its ier of in-
inhabitants. It doth not indeed appear to us to have been fo habitatus^
fcoa peopled as the Chineje records affirm } much lefs to have
been fo unmenfely populous fo few ages after the flood as is
there pretended; the contrary of which we have, we think, \

fully proved in a fcarmer volume ^ : but, that it became fo in
procefe of <ime, there is not the leaft doubt to be made, i^
we confider eitho* the vaft quantity and largenefs of their
Katies, t(jw^8, and villages, which, in moft provinces, arc fo
Aide, and dofe to each other, that the whole fcems but one
continued towA, ^uid ail of them fwarmkig with inhabitants ;
€very one employed in fome manufeifturc, trade, or fome
kind of traffick or work ; or their roads from place to place,
which areerouded with paflengers night and day, with coaches^
carriages, wagons, and ibmetimes with whole caravans, all . „

fif thiMi employed in carrying on fojae iifeful commerce, and
ia conveying all ioT'ts of merchandizes, proviflons, and oth^
wares, from one end of the kingdom to the other ; or the
vaft ftanding armies that are kept ia conftant pay, aiul the au-
meroiis gamfons they are forced to mainxain on their fron-
tiers and fea-ports ; or, laftly, from the reg^ers that are regu-
larly kept both of tfacir forces, and of the neft of the na-
tion.

AccoRtJiNG to tiiefe, we are told by fome authcM-s, that jirm.
the number of famiEes, exdufrve d£ "fbldiers, and thofe that
pay no taxes to the government, amouijted to 11,502,87!;
hut, iacljad;ng the army, the whole number of inaks was
computed to. MMHigt to J9,78S,3$4 : the army, .then, con^
fified of 902,054 vmif who guarded .the frontiers, and
989,147 horfes, always «»dy tor 'aojuliary. forces :bcfides af//,&Ci

^ Sec UniverCil Hifiory^ vol. xx< p. 210, & feq. ic'z^i,ic

H • • . ' . • - .

7^77910

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iz The Hi/lory of China. B. I,

767,970 men kept in their garrifons " (G), To thefe MVw-

haff quoted in the laft note, adds 564,200 horfes more,

maintained by the emperor, to fupply his troops, or to ferve

for polls and mclfcngers on public and extraordinary occa-

llons. For thefe, as well as for the accommodation of the

mandarins, and other officers of the court, that are fent to.

different parts of the empire, there are reckoned 1145 '^"'»

or places of entertainment : fo that, upon the whole, to fpeak

in the ftyle of one of their natives (H), the Chinefe empire is

fo immenfely populjsuSp that its inhdhitants are ftdl. to be com^

putedby. thoufandsy but by millions \ and, if^*^ may believe

the accounts of fome of the Jcfuit miffionaries, fome of their

capital cities contain little lefs th^ two millions of inhabit*

ants «>.

Barges '^^^ ^^^ number of barges, and thofe very capacious ones,

that fupply appointed by the government for the conveyance of provi-

Pe-ksDg. fions, fdks, rice, and other neceflaries, from the fouthern pro-

. vinces to the metropolis of Pe-king, amount to 9999 ; which

number is ftriftly kept up, not fo much out of a fuperftitious

fondnefs for that nnmber, if we may believe thofe writers,

as becaufe it carries a much greater found, than if, by the

addition of one more, they were to make it a complete 10,000*

Thus much may fuffice^o give our readers an idea of the popu-

Fafi num- loufnefs of this vaft empire : we might indeed add to it the many

bersli*vitig myriads of families which live almoft continually on the water

w/^wtf- along the coafts, on the rivers and canals; and carry on a

^^^ conudcrablc traffick on then: large flat-bottom boats, or, as

they call them, Boating villages ; and are reforted to from

thofe that live at land in fuch vaft crouds, that they appear like

" Magaillan, Le Compte, LaMartiniere, & al. •Na*
VARBTTA, DioN-Koo, Gemcl, Martin,' & al. fup. citat.

(G) This prodigioos account pefi convert, who had been em-
is in a great meafure confirmed ployed by fome of the court
by Nirwhoffy who attended the mandarins to write an accurate
Dutch arabafTy into Cbitia ; and furvey of the then ftate of C&r -
who tells us, that, at that time, na. His account was iince
the regifters made the num- brought into Europe by his ex-
ber of families to amoont to celtence Mr. IzbranJs Ides, who
10,090,792; and that of the was fent ambaiTador from the
fighting men to 5 5,41 6,476, in- late czar, Peter the Great, to the
eluding horfe ai^d foot, garri- court of Chindf Anno 1694, and
fons, &f. is highly recommended by hin|

(H) The writer here meant \\z).

wa& called Dionyfius Kao, a Chi* ,

' (iz) R'Jf* amhajf. p. 115, ^ fef, Und^tiit. ijlo, 1706.

4 . fo

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C. ir The Hifiory of China. i j

fomaoy fairs kept on that element i but theie we fluU find a
more proper occafion to fpcak of in the feqoel.

We lately hinteil, that this country doth fo abound with NMwAer%f
dties, that a man is fcarcely got out of one, but he enters their dths
into the fuburbs of another. We flull defer, however, the and fart-
further defcription of them, till we come to fpeak of the ^*Jf***
fcvcral provinces they belong to : in the mean time, as we
are now upon the fubjeft <? the ftrength and populoufnefs
of this vaft empire, it will not be amiS to give ouit readers
the fum of them at one view, and according to their rank :
together with their other fortrefles and flrong-holds, as they
are fcattered through the whole ; fome within the heart of the
provinces, ^to guard the roads ; others on the mountainous
parts, to fupprefs the robbers and freebooters ; and a third
fort to guard the frontiers on the weft and north fide, efpe-
cially on the latter, againft the Tartars. The number of ^htir Ufa
tiwn, as it was taken by hxher Magaillan, out of a Chinefefi^^^
bocHc, tempiied by an expert mandarin for the ufe of the go- ^^'^^
vemraent, is as follows : Walled towns, 4402 ; and thefe are
divided into two orders, viz. civil '^nd military, of which
2045 belong to the former, and 2357 to the htter. The
dvil are again divided into three different ranks, filled by the
Ctnnefe FH (or, as they pronounce that word, Foo\ Chew, and
Hyen\ of wluch, 175 are reckoned of the firft rank, ftyled
Fu ; 270 of the fecond, or Chew ; and 160 of the third or-
der, or liyeru

The military ones are diflinguifhad into feven different Milttgtry
ranks ; of which, 629 are reckoned of the firft, 560 of the •«</.
fecond, 311 of the third, 300 of the fourth, 1 50 of the
fifth, 100 of the fixth, and 300 of the feventh. Father
he Compte tells us, that J 000 of thefe only are reckoned of
the firfl rank ; and that their ftrength rather confifts in their
fituation, and numerous garrifons, than in the ftoutnefs of
their outworks •* (I). Some of thcrfe military cities are afligned

P Le Compte, ubi fupra, letter 3. ,

J J) It mav not be amifs to 2^9 of the fecond, and ii^g^f

obfervc here, that Kao the Chi- the third. Other authors dif-

ne/cy mentioned in the laft note, fer ftill more from hini, and

cuth dijTcr from our mandarin from each other ; which (hews

in the number of thefe cities, either tha^ they took their ac-

and makes the whole number of count from different furveys, or

them to amount to but 1700; perhaps from report, or that

and Na<varetta only to 1536, there «iay have happened fome

that is, 148 of .the firft rank, changes in the raaks of thofc

ciciea«

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to the foldiery; togetheF with a qoanticy of knd in theur
CnjUs. ceighbourhoody for thehr maibteaaBce. As^ to the caftks on
the coaflsy which are confpsted at 439, (ereral of them QTQ
very large, and come little fhort of waUed cities for the nsm-
ber of their inhabitants ; and all of them ftroBg by aatur^'
flmw, and art, and defended hy good ganrifons : bcfides whidi,
kc. they reckon no lefs-than 2920 towns, or boroughs, along tha

fea-coafls, moft of them equal in bignefs to walled towns.
The inland towns and villages, we are told, are almeft nnm-
berlefs, and every-where crouded with i&habit;tnt8» From
all thefe the emperors receive aa itttysofe iiKone» as will be
feen in the fequd ; there being b«rt t)urt)^tw« that a«e wholly
exempt from taxes ; and thele, being governed by thdr own
lords, or petty kings, are however obliged to pay a Und o£
homage, or perhaps feme fmall tribafie^ to the conrt ^.
Si^alad- To this vaft number of their cities and fortrefibs, aod the
n/antam immenfe one of Its inhabitants, if we a4d th«r prodigiotts
eftbeQ\i\' wealth, brought in bv fach a vaft cpiantityof hands contino-
\, ^^^' ^'V employed erther m a foreign or domeftlc coomeroc, in. ^
^ great variety of rich and carious maaniafttires, and ingenious

^ handicraft trades ; in the cultivating ci the moft feAile, or

improvement of the moft barren, lands ; in (fig^ag up of
gold, filver, copper, and other laetals and minerals, from the
bowels of then- many rich mines, befidcs a great variety of
diamonds, and other precious Hones' ; if to thefe we add the
excellent fituation of it for commerce, the richneis ^d vaft.
extetit of it abroad, the many navigable rivers and nusiber*^
fefs canals for carrying it on at home ; the infinite variety oS
their carnages both by land and water ; the healthioefe ai^d k^
renity of then: dimate, and induflryof the inhabitants, the en*
couragement given to it as wdl as to the arts and fcieaces, hj
its politic government, and the happy genius of the nation for
promoting and improving every kind andy branch of them %
x)r, laftly, the vaft power aiKi riches of the fovetdgn, the
excellence of their laws and government, and the remarkable
fondnefs of the people for that as weU as for antient laws,
cuftoms, religion, ijc. ; it will no longer appear furprifing,

^ Le Comfte, ubi fup. Sc p. 2. lett. i. Magaillan, Kao»
Aal.

cUict. We have followed that newer accounts publiftied by /)»

of the mandarin above men- HaUe ; as will further appear,

tioncd, on the authority of Fa- when we come to give the nom-

ther Maguilian^ ^^ being the ber of them belonging to each

t)n>ft likdy to be authentic, and diRin^ provincf.
being the moil agreeable to the

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C. r: -srfe Bjiory af China* . i|-

tht ao empire, ^v^eh enjoyed fuch a vaft number of advan-
tages, feoold hare maiotained itfelf in fuch a height of wealth
and fplendor during fuch a long fcries of ages. The wonder
will rather be, how they came, after fo long and glorious ji
contknance, to degcnCTatc fo far from their valour and poli-
tics, as to fufier their whole country to be over-run and con-
qooe^ and their monarchy overturned,, in almoft as few
years as k had flood thoufands. But, before we come to
ijpk rf that ftramge event, and the changes it hath wrought
iathat vaft cm|Mre, it will be nccefEu-y, according to our ufual
BWhod, to ^v€ a general defcription of the country, ^^ o£
iwry tfai^ that Is moft remarkable in it.

S E C T. IL

A topographical Deftriptihn of the Fifteen Provinces
of China.

'THE fituaiiony limits, extent, and divifion, of the Cfnnefe Fifieei$
-^ empire, hath been (hewn at the beginning of the ,kft /r^wrr^*
fcftiott ; wterc we mentioned Its being divided into fifteen dejcribtd*
provinces, viz. fixfiyled northern, and nine fouthem (exclu-
five of that of Lytm-tong, "which, being fitu^ite without the
wall, will be fpoken of in a more proper place) ; the other
fifteen are reckoned in the following order:

I. The province oi Pe-chelu alias Lipafu, but moft com- i.Thepra^
WBiy tailed, from its great metK)pdis, Pe-king, which is ifiice of^
now the feat of the empire, is bounded on the eaft by the Pc-^chclu
ycUow fea ; on the norrii, by the great wall which divides it
from eaftem Tartary \ cm the weft, by the province of Shan-fi j
and, on the fouth, by thofe of Shang-tong and Ho-nan. It
is now the firft and chief of the whole empire ; and extends -
itfcjf, in a kind of triangular form, from the 36th to th©
41ft degree of latitude, and from the 1 13th to the i ipth* of'
eaft longitude. It is divided into nine dlftrlds, each of which
is under its capital city, fl7led by the Chmefe F4^ or city of
the firft rank ; ivooi wUcha number of other cities depend (A),

viz.

(A) It will be neceffary here named Cheijo and Hyen^ ^cavf*

tD obierve, once fcr all, that each of them depend on their ,

every province ik the Chtnefe refpedlive F«, as here oiir baili-%

empire 15 divided into a nam- wicks, cr inferior courts, do on

berofdiMds or jurrfdi^Hons, the fuperior ones. The prefi-

called by the Chtnefe Fu, cr city dent of the fupreme court is

fend a lefler fort of di Uriels, city of the firit rank, the next in

"^ ordtr

of the fipft rank. On thefe de- ftyled Chi-fu, or governor of a

ordtr

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Digitized b

4iua.

i^ The tiijhry of Ciniwr B. !•

VIZ. 2o of the fecoad rank, or Chtw ; and tao of die thirds
or Hyen $ befides a great many large towns, and villages
without number*.
7U cli' This province, though the moft northern next to that of
mete, foi^ Lyau-tong, in the whole empire, is blcflcd with a very dear
find pro* air ; and, tho* exceffive cold in winter, enjoys a very ferene
iky, which is feldom overcaft u4di any doudS) even during;
that hard feafon. The rains are not very frequent ; but that
defeA is amply compenfated by the fruitfol dews« The coun*
try affords but little rice ; but abounds with other grainsu
puUe, and varied of cattle. The inhabitanu are ftout and
warlike ; but are more unpoliflied and ignorant than in tho
fouthem provinces. The rivers are often frozen, more or
lefs, here, from November to March 5 and yet the weather is
nothing (o piercing as it b in Europe^ under the (ame cU*
> mate.

This provipct reckons about 140 cities, amongft which
thoTe ftyled Fi0, or of the firft rank, are, jPe-^ng, al Shtni'-
tyen-fi^ the metropolis of the whole, under which are twennr-
fix diftriAs, or cities of the fecond and third rank ; tnz, ux
of the former, and twenty (^ the latter ; whofe namea we
ihall not trouble our readers with, much lefs with their de»
fcription, which would fwell beyond our bounds. It will be
fufficipnt to add hor, to what we have find of thdr large**
nefs, opulence, and populoufiiels, that they are for the moft
part built c^ a fquare or oblong-fquare form, as much as the
ground would permit. Their walls are high, diick, and

lis iiiiis.

General

KjietAj of
them.

* Lb Compte, obi fap. letter 3.
U ali fup. citac.

D0 Haldb, p. 65, ar feq«

et^txChi'chew, and thelaft Chi
Hyen, Hence in every Fu there
is always a Sluan-fu, or manda-
rin with the tide of Chi-fu, and
at leaft another with that of C^r-
Hyen, But in the great cities
oi all, who£e territories are fo
Targe as to be divide^ into two
inferior diftridls, each of thefe
have th^ir particular Chi-Hyen.

When mention is made here
of a Hyen, or city of the third
rank» the reader rouft not fup-
pofe it to mean a diftrid o( a

( I ) Se^ Du Uald* in E'^gHJh, f. a.

fmall extent, there being man]f
of them of 60, 70, or even 8o«
leagues in circuit, and whick
pay feveral millions into the em- .
peror*s treafury (i). Neither
muft it be imagined, that thof«
other towBtywhich are excluded
from any rank* are inconfider-
able ones, there being many of
them as large as cities ; the rea^
fon of their being denied that
title, is, becaoTe they are^ncom*
paiTed with neither walls nor
ditches, as the cities are ( a),

(1) U. p, 67; Vid. «r £r Cmpte^

ftroag;

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C t. Tie Hiftory (ff China. 1 7

ftrong, adorned with lofty towers. The gates arc fpadouf,
deep, and (lately ; and the great ftreets flrait and broad, and
intCTfcftcd with others which crofs them at right angles, and
both fides filled with houfcs. The fijuares, or piazzas, arc
wide, and adorned with noble ftrufturcs ; and fome of them,
as well as fome of their ftreets, with triumpfial arches, and
other decorations, particularly with ftately towers, fome round,
others oftogonal, from fix to nine ftories high, embellilhcd
with galleries, carvings^ gilding, and variety of other oma-
ments (B).

The city-walls are moftly high and ftrong, and encom*
pafled with broad ditches, fome dry, and others filled with
water. As for their edifices, efpecially their public buildings,
fuch as their temples, palaces, monafteries, ifc. they arc more
remarkable for their \^ extent, than for their magnificence.
Their private houfes are likewife large, but low, few of them
exceedii^ one ftqry in height, and without aiw windows to-
wards the ftreet. The (hops are delightfully let out with all Sbofs/tuii
their rich merchandizes, fuch as china-ware, filks, japan cabinets, fy fit #k/,
ftreens, and other fuch goods, with great variety of gold and
filver work, jewels, and all other commodities both domeftic
and foreign. Before each door ftands a pedeftal, to which i$
faflened a board, from 20 to 2a feet high, on which is cither
carved, painted, or | gilt, the ftiopkeeper's name, his fign, and
fooae of his principal wares, with thefe words at the foot,
Pu'H^ in large charafters, that is, he will not cheat you.
Tlus double row of pilafters, fet up at equal diftances, yields
likewife a very agreeable profpeft **. The misfortune is, that Strttts
thofe ftreets that are not paved (and few of them arc fo in dupy and
China) prove fo dufty in dry and windy weather, that it is ^'■(^•.
not only very oflfenfivc to the vaft crouds that continually
throng them, but hurtful likewife to the fine merchandizes

^ hz CoMVTEy ubi fup. letter 3. Du Haldb, ubi fup. p. 64.

(B) We ftall, for the fatif- the reft ; as they, generally

lidion of our readers, find a fpeaking, obferve pretty much

proper place for giving them a the fame fymmctry in their

ftetch (^ one or two of the moft form, buildings, &r. That of

curious of them, by wav of Pe- king, efpecially, which is the

(ample, when we come to {peak metropolis of this province, and

of their artificial rarities 1 as the prefent feat of the empire,

Hkewife for defcribing fome few deferving a more particular no*

oftheirmoftconfiderable cities, dee, win be diefcribed at the

public ftradures, &r. in the dofe of this article, and the

coorfe of this fedion, fo as to others in their courfe.
give tbcm a fufficient idea of

Mop. Hist. Vo^.VIII. * B that

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1 8 ^he Hifiory of China. fi. I.

that arcexpofed; infomuch that they arc obliged to cover
them With fome fort of cloths, to prevent their being fpoiled.
Thefe clouds of duft, which are ftill increafed by multitudes
of horfes, chaifes, carts, waggons, and other carriages, not
only flick upon their filken clothes, and fpoil the fine luftre
of them, efpecially thofe made of fattin, which they com-
monly oil, to give it a better glofs ; but pepctrate even into
their very houfes and clofets, though they have no windows
towards the ftreets : fo that, take what care they will, their
furniture is quite covered, and the people almofl choaked,
with it. They do indeed endeavour to prevent it as much
as poffible by frequent watering of the flreets ; but they are
either foon dried up again, or clfe become dirty and inir}\
In rainy weather they are flill more incommodious on that ac-
count ; fo that, winir or fummer, they are very troublefome,
and even unhealthy, to walk int This great inconvenience is
not confined to their inferior cities, but runs thro* all their
moft confiderable ones, and even to the very capital itfelf *^,
as the reader may fee by the defcription we are going to give
of it.
Cities of '^^^ ^^^'^^^ ^f ^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^ ^^^^ province are, i. Shun-
the frft tien-fdy fmce called Pe-king; 2. Pau-ting-fA ; 3. Ho-kyen-
rank. f^ y 4- Ching-ting-fA ; 5. Shun-te-fH ; 6. ^taiig-ping-fu ;

7. Tay-ming-fu; S. Yung^ping-fA : 9. Swen-ivha-^u,
I. Pe-king ^- SHVN'TTEN'Ft/, fince ftyled Pe-kifig, or the north-
defcrihed.' ^^^ court, on account of its being become the imperial refi-
dence, and metropolis of the whole empire, is pleafantly fitu-
ate on a large and fertile plain, ' under the 40th degree of
north latitude, and 1 1 70 30' of eaft longitude, about twenty
miles fouth from the great wall. It was formerly of a fquare
figure, and about four leagues in compafs : but, fmce the
conqucfl of the empire by the Tartars^ the Chinefe being ex-
cluded out of it, and permitted to build a new one adjoining
to it, it is now of an oblong fquare form, and about fir.
leagues of 3600 paces in circuit ; or rather is become two
OUand cities, the old one of which is called the Tartar^ and the
ne^ citj. other the Chinefe, town; and this l^fl, though the leaft, is
reckoned the mofl populous (C),

The

* Le C0MPTE9 ubi fup. La Martiniirb, & ah

mcafured it by the emperor's high, the flreets very wide, and

order, reckons it te be about the imperial palace in it, toge-

four times as big as Paris: hvX, ther widi its parks, gardens, ca-

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C. i; The Hiftory of China; 19

The walls of both cities are (lately and ftrong, being 7hi city
computed by fome 40, by others 50, cubits high, which 'walk.
quite obftruft the fight of their fineft and ftatelieft edifices,
and are thick enough for feveral men on horfeback to ride
abreaft upon them : they are moreover flanked with (lately
towers, at the diftance of a bow-{hot from each other, and
all kept in good repair ; a horfeman may afcend thofe of th^
new city by means of a ramp, or flow afcent ; and in feveral
places there are houfes built to ferve for a corps de garde ;
and fome of the towers are capacious enough to lodge a corps
de referve.

The gates are nine in number ; three on the fouth front, Stateh
and two on the other three fides. Their flrufture is altogether gates.
magnificent, and beyond any thing we fee in Europe (if wc
except the architefture). They are of a furprifing height;
and inclofe a fpacious court within four flout walls ; over
two of which, viz, on the city and country fide, are built
ftately lodgings, or rather caftles, which yield a very noble
pro^peft, being about eight or nine ftories high, each ftory
being perforated with windows and loopholes. The loweft
ftory is a large hall for the officers and foldiers, who are
either upon duty, or going to be relieved j and before fome
of thofe gates, in the city of Ching-ting-fA, is feen a fjpacious
area, or parade, about 360 feet, encompafled by a lemicir-
cular wall of the fame height with thofe of the city.

The flreets are fpacious and beautiful to a great degree, be- NvhU.
ing all laid out with the line, and moft of them at leafl a league Jireets.;
in length, and about 1 20 feet wide, with flsopg for the mofl part
oti both fides ; but the houfes, which are but one ftory high,
. bear no proportion with the largenefs of the ftr^ets : however, thronged\
they are very fpacious within, and fo crouded with inhabitants, 'withfeoi-
that it is furprifing to fee what a number of families they /'<^*
hold. This makes the city. to be fo thronged with people^

nals, i^c. take up a vaft extent whole, that eacT? of thofe capi-'

of its ground, he doth not take it tali contain about two millions

tolodge a much greater quan- of people (3) ; wliich, if true

tity of inhabitants than that of Pe-iing, is near double the

French capital ; though he owns, number at lead of what will be ^^

at the fame time, that the inha- found either in Pm/f, or even

bitants of Pe-king hardly take in London, which is allowed the'

up half the room in their lodg- bigger, and more populous, of '

iogs that the Parijians do : he the two (4).
computes, however, upon the- ' J^-^^j,'' ^,

(l) Lt Compu, ubi ff4p» f 4j Sit Maitlanfs and other Surveys tff

B z ^ ^i*

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The Hifiory of China. B. T^

a? well as horfes, mulf?s^ camels, afles, carts, waggons, i;c.
that many of our great cities in Efirope are faid to loo|^ likjp
folitades, in coniparifon with them : Infomuch that people of
quality are forced to have men on horfeback to clear the way
before them ; and the very tradefmen chufe to ride in their
chaifes, not only to break through the crouds, but likevfife to
avoid the dufl and dirt of the ftreet (D). What is more fur-

(D) We lately took notice,
that mod cities in Chinay for
want of beine paved, labour
alternately under thefe two in-
conveniencies : which is not a
little furprifing in a country
feemingly (b well regulated in
every thing elfe, and much more
io to fee fo noble a metropolis as
thp \% more plagued with them
than any other ; at leaft this
was <he condition in which Fa-
ther Le Compte found it when he
was there (5). However, we
are informed that it hath been
TcfUhed fince (6); and that
nQtonly every citizen is oblieed
to fweep before his door, but
that tlie very foldiers are em-
ployed to keep the new city
clean, even when the emperor
is abfent; fo that it is chiefly
the old city, which, by reafon oif
the nai-rownefs of its ftreets, is
more negleded, and left to lie
in niud and dirt.

* As to the city in general, there
may indeed be many caufes af-
iiffned for its being more croud-
ed i^nd thi;o^ged than any of the
reil, beiidcs the vaft number of .
its inhabitants.

For,, I. Great multitudes of
people daily lefort thither from,
all the adjacent parts for many
ini^es round, who bring all man-
ner of provifions to it$ market*

2. As no river comes up to
die city, all kinds of merchan-

(S) Stt Lt C^m^tit third Utter,

dizes, and all manner of other
neceflaries, that are pouring in-
to it from' morning 4to night,
muft come thither by land car-
riage, which fills their ftreets
with continual droves of carts,
waggons, and beafts of burden i
infomuch that, at the opening of
the city gates in the morning,
they are fo thronged with them,
that many of them muft wait
fome hour^ before they can get
ir.

3. The great concourfe of
quality that ftock to the court,
and the great retinue that at-
tends them, the mandarins, and
other officers, in their formali-
ties, the princes of the blood,
and other perfons of diftin^ion,
who are always efcorted with a
numerous train of horfemen anil
fervants, do all contribute more
or lefs to fill up the ftreets, fo as.
to make the city appear more
full of inhabitants than it really
is.

To all thefe we may add the
vaft numbers of carmen, porters,
chairmen, and other people, that
ply the ftreets; and a much
greater of handicraftfo^n, fuch
as taylors, fmiths, brafiers, car-
penters, ^c, who are obliged to
go about in queft of budnefs ;
tor, as few of them work at home,
but at their cuftomers houies,
ereat crpuds of them muft be
luppoled to turn out daily in

(^J See Du Balde, f. 67.

fuck

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. C. i: rbe Biftdf^af China: 4i

priiiDg, IS, that, arfion^ thofe vaft throngs of men, there is
not a woman to be feen. The streets, as every-where elfe. Their
bve all their proper names, apd the great ones of all fome mmm.
pompous one ; fuch as, the ftreet of the king's relations, of
the white tower, and the nobleft of all is ftyled the ftreet of
eternal reft.

This laft, which runs from eaft to weft, is terminated at Form*
Ac north end with the walls of the imperial palace ; and, on
tteoppoffte fide with the city tribunals, and the palaces of men
of quality. Its breadth is computed about fixty yards, and
its length above a league and a quarter ; and is adorned on
£adi fide with the fineft edifices. All the great ftreets, which Guard.
run in a ftrait line parallel with the walls from^ gate to gate,
kave thdr corps de garde ; where the foldiers, with fwords by
their fides, and whips in their hands, keep watch dav and
Bight ; and chaftUe, without difHnftion, all that caufe any
fifturbance, and confine fuch as make any refiftance. There
is the feme watch kept in the lefler or crofs fbeets, which ter-
minate in the great ones, and are ftiut up at each end in the
night with wooden crofs-bar gates, through which the watch
ih the greater fh-eets may fee all that pals in the lefler : and
both cities are kept under fuch ftrift regulations, that, except
the great hurry of the day, occafioned by the throng lately
mentioned, which ends with or fooil after it, every part of the
town is kept under the greateft difcipline and quietnefs, peace
and fefety (E).

Besides

fach a city as diis, and help to can give a good account of tfieir
increaie the tfirdng ; efj)eciaily errand ; fach as fetching a phy-
as many of them, either for fician, furgeon, or midwife, or
want of better employment, or being fent about the govern •
aatoral indolence, will fiand mint's b^finefs. Even tbefe
ftariog in large groups at every laft, if their anfwer is fuch as
joggler and mountebank they gives the oftcer any caufe of
lee ; or liftening to fortune-tell- fufpicion, when <^ueflioned bv
ers and ballad-fingers, which him, are confined in the guard-
are to be met with in every part room till the next morning, and
of the town. th6h brought before a proper
(E) Each watth is obliged to judge. The ofiicer of the guard
|)iitrok an thb i^ight in their ]ikewife,thatis kepton thehigh
r^peOive ftreets, as foon as the pavilions over the city -gates,
fiinal is given for the (hutting and beat the watch on large
(/diem up at night i fothat no kettle-drums, having full view
qaarrel or difturbance can hap- of aH the ftreets, is obliged to ^
pen, or even people pafs unper^ fend fome of his fubalterns to
ceiTed. None arc fuffercd to examine the quarters belonging
walk in the night/ except they to the gates where they are

B % pofted^

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22 The Hipry of China. B. I.

Suburbs. Besides the old and new city above-mentioned, every
fide hath likewife a capacious fuburb without the walls, of
which that on the weft fide is the largeft. The ftrects in
thefe are built much after the fame manner as thofe within,
being parallel to each other, and to the city-wall, and crofling
each other at proper diftances : fo that, if thefe be added to
the reft, the circuit of Pe-king may be computed to extend
^ou/es. about a 5 miles. The private houfes, both within and with-
out the walls, are low, but deep and long, and moftly built
with brick, and covered with glazed tiles 5 which, when the
fun fhincs upon them, make fuch a glittering as is painful
to the eye. They make but an indifferent fliew without, ex-
cept in their fine ftiops ; but are exceeding neat and conve-
nient within, though neither richly nor degandy furniftied,
and moft of them crouded with families.
Tlenty of What is the moft furprifing of all, in this great city, is
all things, the plenty and cheapnefs of all forts of commodities and pro-
viiions ; efpecially confidering its vaft concourfe and number
' of its inhabitants, and that it is fituate in one of the moft
barren fpots in the empire. But it muft be remembered, that
all the merchandizes and treafures of the Indies^ &c. are tranf-
ported hither from all parts by means of the eaftern or yello-w
How /up' fea, and of the royal canals : that feveral thoufands of the
fliid, emperor's veflels, befides a much larger number of others
belonging to private perfons, are continually employed in
fupplying both court and city with every thin§ that can be
wiihed for, cither for the fupport or pleafure of life ; fo that
it is a common faying among the Chtnefey that, though no-
thing grows about Pe-king, it never knows the want of any
^hegover- thing. The governor of the city is the perfon who has the
nsrj office, diredlion not only of the foldiery and guards ; but his jurif-
didlion extends over all the people, in whatever concerns
the civil ftate, and the public peace and fafety (F).

pofted. All thefe are kept un- often comes upon them when

der fuch ftrid difcipline, that they leaft cxped him (7).
the leaft negleft of duty is fc- (F) This grand officer, who

verely punifhed the next morn- is a Manchew Tartar, is ftyled

ing, and the officers broken for Kyu-men-ti'tUf or^eneralof the

it ; and what keeps them ftill nine gat?s, and hath a quantity

more on their guard, is, that the of miniflers under him, anfwer-

governor of the city, who is able to his great poft. And fuch

likewife obliged to go the rounds, ftrid difciphne is obferved under

(7) hi Comptt, ubifup. Vu Halife, ubijup. f, 67, 0 aU

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C. !• The Hijlory of China. 23

It is time now to fpeak of fome of the public buildings Public eJi-
which adorn this metropolis; fuch as the imperial palace, ^<''.
temples, monafteries, ifc. We begin with the firft of them,
as being the mou fpacious and magnificent of all, and one of
the greateft curiofities in the whole empire.

It is fituate in the very heart of the Tartar cit}% fronting The impe-
the fouth, as all the public buildings there generally do ; and rial palate
is, properly fpeaking, a prodigious group of edifices, vaft def,.ribtd.
courts, 'gardens, parks, ponds, ijc. all furrounded with a
(lately brick wall, of an oblong fquare form, and confiderable
height ; and about twelve Chinefe li's, or furlongs, in com-
pafs. This wall hath battlements along the curtains, and is
adorned at each angle with little pavilions ; and over each of
the gates is another pavilion, ftronger and more lofty than the ,
former, and furrounded with a gallery fupported by pillars
refembling our periftyles ; and this laft is properly the palace)
becaufe it contains all the apartments of the emperor and his
family.

The outward wall which furrounds the inclofure above- ^he outer
mentioned, is fifteen li's, or furlongs, in circuit ; and the fpace inclofure f
between it and the inner is chiefly taken up with the houfes or ^^^^s
apartments of the chief officers of the emperor's houfhold, '^P^^^'
with the feveral tribunals, treafury, ftorehoufes, wardrobes, ^'"^^''
and eunuchs belonging to it. Thefe laft, in the time of the Eunuchs
Chinefe monarchs, we are told, amounted to 10,000 '/zxiifupprejfed.
were at length become fo powerful and corrupt, that they
proved the main caufe of their ruin ; for which reafon the
wifer Tartars have fo fupprefled them by degrees, that there
is but an ineonfiderable number left of them, who are now
looked upon as an ufelefs and dangerous weight to a court.

To fome of thefe officers is committed the care of provi-
ding neceffaries for the fervice of the prince ; while others
are to preferve good order, decide the differences, or even
ponifh offences committed by the domeftics of the imperial
family. Thefe apartments are fpacious and ftately ; but /„^^ ^.
thofe of the inner indofure much more fo^ being adorned partmenn

defcrihtd*
him, both by the foldiery and Chinefe ; all which is owing to
citizens, that one fhall hardly the excellent order which is
hear, in feveral years, of an kept under him, which makes
Iwufe being broken open, or a it next to impoffible for anr
man murdered ; which is fo fuch crimes to be committed,
much the more to be admired and the authors efcape their
among fuch an in6nitc miilti- due punifhmcnt (8).
tudc and mixture oi Tartars and

^%J Le Cmfte & Du Halde, uh^fu^rsi

B 4 "with

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14 • ^bi Hiftory of China. B. I.

with parks, gardens, fumptuous baths, pleafure-houfes, halls
of ftate ; the whole embellifhed with every thing that is de-
Jfn artifi' lightful and magnificent ; particularly an artificial lake, of
€iallak(. about a mile and quarter incompafe, full of variety of fifli,
and furrcfunded with fumptuous buildings, gardens, baths^
itc. In the middle of it is the imperial, and a number of
other barges, for the court to take the diverfion of fifhing*
Each facade of the double inclofure hath a lofty gate, or ra-
ther three gates, one in the middle, and one at each end ;
the former of which is the moft lofty and rich, and is only
opened to the emperor ; and the others fland open from morn-
Vhe gates Ing ^iU night, to all comers and goers. Each gate hath a
ftrialy draw-bridge, and a proper guard (G) ; and none are admit-
keft, ted to go over them but mandarins, officers in the highcft
pofts, or fuch as bring an ivory ticket from them, fpecifyhig
the bufinefs they are lent thither for.
Hall of The great hall of audience, or, as it is ftyled by them,
mdiena. the hall rf the great uniofiy is a lofty building, about 130 feet
long, and of an almoft fquare form ; the cieling erf which
is aJl of carved work, varnifhed with green, and adorned with
gilt dragons in bas-relief. The pillars that fupport the rcx>f
are about fix or feven ifect in compafs, and embellifhed with
a kind of raifed work made of parte, and japanned over with
vermilion. The pavement is covered with a kind of tapeftry,
and the walls are waihed with a fine fliining white, but with".
out hangings, looking-glafles, branches, or any other fort of
f'i^/y&rt;;?^. ornament. The throne ftands in the centre of the hall ; and
confifis of a lofty alcove^ very neat, but neither magnificent

(G) Some authors have af- lace, they have no other armt
firmed, that the emperor's ele- than their broad fcymetars, and
phanti ftand guard at thefe are nothing fo numerous as they
gates ; which cuftom, we art were in the time of the Chinefi
fince told, hatk been left off, moiarchy, the Tartars feeming
or, which is perhaps more like- to dcfpift a great deal of that
ly, was only a roiftakc : for pomp and political grandeur,
thefe creatures are lodged with. However, they have always a
in the palace, in two verv noble vail number of mandarins, and
^partm^Qts, or courts, the one other officers of difUn^p, at-
for the fummer, and the other tending the emperor at all audi-
for the winter ; thefe laft are ences, and other folemD occa-t
^ not only fmaller, but are kept fions ; and who pay him fuch a
^ warm like (loves, without which profound refpedl by their aw-
they could not bear the rigour lul diftance, geftures, and pro-
of the feafon. ilrations, as come very near to

As for the guards of the pa- a kind of adoration of him (9),

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C I, TJbe Hifijary of China. tg

in oTDaments or infcriptioDS^ except that it betrs the iracd
Sbing, which fome writers have tranflated iofy^ tbo* it more >
properly ftgnifies excellent, mqfi wife or perfeB. On the fiat-
iorm before it flands a very large ami thick veflcl of l>rafs,
vherdn ar^ burnt fame £ne perfumes duriog the whole oove^
rnoay ; and candlefUdcs, caft ia the fliape of birds, are made
to hold a number of lighted flambeaux. On tins pUtfoim, LeJferhaOg
wJ^ch is continued northward beyond the hall of zaibasot^ htbind the
are reaied two leiler halls, which are hid by the former; one grest mn
of them is a handfome rotunda, with windows aU around, tod
fimuog with vami(h of divers colours ; and here they tacfy the
emperor repofes fometimes, either before or after the ondkuGe,
and changes his clothes ^.

Bvj the mofl magnificent of all is, that which they ftyle
the innennofl court of all ; and in which the emperor and
cmprefe, his wives of the fecond rank, » and fome of his fa-
^urite concubines, live, in all imaginable fpiendour and de*
light. This court is not only the moft magnificent, but the
k^tiefl of all ; as the others are raifed one higher than the
other, the nearer they approach to this. The afcent to it,
from the next, is by a flight of fix fteps on all fides, fur-
rounded by a noble baluftrade, adorned with lions, dragons^
and other embellifhments. In this laft quadrangle, amongft
other infignia of the Chinefe magnificence and luxury, fiandt
a tower of gilt brafs, fourteen cm: fifteen feet high, fiady
wrought, in which were conftantly burnt the moft coiUf
gams and perfumes, the (moke of which came out at a great
tmmber of little holes or windows of curious workmanfhip»
and difperfed itfelf all over the palace : but whether the Tar-
tarian monarchs keep up this cuftom conftantly, or only ia
times^of audience, and on other folemn occafions, we cannot
be certain. And thus much ftiall fuflice for this fiiperb edt«
fice: thofe who want a fuller defcription, may read it to
the authors laft quoted. '

Next to the imperial palace, the pagods, or temples, are The fa*
the noft fpdendid aiKi magmficent, and In the greateft nam- gods, •r
kcr, both in the city, fubufbs, and parts adjacent : and, in- tempieu
deed, both Chinefe and Tartan, nobles and people, !are fo
feperftitious, Aat they rear and adorn thefe ftruftures, at
immcnfc charges, and with vaft numbers of coftly ftatues. The
roofis are particularly reaiarkable, for the luftre of their yeUow
tiles, numberlefs figures of dragons, lions, and other crea^*
tares, ^urioufly wrought painted, and gilt, and other de-

' Le Comfte, letter 2. MAftfiNiERe, fob voc. Pe-king«
Pu Halde, p. 67, & i^^^ Sc al. ^or.

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a6 ^he Hijfory of China. B. T.

coratioQS, after the Chinefe tafte, and fome of them fumptuous
and coftly, beyond defcription. It is obfervable, however,
that fomc of thofe that belong to the Tartars are abhorred by
the Chinefe^ and vice verfa (H). Thofe that are in the country
about, commonly ftand on eminences, wther natural, or reared u p
artificially, with a great deal of cbft and labour, and, by their
height, and fumptuous ornaments, yield a moft delightfirl
'profpeft. As it would be endlefs to dwell upon a defcription
of them, we fliall give a (ketch of one of the laft fort in the
ipargin (I), and content ourfelves with defcribing here that of"
the Sun ; which is a very curious edifice, not only on account
of its richnefs and grandeur, but as it is that to which the em-
peror repairs once a year, at the entrance of that planet into
the winter folftice ; not with that pomp, fplendor, and nu-
merous retinue, that ufually attends him on other folemnities.

(H) This is partly owing to
the difference of their deities,
ilatues, and way of worfhip.
But what is moft (hocking to
the Chinefiy is, that the Tartars
have fome of their idoh carved,
or painted, naked ; for the for-
mer profefs an utter averfion
to all fuch nudities, either in
temples, hoofes, or in any other
way ; and, upon that account,
were highly offended at the
drefs of the Europeans^ as dif-
coveringtoo much of the naked-
nefs of die body, which they, on
the contrary, (Irive to conceal,
by their long gowns, wide
flecves, breeches, and boots.
Much more, confequently, mnft
thofe naked idols, fo com-
mon among the fartarsy appear
(hocking to them. There is,
among the red, in this metro-
polis, a [\ztt\y Tartan an itm^Xty
m which the Deity is reprefentcd
in the figure of a naked man,
of an extraordinary bignefs, and
which it would be a fcandal for
any Chinefe to fet his foot into.
. (I) This furprifing edifice is
built on an artificial mountain,
raifed in the form of a fugar-
foaf^ of fuch a height and big-

nefs, and with fuch tranfverfe
perforations, or chafms, that it
looks like a huge parcel of
mountains thrown one upon an-
other, with horrid caverns be-
tween the interilices, and the
whole fo rough, that it caii
hardly be behe.d without dread.
But the Chinefe^ it feems, are
fond of fuch monflrous curiofi-
ties of art.

On the top of the mountain
(lands the temple above-men-
tioned, which is likcwife very
lofty and fpacious, and richly
built. Near it is reared a (lately
tower, of moft curious work-
manfhip, of a round form, twelve
ftories high, with galleries, win-
dows, and other decorations,
like thofe that are commonly
feen in fome of their cities, a
tafte of which we (hall give
our readers, in a proper place.
Round the uppermoft gallerjr
of all, are hung, by lonz chains,
or wires, fifty bells, which are
fo eafily moved, by the leaft
blaft of wind, that they keep
a continual tinkling nieht and
day, and are feen and heard
at a great diftiance.

. .tut

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but in a plain homely drefs ; without gold, jewels, or even
the yellow garments, which colour is peculiar to the imperial
£umly.

This vaft- and noble pile of building ftands about half a Tbetemffi
mile from the eaft gate of the city, and is furrounded with a oftheS$HM
wall, near a mile in circuit. Within this iticlofure, are reared
feveral ftately apartments, and groups of lofty trees, and in
the centre a fpacious round hall, of a coniiderable height.
The dome, or roof, is fupportcd by eighty-two columns, cu-
rioufly painted with gold and azure, reprefenting the (ky.
Hither the emperor repairs, at the feafon, and in the homely
garb, above-mentioned, and facrifices a great number of bul-
locks, rams, goats, hogs, i;e. The whole ceremony is per-
formed in a proper manner, to cxprefs the deepeft humility.
The three otlier temples, for the other cardinal points, are no
lefe curious and rich, and ftand at the fame diftance without
the wall, each at it proper point of the compafs from it ; and
in thefe are likewife performed fome particular ceremonies, at
the fun's entrance into each of thofe cardinal figns. Befides
thefe, they have alfo a number of others, for the fun, moon, the
feven planets, twelve figns, twenty-eight conftelladons ; and an
infinite variety of others, both public and private, which we
have not room to mention ; and fhall conclude this head Mdth of tht
a remarkable ceremony, which is performed yearly, at that Earthm
which is called the temple of the Earth, and by every new mo-
narch, upon his acceffion to the throne ; and is as follows :

Immediately after his coronation, he iscondufted, with Armaria
all the royal formality, to this temple, which ftands on the able cere^
weft fide of the city, and at a fmall diftance without the wall, fmttfftr^
Here he divefts himfelf of hisf itnperial robes, and cloaths him-y^'**»'^4F
fdf in the habit of a common ploughman, and, in this humble *^' ^"^
guife, proceeds, with his numerous retinue, to a fpot q^^'^^^*"*
ground, kept for that purpofc, within the cinfture of the
temple. Here he finds a plough, finely varniihed and gilt,
to which two oxen, with gilded horns, are faftened; and
taking the plough in his hand, drives it the length of two or
three furrows. Whilft he is at this laborious exercife, his
emprefs, attended with her ladies, prepare fome homely di(h
for Jiis dinner, arid bring it to him, into fome private apartment,
in the moft ordinary veflels, and fit down and eat with him.
This excellent cuftom is of Chinefe extraft, and great anti-
quity, and was defigned to put their new monarch in mind,
that his revenue was owing to the fweat and labour of his
fabjefts } and that he ought to abftain from all fuperfluous
cxpences, and eafe them of all needlefs burdens •. And thus
• Lb Compte, Martinierb, Dv HALDE^ubi fup.

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9$ The Hifiory of China. B. !•

mich may Tcrvc, to give an idea of the pagods in this* city ;
dieir ftatoes> and other r^refentatioos of their deities, mona*
fieries, eSrtr. will be beft feen, when we come to fpeak of their
rdigion.
Kwhkmtfi As to the palaces of the noHemen, mandarins, and other
houfes officers of diftinftfbn, they have nothing worth defcribingy
MTtfff. bdfig all but one ftory high, and ratlKr convenient than
famptnons. We are even told, diat it would be a crime in
any of them to cxcd m this ^ay (K). Neither are they more
cnrioas in fiirnitorc, and honlhold otiuiments : and, indeed,
confidermg how liable they are to be deprived of their digni-
*C8, ttpOB the Icaft fufpidon, or diflike, it would be hnpru-
dcnt for them to do otherwife ; bccaufe thefe palaces belong-
ing properly to the emperor, whatever additional furniture they
bring into them muft remafai there, for the ofe of thofe that
fucceed thtrn*
f& imfe- Bkkdri wc leave this nietropcJis, it will not be unaccept-
rialohftr- aUe to our readers, if we give them fome (hort account of
^^^» its fo much'boafted imperial obfervatory. The Chine/e had
fadi an opinion of it, we arc told S that they thought no-
thfaig in the umverfc could come up to it ; and fome En-
nfpean travdlfers, upon their credit, had cried it up to fuch
a hc^t, that one of the moft celebrated mathematicians of
ihc toyal academy of PariSy hath made no fcruple to repre-
fciit it as one of the greateft prodigies of art and ingenuity,
of heaut^ and magnificence (L) : and yet, when this cele-

« Li GoMFtE, letter j* Dv Haldb Eiigli&,vol.ii. p. 138,
h feq. it al. >

(It) Our autlior ( 1 o) gives us " fall brazen machines, which,

atlinftanceofit,iaachiefman- "having been, during thefe

darin, who having built him an " 700 years, cxpofed on the

BorfefemeAing mor* lofty than ** plaCfotirts of thofe large tow-

tbe fcft, was accofed for it be- ** ers, are fbll as fair and intire

ftffe the emperor, by thofe wbofc «* as if they were but neV^-ly caft.

province it was to take notice of " The divifioas of thefe inftru-

fttch crimes. Whereupon the " mcnts are mofl exAd, th^ diC-

nobleman, fearful of the event, « pofition moft proper for their

made haftt to putldoWn die ^' defieri, and the whole work

hbufe, white the bufin^fs was «* performed With an inimitable

undei^ ^xaminatioh. and bfefore ** ncatneft. In a wo^d, it feemed

iC was decided agaittft him. ^ (^t CM^a ittfulted h^r fiftei-

(L) His words are to this ef. *• nations, an if, with all their

feft : " Nothing in Etitbfe is tcr " learningaiid riches, they dould

'« be compared ta it ; whetik^r " not ceme wf with her iii that

Hfor the magnificence Of ths " point (11)/'
" place, or the largenefs of thefe

li4, U CoH^tf, tettw 3. Oj) W. 'fc , ■

• ^ bratci

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br^t^ (bufbote came io.be viewe4, by; more proper wi Wr
bi^d judgi^^ it, appears to have beg^.of littk worth a$ to iis
^iiieot machines, and lefs as to its fituatkxi ; and that all that ia
it is now valuable for, is owing to the improrementi which h ^ff^
^mc made to it. by Fadier VertiiJL, a Fififi|/i Jefiiit» in high Verbictt
repute there, and who cauied a new fet of inftrumentft to be
made, with extraprdinary care, neatne&, and exadhiels. The
difficulty was to get them introdiiced into the obfisnratory;
and fnch was the Cbinefe fondoefs for their old defective ones,
above the moft perfeft new ones, that they could never have
been prevailed upqa^ to admit them, if they had not bee^
forced to it, by, aiji exif^fs^ ocder from the emperor Kang-hu

This fabric Awdsia a court of a moderate extent, and isiiferiiii*
built in die form of afqnare tower, fuch as were formerly
aied xo fortify the dty waUs, and is contiguous to that of the
city on the infide, and raifed but ten or twelve feet above its
bulwrjirk. The afcent up to the top is by a very narrow ftair-
cafe; and on the platform above were placed all the old in*
ftruments, "which, though but few, did yet talte up the whole
room, till Father yerbiej^ imtiKKjuqedhis new ones, wJiich hp
difpoCed in a more cpnvenknt order. Thefe are laiige^ well
caft, and embellilhed with repidjen rations of dragons,, 6a»
and, was but the neatnefs or the diviiioi^ anfwerable to the
work, and the telefcopes fafbened to them, acccMrdiqg to the
new method, inflead of pins, they would be equal to thofe of
Europe : but the Chinefe artificers were, it feems, either too
negligent, or incapable of following his directions. The
reado" will form a better idea of their difpofition, as well a$
of the wjbbole platfpi:m« by the draught h^e annexed, and by
the deicription of the dtki inftruments, which he will find
in the following note (M).- As to theold ones, they were, by

ordev

(M) Thefe are ; lines, inta ^60 degrees, and

I. An armillary or zodiacal each decree mto fixty minutes^

fpbere, fix feet in diameter and theie laft into portions of

(marked a in the plats), and ten feconds, by fmall pins,
iapported by foui^ra^ons heads, 2. An equinodial fphere, of

whofe bodies, after iome wind- fix feet diameter (marked b)^

ings, are fattened to the ends of fuoported by a dragon, cafi ia

two brafs beams, laid acrofs, a iJeeping pofiure, whofe claws.

diat bear the . whole weight of extend to the four corners of the

die fphere. Theie beams are pedeftal. This laft, like the'

fopported by /four lions, of the preceding, confifts of two croft

(ame metal, whofe heads may oeams, borne by four fmail

be raifed, or lowered, by fcrews. lions, which ferve to level it.*

The circles are divided, both The defign is grandj and well

iathcla andotttfide^ bycroff executed.

3. An

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30 theBpfy of China. B. I

T^rder of the emperor, fqt afide, as ufelefs, and laid in th*
hall near the tower, where they may be feen through a crofs-

barred

3. An azimuthal horizon
(marked c), fix feet in diame-
tcr» which confifts of one large
circle, placed horizontally. The
double ruler, which is juft its
diameter, and Hides over the
whole limb, carries round along
with it art upright triangle, the
upper angle of which is fa-
ftened to a perpendicular beam
fixed in the centre of the hori-
zon . Four twilled dragons bend
their heads underneath the great
.circle, to keep it firm, whilft
two others, winding round two
fmall pillars, raife themfelves
on either fide, in almoft a femi-
circular form, as far as the top
of the axis, to which they are
firmly fixed, in order to keep
the triangle fleady and upright.
* 4. A large quadrant (marked
#/), of fix hct radius, and gra-
duated at every tenth fecond.
The lead, which fixes it in
a vertical pofition, weighs a
pound, and hangs from the
centre by a very fine brafs-wire.
The alhidada, or ruler, eafily
Aides round the limb; and a
dragon, folded in feveral rings,
holds the parts firmly together,
left they (hould ftart from their
due pofition. The whole body
of the quadrant hangs in the
air;. and an immoveable axis
runs thro* its centre, by which
it may be turned towards any
part of the heavens. And, to
prevent its weight (haking it
out of its vertical pofition, two
other beams are raifed, one on
each fide, and firmly fixed be-
low up. n two dragons, and
fattened to the middle axis by
carved clouds, which feem to
defccnd from the Iky. The

whole work is firm, and well-
contrived.

5. A fextant, of eight feet
radius (marked e), rcprefenting
the fixth part of a great circle,
fupportedby an axletrcc, whofe
bafis is concave, and is held
fteady \)y dragons, and croiTed
in the middle by a brafs pillar ;
on the end of which is fixed a
machine, with wheels, which
facilitate the moving of the in-
ftrument. To the middle of this
machine is fattened a copper
bar, which reprefents one of the
radii of the iextant, and keeps
it immoveable. Its upper part
terminates in a thick cylinder,
which is the centre round which
the ruler turns ; and the lower
part reaches about two feet be-
low the limb, for the engine,
which ferves to raife and lower
it, to take hold on. Thefe un-
wieldy machines, however, are
fo difficult to be moved, that
they are rather an ornament to
an obfervatory, than of any ufe
to an obferver.

6. The laft is ja celeftial
globe, of fix feet diameter
(marked/), which is the hand-
fomeft, and beft made, of all
the reft. The body of it is caft
exadly round in brafs, and
neatly polifhcd; the ftars are
well formed, and in their true
places, and the circles of a pro-
portionable breadth and thick-
nefs. It is like wife fo exadly
hung, that the leatt force will
turn it round ; infomuch that a
child may elevate it to any de-
gree, though it weighs above
2000 pounds. A large concave
brafs bafis, with a chanel round
its edges^ is fupported by four
mif-fhapen

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C. 1 : The Hiftory of China; 3 1

barred \rindow, all covered with ruft, and buried in obll-
vioQ.

Our author tells us, however, of a gnomon of Chinefe in- ^^ miri-
Ycntion, which is pretty well contrived, and might be of ufe dia/tg9§\
to a careful aftronomer. It is placed in » lower room of the *•*••
fabric, and the flit which lets in the fun's rays, and is made of
two copper-plates fufpended, which, by being moved to and
fro, do make the entrance larger or fmaller, is horiaontally
placed, about eight feet from the ground. Under it lies a
table, trimmed with brafs, in the midfl of which there is
ftrack, lengthwife, a meridian line, fifteen feet long, divided
aaofs by other lines, which are neither exaft nor fine. On
the fides they have alfo cut a number of finall holes, wherdn
to put water, in order to fet the table exaftly horizontal*
Tlus, and the infbuments above-mentioned, is all that b re- Fh>i per^
markable in this famed obfervatory, in which there zxt fvve/ons em^
mathematicians employed night and day, each in a proper apart- pity^^ '"
meat on the top of the tower, to obferve all that pafles over «w^'*^«*-
thdr heads. One of them is gazing towards the zenith, and-^^'***'^''*"*
the others towards the four points of the compafs, that no-
thing may efcape their notice. Their obfervations extend
themfdves not only to the motions of the heavenly bodies^
but to fires, meteors, winds, rain, thunder, hail, ftorms, and
other phsenomeua of the atmofphere ; and thefe are carefully
entered in their journals, and an account of them is brought,
every morning, to the furveyor of the mathematics, and re-
g^ed in his office ". And thus much fhall fuffice for the

"> See Le Compte, Martiniere, Du Halde, and others
above cited.

imf-(hapcii dragons, placed at centre of the concave, arc all

equal diflances, whofe briftly moved at pleafure, without ftir->

hair fuflains a magnifioent hori- ring the bafis, which ilill conti-

zoo, of a confiderable breadth, nues fixed. This makes it eafy

and corioufly wrought and or- to place the horizon level, fo as

namented. The meridian, which to interiedl the globe juft in the

fopports the axis of the globe, middle. The whole is a$ well

is apheld by clouds ilTuing out finifhed as if it had been done

of the balls, and Aides eafily by thtbcfk European 2imfi; and,

between them j its motion be- as mod of thefe fix machines arc

ingfacilitatcd by hidden wheels, ten feet high, they are, for the

by which the whole globe is convenience of the obfervers,

eafily turned to any elevation : encompafTed with marble ftcps, "

befides this, the horizon, the in the form of amphitheatres,

dragon', and the brafen beams as the reader may fee by the

wMchcrofs each other at the plate (12).

(12) U Cmpif, ukiftip* Du Hald*^ W. ii. p. 1 38, ^ ftf» & m!.

dty

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34 Thi Wftory of Qhito. B. ]

City otPe-kingr', in defcribing which, we have been the mot
diffbfe, as it is the metropolis of this vaft. empire, and is, a
it were,, the foul of it, which puts in motion, and keeps I
ordfer^ every part of it. ^1 that needs be added is, that i
hath jurifdiftion over fix cities of the fecond, and twenty o
tfie third' rank, befiHes the general one which it hath over tii<
"Whole realm, by its fix fupreme courts which fit in it j an ac
count of which will be given, wjien we come to fpeak of theii
government. The other head cities of this proviace, and
their inferior ones, are as follow :
t,nedty 2. PJLf-TING-FUy the refidcnce of the viceroy ; which
^Pau- ha.th three cities of the fecond, and feventeen of the third
ting fu. rank. It hath a lake in the middle of it, which is chiefly
filmed for producing vafl quantities of a fort of flowers, called
by the Cbinefe lyen-ivha ; and which the reader will find de-
ftribed'in the margin (N).

&Hq^ 3. HO'KTEN-FUy fo called, becaufe it is feated between
eorfii; . two rivers, is near four miles in compafs ; and hath two cities
of the fecond, and fffteen of the third rank, under itsjurif-
dJftion.
4. Chin- 4f CHTN-TING'FU, feated near a fine river, is of an ob-
ting-fu. I6ng figure, well walkd, and near four miles in circuit. It

(N) This flower feems to be
the fame with our nymphea^ or
water-lily, which, tho' little va-
lued ' by ^us, is mtrch admired
and efweiBcd' by the Chinefii
both for its beauty and medici-
nal, qualities. The truth is,
they bellow fo much pains in
improving it, particularly in
their aitifcial fKhponds, that it
gpws large, doable, 'and very
•lively in its colours, which are^
commonly a mixture of white
and violet, or red and white.

This flower (hoots up about a
yard or more above the water,
not unlike our tulips and con-
fifts.of alitdeballfup^rted by
aJxnalLfUament, nuich like that
winch, is found in a lily ; its
fincU is^ pleafant, and its fruit
of the bigaefs of a hazel-nut,
and^contains a white kernel, ve-
ry, grateful to the tafte ; the root

is knotty, like that of reeds, its
pith and fubftance very wHite.
There is nothing in this plant
but what is of fome fervice 1
and they make even a meal of
it, which they ufc upon feveral
occafions. The leaves are long,
and float upon the water ; they
are fattened to the root by long
ftrings, and are ufed by garden-
ers to wrap their ware in.

The virtues which the Chinifi
phyficians attribute to this plant,
are, that it is a great refrefher and
nourifher of nature and a great
rcftorer of decayed conftitunons.
But, as to what Kerchtr^ and
fome other authors, add, that
its root will foften copper, t^
being put into a man*s moath
with it (13), it hath been finct
exploded by thofo who tried th«
experiment with lets prepoT*
fe&oni

(\l) Ktrsber, Du Ba/Jf, p, 12, ^80.

hath

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C. I. ^ Hift&ty e/" China. |^

hath thifty-two cities under it, viz. five of the iecond, and
twenty-feven of the third rank. North of it are mountains
which produce a great variety of medidnal lierbs ; and upon
which are feen feveral ftatdy monuments reared to thdr he-
roes, and one in particular confecrated to the memory of the
firft emperor of liic dynafty of Han.

5. SHUN-TE'FU hath but nine dries under it, all of the J. Shun.
tMrd rank ; but which arc very confiderable, and wdl peopled. ^-^^
The whole territory is fisrtile, and well watered ; and, ambng

other things, produces a fine fand, which is ufed for pdiihing
of predous ftones, and the beft touchftones for gold in the
whole empire.

6. ^ANG-PING'FUy fituate on the fouthem part of6.Qua«g.
the province, hath only nine cities of the third rank under its ping-fA,
jorildiftion, and nothing particular worth mentioning.

7. 7AY-M1NG-FU hath one dty of the fecond, and7-.Tay.
dghteen of the tlurd rank, under it. ming-ffr.

8. rc/^(7.P/iV^-FC/ fa advant^icoufly fituate, being en- 8. Yung-
compafled by the fea, by rivers, and by mountains covered ping-fiu
with very fair trees. It hath only one dty oi the fecondi and

fi?e of the third rank.

Not far from it is the fort di Shang*hay^ which fa as It
were the key of the prorince c^ Lyau-tong, and is fittiate
near the great wall, which extends itfdf, mm the bulwark
built in the fea, for the {pace of aleague, in a plain country,
before it afcends the hiUs.

9. SUTEN'JVHA'FU fa a large, well-built dty,* full of 9- Swcn^
inhatntaats, and feated among the mountains, not. far fix>m wha-fiL
the great wall. It hath two cities of the fecond, and dght

of ^ tUrd rank: befides feme forts alpng the wall, fbongly
garrifoned, to guard the entrance between China and Tartary.
Its mountains produce fine cryfhd, marble, and porphyry, and
a fwt of yellow rat, larger than thoie of Europe^ whofe fkins
are in great requefl among the Chinefe.

II. ^he Province of Ky^g-nan.

T^HE next provioce in dignity (for, in fuch hiflorical works t. Ky-
■■• as thfa, we think it much more proper to mentioa them ang.^au.
tfooat&iag to then- rank, than as they ftand contiguous to each
other, as is done in geographical ones) Is that now called
Kyang'-noHj or Nan-king, aild is the moft fertile, trading, and .
wealthy, of the empire. It is bounded on the weft by thofe "~

^ Ho-nan and ff^-quang; on. the fouth by Che-kyang. 3,nd
Ifyang'Ji ; on the north by Shan-tong ; and, on the eaft, by
die gulf of Nan-king. It extends itfdf from the aotji
Mod. Hist. Vol. Vm. C to

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^ ?*r a^^ ^ Chinas B. 1

' to»the aytli dbgrecft iatitude, and from the j 12th to du

' i)i9th of caft iongittidc; fo that, for its extent, as wcU a

op ilence, it jufily dderves at kail the ieoond raaky thotigl

*l^ Chifiefe imter Km^ in his furrcy, places it hat in' «hi

-«£d h. We have afready obferved, thatt thedntieat «»pefOR

ke,3t their conftant refidencc at its motropofis trf Nan^king

•Qi, for reafons of ftaite^ they remored it* tso Pe^tig ;. ^lot

withftanding 'which confideraHe lot, it hathv by the jadnan

ta^e of it^ masitiine ocMmneree, as wdl as the ndbnefe of it*

:(al, and vafl nuiaber and induAry of tts inhahitaotiB, -beefi

F^ /r/- ;€aabled to keep up its mtknC fpkndor aod rank v iftionuch

hute to tbt that the yearly tribute it pays to the emperor in tice, fittcs,

st$%uH. cotton, fait, ijc. atfAwnts, cannkimtas annky ^cording to

Martinif who had it from, the then govBrnor 0^ ihe pcK>¥iocc,

to near 32 suUians t^ tads (O),. or dixcats, eaKbifive of tite

duties arifiog^ itom all that is itoported or exported, £>r the

receiving of which ther^e are pudper tiffiaers affighod *. The

pumber of fiunQies in it is computed, accordkig to the CM-

nefir rogifterB, to 1,^9,816^ and the jncn to* 9,^67,42% or

inear ten miUicms ; amocig whom, the city of Bhang-^Kty^ 'aod

villages belonging to it, are faid to contatm £Oo,6oo, employed

in weaving of caUico.

yunfdtc' KYANG'NJN bath fourteen ^ft^ or cities of the fitft

tion, .Kank J. under which areiBacty-thi»e of the fecMKi atad dnrdr

.befides towns and viUage^ without nu«ber, all of theei large,

ManufaC' populous, and wealthy ; for all the oommodities that ceace

^res from d Ay of the cities, but dpeciaily it€«n the tapital of this

t^imed. province, fuch as thofeof japan-work^ ink, paper, and odwr

> See^Ls Combts, MAjtrriii, BvHALDa>, amdeympsabo^

cited;

o. (O} Equiyakat to sl difie/e 4mmu/, to 5«99{fe34 iack^ ; rajf

ounce of filver, or to about filk to 6863 pounds ; wrougb^^

eight fhillings and feven pence ditto, 28,452 pieces ; linen to

fterline (14). 2,077 pieces; that of cotton is*

Perhaps it*wiH not be unac- paid iniilvev, and is no lefs coo-

ceptable to the reader, if we fiderable ; and the reft of thein

fubjoin here a fuller account of cemniodities bears a proportion

this tribute, by way of fpadmen; to their affluence ; but that of

feeing all the other provinees the fait, which is ^ here made

. pay the fame, and the difference in vaft quantities along the idt*

^iB only in the more or lefs of coafts of the province, k th»

.each commodity. That of the biggeft of all (15).

jice here amounts, communibus

ft^) SeeDu HafJe. Engtifh, p, 73, fib mu (1%) Stt M/btini^

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ttMUzfaftuies, in which they drive a vaft tr^ck, arc more
fiftfiemed, and bear a greater pnce, than thofe of any other
|nmaQe$. The inb^tante of kyang-nan are pcdite and Liormd
caudsoDSi and have a jaore thaa ordinary "difpofition for the mem.
iomoes; iofcN&uch that it is famed for the great number of
ixbrs it pcoducesy who, by their merit, attain the higheil
foAs and dignities of the em^. It hath but few moun-
tUQS, except towards the fouth ; aJ^ the reft is a fruixfol
chaafMin, abouiKliz^ with all the noce(Iari<& and convenien-
des flf life. It abounds with oonvenient fea-ports, reibrted Gnta
<p by an tnnmaf raMc quantity of ve&ls from moft ptrts-of /r«i^.
J^'t and a. g^oeat number of canals, aod fome navigable
niGTS, for the convemenQC of import aod export. The ntok
cooiiderahle of thefe are the Tang-t/e^ which runs quite thro* '
tfaeaiddle of it; and the /fS^dnig'-^,. which bounds, it on (be *
aorth.

This province, befides its Idurteen diftn£b, each under
its proper capital, is divided uito two govemments, (he eaft-
em aod wefhsm, each undcra nef|A:^iTe viceroy ; the former
of whom hath hisrefidence at Si-chew-fi^ and the latter at
^ang-hing-fti. The order in which they ftand is as follows :
I. Nan-king ; 2. S4'chnv ; j. Song'fyang; 4. Chang^cbew i
j. (Mn^yang ; 6. Whay^ngang: 7. Tang'chnv i 8. Ngan*
imgi 9. Wbey-chew i 10. Ning^ue ; ii. On-chew i 12.
7<gf-^g;; i^, Fong^yang; 14. lyu-chew. -

To tbrfc may be added the ifland of Xfong^mng^ which
fikenrife belongs to tbds province, and of which we £alLfpeak
at the Old of this article, after we have given a ihort defcrip-
tkm of what is moft remarkable in thofe fourteen capitak,
Had dpecially in that of Nan-king.

N'AN'KING, alias Kyan-ning-ftty capital <rf the whole Nan-king
praaince, andonceftyledtbefpadous, ftately, opulent, none- ^cnW.
&ch, ifc. ftandsin latitude J2, and eaf): longitude 116, or
two degrees 38'' eaft fixmi the meridian of Pe-Aing* It is ExtenK
by far the largeft city in the whole empire, though much .re-
duced of its antient extent j of which the Chinefi tell you,
that if two horfemen fet out in the morning at one of the
gates, and galloped around it at different Ways, they would not
meet tilLthe evening (P). The Q^rjp ,o( .Nan-Mng is one of

the

(P) The furvey of DJony/us. been confiderably larger ^ info-

£b0 gires.it between iixteeQ and much that feme writers have

[eventeen French leagues, that computed it to have h^eaxhirty

isi about forty-eight miles, in leagues, or ninety miles. How

circuit : but it appears, from mmch i^ hath (hrunk from ibac

the ruios of it^ ola wall, to have time, may be reckoned from the

C a ' laft

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Palaeif

and other
huiUingSf
difirojtL

1%e Hifiory of^ China. B. 1.

the moft irregular in the whole province, if not in the whole
eiDpire ; for which Du If aide, who hath given us a (ketch of
ity gives this reafon : that the hills within it, and the nature
of the ground about it, could not well admit of a more re-
gular form. Its decay hot only fyom its antient extent, but
from its priftinfe grandeur, wais owing to the removing of the
imperial refidenct, and fupreme tribunals (on which account
it had the title bf Nan-king^ or fouthem court), to that of
Pc'king, fince Which the Tartars have given it the name of
Kyang'Tiing ; and tho*, in common difcourfe, it be ftill called
by its old one, yet it is never fuffered to be ufed in any pub-
lic inftruments. tt hath not only loft its antient name, but
all. the other monuments of its royal grandeur. The impe-
rial palace, once a moft magnificent ftruAure, hath nothing
now left but its ruins. I'he ftately monuments of its an-
tient monarchs, and other public buildings, are all run into
decay ; and even its once fo famed obfervatory lies now ne-
gle&ed« and almoft demolUhed ; moft of tbofe fuperb edi-
fices being deftrbyed by the avarice of the Tartars^ who firft
invaded it, and out of hatred to the Chinefe dynafty then
reigning.

NunAerof ABOUT one third part of the dty hath fince lain wafte;

'vejels. the reft, however, is not only well built and inhabited,, but
drives on a very confiderable commerce by means of the Tang^
tfe above-mentioned, which, being a large navigable river, i^
ever bringing in a prodigious number of barges ; fome of
which, efpecially the imperial ones, are nearly as big as, if
not exceeding, our middling vefieis. All thefe come into that
river, from other parts of the empire, by the help of a good
number of canals ; and in fuch quantities, that a ftranger
cannot fiDrbear being furprifed at the vaft hurry that reigns
through the whole city ; nor at the prodigious number of
thefe barks, which, we are told, were thought by fome of the
Jefiiits, and firft European adventurers, to have been fuffident
to forni a bridge between that capital and Eurtpe. What
adds to the wonder, is, the richneis of thofe veflels, not only
in their coftly lading, but in their fine paintings, carvings, ai^d
r gilding, and the vaft crouds that are feen upon them, and
' make it appear like a great fair kept upon the water

lafi furvey which Du Halde tells
us was. taken of it, which gives
it) wail no more than fixty-
fcvcn CJ^neJp lis, or live leagues

and half, oftwemy to a degree,
and about 466 mihom over,
which is ihort of eighteen mSei

(16).

(ti) Du Haldf, uhi fup.f. jg.

TUK

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C I. The Hifiory cf China. J7

The ifreets <^ the city, though narrower ^y much thaa Prt/mf
thofe of Peeking, and other Chinefe towns, arc however cuiri- ^«**iw«r.
oofly paved, and OHiieqaently freer from duft and dirt. Sooio
of diem are covered m the middk with hrge myble flabi (
lad 10 the fides with variety of pebble and other ftoiic$/fo neat*
If inlayed, that it would be a delight to walk [thro* them, if
they were not fo gready thronged from morning to nigbt. The PukUe
city-gates, (bme of the pagods, palaces, arches, towers^ and huiUini$i
other public bnlldings, appear quite fplendid, efpedaUy the
palace of the vkeroy, who always refides here. But the moft
cnrioas and fiat^ly fabric in this city, is its oAagon tower,
which will be more properly defcribed in the /equel, amone
the artificial rarities <^ this country. The number of its in- 'Nnmhert^-
h^tants is no lefs furprifmg.; and hath been computed by inhahu^
Dionyfius Kao, Father Le Compter and others, to amount to ams^
two millions of fouls, exclufive of its great carrifon (Q).
The tribute which it pays to the crown, and the cuftoms for
imports and exports, .come to an immenfe fum : but, befides
thcfe, the city fends every year to Peeking five large veflels
laden with the fineft fillcs, clothes, and other rich comnuxli-
ties, in order to ingradate itfelf with ihi&Tartar monarchs (R),
and to fecure the proteAion of its commerce.

Nothing is more pleafant than the territory about this Territory
dty, which not only abounds with all neceflaries, but is ^ut it.

(QJ We muft, however, ob- caafe the emperors bear tha
ferve, that fome later writers dragon in their arms, are fo re-
have ftrack off near half that fpeSed, that every veHel it ob*
namber, exclufive of its garri- liged to lower their fails to them,
fon, which coniiUs of 40,000 There is likewife another fett of
men, and which the governor or them, which go from Nan -king *
Heuteoant-general of the fouth- to Pt-Jting every Afrilxx il%,
ern provinces is obliged to keep with great qaantitiet of a peca*
ap here (17). Du Halde hath liar fort of fifh caught in this
faid nothing precifely aboat it ; neighbourhood, and which are
fo diat the reader is at liberty to covered with ice to keep it freih.
believe which fide he will; but And, tho' thefe two cities are
to us it feems, upon ^he whole, above 600 miles diftant from
as if this laft calculation came each other, we arc told thcfe
as much too ihort as the other vcffels muft perform the vbyaae
may be fuppofed to go beyond in eight Or ten days, under ic* '
die real mark. vcre penaldes, that fi(h beins
(R) Thefe vcflHs, which arc rooftly for the emperor's uiS
ftyl«d lung-y- chew, or the fliips ( 1 8 ) .
of the dragon's doathing, be-

(n) C9r»eHlnkaivu t^ Hartiaiert, & at. (%%} Bimikii, Dm

C 3 mow*

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58 . ; fife Hifiory^fVAm. B. L

moreo^r adcwted with the greajteft variety of villaft, pleafarc*
houfes, turrets, gardens, orchards,^ and other embellifhinetttfl;;
V^.ayfmng that can heighten the profpeft of it. The moft delightful
trof^uh. objeft of all thefe is a wood of about twelve miles in com-
pds; and planted with ftatcly pincs^ in the heart of which \»
raifeda tfiount of a fufficient hdght to overtop them, which
.. . is.<:i6vered .with temples, and other fcpulchral monuments of
- the antient Chinefe nionarchs. It ftands about fix mUes from
Xht city ; and about the fame distance from it, on the faoie
plain, is another mount, upon which is raifed a fpacious terraee
of lai^e fquare ftones, with four flights of marble fteps, aid^
on that, a temple truly royal and magnificent. The roJof is
fupported by two rows of marble pillars, finely carved a»d
polifhed, twenty-four fefcthigh, and of a proportionable thicks
• nefs : . every thing elfe, both within and without the ftru6hire»
is anfwcrable to it. . The gates are lofty, and Curioufly carved
in bas-relief, and inlaid with gold and filver, The windows
are fenced with a fmall kind of wire^net, of the fame metal ;
and lb furprifingly fine, that it can hardly bfc perceive^*
Within-fide are feveral ftatdy thrones, inriched with pearls^
and other precious ftones of inimenfe value, and the moft cx-
" . ccllent workmanfhip; We omit many other curious things

belongii^ to this city, both within and without it, iot want
Learned • of room « ; and ihall only add, that it abounds with men erf
tpen* learning in all fciences, and with many noble libraries, as well

as rich bookfellers fhops, fumifhed with the grcateft plenty
and variety of valuable books. The paper, ink, and other
faiftruments for 'sVriting and printing, do here excel all othet^
in the empire. Nan-king hath only eight cities of the thirc(
rank under its jurifdiftion.

Having dwelt fo long on the defcription of thefe two ce-
lebrated capitals of the Chinefe empire, we fliall be much more
\>nti in the remainder not only of this, but of the other pro-
vinces, and content ourfelyes with juft mentioning what is
rooft curious in every one ; referring our readers, for z fuller
account of them, to the authors laft quoted in the margin.
S<i-ckcw. ^. The fecondcity in the province of Kyang-nan is Si^'
chtuj^ the capital of the eafterh divifion called I-tong, and is not
only large iand populous, and rich enough to vie with Nah'
'king laft defcribed, hut is, fqr its commodious and pleafeD?
Ctu^tion, cfteemed an earthly paradjfe. It is compared to
Venice, on account of the many canals that run through its
ftreets y but with thi^ difiference, that th? ©ne ftands on th^

i. \ >. Dc ba^ tjd.^LE CoMi»Ti, CoauBiUi, MARTiKtBRE, At-
l^AffSincnf. Dutch anibaK tp Chiba, Dv HaI'PB,& al.plar. ' *

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(ea, aad ,tbis La freflx w^r. The caoals are cap^doos «noii{^(/V/ ««
to csurry , the largeft barg^ ana are coQtIauaUy crouded wuii/^^ 'm'a*
thcnu Siirchew^ like fame others ia CJ/nii, may be reckoned '"^•
three cities ; one of which, within the wall^ is computed
^ve fbqr leagues in comf afs ; another ia the uiburbs, which Faft nMm-
eacteods a great way on both £d^ of the canals ; and a third Iftr o/^ve/'
ia the barks, which are £b many floating hoafe6» ranged od fi^^*
Che water in ieveral rows, above a league in length, many of
whi^ are equal if bulk to onr third-rate, (hips ^

The tcnitixyaboHtic^aQdof thecitiesunderitsjuririiflion. Commercu
b fertile and delightful, rich and opulent ; and all carry on h
codideraUe commerce not only with other parts of Chinas
bat with Ja^oHy itom which this province is divided by a nar*>
row chaady which the trading vellels commonly crofs in two
or three days, with a fair wind. The chief manufaAores Manvfmc^
here ace brocades and embroidery, which ace the. fineft and twres^
cheapeft in proportion in the whole empire* The city hath
jix ftately gates tOFwards the water-fide, and as many towards
the knd i and a jarifdi6tioQ over one city of the fecond, and
feven of the third rank, all of them beautiful and rich, and
abont one and an half or two leagues ia compafs^.

The other cities of this province have nothing more re-, ^

fflarkable than what hath been already obferved, except that .
of Wbn^-chew^ whofe mountains have mines of gold, filvcr,. jyi>^^ ^
and copper, and whofe territory is faid to produce the beft bqU^ ^,
tea- Thzt Kif Fong-yang-fA, the birth-place of ^wf-z;!?, the
&ft emperor of the preceding dynafty, was once defigned by
chat monarch for his imperial refidence, and a plan was
drawn for making it one of the nobleft cities in the empire :
but the unfitnefs of the ground, fcarcity of water, and other
reafons, made him exchange it for that of Nan^ktag^ to whicli
he removed his ieat. It retains, however, fome marks of
the royal magnificence, fuch as ^ fi^tely temple, ij^tnc pagods,
andjQonuments, which th# reader may £ind in the author laft
quoted. '^ .

The laft thing to be mentioned of this province, is the IJUndif
jifland oi X/hng-mingt feparated from it by a fmall chanel of Tfong-
five or fix leagues. It is about twenty leagues long, and fiv^ ™^"g ^^
or fix in breadth ; and was formerly a barren de{art, to which A'*'^^*
robbers and banditti were banifticd, and left to ftarve : to
tfoid this, neceffity foon drove th^m to cultivate it ; after
which, fonac poor Chinefe families came over, and helped td
improve it, as far as the ground was capable of it ; fo that

y DuHaLDE, ubi.fup. P* 74^ Le CplylPTE,MARTiNIER|E

C^RHEILLSi fub voc. <Sr al. • * lid. ibid.

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40 the Hijt0ry of Oamz. B. I

/// pro-' WW (ome fpots of it yield wheat, rice, barley, and oiEb4
ilffci^ coarfer grain; cotton^ limons, and other fruity: but till
greateft produft is fait ; which is here made in fuch plenty
as to ferve the inhabitants, and is tranfported in Vaft quatitd
ties into the continent. This fait b made out of a (brt O
greyifti earth, which grows difperfed in fpots here and ther^
on the north fide of the ifland, and of the largenefs of sui
acre or two.

Another part of the ifland, towards the north, [pro-
duces naturally a great plenty of reeds, of which they driv«
a confiderable commerce: with fome of them they build
very handfomc country-houfes ; and the reft is fold to fervc
for fuel not only to the inhabitants, but likewife along the
co«fts. Their other lands ^eld them two harvefts, the .one
in May 9 wlych is of com, rye, barley, and rice ; and the
other in September, which chiefly confifts of cotton and rice ;
which laft is here moft curioufly cultivated.
City and THERE is but one city in the whole ifland, which is of the
iovfM, third rank, and encompafl^ vdth high' walls fupported by
good ten'aces, and furrounded with a ditch full of water : but
there are in the arable lands fuch a vafl number of villages,
that they feem contiguous to each other. The air is whol-
fome and temperate 5 and the country pkafant, but interfered
with a great number of canals, to prevent its being laid under
water •,

III. The Province of Kyang-fi

Kvane-fi T^ bounded on the north hy Kyang-nan ; on the weft by
dJcriMf Hi-quang : on the fouth by ^ang-tong ; and, on the
caft, by Fo-kyen and Cheeky ang. It extends Itfelf from the
24^ degree and one-half to Ae 30th of latitude, and from
the iio« to the ns<* io' of eaft longitude. Thcmoun-
tdns which part it from ^ang-teng and Fo-kyen are almoft
ioacccffible and barren (S) i but, being once j^fled over, dif*

cover

• Dv Haldi, ubi fup. p. 78, k feq. Lettres cor. & cdif.
' ' vol. xj. p. £34, ic feq.

(S) The vaft ridges of moun- Chinefe or TarNn-if and keep

tains which run betw^n this themfelves fo by the inacceffible

province and thofe of Fg-fyen height and raggednefs of their

und ^ang'tongj or Canton^ are habitations, which are for die

inhabited oy a rude and favage mofl pare in deep caverns on the

fort of people, who pretend to tops of thofe mountains. From

be iadependent from either the thefe they come frequently down

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C« x« tbi Hifi9fyof China; 4k

oyvtr very firmtfiil vaHies,aiid]^ains exceedioffly weQ ImproiFed.
The iR^le province is \veU watered andfiertik ; but is fo j)o- hs f^pm*
pnkms withal, that the lower lands can fcarce fnffice to nir* tomjnifsih
m(h them with a foffidency of com and rice ; fo they are €mMferf
ifXQoi to live very parfimonionfly ; and are, on that account, -A**^*
become rhc fubjeft oi fcom and raillery among thdr n^h* .^
boors (T) t yet ^ley commonly are endowed with an excd-
loit genius; and majay of them advance themfdves to die
l%hdl pofts by thdr learning and merit. The number of
people are computed to amount to 1,363,629 fiunilies, or
^549»Soo inen ^.

The country abounds with lakes, brooks, and rivers ; £^^^ ^
(bme of the laft very large and navigable, pardculariy the ^#ri,lec.
G»r, or Kofiy al. Kyang^ which runs through the whole pro*
rioce, and recdves a great number of others in its courfe.
All thefe yield a great plenty and variety of fifti', pardculariy
ialmon, trout, and fturgeon ; and the mountains which en-
oompa& it are dther covered with woods, or are famed for
their minerals and medidnal herbs. The lake called Po^kyang^ L^h •f
hi is pardculariy remarkable for its largenefs and depth, it Po-yang.
being 300 miles in circuit, and navigable by the largeft (hips :

^ Le Comptb, Martinibre, Cornbillb, & al. < Mar-

Tim, CORNEILLB, & al.

in bands to plunder the lower didnefs, and for which they give

grounds; but dare not venture them the dde of mice. There

nr from their dens, for fear of are indeed vaft numbers of

falling into the hands of fome them ; who, not bdne able ta

of die garrifons, which are here fubiift at home, wander, about'

kept in ftrong cafBes in good the empire under the nodon of

numbers, and from whom they fortune- tellen, jugglers, conju-

can tx^cSt no mercy. rers, &r. } and fome of thra.

Great pains have been uken who have had a learned educa.

at different times by the govern- don, are taken into famili^,

meat^eithertofubdueorexdrpate and ferve as tutors to their

lhefewildfreebooters,butasyet children. It muft be owned,

without fuccefs ; tho^ their redttc- however, that the generality of

don would be fo much inore ad- tbe people of this province are

vantageous,asthevallies between much given to fuperftidon, and

d>em are very fruitful ; and fome hold the dodrine of the tranf-

of the mountains have mines of migration of fouls ; obferve a

gold, copper, and lead (19). number of heathenifh fails, and

(T) The neighbouring ))ro- many other fuch fuperfddous
vinces defpife them for their fooleries, above any other pro-
frugality, which they iyle for- vince (zo).

JmmK

19) C»nmUi di^, LMMartinitrit Dm UM, &gl, (20} L§Mariimif

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41 ncHf/htyifCbkgu B, !•

kit* (aid to receive ail the rivers ia tl^ froYiofcy^ad h^th

its borders covered with large to^q^ and yllla^, vibaifk drive

« co&fiderable trade upoa it. Ther^growlikewifegrcat quaiw

titiee of the lyea-wfea^ or water-lily, upoa the, fcrface elf it j

which pkat we have defGribed in a former aofe ^^ 'W^t rea-

tinepor- ders this lake Rloft famous^ is, the fine china-ware that is

€tlain ma- made in fome of its neighbourhood, particularly in the tow^Q.

mnfaaure of King-te-fim^ or, more properly, Kina-u^ching^ in thcdif-

^/ King- ^1^ of ZhaU'chew'fA ; and is the fineC moft ia requeft, ami

«c-ching. jua^g Jq ij^g greateft quantities, of any in the whole empire.

The caufe of its er.traordinary beauty is fuppofed to be toruG

- peculiar property in the water ; iincc wc are told, that the
Tame oiateri^ls and woriooen wiU sot producethe like in any
other pbce ^.

7hat nahU This jttftly-famed borough, which is as populdUs as tacdk .
town de- oities' ia China^ and o^y wants the walls to merit die name
/cribe/L of one, is computed to have above a million of inhabitants^ .
moiUy employed in tiiat maaufaAure ; the reft being the

- merchants who deal ia that wafe» whole hpufes take up a
great deal of room,- and who empl<^ avail number of work-
men (U). The town extends itfelf along the banks of a fine
river, a league and half ; the ftreets are long and ftrait, tho*
rather too narrow, crouded, and noify ; and interfef): each
other at certain diftances in a very regular manner, and not

Vumher of^^'^ f^r^P ^^ wafte gfound Is to be fpared in it. They rec-^

furnaca. i(C»he4 aildently but srfKiut 300 porcelain fiunaces in the fd^Kre^

wliich, We tre tcdd, are now increafed to above 500 ' : th^

clouds of Cnoke and flames of which, afcending in diflerent

parts, ftiew at once the length, breadth, and circumference

< See before, p. 32. note (N), « N^vahett a, L^

CoMPTE, Martiniers, Du Halde, S^ al. ^ Du Halds»
p. 80, & ftq.

{!)) They are reckoned to employmen found for young and

confume in this pl^ce, one day old, ftrong and weak; and evea

with another, 10,000 loads of the lame and blind, may get a

rice, and one thoufand hogs a living by grinding of colours,,

d^S befides other animals, lifh, fcfr .* There is likewife a vaft

fowl, tff. which makes pro- number ofhands kept; employed

vifions much dearer than in other in the barges that ply to an4

parts of this province; notsvith- from this place, and extend

Aahding which, it is become the thenfelves in two or three rows

refuge of an infinite number of on the river, fome miles in

poor families,Jwho could fubfift length (21).
no- where fo well ; for here is

(ai) La Martiniet* Juh, vof, he C^mptfj Du Hjldt^ ^ 0I

•f

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ff k $ ^i^ich, \a the iugiu» appears like z krgt dty «I1 m ~
SxCf or Uie a huge furnace, with its vail n«mber of vcaltf
kofes. Str^Bgersrare not admitted to Aay» or ereo lodge at
f<^, at King'U-chmff^ urdefs fome refponfiUe peribos of
t£ town wiU aafwer for their good behaviour. This rq^u*
ia^a, joined to that which is obferved day aad aight ia i^
and which is the fame as in the great citie8> keeps all thic^
iegDod order, and fecures tbe place £rom tbe attempts of an
ia&^e number of robbers %.

T31S province hath 1 3 fu% cm: o^ital^, which, with tbe Capittd
diifai^ ^ tbe iecoad and third order^ under them, are ^cities tf
follow : Kyang.fi;

I. NANG^HANG^ the metropolis of the whde; which i. Nang^
iiadione dtyc^ the iecood, and feven of the third rank, ua- flun^
4er Its jurififiAion.

X. ZHAU-CHEWhzAi only feven diftiifte of die tlurdi. Zhau-
order, befide* tbwns and villages in great number, . chew.

J. ^ANG^SIN, which, though fituate in the midft of 5.QH*ng-
fi^-rae^Btf^ns, is yet well cultivated and inh^ited. « It ma-* ^^
BB^Ames a good fort of paper, and the beft candles in all
the empire ; and hath only feven diffari^s <^ the third nmk
«iwfer 'm jufifiiiftioa.

4. NANG'KING, or Nan-king-fA, is pleafaotly fituattf' Nangi-
on the lake Po-j^^^ lately mentioned ; and abounds with fiib, l^g*
corn, rice, <bc>\ and a kind of hemp, of which they make

ft good fidnm^ doth. Its jurifdiftion extends only over four
dd^ of die third rank.

5. KTEW'KTANG is fituate about four miles oi^ the c. Kyew-L,
Borth-weft fide of the lake Po-yang^ and on the fouth fide ^yang.

of the famed river Tang-tfe^ which, though here at the di-
flasGe of near 100 leagues from the fea, fumifties it with
pl^ty o£ laknon, dcdplms, trout, i;c. The river, which
runs along the walls of it, ebbs and Hows at the new and
full moon ; and runs fo flowly thence hito the Tea, that its
toBrfe IS hardly pferoeived, Our author doth not tell us
what jorifdi^lion this city hatli. ^ ,

6; KYEN'CHANG hath but three citiesof the third rahk 6. Kycn-
imder it 5 and is only noted for a good fort of wine made of chang,
nee, and a kind of linen mucheibemed, and worn during
the fummer-ht^ts.

7. Fd'CHEW, or Vi-che^v, hath fix cities of the third 7. Ffi-
nmk. Its walls are of a large extent \ yet it hath hardly chew.
j;o,ooo inhabitants, it having been facked, and almoft de^

I py Halpb, ttbi fup. Lk Qovlvtj, fi al.

ftrojred.

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J4 ''^^ ^i^^ '^/ China. B. J

ftrbyed, by the Tartars in the late wars ; and a great par
of its antient buildings lying in ruins.
S. Lin- 8. LIN'KTANG hath no more than fo\ir ddcs of th^
kyang. third rank under it. Its chief trafEck confifts in cnangesy witl
which the furroundtng mountains, which are cut into tcr^
races, are covered, and from whence they are fcnt into th<
ndghbouring provinces. . .

tt. Ki- 9« KI'NGAN hath mnc cities of the third rank. Th<

ng^ Karif, or Kyangj river, on which It is fituate, runs there {o ra-
pid, among a number of rocks which are even with its fur-
face, that it requires all the (kill of a good pilot, as weD as
fbrength of hands, to pafs the current fafcly.
-<o. Shwi- lo- SHWI'CHEW is divided into two parts, or cities^ by
chew. the river Kan^ wMch have a communication vdth each other
by two ftout bridges ; one of ftone, with ten arches ; and the
other of boats, which rifes and fidls with the water. The
north fide is ftyled the mandarin ci^, becaufe both the great
and fmall of that dignity dwell in it ; whilft the other is chiefly
inhabited by burghers and tradefinen. How far its jurif-
diftion extends, we arc not told ; but it is fo happily ita-
ated both for health and fertility, that it is ftyled the happy.
1 1 . Yven- ' ^ • ^ ^^ N-CHU hath only four cities of the third rank
cW. under if; but is blefled with every convenience of life, and
furnifties the reft of the empu-e with vitriol and alum, with
which the country about it abounds.
i2.Kang- 12. KANG-CHEW hath twelve cities of the tMrd rank
chew. under it; and is, befides, a place of great traflick^ as it is
fitnaie on the river of its name, which receives another at a
fmall diftance ; at the confluence of which is a large bridge
built with boats ; and, near it, the cuftom-houfe, where vd-
fcls are fcarched, and examined whether they have paid duty.
The country about it abounds with thofe trees frcwn which
the gyran, or varnifti for japanning, diftils, and is fome of
the beft that CAiAZfl affords.
I J. Nan- 13. The laft and moft fouthern capital of this province is
ngan. called Nan-ngariy and hath four cities under it. It is lai^
populous, and rich, on account of thegri^at fefort of veffds
to it, becaufe all the maxhandizes that go to, or come from,
the province of ^ang-tong are obliged to land here : and
thus much may fuffice for this third province **.

* De his, vide Lb Compte, Corneille, La MartihiWi
Dv Haloe, k al.

IV. Tfc

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C i; Tie Hijicry of Cluna« 45

IV. ne Previme of Fihkycn

TSbooodedonthe eaftby thcfea; on the weft hjKyang-fip IV. Vo^
^ kft defciibed ; on the ncxth by Che^hang; and, on the kyen ^*
fcoth by ^ttang-tGitg. It is one of the finaUeft provinces vafa^^^*
the cni{nre ; and extends itfelf only baok the 23^ and an half
^ the 280 20^of latitude, and from the 1 14^ to the 118^
of eaft km^tude ; bnt it is fo adyantageoufly fituate for navi^ Site mJ
gation and comniercey as to be efteemed one of die richeft % tmmir^H
and hath a great many forts built along the (hore» to defend
itscoafts. Thefe are fo irr^;nlar9 by reafon of the number
and variety of its bays, that it g^ves the inhaUtants an oppor-
tunity of carrying on an illicit trade with ftrangers, in ijnte
of all the Cbkntft proUbidons, <rf^ diamonds, and other pre*
dous ftones, gold, qukkiliver, fpices, amber, and other.com*
mo^des, of wfakh they make a vaft traffick and gain* Thqr Vajt mum-
maintain fach a vaft number of fhips» that, when the emp^ hir •/
ror of C>$ma was threatenkm; a war agafaift that of Japan^ this A/'*
province is (aid to have offered to rurnifh him with fuch a
nmnber of them as ihould be fuffident to make a bridge that
flionid reach firom one country to the other. And indeed
moft of their mountsuns, which are here in great number ( W),
are covered with forefts full of large and lofty trees, fit for
building of (hips. Some iJL them have rich mines of iron and-

(W) The Gfo'ff^ have an ex- diat everyfoge or terrace from
ceUent way of improving thefe the top to the bottom is plenti-
moontains, by catting tbofe that fully ibpplied with water to
are of a fott nature into the nouriih whatever grain is fown
form of amphitheatres and ter- upon it.
races, one above another, and And here it mud be obferved,
fowing them with corn, rice, that the mountains which are
l^c, i and, as the latter only formed in this fhapc, are com-
grows in water, di^ take care mdnly of a fofc nature: bAt,^
to fopply each fuch fpot with it, where the rock is too hard to be
either fromthefprings thatcome fi> cut, or where the water can-
down from the mountains, or not be eafily conveyed in the
from thofe of the plains, which manner above mentioned, .they
they have the art of raiiing up content then^^fclves with plaac-
to die higheft mountains, and of ing fuch mountains with variety
conveying from one mountain oftrees for building, fuel, {ffc.
to another, by pipes made of according to the nature of the
bambo, which this province foil, or their own exigencies ; fo - - -
iaia care to cultivate in grea^ that no fpot of gfoui^ on them
^untitles fox that purpofe ; fo is lefrancaltivated (22}.

. . c

(%%) Di tis nfii^ N^vrHtB, Msrtini^ Le Cemfte, Martinigrt, Dm Halde^ ^
slmk* * >

a' tin.

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4^ m Sl^l^ifXimk. M.

dn, and others of gold and filver ; but thefe two laft arc fc
bidden to be QfWffl, <|n«^r jjfjft^ ^9§^.
Chief com- The commodities with which this pro^nce abounds, b
mfi$Ui^ iSdes thofe alrsady nattefl, «i», mu/k, Atb, lumpctt ar
caUi€(» cl6ths, fted, and aU; kuB lof .vtMofilsicinkNiAy aaad
^r« ThoTe dtt£ am impoElod;, aie, dov^, daouBQu, peppe
ikndec-wiQod, coral, aaxber» and&ijh-ljk& The qoauttrtes tb
li^ades witby ace, J^n^ €ornufii^ tbe Pbilip^ne ^amdsy Siam
find atfae»» aloi^ ihQ& jfiailficn coafts. The diputie j» he
^ (kkry in fununer, l»it ieoeoe and h^dtehy; io tbu it pro
jiuces the &me grainy, jfeoits, fbc^ with.theotbor parts of th
tsninre, and ibme ia great;|Qr p^srfeAioB ; padkuitarly oiau^gef
•vhi(;h ace haa^ much lai^cr, and of ^ saore bsaittifid ted
and hate, -befr^ a fine sDD&adiae tifte^ fl^onr.
J>tfiinB - The people of tfaia prcmn^ oot aokf ifaJk a la^gpagi
lanffULge* -qioitediiFereiitfrom tbe^Vi^,; faut^ wlatisiljU maceiaaan
inodious to tbofe thattrKvel thctoghtt, evcvy diftrift iiach i
-dialcft of iits0»m: even the mandaria language, wliichistb
jooly one ihat is genecailj ipdcen dicoiigjh the eBUuce, is im-
Tormerly derftood but by few oi ihoDi. But it moft bt fibkanBod, that
a fsparatejxi^en was fettmedy a &parase kingdom ; thougb wfaetfaer
^gdom. tributary to (!^imf, or no, \|fe camot leam ; . and tise prince
,vAlo gOYemed it at the tiaoe of the TVtartt^ioFafiao, who vii»
'1K> le^ potent than .courageous, hdd out againft fihofe tnva-
lifars long a£i^ the reft ^ die 4ro(yiofXsliadfi}famitce^
yoke. We fliall ffjeak more fully ^ that war when we come
to the hiftorical part ; and only iiint here, that diey were ^
lei^th fubdued, not Iqr 6ipeiior ibei^;th or vakHir, but by
• downright treachery ; and to this day brodc their febje6tion

very unwillingly ; and hence that difference of lanjguage, and
»theu: averfion to the Cbinefe. They have,, however, many
learned men among them, who are not a little fond of the
fdences. The reft of the people are ^gen^^y iniduftrioos,
. witty, and ajSabk; bt^t, aocordiog |o cqmmoa repprt, ^)«a
to aU manner of vices; and nptocious, above aU the GUnefi^
for cheating thofe they deal with. >• .

FO'KTE N hath nine fu's, or cities of thefipft rank (amoDffft
which they reckon Tay-wan^ or Tayovariy the capital of me
ifland of Formofa^ erf" whidi we ihjdl fpeak at die end of this
article), and fixty hyens, or cities of the third rank.
Ca^tatsof The fu's, or cities of the firft rank, are, uEi-cieWt the
Fo-kyen. metropolis; 2. Tjwen-chew; 3. Kying^ningi 4» X^ng-^i ^
5. Ting-chew; 6. Hing-nvha; 7. Shau-i\ 8^ Ckan-cinv;
^.Tay-iuhan; to thefe may be alfo added i(ji^tf#7iw, or the' {jprt .,
of /l-mixy, .or Amoy ; and tlie ifhnd of Ppn^-iu, which doth .
likcwift belong to this province, '•*••''• -

Thbsb

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Th£S« cifles afe remarkable chiefly for rinir faro;cnefe; ttcfi-
BcTs, and papuIoa&fi&, aad fucb other general advasuntaget,
mot worthy however, a fiirtfaftr deibiptioo ; ^vhat n moft
worth Qcydce ia faiii& of thcm^ k as fcdlows : Tfrneu^ckew k TAven.
&i^ for a Aae tempk, ttdornad wkb two ftatdy towervbuih ckcwV
«f ftoae and marble* fevca ftorks high ; each Aory hflitb a tnnoftan^
.gmery 9q the oatiide, arouad wfakfa ooe may >vaik,' ind *^'^^''*^
WW the beautks of the city tad coublry. It hath hkeviie «
'tfMge of ^traQrcUnary kogth aod breadth, bailt with a
'ikcUAi floiie, and fupported, D%t with asches, but with 300
Aooe piUaiPs, ending on the two lides with an acute angle, to
keak the force of the ftreaau It 19 f^ud to have coft the
foreraor that Imilt it 1,400,000 d«:ata.

CHANG-CHEW, the dghth and moft fbothem city in AmAh
lUs protincey is fltuate .on a river which dtbs and ilows ; over hrid^^
which it hath a ftatdy bridge, of 36 very high arches, and
faofld eaoagh to adiiiit of ihops on both fides, which are
ifc»ed wi^ aU f<»rts c^ rich merdiaQdizes, both of Chwa and •
"dbe InSes. Its viciniQr to Amo^y % place of taft commeroe,
»ocafk>n« a co^ftant trafiick to be odntinualiy carried on be-'
twaeit thrm. The netghbouriogmoontains produce the fineft
<ryftal> of which they sake buttons^ iink^ ^ares of animals,

HXA-'MEU, or the iiland and port of A-mmy, Etrm^y er Tort of
Jbmyy is ope ^f the moft €on?eni€nt and &fe harbotfrs in Amoy ^2
jU /«£«, on aocoont di die road which is foratisd by that ifland fcribei.
'JMveea it aad the csntiiient ; which is fo deep and capactons,
iAat k ^m f ecehe 1000 fiiips of the largeft five, which can
i^pme as eear to knd as they pXdajfe, and ride fafe item aU
wiods ; on which aco^rnt its commerce hath increased to fuch
^ d^SFde, tha^ there is conftantiy a vaft number of Cbimfe
isaafp^its that trade from thence 10 other parts of Indiu ; and
1^ emperor keep? there a ^^u^ofon of 6000 6r 7000 men,
-«sdar die comKnand of a Cbin^ geocraL Our Eq/^ imba
company*^ Jt^ once a isi&pty In dm iJEtand, wiilch hath been
fimre removed to ^ang-tong, or Canion, where the merchants
-Sfe hetter treated. Anoy ftands in abouf 2 50 3 3' of latitude,
and 115® 50^^ of eaft longitude. There is a number of other
finall iflands, not worth mentionmg here, except that of Pm^--
hi, and the more large and confiderable one of Fortmfa.

PONG'HU is rather a group erf fmall iflands, lying un- IflanMand

der the ajd d^?ree and hdf erf latitude, and i xj^ o£ eaft^^''' ^f

^ Pong ho.

* De his vid. DiowYs. Kao apud Iftrandz Tdes, p. r4B, Be
'fcq. MARTi»r Atlas, Lb CaMW*, La Mart;n.ierb, Liu

* ' ' • ?■ Jongltudc^

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48 ne Hf/hry cf Chlm: B.I.

lofl^mde, ahd forming a Mod of Jrelnpelago between thofe
of Jmoy and Formofa. They are all rocky and barren, and
obliged to have all forts of neceflaries, and even firings from.
China or Formo/a : however, the port is good, and fecure
lagainft all winds, and from twenty to twenty-five fathoms
deep. The Dutch, when they were mafters of Toy-wan, buil^
a kind of fort at one end of the ifle of Pong-hi, ta guard tho-
entrance of it ; of which nothing now remains but a few-
ruins, vrbixii the Chinefe call Hong-mau-chay, or the fort ok the
red-habed men; However^ this port of Pong-hu is thoughr
abiblutely necelTary for the prefcrvation of Formofa, or rather
Tay-vian^ which at prcfent, it feems, draws but feven or e^r
feet of water, and is unfit for large veflels ; and theretoi^
there is a literary mandarin now refiding in it, to watch the
fhips that pafs and repafs from China, and bring a confident-
ble revenue to the ftate ^.
JJtaniof But the moft confiderable of all the iflands belonging to
Fonxiofa. CtAna, is that commonly ftyled by the £ttre^flnx Fonwg^^ or
Hermofa, and, by the Chinefe, Tay-van, or Tay-wan, whidi
is fituate over-againft the province of Fo-kyen, and is ievered
from it by a chanel of about twenty leagues, where narroweft ;
and ftretches itfelf from.fouth to north fomewhat above ihree
degrees and a half, that is, from the 22d to the 250 4</y
• being crofled a little fouth of the middle, by the tropic of Can-^
cer. It fpreads itfdf in breadth a litde nK>re than one de-
gree, or fixty miles, that is, from the 117© 25' to ii8* 36'
of eaft longitude, where broadeft ; but 4s much narrower at
When dif- each end. The land lies high, and is very mountainous ; not-
€9vered withftanding which, and its neamefs to CInna, it doth not
andfub* appear to have been known to them till the dynafty of Ming,
^^' that is, about A. C. 1430 ; nor to have been in the pofleffidn
' xrf the Chinefe till above two centuries after, even by the Chinefe
hiftorians ; it being then looked upon as a barren uncultivated
country, inhabited only by barbarians, and not worth th«r
regard (X), efpeqially as China was then^ miferably rent by
. their inteftine wars.

About

k See Du Haldc, ubi fop. p. 90, U feq. Dion. Kao apod
Ifbrands, p. 148, & (eq. CanoidiusNiswuopf, & al..

(X) The account which the where, finding the coontiy |tt

Chinefe hiftorian gives us of its delightful as the inhabitants

iirfldircovery,is. thatoneofthe were barbarous, he ftaid feme

emperor^s eunuchs, called Wan- time, in hopes of naldne fome

' fan-pau, returning home from difcoveries, which might be

the weft, was driven upon it ; worth carrying to hii mafter ;

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C. 1. T'U tiijiory of China.'

About the end of the year i6ao, a Japanefe fquadron
kilding on the ifland, the commander, thinking it worth
conquering, left part of his men there, with orders to get
^rhat intelligence they could to forward his defign. Not long
after, a Dutch (hip was driven into it by a ftorm, in its courie
to and from Japan ; and landed in it, the Japanefe being in
no condition to oppofe them j and, finding the country to
their Uking, and very commodious for trade, did, by a fubtlc
ftratagem, obtain leave of them to build a houfe, which was
not to contain more ground than an ox-bide would indofe :
but, having cut the hide into very narrow thongs, gained
ground en6ugh to build a large fort, which they called Cajiel
Zelandia, Jnno 16^^. The Japanefe highly refented the
treachery, when they found that the fort made them ma-
tters of the only paflage by which a large fhip could enter
the ifland : but, whether they found themfelves too weak to
rcfift them, or whether they heard no more of their com*
mander, or on fome other cUfcontent, they left them maften/

49
Japancrt
land at it,
andtben
/^f Dutch.

Tbiirftr
tagtau

Fort.

tW all the benefit he reaped
from bis inquiries, was only the
knowlegfe of fopie few plants
andmedicinal herbs, which have
been ufed in China ever iince'
with good fuccefs.

The next was the commander
of a Chimfe fquadron, named
Tu'ia-yenu, who, in his cruife
on the eaftern fea, had a bloody
tngagement. A: C* 1564, with
aconair, who had feized on the
ifland of Peng-H; and, after five
kwTs fliarp conleft, had forced
him to retire towards the coming
ODof the night. Lin -tauAjen, who
commanded the corfair, thought
of having refreihed his^ troops in
that ifland, and to have renewed
theonfet the next morning ; but
found the entrance into it block-
ed up by part of Tu-ta-yenvs
fquadron, whom that experi-
enced commander had fcnt bn
that errand : fo that, finding
his men too much weakeried and
mtimidated to force an entrance
ttto the port, he judged it more-

prudent to fleer Jbis courfe to-
wards Formofa> Tu-ta-ye^w ^\XT'
fued him thither ; but, being
unacquainted with the entrance
into the port, and finding the
fea too (hallow, he returned to
the ifles of Pong'im, made him-
felf matter of them, and left a
ftrong garrifon in the port. The
news of his fuccefs were . re-
ceived at court with joy, and a
literary mandarin was fent from,
thence to govern thofe iflands.

In the mean time Lin-tnu*
kyen, who was landed in For^
tnofa (which the Chinefe hifto*
rian, quoted above, fays, was
then uncultivated, and inhabited
by barbarians), finding it noC
anfwerablc to his ambitious
views, maflacrcd all the natives
that fell into his hands j and,
by an urparalleled piece of
inhumanity, made ufc of their
blood to caulk his Ihips j and
failed thence to ^ang-tong,
where he foon after died mifef *
dbly (23).

Mod. Hi9T, Vol. VIU. . D

«£

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jo^ irhe Hiftory of C\i\nzi. B. T

of ft, and returned home. . 'this is the account we have oJ
their firft fettlement there, partly from the Europeutz ^^
'Becomi and partly from their own writers ; to which we fliaH onlj
mafters of add, that the Dutch, finding themfelves now fole mafters oi
He ijland' the ifland, the natives not being in a condition to oppofc
them, built a new fort, with four demi-baftions, over-agaiirfl
that of Zelandia^ by which they quite fecured the entrance
. " into the p<^. How they were afterwards driven out of it,
and that ifland y or at.leaft the wellern part of it became, ^ivil^
■^ the reft of the Chinefe empire, fubjeft to the Tartars , will be
beft feen in* the hiftorical part. It is now time to fay fome—
thing of the ifland, and its inhabitants;
The edafis The coafts of ft are rocky, and high all around, and with-*
and court' out any harbours or creeks to. €ome into it ; which makes it
try de- ftrong by nature, and difficult to be invaded, there being bnt
firibed, one bay, viz, that of Tay-vxany which is at the mouth trf" a^
rivet", at which any fhip of bulk may approach it ; and this
k fo narrow, and fo well defended by forts and high rocks on
each fide, that there is no entering it by furprize ; tho*, when
the fhips are once got in, they are fafe, and flieltered from ali
Climate. Windsk The climate muft of courfe be very hot in funmier,
when the fun is v^ticaL over it ; but, as it lies high from the
• fea, the air \s mofUy ferene and healthy, and the fultry Heat

Soil^ pro- allayed by conftant breezes which fan it x>n all fides. The
duce, foil is moftly mountainous, cfpecially on the north fide ; and
yet is fertHe enough to produce a. more than fuffieient quantity
of jice,. whifh is here ufed inflead of wheat, to Support its ^
inhabitants, befides a great variety of excellent fruits, fome
of them unknown to us ; as the bananas, ananas, papayas,
goyavas, cocoes : others fuch as ours, but vafUy finer, *as
peaches, apricots, figs, grapes, pomegranates, chefnuts, and*
feme of the fineft citrons and oranges. It Ukewife produces
feveral forts of fpices, phyfical and other herbs and roots, and
great plenty of fugar, tobacco, tea, and other ^plants. And
much greater plenty and variety might the ifland produce,,
were the natives ingenious and induftrious in cultivating and
improving every fpot to the beft advantage, like the Chinefe :
but the men are, it feems, above mindiqg agriculture, as fit
only for women and flaves ; wKilft hunting, fowling, and other
fuch manly fports,. are thei** chief exercife and delight, the
country abouncUng every-where with all manner of game.
They have fome large rivers, which, though not of any length,
yet fiirnifli them with plenty of fifh. Their mountains have

^ See Du Halde, ubi fnp. p. 90, & feq. Dion. Kao apud
librands, p.. 148, &fe<j. Canoidiu* Niewhoff, k al

rich

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C. I. The Hifiarj of China; 51

rich mmes of gold, iilver, copper, and fulphtir : this laft in Rich
fnch great abundance, that it makes the LQand liable to mimu
frequent and dreadftd earthquakes. The vallies alFord
plenty of pafture for their cattle, oxen, (heep, goats, hogs,
oad deer of variocls kinds ; and the woods, we are told by Btafy.
iaot authors, are no lefs infefted \^th tygers, leopards, and
odier wild creatures, of the furs of which the natives niake a
confiderable traffick. This is the account we have of the
iflaod, not only fixMn fome of our Europeans^ but likewife
from the Chinefe writers : but thefe extend it only to that, part
of it whidi is under their dominions, which they ftyle the
Dorthem ; but which is at beft but a (mall and inconfiderable
flq> of it, in comparifon to the whole, as the reader may fee
by the account and map which the Jefuit miflionaries have fiace
p?Bn us of it, in a letter to Father Du Hcdde^ written Anno
1715, and publiihed by him in his Recueil^ Anno 1720 f ;
from which it plainly appears, that the €hinejfe dominions in it
extend but little more than three degrees along the coafts ; and
but a few leagues to the inland, which is interfedled all the
way by high and inaccei&ble mountains^ over which they never
venture to pafs.

As to the fouthem, and by far the largeft, part of the The ChU
Maad, we much queftion whether they have any kno\dege of n«fc «r-
it However, they have ventured to defcribe it, and its in- ^**' ^f
habitants, after their ufual w^ ; the one as a rocky barren ^yP^
^demefs; and the other as fo many wUd lavages, but one^''*^
degree removed from brutes. But, as their Angular contempt
for all other nations gives us but too much i^on to think '
didr account of the ktter to be exa^erated to their difadr
vantage* and with a defign perhaps to mfinuate as if the whole
iflaod had been much aUke till the former became fubjefb to
them; we (hall give the remainder of their contemptuous
piftore of it in the mar^ (T) ; and go on here with what
we find moft worthy of credit on this head.

Sure

t Lettres cdif. $c curicuf. vol. xiv. p. 16, & feq.

(Y) The Chinefe divide this above ; but the other they rc-

ifland into two parts, which, prefent as barren, wild, and in«

dieyfayyaie fevered by fuchhigh habited only by barbarians given

ridges of mountaihs, that they toail manner of vices, and Ibran-

bare hardly any commonication gers to even the moil common

one with another. The one, virtues, and without any traces

which is neareft to China, and of religion or morality, Ac;

BOW fubjed to it, they defcribe cording to their accounts, thefe

ifl the manner we have done live in poor cottages made of

D z dirt

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52 The Hiftory of China. B. I.

Theinba^ SuRE It IS that the Chine/e vniter often quoted^ (who. By

hitamts the way, nMes no fuch dUUoflion between the ncirthem and

df/criM. fouthern)

dirt and bamboes^ and covered
with ftraw, raifed on a kind of
terrace about three or four feet
wide, and bailt in the form of a
tunnel inverted ; the largeft of
them from thirty to forty fee: in
diameter, and with partition-
walls ; all of them without
chairs, benches, tables, beds,
or any kind of moveables. In
the ipidfl is a kind of hearth, or
fire-place, raifed about two feet
from the ground, where they
drefs their diet, which is com-
monly rice, and otherfmall grain;
and the game, which they either
kill with their arrows or darts,
at which, tho' they are of the
plaineft make, they are fo ex-
pert, that they will (hoot phea-
fants, and other birds, with as
mUcb certainty as we can with
a gun ; or, which is dill more
farprifing. which they catch by
dint of running, they being
fwiftcr of foot than the fleeteft
horfcs^

They arc no lefs flovenly in
their diet than in their boufe-
furniture, having neither diihes,
fpoons, plates, trenchers, or any
thingtoput their viduals in, ex-
cept a piece of wood, or mat, out
of which they feed themfelves
with their paws like monkeys.
They eat their flefti and fi(h
half-raw , and their beds are
only the leaves of fome trees
common to their country, with
which they litter their bed-
chamber, and fo lay themfelves
down to fleep. Their whole
apparel is a fingle cloth, which
covers them from only from the
waift down to the knees i but.

in lieu of other finery, they have
a much more coftly way of ad-
orning their bodies than the
proudeft of our beaux and belles,
'viz. painting or imboiUng on
their bodies the figures of beails,
birds, plants, &r. the operation
of whiph puts them to fuch ex-
quiiite pain, that it would in all
likelihood kill them, were the
complete ornament to be pot on
at once ; to prevent which, they
take up fey end months, or even
a whole year, to go through it ;
fo that they mull be contented
to undergo every day feme con-
fiderable torture, to obtain their
finery, anddifHnguifb themfelves
from the vulgar : for it is not
every one that is permitted to
wear thefe marks of diflin^on,
but only fuch as have, in the
judgment of the moft confidera-
ble men in their canton, or vil-
lage, excelled in fome manly
exercife, fuch as hunting, run-
ning, feff. whilft the rell muft
be content with fome few fears
over their faces, arms, (^c.
They are all allowed, however,
to blacken their teeth, wear bobs ,
in their ears, bracelets above
their wrifls and elbows ; collars
and necklaces coniiiling of feve-
ral rows of fmall grains of dif-
ferent colours, with coronets of
the fame round their heads,
which commonly end on the top
with a large tuft made of the
feathers of cocks, pheafants,
fcfr. which they pick, and (lick
up with great care. So that,
according to our author (24),
whoever can form an idea of
thefe fantafUcal ornaments on

fa4; Du Halde, uhi fup» p. 1%, & ftf.

the

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C. f . The Hiftcry of China- 5j

foothem) ^ves the whole country in general a much higher
charafter, when he fays, that it is a very beautiful ifland,
naturally fruitful, and blefled with a ferene and healthful, as
well as temperate air; extraordinarily well fituate, in the
neighbourhood of Japan^ China, and the Manillas , and capa-
ble of carrying on a confiderable commerce eafh^ard and
wcftward ; it being poflible for fhips to fail to and from it
the whole year round ^ ; and, as to the charafter of the na-
tives, even of thofe that are flill unfubdued, Du Halde givef
OS a fhort relation out of their Chinefe accounts, which is
far more to their advantage than to that of their polite inva*'
ders, and as well worth inferting here*

The Chinefe, fays the account, who knew there were gold A horrid
mines in Formofa before they fubdued it, went in fearch of inflance 0/
them as foon as they got pofleffion of it. But, as they found Chinefe
none in that part of which they were mafters, they refolved treachery.
to examine the eaftern part, where they were affiired they
lay : but, being unwilling to hazard their lives in croffing
the high mountains that parted them, they equipped a fmaU
^P> to go thither by fea. The inhabitants received them
with furprifing kindnefs, offering them houfes, proyifions,
ind all forts of afliflance. They continued there eight days ;
but flill found all their inquiries after the mines to prove in-
cffeftual (whether by the fault of the interpreter, who might
perhaps have apprifed the natives of then* defjgn, or elfe
through their own politic fear of giving them caufe of fufpeft-
ing them, whom they knew to be but too jealous of the
Chinefe power) ; fo that, of all the gold they came in queft
of, they found none but a few ingots lying in the cottages, of
which the poor people made no account. But thefe proved
a dangerous temptation to the Chinefe ; who, vexed at their
itt fnccefs, refolved at leafl- to get at them, though by a moit
inhuman Ibratagem ; and, having equipped tjieir fhip, by the
help of thofe hofpitable natives, wl^o furnifli^d them with
ill neceffaries for their return, they invited them to a great
entertainment, by way of acknowlegement j and, having
njade them all drunk, cut their throats whilA they were
aheep, carried off the ingots. The confcquence of this bloody

' DiQN. Kao, ubi fup. p. 149.

the body of a man of a flcnder two or three feet long, and co-

cafy fliapc, olive complexion, vering him from the waift to

with fleck hair haiieing negli- the knees, will have ^ true pic-

gendy over his fhomdcrs, and tare of a native of the fquthern

all his clothes a piece of linen part of Fortnofa,

D *3 treachery

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Se*verefy
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"The Hiftory of China. B, !»

treachery was, that, the news of it being fpread through the
eaftern part of the ifle, they all* armed, and entered into the
northern part belonging to the Chinefe^ and maflacred man,
woman, and child, without mercy, and fet fire to fome o£
their habitations. From that time thefe two parts of the
ifland have been at conftant war with each other " ; and hence
moft likely it is that the Chinefe give them fo difadvaatagcous
and undeferved a charaftcr.
European The European writers have not been more favourable to
•writers them; and Candkdius^ the chaplain to the Dutch faftory
Mcountof^Qxt (whom, by the way, Niewhoff^ and moft of the reft,
'^ have either copied, or taken moft of their accounts from him,

and left out what appeared too abfurd to be credited), and
who pretends to have refided fome time among them, hath
painted them even in more difagreeable, tho' difftrent ccdours,
than the phinefe. The reader may fee the fom of what they
fay of them, and of their religion, cuftoms,' i;c. in the mar-^
gin (Z). What the Chinefe add concerning that p^t which is

fubjea:

■» pu Halde, ubifupra, p. 87,

Formofa
al^urd.

(Z) Accordkig to Candidius^
and his followers, the Formo/ans
are tall, flout, and fwartby, rude
and barbarous, and go quite
naked fix months in the year.
They have neither religion,
laws, nor moral virtue ; though
others, likely upon better evi-
dence, have fince reprefented
them as polite, affable, and in-

§enious« and cove;ring their mid-
le parts with a girdle,' when
the hot feafon dom mot permit
them to wear any other cloath-
ing. Their women* who arc
9i\\\ more inqdeft, wear a fhort
petticoat about their thighs, and
a fhort cloak about their fhoul-
ders ; which, however, they
make no fcruple to pull off three
arfour times a day, to wafh
themfelves at their own doors.
They are fmaller of flature, and
lefs fun-burnt, than the men,
and agreeable enough in their
perfons and temper. Men may
marry two or thrtc of them^

but not till they are fifty years
old : neither are their ^i^ives (of-
fered to bring forth children
till they have pafTed the thirty-
feventh year of their age. li
any of them be found pregnant
before that time, the juibus, or
prleftefs ( for they have no priefts
in the ifland), 11 fent for, an4
obliged to flamp upon their belly
till they mifcarry.

This is the account Cnmdi£ut
gives of that unnatural cuflom ;
of which it is hardly needful
to obfarve the abfurdity, finc^
fuch an unnatural violence would
wholly incapacitate thofe fe«
males from pregnancy long be-
fore the thirty eleventh year of
their age : befides, k is well
known, that, in thofe hot dime^
women begin fo early to bear
children, that they feldom, if
ever, have any after the thirti*
eth year. However, our au?
thor, if you will credit him,
gravely afTures us, that he had
converfed

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C u 93?^ Hijlory of ChinaJ SS

fubjeft to fhem, is as follows : Thefe, being fimate feme de- Thar
gre€5 more northward, cover themfdves with the flcin^ ofdrefi.
ilags, which they kill in hunting, and of which they make
themfelves a Ibrt of coat without fleeves. They wear a bon-
net made of the leaves of bahanas, in form of a cylinder,
which they adorn with coronets placed one over another, and

converfcd widi one ofthofe wo-
men, who had been forced to
(bbmit to this Ainnatural caflom
feventeen times ; bat told Mm^
that (he, having now attained
10 her thirty- fcventk year, was
in no fmall hopes of becoming
the real mother of fome children

The ceremonies ufed towards
their dead~ are no \^k ftrange
and unnatural. They neither
bury nor barn them; bot lay
their bodies to dry over a flow
fire, made under a kind of low
fcifold made of bamboes, which
caafes the body to give a moil
difagreeable fmell. From this
ceremony, which lafts foil nine
days, thjjy proceed to the next,,
which is, to wrap up the dried
corps \vk a mat, and lay it on a
higher icaffold raifed within the
hotfe, ov^r which they rear a
kind of canopy made of fhreds
of filk, cotton, linen, &r. It
is left to lie in that ftate till the
tftird year, when they take it,
or what is kit of it, down, with
fome kind of folemnity, and
depofit it in ^ proper place un-
dcr-ground. At feach of thefe
three ceremonies an entertain-
ment is made to the relations
and friends, accompanied with
mafic, dancing, fc^r. at which
^ jebufes, or priefte^, are
^kewife invited to ad their an-
lick part.

Thefe prieftefles ire rather a

kind t>f jugglecsy who, in theft
worlhip, which conMs in the
facrifice of fome hogs, deer,
rice, t^c: work themselves into
a kind of phrenfy by their fongs,
indecent poftures, invocations,
(sTr. after which, Aey pretend
to fee ftranee vifions, to teH
fortunes) to foretel the weather,
drive away evil fpirits, Uc, aH
which is readily believed by the
people. And in thefe, and fome
other fuch-like fuperftxtioua ce*
remonies, oar authors tell .us,
conitib all their religion, and
without the kail (ign of their
having any notion of a Deity :
tho* others, with much greater
probability, affiire us, that they
nave temples and idols in al^
mod as great number and va-
riety as they have in China %
and if what fome add, of their .
laying a pitcher or veflel of
clean water near the dead bo-
dies, for the foul to come and
waih itfelf every day, be true,
they muft be allowed to have
alfo fome imperfect notion of
its imnK>rtality, and of its being'
in fome ftate of blifs or punifli*
spent ; which fome tell us they
believe to confift, the one in
their heing removed into fome
places full of all manner of re-
frelhments; and the other, in
their bein^ confined to others
full of ^1 manner of filth,
ftencb, and mifery'(26).

(ti ) Candid. Dtfcript tiful Ftrmof, (iS) Id, ih. Nltwboff, Mitbttren, ^

D 4 fcftened

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g6 fbe Hiftory of Chm. . B.I.

faftencd with very narrow bands, or little, locka of hair, of
various colours ; and the top they adorn with a creft, or tuft
of feathers, like thofe in the fouth. -The drefs of the women
differs but little from that of the men, except in their coats
being fomewhat longer and finer, and their head-tire a little \
more bedecked with finery.
IFi/i nvay Jn their marriages they are lefs barbarous than the Chinefe :
§f tourt' for they neither buy their wives, nor fuffer the parents, or go-
jf^if and betweens, to fettle thebargajn, without the liking of the par-
p^rriagf, ties moft concerned ; but every young couple chufe each other,
without regard to fortune, family, or any inducement but
reciprocal affe6lion and liking, their parents having fcarce any
hand at all in th^ match. The courtihip is commonly begun
by the young man ; who goes, at the head of fome muficians
with their inftrum^nts, and ferenades the lafs he hath taken
a fancy for, at her own houfe, for feveral days. If flic ap-
proves of him, fhe goes out without any farther ceremony.
' and fettles the terms with him ; and both acquaint , their pa-
rents with them, who then prepare a marriage-feaft for t;hem.
This, contrary to moft other nations, is done at the bride's
father's, which the new fon-in-Jaw from thenceforward looks
upon as his cwn, and himfelf as the fupport of it,, never re-
turning more to h\s father's houfe but as a vifiter. Hence the
parents look upon daughters as greater bleilings than fons,
becaufe they procure fons-in-law, which become the fupport
of their old age.
<?wfr»-, I^ ^'^^^^ "^^ of government, they ftill. retain fome of tlieir
mmt* antient form, notwithftanding thdr'fubjeftion to the Chinefe ;
each town chufing three or four of the antienteft, or br^ho
greateft repute for probity and wifdom^ to be their judges,
to determine all caufes and differences that arife among them,
abfolutely ; and if any one refufe to fubmit to their decifion,
he is immediately driven out of the town, without hopes of
ever being re-admitted into it ; nor dares any other receive
him.

From that time the C5/«^ have divided their lands into
three hyens, or diftrifts of the third rank, each under a par-
ticular governor, and other officers, fubordinatc to that of
the capital of Tay-wan^ as this laft is to the viceroy of Fo-kyen^
Triiufe. ^^^ metropolis of the province. The tribute they pay to the
Chinefe court ^onfifts chiefly in rice^ and the (kins or tails of
ilags, and other fuch commodities as the ifland affords ; to
xl^vy whichy there is in every town or diftrift a Chinefe officer,
who learns their language, and ferves as an interpreter to the
mandarins. And both thefe treat them with fuch tyranny and
pppreflion, as quite tires th^r patience : infomuch that, of

twelve

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Ci. . ne Hi/iory of ChiM. S7

twelve diftrifts that were fubjcft to them on the fouth, three
of them have fince revoked, driv^ their interpreters away ;
and united themfelves to their eaftern countrymen, who live
free from tribute and foreign ftibjeftion. The Chinefe^ how-
ever, pretend, that many other cantons have fubmitted them-
felves to the prefent emperor, and that they are in hopes that
the reft will in time follow their example. However, it plainly
enough appears from the map that was fince made of their
dominions in it, and pubMied by the Jefuits /^nno 1 720 »,
that they have rather loft than gained ground in it ; and, from
all that we have hitherto met with, that they were never
mafters of one-eighth part of it.

We may add, that, notwlthflanding its vicinity to Cbindj ffow and
it doth not appear that it was diicoyered till about the year '"'^^ ^f"
1430, in the reign of the emperor Siven-ti, of the Ming dy- <^^^^
nafty, when the eunuch Owan-fan-paOy in his return from a
voyage into the weft, was caft upon it by a ftorm. Here find-
ing the country inviting, tho' the people feemed to him fome-
what favage, he ftaid to get what intelligence he could of the
iiland, to bring to that monarch ; but to no purpofe ; and
all he could bring away from thence, was only a few phyfi-
cal plants, which have continued in great vogue among the
Chine/e ever fince f. How they came afterwards to make
thenifelves mafters of it, will be more properly feen in their
fnbfequent hiftory. In the mean time we will conclucje the
diarafter of thefe iflanders in the remarkable words of our
author ". They are ftyled barbarians by the Chine/e^ yet
app^ to have truer notions of wifdom than fome of their
philcpghers. One finds among thedi, even by their own con-
feffion, neither cheating, thieving, quarreling, nor any law-
foits, except againft their interpreters. They praftice all the
duties of equity and mutual benevolence ; and whatever is
g^en to any of them muft not be touched by him, till thofe,
who fliare in the labour, partake of the wages.

As to their religion, we fliall only add to what hath been Some
laid in the lafl note, what fome Dutch writers affirm, that many Dutch -
of thofe iflanders had been converted to Chriftianity during ^^^'^ts
the ftiort time of the Dutch faftory at Tay-wan o. And Du ^^^K
Haide accordingly tells us, that, upon the Chine/e coming thi-^
dier, they found feveral of them who underftood Dutch, read
didr books, made ufe of their charafters in writing, and had
fome fragments of Scripture in the fame language fUU ia

• Lcttr. cur. & cdificat. recuail 14. p. 18, & fcq-- f Id.

ibid. p. 56. " Du'Halde, ubi fup. p, 90* . • Can-

DISIUS, NiEWHOFF, & al.

their

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58 ff^ Sifiory of China. B._ I.

their haads. Thefe, fays the fame author, worihip no idols,
and even abhor every thing of that nature. They neittier'
perform Ireligious worfMp, nor fay any prayers; yet we have
met with fome of them who had the knowlege of one Su-
preme B^ing, Creator of heaven and earth, in three Perfbns,
Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft. They Jjfccwife knew that our
firft parents- were called Adam and Eve ; and that they had,
by thpir difohedienjce, brought down the anger of God on
themfelvcs and their pofterity ; and that recourfe was to be
' had to baptifm, to wafli out that ftain. They were llkewife

acquainted with the form of that facrament, tho' they could*
not tell whether they had been baptized, or not. Thus far
DuffaldeK
-Tty'wan - -^g fj^all condudc the account of this iflahd with a de-
ft Je/cri' fcriptfon of its capital, and its commodious harbour. We
*^' have already taken notice, that it was called Tay-^wan, or

Tayovan, and was one of th^ nine fu's, or capital cities, of
the provinpe of Fo-kyen. It is large, populous, and -well-
built, and drives a confiderable commerce ; infomuch that it
is reckoned little inferior to mojft cities in China. It abounds
Commo^" with all forts of commodities and provifions, either of its ovra
tiis* produce, or which are brought tWther from other countries ;

fuch as rice, corn, fugar, ^ine, tea,' tobacco, fait, and a kind
/W of dried venifon, much admired by the Qhinefe, The ftreets

greets* arcibjiit as a line; and covered, during the feven or eight
hot months of the year, to keep off the heat of the fun»
They are not above thirty or forty feet wide ; but all well
paved and clean, and fome of them about three miles long.
tbofs^ kc^ All the houfes on (each fide belong to dealers, whofe fhops
. are ftored with aU forts of rich goods, fuch as filks, china-
ware, japan-work, gold and |ilver utenfils and trinkets, drr.
all ranged in a moft delightful manner, in which art thip
CHnefe excel ; fo that thefe ftreets look rather like the galle-
ries of our e^cchanges, where nothing is to be feen but fliops
richly furniftied ; and would be viewed with greater pleafurc,
were they not fo continually thronged. Both the Tartars and
Chinefe live in this and the other two cities very peaceably ;
and more of the latter would in all likelihood come over, and
fettle in it, if the former, jealous of their becoming too nu-
merous, and fliaklng off theyokp, djd not prevent it (A)^

Thcrcv

• Candidiui, Niiuhoff, k al.

(A) There is no doubt but this ifland would in4uce a much
the commodious fituation of ereat^r number of Ci>iif</Hami-

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C I. 5^ lUhrf^f China; 59

There is likewife a goc4 number of nadvcs that live among
them, but they are moft of them ferranb to the other two.

The city of Tay^an hath neither walls, nor any fortifi- G^rrifim
cations, but is defended by a numerous garrifon* The 7ir- f^^'^
tars have in the ifland no le& than 10,000 horfe and foot,
under the ccnnmand of a Ueutenant-g^eral aad two major-
generals, and a propordonable number of other officers, who
?re all duly changed every three years, or of icncr, if need re*
quire it. The two other, byens, orcides of the third rank,
aie Fong'Jbau and Cbu^loy which arc moftly inhabited by On*
nefes, and k^pt under by a fuflBdcnt number of troops. They
have likewife fome c(«ifiderable viihgw ; but no forts, ex- Ngan-
cept that of Ngan-ping^ fituatc at the- foot of the caftle of pingy*»tj
Zelandia^ and mhabited by about 400 or 500 families. The
garriibn of it amounts to 2000 mcp, under the command of a
m^or-general.

The port is pretty good, and fhelterod from all winds, Pir/
but the mouth of it becomes every day more imd more difficult.
Irhad formerly two entrances 5 the one called Td^kyang^ where
the greateft /hips might ride with eafe ; and the other Lo'ulh^
men^ where the bottom is rock, and hath not above nine or
ten feet of water at the higheft tides. The firft of thefe is htmfat*
now become imprafficable, fome places not having aboVe five ^•^fsfe
feet of water, aqd thofe where it rifes higheft not above feven, kfir
and is moreover choked up by the (ea rolling daily frefh quan*
tides of iand intq it *! : to which we may add, what a modem
traveller was told there, that the Tartars, after their conqueft
of Clnna^ ordered this l^urbour to be fpoiled, to prevent the
Cbhu/e, then in rebellion againft them, firom fortirjring them-
felves in it ; and annmanddl the foreign merchants to come
and trade m the main \ But the Dutch formerly entered the
port by that way ; at the entrance of which they had built

^ Du Halde, ubi fupra, p. 88. & al. ' See Dam«

?iBa*s voyage, vqI. i. p. 42^

lies to come and fetde in it, for it. The reft are, on the con«

the fake of tra^ck ; but, as trary, very careful* to examine

that cannot be done without a allpairengersthatgoto,orcome

particular naiTport from the C&/* from, the ifland; left, if diey

mfi mandarins, nor this b^ fliould become too powerful

obtained without giving fome there, they ftiould i^^ize on it,

(bficient fecnrity to them, there and caufe fome great troubles '

arc very few who venture to in the empire; and it is -to pre.

gnmt them, except fome of the vent it, that they maintain there

npadons ones, who do it on* fuch a number of forces, to

dtrhand, and are well paid for keep them in awe.

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.* The Hi/cry of Chim. -B. T.

Ae two forts laft mentioned, to prevent either Chinefe or ^^-
panefe veflels coming into it.

Thus much may fuffice for .the ifland of Formo/a; in the
defcription of which, we have wholly overlooked a fabulous
^count of it written in Englijb, and tranflated into other lan-
guages about forty-nine years ago, by a pretended 'rati ve of
the place, and convert to Chriftianity ; but in fuch a romantic
ftyle, and fraught with fuch ihonftrous abfurdities, as if He
had rather defined to ruin, than to eftablifh the credit of
it. Our chief motive, therefore, for mentioning it here, is,
that that author, who is ftill in England^ having long fince
ingenuoufly owned it to be a vile forgery, to his acquaintance,
and within thefe few .years, in print, in a late geographical
work t ; and exprefled a defire that thofe, who had read that
work, fhould know what judgment to make of it, from his
own free confeffion ; we thought it would not be unfervice-
able.to the public, to hint thus much of it here, till that more
full account come out which he hath written concerning that
(hameful impofture, and the fatal mean^ by which he ^vas
unwarily drawn into it ; and which, he there tells us, he de-
figns to Have publilhed after his death, when there will be
lefs caufe of fufpefting Kim of having difguifed or palliated
the truth.

vince of
Cheky.
ang de-
fcribed.

Fertility
€ind opU'
lend.

V. The Province of Chc-kyang, or Tfe-kian.

THIS province, formerly the refidence of fome of the
"*■ aatient monarchs, and one of the moft confiderable on^
account of its maritime fituation, extent, riches, and popu-
loufnefs, is bounded on the fbuth by Fokyen^ laft defcribed ;
on the north and weft by Kyang-^nan and Kyang-Ji ; and, on
the eaft, by the fea. It extends itfelf from the 27th to the
3 1^ 20' of latitude, and from 1 1 6^ to almoft 1 20^ of eaft
longitude, according to the meridian of Paris, The climate
of it is ferene and healthy ; and the inhabitants very ftout
and numerous, amounting, according to their regifters, to
1^242,135 'femilies, or 4,525,700 men. It is fo rich and
fertile, that the Chinefe fey of it, that, next ro Nang-kbig,
this is the paradife of arts, and the paradife of the gods %
on account of its plentiful flow of all things. The country is
fo beautifully variegated with well cultivated mouaitain?, fruit-
ful vallies, and plains, that there is not a fpot in it which is

t See the Complete Syftem of Geography,* part ii. p. 25!.
* Kao, ubi fup. Martini, Le Comptb, Martinierb, Di;
Halde, & al.

flO

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C I. Ti/ Hiftory of China. 6%

aot turned to advantage. It is moreover interfefted by 1
mnltitade of rivers and canals, the lafl cut wide and deep»
and lined on both fides with fome hewn ftone ; the plains of
which on both fides have a communication with each other
by a vaft number of bridges ; fo that one may travel through
the whole province either by land or water ; and the many
fprings which fell down from the mountains and large lakes,
with which it abounds, contribute no lefs to its fertility.

But their greateft manufafture b that of fdk, which is f^ohleJUk
here the fined, and more richly and curiopfly wrought with manufac^
gdd and fdver, than in any other province, ; and yet is fo tun,
dieap, that a good filk fuit will cofl lefs than one of the mofl
ordinary doth in Europe. The tribute they pay of it to the
emperor is faid to amount to 370,466 pounds of raw, and
2 574 of wrought, befides fome other quantities 6f the finefl, fent
as a prefent to the court, by the imperial barges called. Ltt«g-
y-cbew.' What is fent befides from this province into others
of the empire, and what is exported into Japan, the Philip-
pine I/lands, India, and Europe, amounts to an immenfe quan-
tity, notwithflanding their having flill a fuificicncyleft to fup-
ply their own wants at fo cheap a rate. The truth is, the Improve^
inhabitants employed in it are not only very numerous, but htent on it.
have an excellent genius at cultivating and improving every
branch erf" that manufafture from firft to laft ; and as expe-
rience hath taught them long fmce, that thofe worms yield
the fineft filk which sire fed on the tendered mulberry-leaves, s

they take fuch care to have a conflant fupply of young dwaif
mulberry-trees for that purpofe, that they are able to produce
the greated quantities of that kind.

This province is famed for making the bed hams, and for
the great quantities of candles which they make from a
certdn tree called U-k^evj-mu, or tallow- tree, of whiclj
we (hall fpeak among their natural rarities. They have like- Curious
wife here a curious fhrub, with a fmall white flower, not plants and .
unlike our jefTamin, but with more leaves ; and of fuqh fra-/tfw^/.
grancy, that one fingle flower will perfume a large room,
fome fay a whole houfe. Thefe fhrubs are in fuch edeem
among the Chinefe, that they cultivate them with the fame care
as we do orange and other exotic plants, to preferve them
from the rigour of the weather. Some piarts of Che-kyang
produce fuch infinite quantities of mufhrooms, that they fend
them, falted and dried, all over the empire ; ancj thefe, when -
they have been foaked awhile in water^ refume their frefh-
fle& and tafte as if they virere newly gathered..

The

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Bambois

tianals*

GtUs of
thtfirft

chew de-
farihed.

itihahit*

The Bpry of Clmti. B. I^

Tun lakcd and rivers yield great variety of .excellent GUi^
j)articularly the golden one, which will be defcribed anioog
the natural rarities^ and the fineft crayfifh in all the ^uiLZry4
"This province likewife produces the greateft quantities oi
bamboes, there being in fomc parts whole forefts of them.
Thefe are very large and hard, and of vaft ufe to the Chinefi^ ^
and, though hollow within, aqd divided into jomts, are very
ftrong, ^nd will bear a great weight. They are eafily flit
into thin flips, of which they make their mats, boxes, combs^
ebc. ; and, being hollow from end to end, are likewife ufed
other to convey water from place to place, or for telefcopcs,
or to ferve as tubes, cafes, and other fuch utenfils. The whole
country is not only evefy-where cultivated to the beft advan-
tage ; but the plains are interfeftcd with a vaft number of
canals, which fwarm, as well as their rivers, with multitudes
of veflels of all forts and fizes, fome of them beautifully carved
and ^t without, and neatly furniihed within. The inhabit->
ants are ingenious, polite, and courteous to ftrangers, but
are reported to be horribly given to fuperftition •*

CHE'KTANG hath eleven capital cities, or cities of* the
firft rank, and feventy-feven of the fecond and third rank %
befides eighteen fortrefles, moft of them upon the fea-coafts^
and large and populous enough to pafs in other countries for
coniiderable cities, to which we may add a prod^ous number
of large, towns and villages.

The chief cities, or fu's, arc, i. Hang-chew : a. Kya*
hing: 3. Hu-chew ; 4. Ning-po; ^. Shaw-hing: 6. Tay»
chews 7. Kin-wha; 8. Kyu-chew : 9. TeU'chewy or Nyen*^ '
chew; 10. Wen-chew: li. Chu-chew*

I. HANG'CHEW, the metropolis of the province, and,
according to the Chinefe, the paradife of the world, is one
of the largcft, moft populous, beft fituate, and richeft, of
the empire. Its circumference, which is almoft oval, i$ com-
puted near twelve miles, befides the fuburbs, which arc of a
prodigious extent : and the number of its inhabitants, which
amounts to a million (B). The walls of the city are loity,

ftrong,

* Kao, ubi fup. Martini, Lb Compte, Martinibrb, Dv
Halde. & al.

(B)FatherJlftfr/f»/ hath made the Fenetian had defcribed tiff
It pretty evident (27), that tkis der the name of ^in-fay, and
is the very fame city that Paul particularly with relation to the

(tji Mai Sintuf. fub ^h'faj^

lOjOOO

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C. I. Tie Hifory of China. 65

ftroog, and thick ; the ftreets fair and ftrait, though narrow;
and the /hops richly and beautifully fet out. It hath a pro-
<%ious number of bridges over the canals that run thro' it,
and thegreateft variety of arches, and triumphal monuments,
crefted to the honour of mandarins, and other confiderable
efficersof the Mgheft rank and merit ; all which are beauti-
ftllyerefted in the piazzas,, and places of greatcft refort. It
kath, befides, four large towers of confiderablc height, ad-
orned with galleries, carvings, gildings^ ifc. after the Chinefo
niamer. The commerce it drives in all forts of commodities,
bat cfpedally in its fine and rich filks, filver and gold bro- RtcbfiSu
cade^ ire. equals that of the moft trading cities ; and both
town and fuburbs abound with plenty of all provifions : the
only misfortune k labours under, is, that the waters of the
canals, efpeciaily within the walls, arc bad and unwholfome*
But what fufficiently fiipplies that defeft, and renders the The *wefi
fituadon moft delightful and convenient, is a little lake named ^^ <^
5i-M, which is about two leagues in compafe, and comes fif^^M.
almoft dofe to the walls on the wefl fide of the city, aad whofc
water is exquifitely clear and fweet. The fides of it, where
the water is low, and covered all over with the beautiful flower
lym-ivha, already defcribed^; and, on the banks round
about, they have, reared upon wooden flakes, a kind of fa-
loons, or pia^zas^ fupported by pillars, and broad caufeways
paved with large fquare ftones, for the convenience of thofe
that walk ; and have openipgs left at proper places for the
boats to pafs.; and handfome bridges buUt over them, for
paffcngers on foot.

The lake hath two little iflands, whither the people ufu- Jfi^ftifi m
ally repair after they have taken the diverfion of rowing in />.
thdr barks ; and where they have built a temple, arid houfes
of recreation. Th^ fides of the lake are likewife adorned
^th variety of temples, fine'pleafure-houfes, and fome large
monafleries for the bonzas ; and more particularly with a

* See before, pv 32. (N).

10,000 bndges he affirmed it to are ieen in the large fuburbs^

hive over the many canals that and parts adjacent, efpeciaily

^ thro' and around it ; which thofe about th^ lake Su bu^ on "

Wmber Martini^ and others, the eaft fide of which the city i*

think is not at all exaggerated, fituate ; and which amount to

rf wc fuppofe him to have in- fuch a vaft number, that, when

dudcd a prodigious number of added to thofe of the city and

^^phal arches built over fuburbs, they may be well

them in the city, and a vaft enough fuppofed to am«int to

umltitttdc of other bridges which the number above-mentioned.

fmaii ,

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64 "The Hipry of China. B. I

fmall but delightful palace, for the ufe of the emperors, whei
they travelled into the fouthern provinces (C).

Garrt/on. HANG-CHEW^ as metropolis of the province, hath i
garrifon of 3000 men, under the viceroy of it ; and anothei
of 7000 more, under a Tart^ar general : but thefe laft live ir
a large fortrefs, feparate from the city by a wall. The rivei
Ciew-tang, which runs on the fouth fick of it, is computed
by fome two miles, and by others 3, German league, in breadth *,
and is always covered with a vaft number of vefTelsof all forts ;
and both that and the canals, efpecially without the 'walls,
with floating villages, in which whole families live, and carry
on their bufmefs. The reader may guefs at the populouf-
nefs of the whole city and fuburbs, by the confumption of
eatables which arc devoured in it, of which he may fee a
fhort fketch in the margin (D). The laft thing worth men-
tioning, of this great city, is the mountain of Ching-ho-ang^

JJineixja- qj^ ^^^ich ftands a high tower, which, by the help of a large

terdtai, ^^ater-glafs which is made to turn the hand of a dial, ftiews the
hour of the day at a confiderable diftance ; the figures of the
hours being gilt, and about eighteen inches long. Hang-
chew hath feven cities of the fecond and third rank under its
jurifdiftion, which are likewife rich and opulent ; but we
have neither room to defcribe them here, or any of the others
of thefirft rank, except that of

Ning-po. NljyG'POy or, as the Portuguefe call it, Lyang-po, or
UampOy which is a handfome fea-port OQ the eaftern fea,

" Conf. Dion. Kao, ubi fupra, p. 137. & Lb Compte, La
Martiniere, Du Halde, & al.

(C) Thofe who have read whether thofe fumptuous ftruc-
Martims (wollen account of turcs have beea fince dellroyed,
this lake,'and its adjacent ftruc- or gone to ruin, which is not
turcs, will find thrs, we li.ve for us to decide, we have no
chiefly taken from Du Halde^ to reafon to fuppofe that the lake
come vaftly Ihoxt of it.: but makes a better figure now, than
Father Lt Compte had already that in which Dzii/a//^ hath de-
retrenched fome confiderable ex- fcribcd it.
aggerations of his brother Jefuit, (D) It is computed to amount
with refpeft to its largencfs; to 10,000 facks of rice (each
and efpecially of its pretended fack containing as much as will
ilately palaces, and magnificent fufEce 100 men) and lOyOOohogs
buildings, which he rather re- fer day ; oxen, cows, iheep»
prefents as a parcel of wooden goats, fifh, fowl, ^r. in pro-
houfes, reared up either for con- portion ; all which are here
venicnceordiverfion. Whether, fold very cheap, and ^aten in
therefore, Martinth defcription great quantities,
was deiigncdly exaggerated^ or

/ over-agakift

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C. I. The Hiftory of China. 6s

over-agaiofl the coafts of Japan ; and ftands on the conflu- Canal. ^
ence of two fmall rivers, which form a canal thence to the
fea. The plain ground is a kind of fpadous oval bafon, ter-
minated by hills, which extends itfelf a confiderable length
and breadth, and is exceedingly fertile. The town, which
/lands near the centre, is encompafled with a ftrong wall of
free-ftone, and 5074 geometrical paces in compafs. Thefe
have five noble gates, two of which look eaftwards, towards
the port ; befides two large arched water-gates, at which the
barges come in and out. The port is defended by a citadel Cmmerct
built on a very high rock, at the foot of which fliips muft ne-
ceflarily pafs within the diftance of half a piftoKhot. One tide
brings them up along the fine chaael above-mentioned, which is
here above 1 50 fathoms wide, and every- where feven or eight
deep. The entrance of Ning-pOy however, is difficult, efpe-
dally for large veffels, there being but fifteen feet of water
at the bar m the fpring-tides ; but that doth not hinder its ivitb Ja3
carrying on a great traffick with Batavia, Siam^ and efpecially pan.
with Japan, Nanga-zaki being only two days failing from it ;
and it was pardy on this account that our Eajl-India company
did once endeavour to have eftablilhed a commerce with it. .

A30UT eighteen or twenty leagues from Ning-po lies the
ifland of Chew-Jhan, whofe port is pretty good, but not fo
convenient for trade ; and there it was that our Englijb (hips
put in by accident, not being able to find out the way to
Ning'po, through the many iflands that lie fcattercd along
Aat coaft: the reader may fee the ifland defcribed in the
margin (E). The chief commerce of Ning-po confifts in the
fine filks which arc manufaftured in this province, and which
are exported into foreign parts ; efpecially japan both r^w
and wrought, together with fugar, drugs, faJt-fifh, and flefti

(E) Chen^Jhan^ Shufan, or well walled and peopled ; and *
Cbe^'Xawj is about JFourteeti here it was that our Eaft-lndia
leagues in length, and three company began to trade, Atino
or four in breadth, under the 1700 ; as they were not per-
tbirtieth de^e of latitude, and mirted to fail to Ntn^ po, the
between the fifth and fixth of town having a very convenient
eaft longitude from the meridian bay. There is a great number
of Pt'king. It is moiUy inha- of fmall iflands round this of
bitcd by Chinefe^ who fled tbi- Cbenv-fl^an ; but none of them
tbcr from the invading Tartars \ wor.h notice, except one called
aodfo well peopled, that it hath, Pouto, 'vhich is chiefly famed
wcare told, no lefs than feventy- for its great rcfort, on account
two cities, or large towns, feat- of fome extraordinary worfhip
cd along the coafls, and within performed there by the idola-
thebay(28). The capital bears troas bonzas (29).
tbe name of the ifland, and is

(28) AtUt Stnfnf. fuhv.c. (29) V. ib. Vid. S drntiltt, t€ Mar 1-

«■«••. Du Halde, 6f #/. • J

Mod. Hist. Vol. VIII. E (***^M^

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66 the- Hipry af China. B. I.

(F), wine, i^c. in lieu of which, they bring back copper,
filver, and gold. 7V7/?^-/o hath four handfome cities under
its jurifdiftion, befides feveral fortrefles, which we iiave no
room to dwell upon '^. ^

VL The Province of Hu-quang.
Ho- npHIS is the firft in rank of the inland provinces, and is
quang de- X furrounded on the eaft by Kyang-ft and Kyang-nan / on
fcribed. the fouth by ^lang-Ji and ^ang-trng : on the weft by ^ey-
chew and Se-ckixten ; and, on the north, by Shen-fi and Hg^
nan. It is a very large province ; and extends itfelf from

VI.

fertility^

M"^ 45'

to 33^ 2o' of latitude and eight degrees in weft
longitude from the. meridian of Pe-king ; and the ilvcr Tang"
t/e, which erodes it in the middle, from eaft to weft, divide*
it into two parts, or viceroyfhips, the northern and thcfotithem.
It is little inferior to any other province in fertility, hcalthi-
nefs, and opulence ; the greateft part of it bdng a rich flat.
foil, interfered with a number 6t rivers, befides the Tang-tje
above-mentioned ; and a vaft multitude of canals, and ibme
confiderable lakes (G) ; all which greatly contribute to its

*KA0,MARTINI,LEC0MPTB,MARTINIERE,DuHALDE,&aL

(F) The people of Ningpo fignifying a lake, and quang a
not only drive a vaft trade of ' " - - —
this falt-fiih and Hefh abroad,
but eat it in fuch quantities, that
it is a common faying among the
Chineft; that their bodies, after
death, cannot corrupt, becaufe
they have been faking them all
tlieir lives againft it Some par-
ticularexcelleocy,however,there
mud be either in their fait, or
way of faking thofe meats, which
prefervcs them,whilft alive, from
tlie fcurvy, and other difeafes,
which the too frequent ufe of
that fort of food is known to
caufe : neither is ic the fcarcity
of other provifions that makes
them live fo much upon this,
the town abounding with as
great a variety of others as any
one in the empire,

(G) This province of //«-
fuang feems to have its name
from thofe lakes, or at lead
from one of the largcftof them,
of which we ftiali fubjoin 4
ihort dcfcription (the word Hu

(19) Mi^ iSmJu/, [ubvoc, Vid»iffihrnnlU, Martinitrt, Dm BaulM, Of aA

Digitized by VjOOQIC

territory). It is called Tcng'
ting-hii i and is computed about
400 miles in circuit, and is iita-
^e very near the middle of the
province. It hath on the north-
eaft end a communication with
the river Yang-tfe^ and with a
vaft number of otKer rivers and
canals ; fo that there is always
a prodigious quantity of vefTels
na;i^igating to and from it.

Jt is, however, apt to be very
ftormy and dangerous at iome
feafons, whence many consider-
able (hipwrecks happen upon it.
One in particular is recorded in
their hiftory ; in which 300 la^e
tranfports, with 50,000 men,
perilhed all in one night (29).
In other refpe£ts, it is not only
of vaft benefit to the province,
on account of the great com-
merce above-mentioned, but of
the prodigious quantities of fiOi
and wild-fowl that breed in and
about it.

C. I. tbi WJkry of Chirm. 67

fati%» and &dUme 'vs coauoerce. What mouotafaifi there Pmiuff.
aie kit do iikewlfe {)roduce fomething that helps to inrich
it: iomeare coftered with fbtely piaes, and other trees, fit
ix the^UeH flru£tunes ; xnhers abound with medicinal and
other mbs aad plants. Some have mines of cr}'flalt iron, Un»
titeaa^ and other hale joetals ; toiay aothii^of thofe of gold
asdillver, which are next permitted to he digged ; for, from
Aofe mouatains is wa(hed down fome 4)uantity of ^old bj
the torrents that jSow from them. As for wheat, rice, and
other jpai^, fruits, be. it yields fuch plenty of them, that
it is emphatically ftyled Che granary of China^ and fends ac-
cordingly vaft quantities yearly into other provinces.

But the greateft manufaf^ure of this province is that Jlf^«^.
of cotton, which grows and is wrought here in vaft quanti- aura.
ties; and of a fort of paper made of bamboes, which grows
in great plenty in the low-lands. The plains lyfiewife nourifh
an intinite number of a little kind of worms, which pro-
djKea'fine wax, cf which we &all ipesk. in a proper place.
Tlus pravince was formerly governed by a great number of
princes, defcended from the imperial fanaily of Hong-vti, who
madealmoft as great a figure as the Chineje emperors^; hut Antient
Aatiioblcand luraierous race hath been intirely extirpated h'^frinces ex^
isi Tartars'. tirp^ted.

HU-^UJNC hath fifteen cities of the firft rank, ^'ght of
wludibebng to the northern, and ieven to the fouthern part
rf it The foumer hath alfo fiatty of the fecond and thh*d
^^; and the latter fifty-four, befidcs eleven military ones>
^ other iartrcSes, and towns and villages in much greater
oanbcr.

Tee dght cities belonging to the -norrfiern part are, i . ^w- CifUs of
*^f; l.Han-yaugi 3. Ngan-lo^, A.* Syang^yarig ; ^[X-wen-*^^ north*
y^i 6. Te-ngan; 7. Km^heiu : 8» Whang-chew. ^^9

Thos£ belonging to the fouthern part are, i . Ckang-cha, of the
4e capital of it; 2. To-chew ; 3, Pau-ku^g; 4. Hcng-c/^rw ; /outhern,
J. Chang-^tes 6. Chwg-chew ; 7. Tong-che^. part,

y^'QHANG^ metropolis erf the whole province, as well Vu-chang
*s rf the Hu'pey or northern part, and the refidence of the defcnhd*
ycrtKT, or -viceroy, is feated, as it were, in the centre of the
^^^wi^ empire ; and, by means of the river Tang-tfe^ which
f^ns through k, hath an eafy communication with ev^ry pro-
^ of k, and hath a great refort from them. It fufFered
'cry much, as well as the reft of the provibce, during the
)*^ wars, but hath fo well recovered itfelf fincc, that it is
inferior to any other in China^ either for largenefs,

* K40, MAaxiKi, LeC^mfti, Marthixirk, Du Haldb,

l(al,

E a pdpuloufnefst

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68 ^he Hijiory of China. B. I.

Ofuience, populoufncft, or opulence. Among other of its c^agmficent
traffic, Sec, edifices, it flill fhows the fumptuous palace of its antient
princes, and five ftately temples, famed for their largenefs and
elegance. The vaft concourfe of veflels to it, which^^ fel-
dom fewer than 8000 or 10,000, and lie ranged fomc miles
in length upon the riverj many of them of a large fize, and
finely built, joined to the fine profpeft of the city, is, 'when
viewed from fome neighbouring toincnce, efteemedone of
the inoft delightful villa's that can be imagined.

VU'CHANG ftands in latitude 30° 34', and weft longi-
tude from Pe-king 2° i J'^ ; and hath under its jurifdiftion one
city of the fecond, and nine of the third rank, befides military
ones, forts, 6^. The refl of the cities of this province have
nothing particular worth mentioning.

VII. Tbe Province of Ho-nan,

VII. TS bounded, on the north, by thofe of Pe-cheli and Shan-Jti
FFo nan X on the wefl, by Shen-fi; on the fouth, by Hit^qiiang ; and
defcrtbed, ^^ ^^ ^^^^ y^^ Shan-tong ; it is likewife watered by the Whang*
ho, which runs acrofs the north part of it, from wefl to eaft,
and divides it from Shang-fi, and part of Shan-tong. The
Chinefe give this province the title of Chong-tuha, or, the
flower 9f the middle, becaufe it lies in the heart of the em-
pire; and, confequeptly, according to their deep knowlege
of geography, in the heart of the world. It extends itself
from 31"^ 20' to 37*^ of latitude, and from 6° 15' of weft to
Fertile o° 2o' of eafl longitude, from the Pe^king's meridian : fo that
climate the mildnefs of its climate, joined to the fertility of its lands,
arJfoiL render it a mofl delightful abode. The Chinefe affirm, more-
over, that Fo'hi, the great founder of their monarchy, fixed
his court in this province, whofe reign, according to fome au-
thors, began 2592 years before Chrift ; which, if true, would
confirm the chronology of the Septuagint y. But we hope that
we have elfewhere fufficiently exploded that pretended anti-.
quity of the Chinefe monarchy ^ ; and fhall fay much more on
the fubjeft in the fequel.
Once the Ho WEV^K. it is not improbable, that the delightfulnefs and
feat of the {^xxXiX^j of this province might invite fome of their antient
^"'^* monarchs to choofe it for their refidence ; and, accordingly,
the Chinefe hiflory affirms the city of Kay-fong-fd, the metro-
polis of it, to, have been the feat of the empire, during a long
fucceffion of monarchs, till it was, at length, overflown, and

y Du Halde, fub Ho-nan, p. 102. » See before, Univ.
Hiftory, vol. xx. p. 109, & feq.

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C I. TJbe Hifiory of China. 69

covered with fand % by a great inundation, of which we (hall
fpeak in the fequel. It is indeed fo healthful and fertile, that Grna
it abounds with every thing for life or delight. The eaftern ^/r»/|.
part ofjit, cfpecially, is fo rich, and well cultivated, and fo
vari^ted with gardens, orchards, pleafure-houfes, noble feats,
iic. that one may travel through it above feven days with
fnrprifing delight. The weftern part is, indeed, more moun-
tainous ; but thofe mountains are no lefs rich, in fine timber^
Yariety of metds and minerals, plants, ifc and the vaft quan-
tities, as well as variety, of com, rice, fruits, and other pro-
doft, which both the hills and dales do yield, as well as the
tribute the province pays for them, and for filks, cloths, cot-
tons, and other commodities, is almoll incredible. It is like- Fim filks.
wife famed for a remarkable lake, which draws to it great
numbers of thofe who are concerned in the filk manufacture,
on account of the inimitable luftre which its water gives to
diat commodity. There is likewife, in • the neighbourhood
of the city of Nan-yang^ a kind of ferpent^ whofe (kin is ,
(peckled with little white fpots, which (kin theChine/e phyfi-
dans infufe in a phial fuU of wine, and make ufe of the infu-
fion as an efieftual remedy againft tfie palfey ^.,

HO'NAN hath, befides fortre(res, caftles, and military G/iVr,
towns, eight cities of the firft, and 102 of the fecond and
third rank. Thofe of the firft, are, i . Kay-fong-fJl j 2. ^e-
it; 3. Chang'te : 4. Vekyan ; 5. Whay-king i 6. Ho-nan :
7. Nan-yang : 8. Vu-ning,

KAY'FONG'FU, or Shai-fongy the metropolis of the pro- Kay-fong
vince, and once one of the nobleft in the empire, was fituate
in a large fertile plain, about four miles and a half from the
Whdng'ho, ox yellow rivers and in latitude 34° 52', and lon-
gitude weft from Pe-king i^ 56^ ; but its low iituatioii beneath
the waters of that river occafioned its ruin, in 1642, when
being clofely befieged by the rebel Ly-chudngy at the head oidefirtyei*
100,000 men, the general, who was fent to relieve it, con-
trived the fetaj defign of drowning his army, by breaking the
great bank, which had been reared, at a vaft charge, to pre-
ferve the country from being overflowed by that great river (H).

His

• Vide Kao, ubi fupra, p. 128. ** Dv Halde^ ubi fuju

p. loz. vid. & al. fup. citat,

(H) This river, it feems, runs (ible the violence of its waters,
fo much higher than the adja- their monarchs had caufed-Migh
cent lands, and had made fuch and ftrong dikes to be thrown
honiddevaflationsgimongthem, up along its banks, the length
that, to prevent as much as pof. of about thirty leagues. Yet

E 3 thofe

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ftls projcft ftxcGceded indeed ; but proved die mint avd d^
ftru6tton not only of this noble capital, bu4;'of 300,000 of its
inhabitants, by the violence and fwiftnefs of the overffccw <=•
jLehuilt. By what is ftill to be feen cf its ruins^ it appeans Co have
been three leagues in compais. The aanotator or* Dionyfias
Kao adds, that it had lain ever fince like a pond, or morafs ;
and that aH the vaft pains and cxpence, to drain and refisorc if,
' had proved fo unfuccefsful, that the court had given over all
further thoughts about it ^. However, a new ond hath been
rebuilt fince (asmoft authors tell us, on the other fide of the
river, though Du Halde takes no notice of this kft particular)^
on which great pains and coft have been fpent, to raife it to
hs priftine grandeur ; but it comes ftill' very fhort of it. ifow^
ever, its jurifdiftion is ftill very extenfive, and contaias four
cities of the fecoad, and thirty of the third rank. The others
have "nothing particular worth ourmentioning here, except
Ho-nan. ^^^^ ^^ Ho-nan^ which, though fituate in the midft of moun*-
tains between three rivers, is of fete kecome very confiderablei
both for its wealth and noble buildings, particularly feme
ftately temples, dedicated to antient heroes. The Chinefe^ who-
calkd their country the navel of the earth, ftiled this city the
center of the navel, becaufe it ftands in the center of the em-
pire. Its diftrift extends over one city of the fecond, and
Afamea thirteen of the third rank. In one of tfhe latter, named Teng^
phfer^va- foYig-hyen, ftands the high tower built by the celebrated Chevj^
for^M kong, where he ufed to obferve the ftarsT" They fticw you

there likewife the inftrument which he made ufe of to find
the meridian ftiadow, in order to difcover the height of the

^ Dv Ha^pe, ubi fupya. * Vide notes on Ifbiandasr Ide^
p. 128.

thefe fametimes proved ib weak it throws itfelC into Tartmjy and
againlt the violence of its cur- flows a coniidierable way along
rent, that the adjacent cities the great wall, at which it re-
were obliged to c^ up new enters Chinas between the pro-
ones, at fome fmall diftance vinses of SLan-Ji and Shen-fii
from their waHs, to fuppreft its thence it continues its courfe
rapid fury (30). * through this of Ho-ttan ; and,
This river. Father Le Compte, having crofled part of that of
who calls it the Hoamho, tells Nan^king^ and flowed about
qs, hath its rifcf among the 600 leagues through the land;
fartheft part of the mountains it difembogues itfelf, at laft,.
which cover the province of into the ea^ fea, not far from
Su'cSwefif in the weft; whence themouth of thei^7wi?g'(3i).

i^r.) MAHlni^ ^las. La Murtimtr, Dm Hai^f^ Of #/, (31) le Ccmptt,

pole.

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C. 1. Tlh Hijhry of Cirina; 71

pofe. They attribute to him the invention of the mariner's
compafe, thKHigh he Eved abofve 1000 years before Chrifl •.

VIII. the 'Province ^/Shan-tong.

CHAN'TONG, Xan-tun, Can-tong, Shan-fan, is bounded VIII.
^ on the weft by Pc'cheli, and part of Ho-nan^ laft de- Shan-
fcribed ; on the fouth, by Kyang-nan, by the Tong-yang^ or tong de^
caftcra fea, on the eaft, and on the north, by the fame fea, firibeJ.
and part of Pe-cheR. It extends irfelf from 34® 30' to 38° 20'
of latitude, and from i® to 6*^ 25' of eatt longitude, from
Pr-king ; and is one of the moft fertile provinces, and fineft
cfimates, in all China, It not only produces every thing that Fertility.
is iKcefikry for life and delight, but in fuch great plenty, that
(xie crop is &fGcicnt to afford its inhabitants feveral years fu-
ftraance, though this is pardy owing to its not being fo po-
pnloos as fome other provinces of the empire.

It hath a good number of lakes, rivers, and brooks, which Ri'vers.
contribute to fertilize and enrich h, befides the great imperial
canal, which crb/Ies fome part of it, and by which all the
barks that come from the fouthern parts do fail to Pe-king ;
vhere the very tribute of the vaft quantities of merchandizes,
6c. which they bring, is computed to amount to more than
ten miUions '^ : fo that nothing can obftruft the richnefs and
fccundfity of this province, but either too long a drought (for
it rains but fddom in it), or the great havock which is fre-
quently nnade by the locufts, which breed in the plains, in a
dry feafon, and deftroy every thing they come at.

These infefls are reckoned one of the three plagues with Thru
which this province is infefted. The next is, the vaft droves pi^gi*^^
of wolves which range among the mountains and plains,
which are very fierce and ravenous, and do a great deal of
ffiifchief. The hft is, the numerous gangs of robbers which
infeft the highways over the mountains, and often come down
into the plains, and plunder and ravage the villages ini open
towns. In other refpefts, Shan-tong enjoys a ferene and mild
climate, a fruitful foil, arid a good traffic.

The inhabirants, which are computed tcj amount to Number tf"
770,555 families, or 6^759,675 men, are healtny and dowtf fiu/s.
infomuch, that the boys are commonly feen to go naked in the
coldeft weather, and take a pleafure in foufing one another in
water. They manufafture filky in great quantities and va- Jparficu^
ricty 5 and, befides the conaaon fort, which is produced by the l^^ M^ ^f

* MaRTIMI, AdaS^MARTlNlEREy Du HALPf, (ifr. ^ I<1.

bW fopra.

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72 the Hiftory of C\i\r\su .B. I.

filk-worms, they have another fort, which is found upon
trees and bufhes in great plenty, which is fpun by a kind of
worm, not unlike our caterpillars. This laft, though coarfer
than the common fort, is ftronger, and more compa^ ; and
of both thcfe they drive a great trade, by means of their ri-
vers and canak.
Curious Among other curious fruits, which this province produces

fruftf. in common with the reft, that which they call y^-(/^, which
are a peculiar kind of figs, no-where to be met with but in.
China^ grows here in greater plenty than in any other pro-
vince. Thefe do not ripen till the beginning of autumn ; and,
being dried as other figs are, contraft a kind of cruft of can-
died fugar, which gives them a delicious tafte : fo that thefe
are fcnt from hence into all the provinces of the empire, and
even out of it, in great quantities. By thefe means, it hath
been able to raife itfelf to its priftine fplendor, frdm which it
was funk into the loweft degree of defolation, having been al-
moft totally ruined by the civil wajs, on* account of its being
fo often forced to fhift fides, and thereby becoming a prey to
both. However, what renders this province molt venerable
among the Chine f^ is, that their great philofopher Kong-fu-tfe,
commonly called by us Confucius^ drew his firft breath in it g;
of whom we fhall have occafion to fpeak more fully, in a pro-
per place.
C/V/W. SHJN-TONC hath fix cities of the firft rank, all very

populous and flourifhing ; and thefe have no lefs than 114 of
the fecond and third /ank, befides a great number of towns
and villages, and fifteen fortrefles, fome of them very large,
and all of them built to guard the entrances of their ports,
and the mouths of their rivers. There arc likewife feveral
IJIandi* iQands fcattered along the gulph, which are no lefs popu-
■ lous, and afford convenient harbours for Chinefe tranfports,
and a quick and eafy paifage to and from Kareck atid ^.yeaa-
tong h (I).

The

» Dioii Kao, ubi fupa, ch, 3, p. 121, ic feq. * Vide

Martin^ Lb Compt^, Kao, Martinibrs, Du Halds, &c.

(I) The three mod confider- who built the great wall. This

able of them are, Fcu-xuy Xa- prince being a confummatewar-

muent sindTen-Jbenj^i the I all of riour, but a mortal enemy to

which is famous tor being the all philofophers, ordered them

dreadful flage on which 500 all to repair to a certain placa,

CA/»^ philofophers were mur-' under pretence of confulting *

dered, by order of the emperor them about fome important

AJ'w, oxChi-'wan^'ti, the fatne yointi bur, tiaving got them

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C. r. Tbe Htj/ipry if China. 73

The ddes of the firft rank are,- i. Tfi-nan; 2. Teng^
eiew; 3. Tong-changs 4. TJing'chew s 5, Tcri'chevt : 6. Loy-

TSI'NAN^ Zi-nan, Ci-nan, metropolis of the province, Tfi-ntn
is coQFcniently fituate on the fouth fide of the river Tfing-ho^ defcrihii*
otherwife called Tfi^ or Li, by which it hath a communica-
don with the great canal, and carries on a great comrnerce by
It into other provinces. It is large, and well peopled, and
fiSDs^ for its many public buildings, fome of them of exqui'^
lite beauty, and for having been the refidence of a long feries
of monarchs, whofe ftately monuments yield a moft noble
profpe<5l, from the adjacent hills, on which they are reared.
Seventy-two of thofe monarchs are celebrated, in the Chinefe
annals, for their pacific reigns, and the many ftately temples,
monafteries, arches, bridges, and other public edifices, which
they built, as well as for their fingular application to religion,
and the welfare of their fubjefts.

TSl'NAN hath four cities of the fecond, and twenty-fix
of the third rank; and {lands in 36° 45' of latitude, and in
0° 39' eaft longitude, from Peeking. The others have no- Chinefe
thir^ particular in them, except the great borough of Ten- gla/u
thing, famed for the manufaAure of a fort of glafs, but more
britde than that of Europe^ and which breaks wheaexpofed to
.toolharp an air ^

IX. The Province of ShBii^R.

CHAN'S ly Shang'fi, Xan-Ji, or Chan-Ji, is bounded bn the IX.
^ eaft, by Pe'che-ii; on the weft, by Shen-Ji; on the fouth, Shan-fi
by Ho-nan ; and on the north, by the Chinefe wall, which defcriha^
parts it from Tartary, It extends itfelf but a litde way from
eaft to weft ; viz. horn i'' to 6° 23' of weft longitude from ,

Pf'king'y but from north to fouth much more; viz. from
34*^ 37' to 40'' 50' of latitude. It is affirmed, by the Chinefe^
to have been the firft inhabited province in the whole empire ;
and, though it be nothing fo large as fome of thofe we have
defcribed, yet is to the full as fertile and populous, in pro-

^Du Haldb, ubi fupra, p. 105, & al,

all together, (hipped them off" to alllearning, and learned men,

to this ifland, where they were as we (hall have occaiion to

all mardered ; though others (hew, when we come to fpeak

(ay, they drowned themfelves of his reign.
(32}. He was no lefs an enemy

^ (32} X>/Mt JCv> ubi fufrd, /• I2Z. & ah Ji^, (tat.

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74 ^b€ Htjhrj cf China. B. t

Vaft high portterv Xo i» extent* Its clintata is fereue and mUd, thoogh it

ptouHtains. bath » great mimber of moafitains, and ic^^e'of tkem ^f a

frightful height and ruggcdnefs ; but the greateft part of tht

reft are well cultivated, and cut into tcrraflcs from top tc

bottom, and bear plenty of corn, and other grain (K).

The plains are ftill more fertile, but have not fo great ^
qnamity of canals fo irrigate them ; on which accoant, the^
do not yield fuch abtmdance of rice as other provinces do.
Their vines produce excellent grapes, of which the Chinrfe
night mak« wine, did they not prefer the eatii^ of rhem
ilried, and fending the remainder into other parts of the em-
pire.
Frodua. This province furni/hes alfo abundance of mufk, porphyry;
marble, jafper, if€. and hath fome mines which yield great
ftore of iron, which is fabricated into variety of utenfils,
efpecially culinary, which are fent into other provinces. The
people are ftout, and obliging, but iUiterate; and the ^women
much admired for their beauty, and flender fhape.
Cities. This province hath five cities of the firft rank, and eighty-five

of the fccond and third : thofe of the firft rank are ; i . Taj^
yvien: 2. Ping-yang ; 3. Lu-ngan ; 4. Fwen-chew ^ 5. Tay-
tmg. The number oi famffies-in )/i amounts to abotit 58 9,9-55;-,
or 5',o84/>r5 men.
Tay-y wen TAT-TWE Ny Tai-ven^ Tha-yen-fi, metFopolis of the pri>
itfirihtd, vince, is fituate on the river Fwen-hoy in 35° 53' of latitude,
and 3® 55' of weft longitude, from peeking. It is antient,
populous, and large, its walls meafiiring about three leagues
frt eompafs; but is much decayed of its former fplendor,
Whflf the prloccs of the blood, of the imperial family of Tay-

(K.) Scfflcoftlicfemountahis, report of t\kt inhabitant?; otk^

w« ace told, are (o loft on the that they open, iti foodry places,

iurfacr (93), that ofts may dig in the form of firey wells, tko*

fbur Of &ve feet deep, without without flame ; (b that, by nar-

meeting the leaft ^one ; and rowing the mouth of them, oae

fome of them have very fpa- may lo concenter the h^at as to

cious plains on the top. They lay pots, kettles, ^yinff-pans,

arc, moreover, remarkable for and other culinary vefiels, and

their inexhauftible mines of drefs viftuals over them. The ,

coals, which the fnhabitants fire, fte adds, burns but dimly ;

ufe for fewel, where wood is and if; to accelerate the he*tj

fcarce. one throws any wood iivto thcffe

There is oi^e very remarkable holes, it will hardly flame,

tfiing, which Mirr//ff/ tells as, of but will burn like oar chur-

thcfe mountains, not indeed of coal {34).
liis own knowlege, but on the

(5;^ Du ShUe, ^JM^rg, f, lo^ (3^) jftht Simrtj: fmk Chaw-fi.

L ^ >

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$mg^ refided m it, ^ffaofe ftttdy fRlaoes mt fince rvn iDto
decaf, and fome of them lie is rttin% none darings to neboild . . .
tbem. The dty hath a fruitful and delightful territory arooud fj'^t
k; and the adjacent mountafau yield a curious ^cfydEt of '^^ *
royal monumeats, aU dther of mai ble or hewa AonCy and of
t coofiderabk extent ; befides triomphai arches, ffaitues of
kroes, figures of lions, horfes, and other animals, in dif-
iareit attitudes, and rety natnraL Th)e whole is encompaftd
with a kind of fbreft of aniient cyprcis, planted chequer-
ways.

The jurifdiftion <rf Tay-ynoen expends oier Sore cities of
the fecond, and tvrenty of the third rafik.

X. rhi Fr^^mci of Shm^Ci.

TNSN'S^Iy X^n-Jh Xben-fiy is boUiided on the eaft, by the x.
^ Wmtg-bs^ which parts it from Sban-fi^ laft defcribcd; on the Shen-'fl
fooih, by Se-chueHy and Hu-q^uang ; on the norths by Tartar/y de/criM.
^thcgreat waU;andoatheweft,by theM?gd/7dtrftfry. It
extends itfelf, in forae parts, from 32° to 40"^ of latitude, and DMJion.
from 5*^ 40' to almoft 16? of weft lonf^tude, from Pe-king, but
» a very irr^ular manu^. It is ditidied iato two parts, or go*-
wnments, the eaftern, and the weftern, which contain ei^
citiesof the firft, and 106 of the feoond and third rank, befides
agKat nimaber of fortrefles, caftles, redoubts, built at proper
diftances, along the great wall f. Among thofc fortrefles, or,
as they may be mcw-e property called, miUtary cities, thofe
cTpedally of the firft, being as large, rich, and populous, as
Boftof the inland' cities, and are twenty-ihrce in number,
the two following are moft confiderable; viz, Kan-chew said
iunhew ; the former of which is the refidence of a viceroy,
aod feveral mandarins^ the principal of whom receive their
orders from none but the court ; and the lattier is equal in
ftrength, and its governor in power, with the former, only
this is divided into two parts, one of which is moftly inha-
Mted by Cbme/e, and the other by ftrangers ^, Here are, be-
fides the twenty-three above-named, a good number of others^
of a fecond and third order, but nothing fo large, though
very ftrong, and well garrifoned, befides the forts and to-
doubts, which aue chiefly defigned to guard the great wall.

S HEN'S 1 19 one of the antienteft and largcft proviiiccs in Govern-
the empire ; and had formerly three viceroys over it *, though^ ment.
at prefent, it hath but two, exclufive of the two governors
above-mentioned, who are independent on them,

t Sec before, vol. Jv. p. 363, & feq. ¥ 0u Halde,

*» fup, p. io«, 1 Kao, uW fup. p. I z6.

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y6 T^te Hijiory $f China. B. L

C/imate. < The kit here is very temperate ; and the people more civil,
and afFefted to ftrangers, than in any of thcfe northern pro-
Soi'l. vinces. Thp foil is rich and fruitful ; and fome of the moun-

tains have mines of gold, though forbidden to be opened
Golden under the fevereft penalties ; but the rivers and torrents, ^Jvhich
fofid, flow from them, bring down fuch quantities of that metal,

that an infinite number of people maintain themfelves by the
bare profit that arifes by \yafhing and feparating it from the
Bradu^, fand. The plains yield but fmall quantities of rice, for want
of a fufficient number of canals : but they make ample amends
for it by the prodigioi^s plenty of corn they produce, bcfides
medicinal and other plants, rootsv itc particularly rhubarb,
which is here excellent, and cultivated with great care. One
misfortune, however, this produce labours under, viz» frequent
S'lvarms of 2ind extraordinary droughts, which never fail of being followed
grajhop' with fuch prodigious fwarms of gra(hoppers, and other infedls,
Z^'*^' as quite darken the fun, and eat up every herb, bufh, and even

the fmall boughs of the trees ; at fuch times the whole coun-
try come out, and kill them as faft as they can, and eat them
as a great dainty. In fome parts of iSAi'n^//, ' particularly in
the neighbourhood of its metropolis Si-'gnan, or Sigan, is a
fort of fait earth, Which, being boiled and cryftallized, makes
a very good white fait ; and, in fome other places further, the
ground, after a good ftiower of rain, emits a kind of froth,
which is made into an excellent foap. The head cities be-
longing to this province are as follow :
Cities. ^^ ^he eaftern part, calhd I'tong, are^ i. Siangan; 2. Ten*

ngan; '^. Fong-tfyang ; 4. Hang-chong,

And in the weflern, Called iji, 5. Ping-lyang: 6. Kong'
chang : 7, Lyng-tau; 8.^ Kin-yang,
Si-ngan SI-Nd N-FU, the metropolis of the whole province, is
defcrihed. ^ very large city, commodiouQy fituate on a delightful afcent
on the fouth fide of the river IVhey^ in latitude ^4^ i6^ and
famed ^^^ longitude frov[\ Pe -king j^ 35'. Irs walls are ftrong
mjolls. ^^^ lofty, about four leagues in compafs, and flanked with a
great number of towers, of an excellent fabricature, which
hath given rife to the faying, that it is girt with a golden
girdle. Among other noble buildings that adorn it within,
is ftill to be feen the palace of the antient kings who reigned
in this province, and who were once very powerful, and ppf-
fefled a vail traft of the empire ; fome ftately temples, trium-
phal arches, drr.
Carrie tt* The principal forces of the Tartars , defigned for the de-
fence of the north of China, are garrifoned here, under a ge-
neral of their nadon, who, with his troops, live in a feparate

part

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C. I . Th Hijlory of China. 77

part of the city, divided from the reft by a walL The chief
mandarins of the pro^nce, who are here like^rffe/in great
nnmbers, are mofUy Tartars. The mountains adjacent
abonnd with deer, hares, and other game ; and produce,
among other foflils, a white kind of earth, which is much
valned by the ladies, who infufe it in water, and whiten
thdr complexion with it.

It was near this city that Father Lg Compte tells us there A Cirijti*
was a monumental marble table dug up Anno 1645, which *»*««««-
was ten feet long, and fix broad ; and on the top of which ^^^ ^
was engraved a crofs ; and a little below it an infcription, in "f*
charafters partly CMnefe, and partly Syriac, importing, that
an angel had brought tidings of the Meffiah's being born of
a virgin in Judea, and of his birth's being manifefted to eaft-
ern kings by a new ftar in the heavens, who came and offered
the divine infant their prefents ; that fo the law, and prediftions
offonr-and-twenty prophets, might be thereby accomplifhed ;
and that Ohpouen came into China in the year of Chrift 636, Chrifth
where he met with a kind reception from the emperor ; who, unity fa-
having examined his law, and acknowleged the truth of it, floured By
iffiied out an edift in favour of him and his religion (L). It '^^ ^'^t^'

pears '••'''•

(L) The copy and contents " pies which fuppofc that the

o[ the whole infcription, and " world had a beginning. This

hifioryofitsdifcovery, may be ** law, which teaches the way

fcenin Kercher*a China Wuftra^ " of falvation, cannot but be

^ and in Father Le Compte ** extremely beneficial to our

above mentioned (35); and the *• fubjeds. I therefore judge

pirpoit of the edid, according " it neceflary that it be taught

to ihcir verfion, runs as foH '* to them." The infcription

^s: goes on with an account of that

" No particular name com- monarch's ordering a church to

" prebends the true law ; nei- be built, and of his appointing

** ther are faints confined to twenty -one perfons to officiate

" any one place, but are di- in it ; of his fon and fucceflbr

** fperfed thro' the world, that Tay-loutnz highly honouring the
" they may be univerfally ufe bi(hop Ohpouen y and promoting
*' fol. A man of Jud.Uy of this religion with the fame lau-
" exemplary virtue, arrived at dable zeal ; fo that the bonzas
" our court; we have examined were alarmed at the progrefs it
" his dofirine, and found it made, and ufed all poflible
** worthy of admiration, and means to put a Hop to it. They
** without any mixture of pride, accordingly raifed a bloody per-
" and built upon thofe princi- fecution ; but which, in a little

(35) Vrtjtr.t Stau of China, part 2, letter 3.

time.

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7^ ^a>e mjkry Iff Ciiwgu B. L

appcars.by this infcrif iicm, therefiare, that ChriftiaoUjr Bou-
rifhedin ti\t€biaefeem:p\x£iro\xi the year 636 to 78 z, vdien
the monuxneatahove-jneoHoned wa^ fet up. Our author lells
us^ that the emperor then rcigoiug, when it was firft digged
up, ordered it ^o be kept in a pagod, or temple, about a
mile from this cityj, wheteit is iuppofed to be flUl at this
time ".
AtrpM' ^**^ other cito vf^ pafs by, as having nothing particu-
gioutiM- l^ly remarkable ; excepting that called Han-chong, the high
qjui^ j-oad to which* oypr the high .mountains that fucround it, hath
fomething vaftly furpriflng, both with refpeft toithe number
of men who were employed in making of it, which amounted
to 100,000, and the gi^et diiHculty, and quick difpaJtcb, of
the work ; to complete which, tjhey leyelled high hills, made
lofty arches from one mountain 20 another, and fupport^
them with pillars wliere-evcr the intervening valley was^ too
wide. Thefe bridges, which form part of t;he road, are in
fome -places io high, that one cannot behold the vaft precipice
below without dread. They are wide enough for four hcwrfe-
jnen to ride abreaft over them ; and, for the better fecurity
and convenience of the paflengers, are railed on both fides,
and furnifti^d with villages and inns at proper diftances, for
their accommodation ".- There are many more fuch ftupen-
doos works in other paits -of China^ efpecially among the
moivitaiBOtts parts of it<^, fome of which we may have occa*
fion to mention among thdr other artificial rarities \ though
this, with refpeA to its length, height, ifc. feems to CKcel all
the reft.

■ Kekcher China Illuftr. Le Com?t€ Prcfeirt State of
China, part 2. Iet:er 3. " Vid. Du Halde, xthi fopra.

p. 109. ^ De his, vid. Kerch lr, Navaretta, Mar-

tini, Le Compte, Du Haldc, & al.

time, ferved only to make it it with all their m^ht, but much

break out with greater luftre, more by their pious examples,

and meet with greater encou- and by the mod fignal inllances

ragement from the fucceeding of piety ; in memoiy of which

monarchs. In the mean time wonderful change, this monu-

Ki'ho^ a new miflionary from mental infcription was fet up

Jtuieoj arrived, who met with ^. T.. 782. This is the fubftancc

the fame kind reception and fuc- of the infcription, which the

cefs that Bilhop Olopouen had reader may fee at full length in

done before ; and the Chinefe the authors above quoted.

monarchs not only encouraged

Digitized

XI. rbi

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C i» T6f Bifiory $f Chma. 79s

XI, Jbe Province of Sc- chwcn.

TE-CHWEN^ SeU'ciu, Su-cheu^ Su-chuen, is bounded on XI. Sc-
^ the north by Sben-Ji^ laft defcribcd; by Hu-quang on chwen
Ac eaft ; by ^ey-chrw and Tun-nan on the fouth ; and by H^^rihii.
Ac kffigdom of Tibet on the weft. It extends itfelf from
t4« JO* to 32^ 50' ^^ latitude, and from dP 20' to 150 25'
weft loi^nde from Pe-king. It is a large and fruitful pro-
TiBce; but is one Gf thofe that fuffered moft, and was almoft
hid wafte, by the kte civil wars '. It hath, however, reco-
Wred itfdf fo far fince, as to vie with fome of the beft north-
ern ones in ferdlity, populouCnefs, and opulence. The great Great
rarer Tang^fe^ which runs through it, not only enriches its trajgUk.
hods by the imildtude of canals cut from it \ but much more
fo tlif inhabitants, by the great trade that is carried on by
Its means, of vaft^ quantities of filk, iron, tin, quickfdver,
fopr, excellent loadftones, lapis Armenius^ muflc, rhubarb,
cliia-root, and other commodities, which are exported into
Qifcr provinces. The country, being moftly plain, and well- Produ^^
watered, produces plenty of rice, wheat, and other corn ; .
«lbmuch that the bare tribute of the former amounts to
6,106,660 facks. The only neceflary thit is wanting here is
fait: which, byreafon of the diftancefrom thef^a, cannot be
fo tonveniently brought thence. To fupply which defeft,
they dig up wells in the mountains, whence they draw a kind
rf fait water, which, being evaporated, leaves a fait beliind,
but not fb good for feafoni^g as that of the fea *>.

We are told of a petty monarchy in this province, fltuate Afmall
on the mountains which part it from that of Ho-nan on the monarchy
north-eafl, and called the Idngdom of Kingy which is quite in- '^'^^^'^ '^»
dependent from the Chinefe^ and is governed by its own princes.
It was founded during the late wars, when the Kingiangs, a
brave people, to avoid being inflaved by the Tartars^ or
being expofcd to their cruel ravages, went and erected them-
fdves into this little flate, among thofe high and jugged
inountains, where they live free and unmolefted, and avoid • ^

all commerce with the Ttzr^^itrj, Chine/e, or any other people ^

The province of Se-chwen hath ten jurifdiftions, or cities Citiis*
ef the firft rank, and eighty-eight of the fecond ani third,
befides five military ones ; nine large fortrefles of the firft,
and twenty-five of the fecond order, and forts, cafUes, 6r.
depending upon them.

'Dion. Kao, ubi fup. p. 141. Id. ^ Vid. ct Martini, Du
Halde, & aL ' l>utch Ambafly, La MARrisJiER^, et al.

5 The

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So Th Hipry of China. B. I.

The ten capitals of the province are, i.Ching-tu: 2. Pau-
^ngi 3. Shun-king; 4. Su-chew ; 5. Chong-king s 6. ^uey'
chew: 7. Ma-hu ; 8. Long-ngam 9. Tfun-i ; 10. Tl^/atg-

CbiDg^ta* CH ING'TU'FU, the metropolis of the pro^ance, and

fo rw/f/</ formerly the royal refidence of fome of the Chinefe monarchs,

hy the was one of the largeft and fineft cities in the whole eoipire,

wars. till the civil wars, under which it fuffered moft of any, quite

Jte-efta- ruined it, and the whole province, Anno 1646 j and, though

mjhed. It hath in fome meafure recovered itfelf, yet doth it fhcw

little of its prilline grandeur, except in the fad remains of its

once (lately palace, fome few temples, bridges, and fuch-

like, and in its prefent populoufhefs, and the great comnierce

it now carries on. It is feated almoft in the heart of the

province, and in a friiitful territory, the only* plain one in the

province, which is by that means interfered with a great

number of navigable canals. Cut from the river 7i, or Ta-

kyan^f whofe courfe here is rather flow than rapid : but,

when the canals are reunited to it, and its waves increafed by

the confluence of the Hin-Jba-kyang^ it becomes exceeding

rapid and dangerous, being much incumbered with rocks,

cfpecially in its next courfe through the province of Hu-

quang.

ClflNG'TU (hnds in latitude 30^ 41' and 12^ 1 8' weft

longitude from Pe-king. Its jurifdiftion is confiderable, and

extends itfelf over fix cities of the fecond, and twenty-five

of the third rank. It is chiefly remarkable, Martini tells us,

Jtt extra- for a finall extraordinary bird with a red bill, and the fineft

^rMnary variety of feathers. It is called Tong-hoa-fang^ that is, the

Ur-d. bird of the flower Tong-hoa^ from which they pretend it to

be produced, and to live no longer than that doth ; and is fo

like it, that one would imagine it to be a living flower *.

XII. The Province of Quang-tong.

.XII. riUANG-TONC, ^ang-tmg, ^toang-tung, ^uan-tm,
QH^"g- J^^ Canton^ and, by fome, ^lang-chnvy from its metropo-
tong di ]is^ is bounded on the north by Kyang-fi; on the north-eaft
/cnbed. {^y Fo'kyen ; on the weft by ^tang-ft^ and the kingdom of
Toug'king, or Tonqiiin ; and the reft is waQied by the Nan-
hdy, or lea of the fouth. It is reckoned the mpft confidera-
ble of all the provinces; and extends itfelf from 20° 15',
or, if you include the ifland of Hay-nan, which is under

'^ Atlas Siaenf. Martinibre, et al.

Its

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C. I. The Hi/ory of Chind. 8i

its jurifdiflrion, from i8^ 20' to 25** 33' of latitade, and
from 10 eaft, to p'* 8' weft, of longitude from Pe-ktP^g. It
is no lefs fo on account of its vaft commerce, opulence, po-
puloufiiefs, advantageous fituation, and the great number of
its commodious ports ; fo that though it fuSered incredibly
during the late wars, both from the Tartars and the Chinefe^ '
and other pirates, its traffick and fertile foil foon rcftored it
toitsantient fplendor, by the extraordinary induftry of its
inhabitants, who are computed by the regifters to amount
to 383,360 families, or £,978,029 men.

The foil is fo fertile, that it yields two crops of corn F(rtiltfj%
yearly ; and produces in the like plenty all forts of grain,
fruits, vegetables, and every thing that can contribute to the
pleafures of life. The climate, though warm, is clear, and
the people very ftout and healthy ; hence they have a
common faying, that ^/ang-tong always enjoys a (ky w Ith-
out fnow, trees always laden with fruit, and men that con-
tinually fpit blood ; by which laft is not meant any diftemper ,
of that kind, but their chewing a medicinal root which gives
the ialiva the colour of blood.

The commerce which this province, but more efpecially Manvfk^
that which its metropolis drives, is one of the richeft and turn.
grandeft ia all the Chinefe empu^ and extends itfelf to the
moft valuable merchandizes, fuch as diamonds and precious
ftooes of all forts, pearls, gold, fdver, and other metals cu-
riouily wrought, and for all ufes. They are famed here for
a fort of gun-barrel which never burfts, or, at moft, only
fplits itfelf, without farther hurt ; and for an odd kind of
rice manufafture, which they turn into all kinds of utenfds,
and which bears a fine natural glofs, but is only fit for fight/
Silks of all forts, cottons, and other linen, are likewife ma-
nufaftured and exported in great quantities, and beautiful
variety, as well as thofe of gold, filver, copper, lead, tin,
china-ware, japan-work, and in all which infinite multitudes
are conftantly employed ; infomuch that, though the country
here be as fertile as any in Chiriay yet it doth not produce fuf-
ficient provifions for its inhabitants, but is afflfted by fome of
Ac neighbouring provinces. They ufe the fame way here of Eggi
hatching and potting of eggs, efpecially" tliofe of ducks, which hatched in
are in great plenty, in ovens and drtnghils, as they do in ^'«'*
^SH^t; but have a particular one of preferving them fre(h all
the year, by covering them with a fort of pafte. We are
told a curious fingularify of the ducks and chickens fo hatch-
ed; VIZ. that the owners carry tl^m in boats to the fca-fide^
at low-water, where they feed on oyfters, cockles, and other
fuch fea-infefts, and where one drove naturally iptermlxcs

Mod. Hist. Vol. VIII. F with

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ment.

Tbi Hifiary of CWna. B. I.

with another, as there are great multitudes of tbefe boa\8
fo employed : bat, as foon as the droves-owner ftrikcs on a
bafon, every flock returns to his own boat, as pigeons do to
their holes K Some other Varieties this province affords, which
the reader may fee in the marg^ (M).

^U A NG'TO NG^ being a maritime province, and
the moft removed from the court, is one of the moft con-
fiderable in the whole empire, efpedally as he, who is
the Tfong'tu^ or viceroy, of it, is iikewife fo of that of
^tang'jti for which reafon he commonly refides at Ghau-
king, to be nearer at hand to communicate his orders to
both provinces. He keeps alfo a great number of foldiers
under him, to fupprefs the highwaymen and pirates, whkh
would clfe grow numerous enough to deftroy the commerce
betw;een them. There is, for the fame end, a great number
of fortrefles, both on the fea-coafts and in the inland, moft of
them like large cities, very ftrong and well garrifoned, be-

' Du Halde, ubi fup. p. 113.

(M) Among the great variety
of fruits which here grow in
great plenty, they have a parti-
cular fortoflimohrfnll as thorny
as the citron-tree, but much
larger. It bears a white flower
of an excjuifite odour, which,
when diililled, yields a very
pleafant liquor. The fruit,
which is almoft as big as a man^s
iiead, hith a rind much like that
of common oranges ; and its
fubflance within. Which is either
white or reddiih, hatha taHe be-
tween fwect and four. They have
another fort of fruit, the largefl
that is any-where to be feep,
which grows not on the branch-
es, but on the body of the tree ;,
Its rind is very hard ; and with-
in is fe^n a great number of
cells, containing a yellow pulp,
which is very Sveet and agree-
able when the fruit is fnll-ripc.

Another kind of rarity in this
province is the tree which the
Portuguefi call ir§n-*wo$^f which

refembles that metal in colour,
weight, and hardnefs, and will
fink in water. That which they
call rofc-wood is no lefs ad-^
mired ; and is of a blackifh co-
lour, inclining to red, beautifully
veined and ^ckled, and cfed
by joiners to make tables, ^fcH-
toires, chairs, ftools, fcTf . Their
oficr is Iikewife fo pliable and
tough, that they make cable and
other (hip- ropes of them. We
omit a number of other fuch
natural rarities, which Kercber,
Martini, and others, fpeak of,
which are not fo well attefled.
The lafl and moft remarkable
of thofe that are, is the crab
that is taken on the coafl of a
lake in the ifland of Haj-nmif
which, they tell ns, petrifies as
foon as it is taken out of the
water, and grows as hard as
flint, and is laid to bp a good
remedy againfl; burning fevers

(36). ;

(36) Du Baldi,uhifuf. f, si}.

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C. I. The Hiftory of China. S3

fides inferior ones, fons, cafUcs, ijc. difp^rfcd In proper
jdaces. ^

^ANG'TONG is divided into ten capital jarifdlftions > Cities^
whrfe cities arc, i. ^ang'chew^ or Canton ^ the metropolis
of all ; 2. Shau-chev); 3. Nan-yong : 4. Whey-chevi / 5. C^^iw-
Aem; 6.ChaU'kmg: 7, Kau-chrw: 8. Lyen-chew: 9. Loyy*
cAra;; and, 10. Kyun^henv^ which laft is the capitd of the
iihnd of Hay-nan,

^ANG-CHEW, vx\%2A^ ^ang'tong, ^uan-tun, Airn-C*"^**
ton, and commonly, by the Europeans, Canton, is fltaate on the defcribtd,
mouth of the Ta-ho, or great river, which is here wide and
fpadons, and forms the bay called Hu-men, or the tyger's
gate, thongh it hath nothing terrible in it but its name, and
feme few torts, which are only built to keep off the pirates.
Itfbnds in latitude 230 12', and longitude 30 31' Weft from
the meridian of Peeking; and is not only one of the largeft, Grea^
being computed, with its fuburbs, to be above twenty miles trajki*
in compafe (N), but likewife on account of its advantageous
fitoation, one of the richeft, fineft, beft peopled, and moft
tradii^, dties m China, the largeft veflels being eafdy brought

(N) ^uang'chenumzy be pro-
perly'iaid to confift of three
cmo, each of them furrounded
vitk its own ftrong and lofty
walli; yet fo as to have a com-
manication with each other by
ftately gates, which are only
fiiot up at night. The land-
fdiape which offers itfelf on
each iideof the river which leads
to 4c city, is one of the moft
ddig^ful profpeds that can be
imagined. It is various, ani-
mated, and gay, all the way.
On one fide we behold a vaft
extent of lovely green-meadows,
tenninated only by the hori-
zon 5 on the other, groves and
litdc hills appear, which rife up
inform of amphitheatres, which
*rc afcended by fteps made of
green fods. Here your fight is de-
I "ghtedwith ^ligh rocks covered
Jth mofs; there with country
fcais half-buried ^niongft ver-

dant copfes : now one meets
with canals variegated with
fmall iflands, and beautiful
banks adorned with ftately trees,
which yield a moft delightful
(hade, verdure, and fragrance ;
and there fomefpacious villages
encompafTed with plains, woc^s^

Among others of thefc vil-
lages, there is one to be {ttn
within about twelve miles frcm
Kunton, called Fo-Jhan, or Fw
xan, in which are computed to
be at leaft 600,000 families, or
a niiHion of fouls, moftly cm-
plowed, in manufadturing of
goods for the mark A of that
metropolis. It is computed to
be nine miles in coznpafs, and
is become very rich fince the
civil wars ; during which, that
city was almoft ruined, and
moft of its manufactures re-
moved thither (3 7)*

(r?) Hu lUUt, Ui fuf, p. 1x6. f^U. & It Camptg, Martini, ^ a!, fup.

f 2 to

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PofuUu/'

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Canals.

ment.

STitf Hipry of China. B. I.

to the fine canals that fnrround it, and the port and dty bemg
perpetually thronged with fhips and merchants, and ftorcd
with the f ichcft comtoodities of all kinds from Europe, and
moil parts of Lidifi.

The number of its inhabitants, cxclufive of ftrangers, is
computed to be at Icaft a million ; forae {ay near two mil-
lions, but that is exaggerated. However, the city is better
filled with them than moft in China, bec^ufe it bath but few
gardens and orchards, and no wafte-ground. The ftreets
are ftrait and long, and, excepting fome few of the better
fort, which are adorned with palaces, temples, triumphal
arches, and fuch-like fplendid edifices ; the reft are rather
narrow than wide, but all of them neat, and well-paved ; and
the (hops beautifully furniAied, and fet out with the richeft
wares. The harbour, quay, and canals, arc covered with
fuch an infinite multitude of barges, boats, and other veflels,
and fo clofe together, that they appear like a huge floating
city. Every ftreet hath a gate at each end, which is not only
(hut up yvery night, to confine every perfon to his proper
quarter ; but likewife in the day-tinjie, whenever any difturb-
ancc happens, in order to prevent its fpreading to the next.

The mandarin, who refides here as viceroy, hath a ftately
palace at one of the moft diftant parts of the city ; which
makes it very inconvenient for thofe )vho are to apply to him,
and ftill more fo, bccaufe the building is very deep, and a
number of courts muft be crofted before one comes to the
hall of audience, where he adminifters juftice in great ftatc:
the rcafon of which is fuppofed to be, either to prevent fii-
volous complaints, which would otherwife too frequendy
happen among fuch an infinite multitude and variety of inha-
bitants, or perhaps more probably to keep up the -greater
grandeur and ftate (O). His government, befides the metropolis,
ejttends over feventeen cities ; viz. one of the fecond, and
fixteen of the third rank "•

■ Du HalBe, ubi fupra.
fup. citat.

Li CoMPTB, Martini, et al.

(O) We arc told accordingly,
thathefeldom ftirs abroad with-
out a retinue of about too offi-
cers of ditTcrent ranks, befides
his ftimdard -bearers, and other
inferior attend ants. He is com-
monly carried oh the fhoulders

of eight lufty fellows, in a chair
of ftate like a throne, with a
large canopy over his bead ; and,
as his power is very great, fo
the fame refpe^t is paid to him
as to a little monarch, wherc;
ever he appears {38).

{38> Du Hilde, I: Cvm^ft, Martini, & al»fi^» fV^f,

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C. I. Thi Hifiory of China. 85

On the entrance into the bay of ^iang-tong Rands the Cfty of
femed Portvguefe port of Maiau, or, as it is vulgarly called, Macao
MacaOf ifx latitude 22® 12', and weftlongitude from Pe-king ^{f^^f^*
f rp'. It flands on a fmaU peninfula, or rather finall ifland^
(becaufe feparated from the continent by a river, which is in-
larged by the tide), and is joined to it only by a fmall ifthmus,
OT neck of land, acrofs which they havti buUt a wall. It is a
convenient trading port, of which the Por/i/^^ obtained the •
poflefllon, on account of their having afliiled the Chincfe in
driving away a famed pirate who infefled thofe feas, and had
befi^ed the capital of the province ; and obliged him to re-
tire to MakaUy where they flew him fome time before the
year 1660. Some authors tell us, that they built the city,
the ifland before being inhabited by none but banditti, who
enly lived in huts and woods '^. However that be, they forti •
fied this place with ftrong walls, and other works, and drove
a great trade with other parts of India ; but were afterwards
fodifturbcd by the Dutch, that its traffiqk, as well as ftrength,
hath been very much reduced ; and they now only maintain
a fmall faftory and garrifon, and are fo very poor, that thp
Chinefe defpife and lord it over them (P).

There is alfo in the city a Chinefe mandarin, as well as a Govern-
Portuguefe governor ; the former of whom hath his paj^cp ment.

^ Gemjell. Careri. voy. part 4. 1 1. c. 1.

(?) They were reckoned in Annum, afld fo proportion ably
CemeHTs time about 5000 of the to the inferior ones : which
former, mod of them mongrels, charge is defrayed by a duty of
bom in JnJia, and of I/u(ia» ten per Cent, on all Portuguefe
women; and above 15,000 of good$,and two /^r&ff/. on mo-
tile latter. The former chufe a ney ; over and ao6ve wbatis paid
magi&ate from among them- to the C&/;r^ government (39),
fclves, who hath the manage- and other impofitions from the
ment of all civil and criminal mandarin that commands in it ;
affairs, but with whom the lat- and the viceroy, who comes often
tcr are not concerned ; their po • to viiitit,and muft be entertained
litical government being under in a grand manner, and glutted
acaptain-gcncral,appointedby with high prefents, ^c. To
the king of Portugal, and the all which hardfliips they are
fpiritual by ?l bilhop. All thefe forced to fubmit, becaufe, all
and other ofHcers are maintained their provifions coming to them
by the city, which allows the from the Chinefe, they might be
captain-general h piece of eight flarved by them upon the leaft
/wday, and 3000 every three diilikc.
jcars; 500 to the bifhop per

* (39T Geme Careri, voy, part 4, /. 1#

F 3 in

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iQ the h^^t of it, and commands in chief ; fo that whatever
he will have done, muft be complied with, efpeciaUv "wlxcre
the Chinee intereft is concerned. To that end> the tortifica-
tions of the town are kept in good repair, ;and well provided
with cannon ; and, as its fmall garrilon is fupplied with sM
neceflaries by the Chinefe^ who are more numerous in it,
thefe hardly think it worth their while to become maAers of
I1ta*vy it. It pays to the Chinefe court a tribute of 10,000, others
$rihtf' ^fay ioQ,ooo, ducats, for the lil;)erty of chufmg their magif-
trat<?s, and the exercife of theii^ religion and laws, befldea a
heavy impoft on every veffel and merchandize which is ^rougbt
into the port ; the entrance of which teing guarded by the
Chinefe, no fhip can come in, or go out, without their luipw-
lege and leave,
buildings, XHfE town is well built, though not large. The houfes
are after the Surope(in manner, but low ; and the churcheF,
and public buildings, pretty handfome for that country.
The ground on which it (lands is very uneven, being hifl,
Harbour, valley, and plain ; and defended by three forts, all of them
<tc/. , built on fome advantageous eminence, which, with the reft
of the city terminates the fight on that fide from the fliips
that ride at anchor : but betwixt this land, which is of fome
. extent, and the town, there is a fafe and commodious port,
along whofe ftiores the city extends. The commerce of it
was formerly fo confiderable, whilft the Portuguefe were per-
mitted to trade vvith Japan, that it was a conunon laying,
that Macao might pave its ftreets with filver : but, fincethcy
were forbidden to come thither mider fuch fevere penaldes,
they are dwindled into fuch a ftate of poverty, and fendtude,
that the town and port are gone quite into decay, haWng but
five ihips of their own to maintain all the vaft charges above-
mentioned : and thefe inftead of the 300 per Cent, which dicy
were wont to return from Nangazahy bring in now but an
inconfiderable profit ; which will be leflcned ftill, fays Carery»
' by The fetting up of the new E aft- India compapy, which for-
bids their refort to feveral ports, and their trading in {ome
j^anday forts of their commodides ^, . Before we take our leave of this
^{J$r^nt, port, we muft take notice of one remarkable Angularity re-
lating to it; viz. that the Sunday vi\\^ them is the Saturday
with the Spaniards in t\\e PhiRppine IJlands : tjie 'reafpn of
which the reader will fee in the margin {Q_).

^ C£Me;«I'. Careri, ubi'fupra.

The

(Q^) This difference, which other days of the week, dodi
^;vtcods itCelf e^uall^ co all the not proceed ff0i9 any difference

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'{^ Ci. JJfc H^pry of China, 8;

^' The M thing we have to mentioh ccHicenlii^ the pro- IJUHzy
: nacc of ^ang-tong^ is the ifland of Hay^nan^ which be- ^^ ^'
^' loDgs to its jarifdi^)^, and lies oppofite to it, on the goUiiArited.
^ dCochin-Chtna^ being parted from it by a very narrow chanel,
\' (b that it may be eafily deferied from the oppofite coaft, in a
cfearily. It is a pretty large ifland, and extends itfelf from
^ 180 10' to 200 8' of latitude, and from 50 55^ to 80 3;o'of
i feftJoDgitude from Pe-king ; fo that its greatcft length from
1" eaft to weft is between fixty and feventy leagues, and from
^r oorAtofouth between forty and fifty, and its circumference
^^ jbout 160,

It is moftly mountainous, except the length of about FirtiRty^
^ ffitonlc^cs from the north coaft, which is plain, and well
iQtercd by rivers. The inhabitants, who are pretty nume-
-^ JOBS, cultivate their ground fo well, and the rains fall down
\ fcfea&mUy, tiiat the country produces rice, and other com,
^ j enough for their fuftenance, and conunonly yields two crops
]j ^7*'« befides which, they have plenty of fruits, venifon, ^

T lae, ijc. The only thing they want, efpecially on the
^] wwhera fide, is wholfome water ; for want of which they are
\ Aiged to boil a fuflRcient quantity of it in the morning to
IJ fee them all the day y.

^1 ^^^ ^^iff^/^ are not mafters of the whole ifland, but only Go'Vim-
^1 or moft of the coafts,* and fome of the plains in the inland, m^nt,
r; thfch the natives abandoned to them, that they might go and
J •WAdrfiberty on the high mountains, where they adually
J ^independent, and never have any commerce with them,
i ' Z?^ ^^. ^*^*^°g® ^^^^ ^ ^^ gold-duft which they gather Traffic^
! ^ fhcir rivers and torrents, for Chine/e fait and clothes :
^» though they are fuppofed to have ibme rich mines of gold
*wfiJver, yet they are either too indolent or inexpert to turn
™«i to any advantage.- There are hardly any coafts on the
«tai fea which produce larger and finer pearls than the
*?4ern ones of this ifland. The inlands yield a great varieity
.jjp^nt woods, and of b^utiful colours, particularly thole
^^ eagle, rofe, violet, and ebony-wood^ all which arc

^ Martini, Atlas Sinenf. Dv IIal'de, p. 117.

^1^0^^^^^ W^ecTithofe two between them, they have failed
f *?'' ^^^ich is inconfiderable, round the world, by oppofite

V J^^^^^^i^erentwaysof fail- points 5 in doing which, there

y M thoFe two nations : for the mull of courfe, be the lofs of

. {^^^'Aincominghidierfrom ' '

j*i^ t?!:^'^^^^^^^^; whereas

'^^Y'^^^^^U^A (0 that.

one day, as eveiy one knows
that hath learnt the bare ele-
ments of the globe.

F 4 bonj^l.t

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$S ne Hipry of China. fe. I.

bought up by the Ckinefe, to make houfhold ornaments, or
for dyeing. It breeds likewife variety of fine birds, beafts^
and a particular kind of black monkey, with a face the nearctf
to human.
p-^fi of The iflanders, both men and women, wear their hair iaaj
the peoflt. ring on the\r forehead ; and a hat on thdr heads, made ol
ftraw, or rattan, and tied under their chin. Their habit is
only a piece of callico, either black, or of a deep blu^e, which
covers them from the waift to the knees ; befides which,' the
women wear a kind of waiftcoat of the fame. Thefe ffa'eak
their cheeks from the eyes downward with indigo : both men
and women wear ear-rings of gold and filver, fhaped like a
pear, and well made. Their weapons are bcws and arrows,
at which they are not very dexterous v and a kind of hanger,
which they carry in a little bafket faftened to their g^dle be-
hind ; and this lad is all the tools they have for cutting down
timber, or for carpenters work.
Capital The capital city in the ifland is called Kyun-cbew-fA. It

4efirihed. is fituate On a promontory ; and the Mps come tp anchor un-
foru der its very walls. The port, which is about two leagues
diftant from it, on the nprth fide of the ifland, is formed by
a pretty large river, .whofe mouth is defended by two fmall
forts : but, as it hath not above ten or twelve feet of water,
any vefTels made after a different manfter from thofe of ChinA
would find it difficult to enter it. Between the port and the
capital is a fine plain full of beauriful|CAiw^ fepulchres ; among
which is one with a crofs on it, in which lies interred an Ita*
fr^tft. , lia}\ miflionary, and the firft who landed in that ifiand. Kyun"
cheiV'fii hath under its jurifdiftion three cities of the (tconi^
and ten of the third rank, moft of them feated along the
fea-coafts. Jt ftands in latitude 20<^ i\ and weft longitude
from Pe-king 6® 40', and is governed, by a literary and a
military mandarin ^ (R),

Xra. Tbi

? Martini, Atlas Sincnf. Du Halde, p. 117, Sc fcq.

(R) Near th}s iilarid is that a WU : and behind it is a fflwH

fmall qnc called Sancton, or plain,>vithtrees onone fidc,and

Shang'chenAjen^Jban^ and famed gardens on the other.

for the death of the ipodein The ifland is not defart, as

apoftle of the Jndm^ Francis was reported ; but hath about

)taviery whofi^ tomh is dill to five villages, inhabited by poor

be feen, and is much reforted to filhermen. The Portugueje Je-

by travellers. It (lands on a fuits built a chapel here above

}iit|e eminence, at the foot of fifty yeilrs ^go, which, though

0DI7

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C. I.' fU I^fi^ cf Chhnu I9

XIII. Tbe Province of Quang-fi.

QUANGOS I, $uan-Ji, ^lam-Ji, hath ^tang-fong, laft XIIL
ij^^dcfcribed, on the footh-eaft; Hu-quang and ^#y-Qpangfi
ckm on the north ; Tun-nan on the weft ; and the ocean, ^fir.iid^
with part of the kingdom of Tonqidn, on the fouth. It e]^-
teods idielf only from %i^ 50^ to 260 15.' of latitude, and
from 4« lo' to 1 10 48' of weft longitude from Pe-king. It
is for the moft part mountainous, and ftiort of the fertility of
other pnmnces ; yet hath fome vaft fpacious plains, cfpecially f>,^i/y/.
on the iouth, fo well cultivated, that it is able to fupply that
of ^^umg'tong with rice and corn for fix months in the year.
It is watered by a great number of rivers, which flow from
die mountains eaftwards into the Ta-ho^ ox great river which
nms into ^ang-tong. And, as feveral of them are naviga-
ble on the €aft part, the people are more ^ven to traffick, and
much more polite, than thole on the weft and north fide, who
are a rude fort of mountaineers, difdain all fubje^ion, and live
fikcindependentfavages. ,

These vaft ridges of mountdns are covered with large Moun*
forefts, though many of them abound with mines of gold (S), tains, t
lilver, copper, iron, ire* feveral forts of curious woods ufed
by the joiners ; among which there is one particular fort of
tree, which, inftead oi pith, contains a foft fubftance, which
they grind into meal, and doth not tafte amifs. The infedl
that produces the wax is in great plenty alLover the province,
which breeds likevdfe ^rrpts, and other fineiirds, rhinoce-
ros's, porcupines, and other wild beafts. The cinnamon which Manu/ac-
grows here is better, and more odoriferous, than th^t of the tures.
ifland of Ceylon; and the filks that are manufaftured here
bear a good price : but the chief one of this province is that
of porcelain, which is made much finer than in other parts,
though one of the ingredients is brought from that of Nan*

only of plafter, doth yet look charge, on condition they paid

?ery neat ; the Chinefe having the emperor 40 per Cent, and

japanned it over with red and his officers attending on it five

blue vamiih (40). per Cent, out of the profits ari-

(S) There was a rich one, in iing from it ; but that monarch

particular, which the inhabitants iince took it into his hand, and

of the diflrid obtained a patent worked it at hi3 own charge

from the court to have the pri- (41).
vilegc of working at their own

(40) U Comfte, PhHM, &ah (41) !>» HaUe, ubi Jup, p, 120.

kingf

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"9« . "tie Ifijldfy tf Oiiik. -tR I.

king ; it being obfcnred, ^hat the water of the former, and
the fand of- ^^ latter, muft coecar- 1& make that ware com-
plete. The number of inhabitants was once computed to
amount to 196,719 femilies, or 1,054,760 men. The pfo-
vince is divided into twelve jurifdiftions ; whofe capitals, arc
C/ieu iw follow: ^te^'lirtg, the metropolis of the whole ; 2. Ly^rw-
cheiu^ 3. Kin-ywen: 4. Se-ngen: 5. Pitig-h ; 6. IT^cherw ^
7. Strt'cheiv ; 8. Nah'*ning ; 9. Tay-ping / to. Seaming /
il. Chin-ngan; it. Se-ehin.
Qucy- ^E T'L INO'FU^ the metropdis, is faid to have its name

Kfigftt, from a flower, which, though very commoa in Chma, jet
dtfcribei. grows in greater quantity thete (T). It is fittiate on a
river which falls into the Ta-ho ; and runs with foch rapi-
dity through the narrow valUes, that, though large, it is not
tiavigable, or of any fervice for. traffick. The city is large
and ^irell-built, and infome meafure after the manner of otir
antient fortifications ; but is ftill vaftly inferior to moft other
capitals, and is furrounded with favage and barbarous people,
who are fettled in the mountdns, and, as was lately hinted,
live in a kind of independence from the mandarins. It flands in
latitude 25^ I3^ and weft longitude from Peeking 6^ 14',
and hath a jurifdiftioh over two cities of the fecond, and (even
of. the third rank. The bird called King-hi (U) is caught

(T) The word fignifies t4ie (U) This rare bird, whofe
fbreft of the flower ^^, which name fignifics the golden hen, is
^flowcr grows upon a tree not much ^lleemcd for its extraor-
^mlike our laurel, and yields a •dinar3r beaoty both of colour
^ fine tafte and fmell, and, when and fhape, as well as for its ex-
dried, is commonly mixed witk quifite taile, which is affirmed
fome forts of cakes, to raife their to excel that of our pheafants.
flavour and reiifh. There is a Its feathers are of a delightful
mount likewife on the caft end mixture of blue and red, finely
of the city, which bears the /haded towards the extremities
fame name, from the vaft qoan- of the wings and tail, and inter-
tities of that flower with which mixed with variety of other
it is pcrpetiially covered, and colours. The 4x)dy is finely
which perfume the whole coun- ftiaped, and the head crowned
try : for it is obfcrvable, that with a beautiful creil (42). It
iio fooner one falls, but another is very.common m this and the
breaks out in its place. Some next province we are going to
think, however, that ^ey-tlng fpcak of.
•hath its name from the river
Sluey^ which runs near its wal b.

witRia

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Ci; S»rflS[^«ry^ China. 91

vithk this territory^ wbofe feathers are Tarkgt^ vnth (oA
hc^tcoloursy that tbey weave thtmia their filk»\

XTV. Th Prov$$ui cf Ym^mn.

TUN'NJN^ ru'HM^ ym-nan, is bottoded m tte north XIV.
' by Se-chew^ and the territory of the lamas ; on the weft YaQ-naa
by the kingdoms of jhni^ P^gy* and fome unknown barba«^^Ss^*i«<^
Km nations ; on the ibuth by the kingdoms of Law^ or Lau^
cbwa^ and Tong-king,- and, on the esul, by the provinces of
^uang'^SLDd ^uey-chew. It extends itfelf from ai"" 34' tb
tV" of latitude, and from 10^ id^ to i8<> 34' of w^ k)n^-
todefrom Peeking, It is faid to be one of the richeft and
■oft fefile of the empire, bdng evcry-whcre watered by ri-
1BS, fev^rai of which rife from fome cooTiderable lakes \ and GpUm
others deiceiul from the mountains, and bring down great mwf •
qoantides of gold fand, and fome precious itoiies, particu-
kly rubies of fingular beatity are dog out of thefe mountains ;
and, if the golden mines were fuffered to be opened, they
voold in all probability amount to, immenfe fums. They
Hkewife produce, among other bafer metals, one called Pe-
t^^ which is white within and without, but an other refpefts
is much like the common copper; and, among other valuable
fioQcs, the lapis armenus^ a kind of reddUh amber, and a
fine fort of marble of divers Colours, whofe veins naturally
leprefeot flowers, trees, n^ountains, rivers, ebc. and of this
they make tables, and other ornaments.

The country produces plenty of com, rice, and all kinds produ3m
of prorifions, medicinal plants, roots, gums, mufk, 6r, bc-
fides plenty of lilk, cotton, and flax. It likewife breeds va*
xktyof animals, particularly elephants, horfes, and a curious
^ of flags, which are neither ndler nor thicker than our or-
torydogs, and are kept by the'^rich in their gardens for
thdr diverfion. Here is alfo bred the golden hen, defcribed
iQ the laft note, and other curious birds. « The whole pro-
vince is divided into twenty-one diftriAs, or jurifdiftions, of
the firft rank, which have under them fifty-five others of the
(econd and third, befides eight military cities, and a good
nomber of fortrefles, caftlcs, drc. The cities of the firft c/iia
nnk are, i. Tim'tian^ the metropolis; 2. Ta-Hs 3. Ling-
' «?<««> ^Chu'byang; ^.Ching-kyang; 6. Kiiig-tong; 7. ^an-
fum: 8. ^uang-Jts 9. Shun-ning ; 10, Kn-tfmg; 11. Tau*
I tgan; 12. Ko'ldng; 13. Vu-ting; i/^\ Ly-kyang-fu;.!^. Twew *

* Du Halde, ubi fop. p. ug, & feq. Vid. Sc MAariRL
; 4tfas, La Martin iere, 8c al.

hyangt

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9ii iTbeHifiotybf China. •^. I.

Jty^'zg' ; 1 6j!'^^^g-'wha f 17 . Yung-chang ; 1 8. Yung-nin^-tu j
19. Tung-^.;^ %o^ Kay-Vf^a; Q:i^ Sarw-ta, -

Yun-nan TUN-NAN^ Ju-nan^ J^-nung-fu, metropolis of the pro-
defcribed. vince, is fit})^x?f> tlje horthTerift fide of a large and deep lake,
or, according to the language of the country, on the coaft of
• .- -thefouAfc^ialalitudeas^d'itodweftloagitudefroniP^-i^/jsrg-
.... ^3* 37'- It WAS.notlong ^jovery remarkable for its beauty,
. • . . . and the number of its ftatdy buildiagfi and fine gardens within
*its walls, which^are three miles:(if not rather leagues) in compafs,
' it having, beqa. the refidence of fcycral monarchs. At ihe time
of the 7i»''if/wiii^ding it, they gavie the then reigning prince
the infieftiture of the province,' with the title of king (W) :
J>ecay^ but, he, growing, wq^ry ,o£> the yoke, and having taken op
'Whence, arms againftthe emperor, Atmo 1679, his family was ruined ;
.. an^, he dying foon after of old age, his army foon difperfcd

itfelf, and his kingdom, andftately ^aces, as well as his court,
leli into ruin and defolation ^.

The metropolis hatk not fered much better; though it is
ftill the. refidence <rf the Tfong-t^^ or governor^general of the
provinces of Tun-nan and ^ley-chevj^ as well as of the vice-
, finffick, .royoi:' the province.. Its-traffick is chiefly for metal, which is
Sti inma-gx^zxtv here' than in any other part of the empire ; and its
nufac' principal maoufafture i particular fort of fattin, made of
n^f' .twifted filk, without flower or.glofs, and dyed of aU ccJours
like the common fort, but which are neither bright nor lively.
They likewife make here a fort of carpets of the fame kind of
\ twifled filk. The inhabitants, who are here a ftput, count-
.. geous, and aftive people, and given b6th to agriculture and

arms, hive a breed of horfes, which, tho* fmall, are ftrong
and fleet, and which they ride with only a carpet inftcad' of a
faddle under them. Tun-nan hath in its diftrift four cities of
the fecond, and feven of the third rank.

^ Dv Haldb, ubi fup. p. 11^2, tc feq. Vid. et Martini

Atlas, La Mar,tinierb, & al.'

(W) This prince's name, AT^^r called in the Tariars to fiipprcfs
tells us, was Fu/attgui(^i)y or, the rebels, and, by that unad-
as Du Halde and his traaflator vifed flep, proved the canfe of
write it, V-fan^ghey {44), who ' the lofsof theC/?'/»^oaipi|^ a^i
was the unfortunate perfon that will befecn in the fp^u^l,

(43^ A^*dJJbrand9^1des,p. 14?. (^) Pa^, |2j,

i XV. -321^

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C. 1. Tbi Hifiory of China. 9 j[

XV. S^bi Province of Qucy-chcw.

QUEr-CHEJV, one of the fmallcft provinces of the cm- XV,
^^^ pire, hath ^latig-fi, on the iouth ; Hu-qnang on the Qucy-
catt; Se-chzven on the north; and Tuh-nan on the weft^^^^^*
and extends itfelf from 24® 40' to 29' oi latitude, and from
7** to 12° 30' of weft longitude from Pe-king. ' The whole Vaft
country is naturally barren, on account of its vaft, rugged, ^^«/' of
and inacceffible mountains, which are here in fuch great ^5«*^-
quantities, that it looks as if the whole body of them had,^'^'*
made it their rendezvous. The late, civil wars have rendered it
ffill mc^-e diiagreeable and uncultivated, and fo thinl)r peopled,
that the emperors have been obliged .to fend colonics thither
iiom other provinces, and fometimes difgraced governors, with
their whole families (X). As for the natives of the province^ Wild fori
they bear an exadt refemblance to the country, and are a rude, ^f ^^^^'
barbarous, and lawlefe people, who live in conftant defiance ^^iw/#.
vith the Chinefe government, make war or peace with it as
bed fuits their intereft or humour, and often harrafs and ra-
vage them in their fettlements : for this reafon they are ob^
figed to have here a vaft number of military cities, fortrefles,
cafUes, isc, all ftrongly garrifoned, to keep, them in awe ;
for, this province being the diieft and only road i6 that of 7V«-
nfl/2, there, is a neceflity to keep it open at any rate ; and fuch
a number of forces they keep here in pay for that end, that
the tribute which is levied upon the country not being fuffi*-
dent to maintain theip, the. court is obliged to make up the
deficiency by new fupplies every year.

The mountains, however, arc rich in mines of gold, fil- Mtne$ of
ver, quickfUver, and copper, of part of the latter of which gpld^ &€.
the fmall coin that is current in the empire is moftly made.
The vallies between are fome pf them large, fertile, and well
watered ; and would yield mucji better crops, if duly culti-

(X) This province is much redes, under the protedlion of

the fame to the Chinefe that Si- their governors and foldiery ;

hiria is to the Mufcomtes ; and whilil the natives, who inhabit

thofc mandarins and governors, their high and rugged moun-

who arc fent thither with, their tains, avoid all commerce, c;c-

families, and fometimes for life, cc^t that of making fome plun-

are only fuch as have been guilty dering excurfions upon them.

of fome ftatc crimes. Thefe* Great pains have been taken by

Qnnefe colonies live in their the government to fupprefs them,

firong walled towns and fort- but hitherto to little e^ed (4^)^

C45^ Martitd, Kfio, La Martiaicre^ Du HafJe, & ah

vated.

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^4 31fe Hi^ory ef Oiina. B. I.

vated. They carry on no manufafturc of dthcr filk or cotton
here ; but make themfclves ftuffs of akuil of yegetables, not
Cattle. unlike our hemp, which is a proper wear for fummer. The
iahabitants breed vaft herds of cows, hogs, ire. and the bcft
horfes in all China. The wild fowl Is in the greatcft pkntjr
and variety, and of excellent tafte. The only commerce be-
tween the Chinefe and the natives confifts in a frequent ex-
change which the latter are obliged to make of fome of thdr
, gold-dttfl:, cattle, wild fowl, <bc. for a fupply of fait, callicoes,

and the like goods, which they want. Upon the whole, the
, province abounds with all forts of provifions, and moft of
them very -cheap. It is divided into ten diftrifts of the firft
rank, tinder which are thirty-eight of the fecond and third,
Ciiieu befid« military cities, fortreffes, iscl The capital cities
(Which, by the way, are vaftly inferior in largenefs, beauty,
and wealth, for the reafons above-mentioned) are, i . ^ey-
yangi the metropolis; 2, Se^chenv : 3. Se*nan : 4. Chin;-
ywen: 5. Sbe^tfyem 6. T&ng-jin; 7. Ngan-cham 8. 71/-
yum 9. Ping-y%}en; 10. Wey'ning^,
Ciucy- ^Er-YANG'FU, metro|)oli8 of the whole, is oneyof the

yang-f4 figsialkft aad worft built in all China ; its walls being (carcdy
defcribed. ^^ixtQ niiles iii oompafs, and the houfcs moftly of earth and
brkk. It ftands in a pleafant and fertile plain, on a fmall
river, but which bears no boats ; whence the commerce of the
town is inconfiderable. It is encompafled at a diftance with
Teiy high and deep mountains (Y), whieh are inhabited by
a people of different extraft from the Chinefe^ whence they
Sina-ni, ^^^ called Sina-m, or weftcm barbarians, becaufe they laV
^^^' weft of China ; and, after their reduftion, were with much
difScutty brought to conform to the Chinefe cuftoms. We
read of fome few flately buildings within the city, which,
though gone to decay, fhew it to have been formerly in a
more floiirifhing condition, or, as fome fay, a royal refidence.

« Du Halde, ubi fup. p. 119, & feq. Vide ct Martini
Atlas, La Martiniere, & al.

(Y) Among them, tWe that fo deep and ftrait, that ftw

follow are worth a curious read- creatures c^ ciimb up to it.

cfanotrcej i.To»g-eo, or the A third, called Fenpif which

copper kittU'drum^ \>tC2iXi(e iris (lands by itfelf, on the fouth iicfe

ooferved to make fome fuch of. the city, and is cut in the

kind of noife at particular fan- fiiape of an iibfceles €one,whicl'

fons, efpecially before rain. 2. terminates in an . acute point

That of Ntmg'huang, which is (46).

(46) Kfnbtr, Uarfini, Gardtn, ^ fU

But

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C I. Xbi Hificry of China. -95

But there flaods, without the walls of it, a large lemple, (aid to
hare been built by the Tartar family of Twerif and allowed
to be a magnificent edifice. -

^UET-TJNG (lands ia latitude 26^ 30', and 9** 52^ weft
. loBptode, from Peeking ; and hath a jurifdiftion over three
dtiesof the fecond, and four of the third 1 iink, befides a great
number of forts, with which it is in a manner furrounded.

We have now gone through the fifteen provinces within
the walls, and the principal iflands belonging to them; and
fliaU now clofe the geography of this great empire with a (hoct
aapDDt of the province of Lyau-tong^ which is (ituate without
the walls, ai^d on the frontiers oxTattary^ but is, like the
odier fifteen above-defcribed, fubjeft to the fame govern*'
oAt.

^ht Province qf Lyau-tong, or Quang-tong.

THIS province, which is now proved, on all hands, to Lyan-
* bciituatc without the great Chinefe wall (Z), which parts it ^otzdf* ^
froft that uiPc-chfk ont hefouth-weft ; is bounded, on the ea(l, firiJcJ.
by the kingdom of Korea ; on the north, by the mountains
of Talovj, or Tartary ; on the fouth, by the gulf of its
owft oame ; and on the wefty by the country of the Moguls.
I'is but a fmall province, compared to thofe of China we have
gOBC through ; and extends itfelf only about 270 or 280
nib, where longeft ; but, in other parts, is much (horter-^
breaches from 390 to almoft 43<> of latitude, knd 2*^ 30' t©
ahioft 9® eaft longuitude, from Pe-king. It was reckoned,
^^^umKao's time, the fixteenth province in the Chine/e cm*
pfrc, though feated without the wall <* ; but hath fince loft *
^ dignity under the Tartars ; and is now treated as a cop*
Q^^cred province, for reafons we (hall have occa(ion to hint
*^ ia the fequel.

* VidcKAO, ubi fup. p. 115. & 129. & fcq. Lb Compt£»
viuiEST, Martini, & al.

(^} Nieuheff^ and, after him, plainly appears from what yf%

'^niy were the firft wjio have quoted above dut of the

P'Jftd this province within tlie Ckinefs geographer D. Kao^ at

^A. The firfl, in \a% map well as itomVtrhUft^ who tra^

^'•ted to his Dutch Ambajfy \ veiled thither with the courts

^ the latter in his AtkiS. But and Le Cofi^tt^ and other mor*

^kwas'an overfightiathem, modern writers (47).

f47) Vide Kao, uhi Jup. p* u^ & fff, \2$* ^/y. te Comptt, Brntat^

TrtE

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9^ The Hifiory of Chini. B. I.

£ot/i The land is fertile, and well cultivated, though moftly

mountainous and uneven ; and had formerly a great number

GtUs df' of large cities and towns, which lie now in ruins, having

caj^. been moftly deftroyed during the wars with the Tartars^

without ever being able to recover themfelves fiace *• On

J great the contrary, we are told, that the Tartars have, inflead of

number of them, built a great number of military cities, fortreHes, and

fortrejes. caftlcs, to prevent it, and to keep the Lyau-tongers under,

who are a ftout and warlike people, very numerous, and un-

eafy under the yoke (A). Some of thefe fortreflcs are indeed

fo large and populous, and have raifed themfelves to fuch a

degree of fplendor and opulence, as to be little inferior to

fome of thofe of the firft and fecond order in China ; and the

inhabitants, foldiers, as well as others, are grown very rich

and powerful in them, and drive a good commerce with the

northern provinces of China^ particularly with the ca]Mtal one

of Pe'chcii, whilft the LyaU'tongers are, for the moft part, kept

in a ftate of fubjeftion and flavery under them.

CharaStr They are, however, a very ftout, tall, ^nd brave people;

Qftlje and their frequent wars with their neighbours, on all fides,

feofk. have rendered them expert and warlike. But though they

• Vide Kao, ubi fup. Lb Compte, Verbiest, Mahtihi,
&al.

(A) Dhr. Kao^ lately quoted,
telli us, that this province was
the way through which the Tar-
tarsy now reigning in China,
came into it (48) : from which
his tranflator, in his notes on
him, concludes, on what autho-
rity is not eafy to guefs, that, in
gratitude to them for their affifl-
ance, and eafy paiTage through
It, they hiadc it a new province
of the Chintfe empire, and en-
dowed it with the fame privi-
leges with the other ^fteen.
Whereas by thefevere treatment
they have received from them,
one would be apt to think they
had rather oppofed their en-
tr^ce, and mewed too much
fidelity to the Chine/e,

And, indeed, that writer
plainty telle us, that the TVzr-

tars made an irmption into
Lyau'tong, where they met with
a repulfe from the Cbinefe em-
peror Vamg'ty^ or Van-U (49) ;
oy which it feems as if the
Chimfe were then mailers of
that province ; for the getting
it into their hands was one of
the moft elFedtual means to fe*
cure China from invaiions from
that part oi^artary ; and either
that, or fome other Onneft
monarch, might endow the
Lyau-tongians with the privi-
leges of his Chinefe fubje6b,
ei^er as a reward for, or to fe-
cure, their fidelity to ^t Chinefe
government : we may oflFerfome
further conjectures on this head,
whetf we come to their hiftpry,
and their wars with the Tar-

tar's.

(48) Vidt Katf ubi /up, /. 115. & 116. and nttttt

(49) liid. p. 119-

jKutakc

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pSTtake more 5f the temper of the Tartars ^ tb^ are afitfttied . . "
to be fonder of the Chinefe government, religion^ an^ ctt-
Aoms ; which, in fome.meafure, coofirms what we obferved
ia the laft note. They are much given to agriculture and ^rojjicl
tttf ck ; by the former of which, they hare made fuch im.- ^^^
«>¥ements on their lands, that they are become mtich more ^^fi^^^\
Iprtik than they naturally were ; and tho/e who live near the
boi carry on a good commerce with (Mna^ Kor^a^ and Ja^an^
die chirf- part of which confiAs in fur$ of beavers, fables, and
^iitfier wild beafts, and a much largtr would they, in all pro-
bability, drive, if they were not kept fo under by their mar
4^. Thejt do not feem, indeed, to have fuch a happy g^
aips for arts ai^ fciences as the Chintfe\ but the former
fcoriftiing conditicm of thdr country, though deprived of
©any fingular advantages, of foil, climate, rivers, ifc. which
Qina enjoys, (hews that they were at Icaft equal to them in dili-
gence and induAry . So that if thdr noble antient cities are now
left to go into ruin, if their trade and manufaftures languifh^
9ii. their wealth is now pafled intp other hands, it can only
^ owing to .the opprelEon they fufier under the pixfent go^ OppreJftoKl
vernment, under which they appear to have groaned ever fince
the conqueft of China^ of which it was then the fntteenth *

province : for though one might li^ve expefted that the Tart
tarSf after they were become roaftcr$ of the whole Ckme/i
impire, would have left this province to ciyoy its antient ja-i-
i^l^es ; yet, for fome reafon gr other, probably, thofe wc T

tinted at in the laft note, they thought fit to deprive it of
tliem, and reduce it to the condition of a conquoed or tri-
butary one (B).

(B) This fcems fully con- fovereign trjbunals^ to judg<^

£rmcd, by a letter of Father without appealj of all matters

y<?f/, a Chinefe miflionary to the relating to the Tartars : for

general of the Jefuits, atino Lyau-twgi fays hi, is now

1703, concerning the then ftate erteemed as a province of Tar^

lof their million ; wherein he ac- tary, and the LyaU'tongers ars

q|Baints him^ that they had not no longer looked upon as Cki-

a yet made any fettlement at nefe, but as native Tartars (40).

Ijam^tongi but that they^ad Thus far the miffiotiary, who

formed a projefi of making one might more truly have (lyled

ift CBifP^yangy capital both of them fubjedls, or flaves^ to the

tbat ^Kpvindle and of all Eajiem TartarsSincQ their condition is no

fitrtary. That city, contmues better, whilft the Chinefe^ more

Jbe, is very confiderable, the favoured than they, enjoy the

emperor having eftablifhed four fame advantages and privileges,

femi

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(40) Lettr, ed:ff,antt fom, nU p» 68«

Mod. Hist. Vol. VIII. G f«nii

^t fie Hiftory of China. B. L

CiiUs. Wb read bat ci two capital cides, or cides of fhe firft

rank, in Father MartinVt time ; the firft oS which was called
Leao^yung, which name, he tells us, was given to it by the
Tartarian family of Kina; and the other King-yvjen^ or
Ning-yuen ; neither of which have any thing ^xro^th fart)icr
notice, they being botlvgone into decay. Since then, Jather
Fountenay, a Jefnit, who came from €lnna about the bo-
ning of this century, at well as Father Noel, mention^ in

Ntw ca- the laft note, make the dty of Chin-yang to be the metro

fitml. polls ^ From which, we may fnpppfe the Tartars to have
made fome confiderable alteradons in thcgovernment of this
province, fince this laft is likewife filled the metropolis of
Eq/lern Tartary, and the refidence of the four grand tri»
bunals. Thofe of the fecond and third rank muft fHU be

fortreffes. more inconfiderable ; but their fortrefles of the firft order are
Aid to be as large, populous, and opulent, as (bme of the
capitals of China. Theie are eleven in number; befides the
metropolb above-mentioned. The fame number theit are of
thofe of the fecond rank, and about feven or eight of the
tturd ; which laft are more remarkable for their ftrei^ and
ganifons, than for their largenefs or opulence.

TtrtiSty. The country produces plenty of com, millet, and other
|;rain ; but very little rice, for want of fuch rivers and canals
%% the Gnnefe have. They abound wth variety of wild fowl,
and 'wQA, beafts, fruits, herbs, and roots, both culinary and

Xm/ Jitt* inedidnal. Among the laft, the famed root, called Jin*fengt

ftng. Cing^fen, or Jin-fen^ fo mudi efteemed among the Qm^
phyiicians, as an infallible n^didne to reftore decayed con*
ftitutions, and renew the vital heat, grows here in great
plenty, and is reckoned of the beft kind. The doftors give
it in beAic, peftilential, and other defperate fevers, and dan-
gerous difeafes, but prepared, and mixed with other drugs (C).

They

' See Lettr. ediffiant, vol. vii. p.'68. & 147.

fome fewpoints excepted, which care mnft be taken thnt the pot

they did undct their own roo- be well covered, elfe itt virtue

narchi, and fcarcely feel the will evaporate,
weieht of a fordgn yoke; as According to Father U

will be more fully feen in the Compters defcription of this ex-

fequeL cellent root, which he higUy

its extraordinary virtue, is no any in China^ but what comes

more than two or three grains, from thb province. The Gin-

minced, or pounded fmaJl, and fen^ iays he, which js at prefeat

boiled in chikenbroth, or, if ufcd, is brought to us front

that fail, in fair water; but Lyau tong, a province kfV9^^

fi9A

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Ci; Jh Wftary oj Cluiuw 9f

Tbqrefleem tix)& roots which arelai^ bright, smd wt^hty,

isthebeft. They wrap them up in jpaper, and keep them in

dijemb, and fome alfo in pepper, tor ofe <•
This provinoe hath a confiderable (hare of mountains^ JKw«»

fane of which produce tinjiber for building, others metals and ttdm.

nioersb. Thofe that are worthy of notice, are, the great
lidg^ called Ecng-fte^ one end of which lies dofe to the
j'aoB where the CInne/c wall b^ns, and extends itfelf quite
uto Tcrtary. It is of a great height, and hath a lake about
e^ty furloDgs in circuit, and of a prodigious depth, out of
rtfch fpring the two fan^d rivers Tah^ which runs mto 7ir-
Urjft and ^ng-tong, which, after a courfe northward, of
we length, winds eaftward, and falls into the Tau ; which
hft empties itfelf into the yellow fea. The other mountain
worth mcntiomng, is, that called Ou, or Jfw, which forms an
ffland on the gulph of Lyaurtong, on which is built the fort-
refe of Xan-giay. There are fevaal other iflands on the fame
gfllph, OFcr-againft the cities of Kay-chew^ IGm-chtw^ and
^'pien, fo conveniently fituate, that they torm a good
Mteroad for (hips h.

And thus much may fuffice for the defcriptbn of this pn>
Jjjx, and of the Chine/e empire. As to what relates to the
^ory of the Lyau-tongers, it chiefly confifting of their wars
^ the Tartars and Chinefir, we fliall refer our readers to
^ we have ahready (aid on that head, in the hiftory of the
™»cr ♦ and to what we may have farther to add in that o£
flatter f, we are now upon ; by which we ihall avoid fwell*
log this work, as much as pof&ble, with needlefs repetitions.

• See Lettr. ediffiant vol. x. p. 172. & feq. Kao, ubi fup.
l'H\* Le Compte, ubi fup. letter 8. p. 230. Si feq. Sc aU
"P.citat. k Id. vid. & Martini, Atlas Sinenf. La Mar.
^«iue, & al, fop. dtat. ♦ Sec before, vol. iv. p. 343;

37f k feq, f See the laft feaion of this chapter.

^Oiw, and fituate in J?^ province. The fame author

/^.Whichwords we chiefly adds, with refpc6t to the famed

J^ Mre, becaufe it confirms root, that it ought not to be cut

^wthavcfaid a little higher, with a knife, becaufe iron di-

^ Wag fituate without the miniflies its virtue; but advifes

^ ^ and of its being rather to bite it in pieces with

'*««td&om being a Qbine/g one's teeth [^i).

(41} Lt CwHfte, Uacr i. ^* 25* En^l eHt%

Q t 3 E C n

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ioo ^be H^ofy t>f'Qnik. B. I;

S E C T. 11-

Of the antient Religkn^ and new SeSsj mimng the
Chinefc.

tUUgioH \X7"E have already given an account of the antient retlgioa.
eftbe " of the Chinefey in a fwrner part of this work »» out of

ChiDcfe. their canonical books ; from which it appears to have beat
(b like that of the antient patriarchs, that many learned meD
have looked upon it as a pregnant proof (among maoy otixerft
they have alleged to fupport their hypothefis), that Noah^ or
fome of his near defcendants, did at firft people this country \
But as that point did not appear to us to have been fofli*
ciently deared, we contented ourfelves with a bare recapitula-
tion of all the arguments which had been, or might be, ob-
jefted againft it ^ ; not fo much indeed from any diilike we
had to it;, or its learned authors, as in hopes that we ihould
excite thereby fome of our judicious corr^fpondents, whom
we knew to be well verfed in that curious controverfy, td
commufticate their thoughts, or what farther difcoveries they
had made in it, to us. it was not long, accordingly, bef<x^
we had the pleafure of feeing our expeftations fully anfvirered,
from a certain quarter, and the fyftem above-mentioned handed
to us, in a quite new light, all the material objeAions againft
it fairly anfwered, all its difficulties removed, and a new fett
of proofs in favour of it, added, which we flatter ourfelves wiM,
with every impartial reader, give it the appearance of fomer
thing more .than a probable hypothefis. But as the chief evi-
dence depends on one certain faft relating to their chrono
logy, and confirmed by our own Hebrew otic, and all thfe
collateral ones are founded upon inferences fairly deducible
from feyeral articles of their religion, laws, cuftoms, drc, we
fhall poftpone the farther particulars to onie of the laft fe£Hons
of this chapter, which relates to the Chinefe chronology ; hf
which time the reader, having run over, and got all thefe fe-
veral points frefti in his memory, will be the better able to
judge of the validity and merit of the whole. This, we hopc^
cannot but be acceptable to him, as the fubjefl is no lefs iai*>
portant than curious, and, as we may venture to fay, will be
treated there in a manner fuitable to its dignity, aiid fuch as

« See before, Univ. Hifl.* vol. xx. p. 126. &feq. * Vide
int. al. HowEL, effay on the primitive language, 8c and. ab
CO citat. Shukfort, conned, oft. vol. i. book 2. ' Unir,
Hift. ttbi fup. p. 109. & fc^«

wtU

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C 1. ntffifi^ pf Chim. loi

viU firike a variety <A new lights upon the ori^ and fbanda*
tknof that antient nation and monarchy. In the mean tune.

With refpeft to their antient religion, as deducible from
dttrcaMoiad books, the topic we are now npcHi, we cannot
botobienre, once for ail, that the later date we allow to the
teter, the longer will the Chinefe appear to have preferved the
ibnoer ia its primitive purity, and untainted from the idola-
ftifls, faporfHtions, and frdfe' notions of the Ddty, which
&i fo early ipread themfelves kph^ the face of almoft the
whole earth, and, at length, over a great part too of their own
coantry : for, if we may believe a late writer of Chhufe af-
iurs'^, this idolatry was l»-onght to them from fome ndgh- Idolatry ^
\Kmag part of the Indies ; and though it is fuppofed to have 'wben in*'
began fo earfy as 300 years after Behts^ yet it doth not appear tr^duad.
to have takoi footing m China till about 1200 years after » ;
to which we may add, that it neither was nniverMy received,
»id made the rdi^on of the pountry, nor did it prefentiy fink
here mto that low degree of fuperftition, folly, and impiety^ *
as ^ find it to have done among other polite nations, fuch
9& the AjjyrianSy Chaldeans ^ Egyptians, Canaanites, &c
They neithier deified. their monarchy and other great men,
sor introduced any of thofe impious and unnatural rites into
tbor idolatrous worfhip, as were'pra^fed by other nadoas^
iniwhen a bold attempt was once made for introducing the 7A# 4m.
^'orihip of demons and evil fpirits, it was prefentiy after fup- tient doe*
fwftd, the whole race of thofe pretended inchanters de- trine pre^
ftroycd, and religion reftored to its antient ftateo, fo great y^'^^^*
was the care of the government to prevent any innovation
tbt may prove prejudicial to it (D) ; and to that is owing,
that the antient Chinefe doftrine continues dill to this day to
kthe prevailing feft among the learned,

■ T>v Hai.de, vol, i. p. 639. & 647, Engl. edit. " See his
fr>aflator*s notes, p. 647. • See before, vol. xx. p. 129.

(B) This, we are told by a main fupport to the antient

fti Htddey was chiefly owing Chinefe religion, even to this

to the tigikace of a fupreme very time, inforouch, that thd*

tribunal eftaWifticd among them, the mandarins; who compofe

Anoft from the foundation of it, are fomctimes obfervcd to

tfctKmj^c, and llyled the iri- pradife certain fu perditions in

^'''^ of rites, which has power private, yet, when aflembled

to fappfefs asd condemn any in a body to deliberate about

jM^ion tkat may be intra- them, they openly condenm

■■^» TWs cotirt hath proved them (42).

<4a) Set Du Halde, Ert^f. edit, vol u />. 647,

G 3 Therk

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toa ^he Hifiory of CV\vi%. B. I.

Jddlatry There arc, however, two others, which may be reckoned

mftin among the principal fe^s; namely, that of .the idolaters*

««5g«^» mentioned a little higher, a$ brought hither from Tn£a,

about thirty-two years aftar Ae crucifixion of Chrift, and

13 called the feft of Fo, or Foe, which is the deity they

worfliip, and is pretty rife, and univerfally received, among'

the common people, whofe fondnefs for aU kinds of iuper-

ftitious and idolatrous (hew hath rifen to fuch a height, that

Thih^ the whole body d[ philofophers hath been carried away with

Jbphers the torrent, and, though againft their confcience, have beea

/•rcfd t9 forced to jcrin with it, to prevent the cflfefts of thdr fury.

€on^h Thi« therefore may be looked upon as the moft prevailing

•<** *'* fcft amon^ the bulk of the nation, though not as the efta^

bliihed religion of the country, and to owe its, fettlemoot ra»

ther to the exceilive power and afceikhint t^ an unruly po»

pulace, than to the confent or approba^on of either the phi*

jofophers, or of the mandarins, that ccmipofe the tribun^ of

rites.

The third fefl: is, that of the difciples of Lau-kyun, which
if nothing but a mixture of the moft extravagant and impioiis
opinions. The reader may fee a fketch c£ them in the fol«
lowing note (£), whilft we ^vq him here 41 fuller account of
the dofUines and rites of the other two.

The

(El) This feA, which is callcci ones» to^ have often repeated this,

Tmt'f/ff had its rife from Law That the tay^ or law of reafoo^

ij^iiff,above-mentioned,Qfwhom had traduced one% 0U bad pro*

< Jusdifciples have recorded many duced t'W9t iv}9 had produced

inonftrous extravagancies I facn three, and three had produced all

as his laying foar|core years in things. His morality, like that

Jits mother's womb, and break- of Eficurus, confifts in quelling

ing his way out through her left the pafHons, in eftabliihing the

ice. His books are all extant, foul's tranquility, and freeing

but are fuppofed to have been it from anxiety and eares, as

altered by his followers, and enemies to life ; and, in order

abound with noble maxims to to exempt it from the unav#id«

condudl men to real happineis; able fear of death, they pretmd

fuch as, the love of virtue, con- he found out an elixir whick

tempt of riches, and raifingthe snakes them imaiortal.
jGduI to a fenfe of its own felf- They are eommonly great al»

fuiRciency. He tanght, that chemifts, and pretenders to the

the Deity was altogether cor- philoii^hers-ftcMie, as likewife

Soreal ; and yti, as if he had to a familiar imercooife wkk

ived into A>mc of the deepeft demons, by whefe aSftaace

noyfteries of it, be is reported, dieyeanpemnnwondessi waA

Miong many other memorable dQaftual]y,Qur«iidierlays(45)A

4cmn

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C u ne Hi/tciy pf Chixau [iO|

Thb firft, and prindpal one, which folloWf ^ CUn^ ThiM
caoooical books, we have already fpoken of » in the antient ^^^riM
lUxxjP; and all diat needs be added to it here is, the im- Vj^^'^
movements which it received from the writings of thdr truly y 7®*^*
qodlent philoTopher Kon^-fii-t/e, or, as he is vulgarly called, ^"**J
a^uchis : for as for thole canonical books, whi^ are Ayled
tftbefecond rank» they are no more than comments on the five
ones of the firft, and iince written by fome of their karoed

P See before, vol. zr. p. 126. & f<;q.

deeelve the people with fuch
{io£gks, as cafi be afcribed
tftming but to the power of
Mtvilfpirits,

fiythofe juggling tricks, bat
c^xoally by their pretence of
fcnderiag men immortal,, they
have not only got mandarins,
and other perfons of diftindion,
c^pedally women, to learn this
P^tended magic under them,
wtlikcwife feveral of their mo-
B>rchs became their difciples,
2Bd Drotedors : fo that (lately
tanpiea were erefled, and a
woHhlp paid, to thofe demons,
tijroagh moil parts of the cm-
fire. The fqcceflbrs of the head
of this fca are all honoured
^tbc title of great manda-
'JM, and refidc in a town of the
province of Kyanj^-fii where
% have a magnificent palace,
towhkh crouds of people rc-
iVt, from all the neighbouring
Fovinccs, either to procure re-
^K^i«s, or. to have their for*
tunes told J and, for the mo-
"*F they readily pay to thofe
Mers, they receive a billet,
^ widi magical chara^ers,
^wck is to ^wer all their
cads,

^on^ thofe monarchs whQ
Wet can-ied away by their de-
JfBi, Qbin^tfimg, the third of
wftd^fMfty of Sonf^ was infa-
Jj^ enough, to go on foot,
iDfetdiabook of theirs^ which

they had hnng, in Ae night, on
one of the principal gates of his
metropolis, and pretended to
have dropped from heaven ; and
to carrv it, with the greateft
veneration, lb his own palace ;
where he indofed it in a eolden
box, and kept it with lijtmoftcare.
The book was filled with nothing
but magical charadlers, and fen*
tences for invoking demons, the
number of which they mnlti*

Slied at pleafure, and wor*.
lipped as deities; infomuch^
that one of the great Chinefi
dodlors attributes the extirpa-
tion of that dvnafty to the im-
pieties which thefe lorcerers had
introduced under it, and which^
' like a plague, had infedled the
whole empire. Theviftimsthe^f
offer to thofe infernal fpirits are
of three kinds ; 'viz* a hog, a
fowl, and a fi(h ; and, in meir
invocation of them, they ufe very
furpriiing poilures, make hi«
deous outcries with their throats
and nofes, with their drums a,nd
kettles; pretend to (hew Urange
fights in the air, and many other
fuch impoftures, to intimidate
and amufe the people : fo that
the fafcination fpreads itfelf
from thofe of the higheft to
thofe of the loweft rank. Such
of our readers as want to know
niQI'e of this pretended magical
and diabolical fed, may con-
fult the author laft quoted.
C 4 mea»

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\ -.

teany \t Tfario«i& tunes, and fo need no fnrtbai toiki^n Itere ;
efpecioily, as Confuciusy abovermentioned, hadi extrafi^. tlie
very quintedenoe out of them into lus own writings ; whidi
bare been held in fuch great veneration ever fince, tha.t the
leaft alteration made in, them would be puniOied as a great
irime, ^«id a quotation out of them never fails of ending any
edntroverfy amongft their learned men, and to flop the mouth
of the mdft obftinate wrangler. ...

This truly great man, a fcantling of whofe life and ^writ-
ings we ftiall give, in the following note (F), feelned defigned
. , by

(F) Confucius was, as has been
ilready obferved (44), born in
the province of Shan-tong^'hyxt
then Called the kingdom of
Lu, in the twenty firft year of
the reign of Ling-nvafig, the
twenty -third cmperof of the
race of C/je'w ; that is, accord-,
ing to fome, 300, according to
others, 5po, but, according to
JDu Halde, 551 years, before
Chrift, and two before the
death o^T hales y one of the fe-
ven wife men of Greece: fo
that, according to this laft, he
moll have been cotemporary
with Pythagoras and Solofty and
fdmewhat earlier than Socrates,
He was but three years old
when his fat];ier Sho-lyang-be
died, in the feventy-third year
of his age, who, though he had
enjoyed the greateft offites in
the kingdom of Songy yet left
him no other inheritance, than
riie honour of being defcended
from Ti-he, the twenty- feventh
emperor of the race oF Shangy
^nd, by his raother^^/;?^^ from
the illuftrious family of Ten,

He ihewed, from his tender

years, great tokens of fagacity

>and virtue ; and, about his

fifteenth year, gave himfelf up

^to the ftudy of the antient'

books,

(44] S^fgagiyzuft^^lums^

r .1 ;

He married at nit^etieen, and
had ai fon named i'^f-i&if, and by
him a grandfon named Tfu-tfe^
who, by his extraordinary naerit
and learning, raifed himielF t<^
the higheft pofts in the empire.
As for himfelf, he was ioon
taken notice of, for his admire-
able qualities, learning, and'
virtues, efpecially thofe of ha-
mrlity, fincetity, temperance,
difintereftednefs, contempt of
riches, l^c\ ; arid though every
ftate in the empire, as well as
his own, was over^runwith the
oppofite vices, yet was he (bon
raifed to feveral places of emi-
nence in the magiftracy, which
he accepted chiefly as means
of promoting his intended re-
formation, both in religion and
in the ftate, maugre all the
oppofition he expelled, and
did actually find, from the
grandees of his own, as well as
of other provinces. But, as
foon as he found that his en-
deavours did not meet with de-
fcrved fuccefs, he threw up ali-
bis employments, though very
coniiderable, to go In ftarch of
foroemore tradable people, who'
would reap a greater benefit from
his excellent dodrine.

In the fifty-fifth ycat of \a%
age, he wasr again invited, and'

DuMaldt^ itkfup. p^^iS*

raifed

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C u ne Wficrj of Chin*;

^bfinr^l^idbnii, both by his doftrines and praAice, the
€omipd(xis whkfa had been a loi^ while predominant, both

105

laifttd to fome of die higheft
pofts in his own kingdom of
Ui where the prince then
nigfling paid fuch regard to his
firtaeSy and falutary counfels,
thatyin lefs than three months,
Bot only his come, but his whole
^omiaioiiy weie totally changed
lor the better ; infomach, that
tlie neighbouring princes were
almned at the fudden reforma-
^ ; righriy judging, that the
1^ of Lu would Toon become
too powerful for them, if he
connnued to follow his new
coiDfellor*s rules.

The king of TJiy in particu-
^i after many confultations
with his grandees, bethought
Mtfifelf of an expedient, the
Boft likely to defeat all Confu-
nut I ineafures : and, accord-
n^y, under the fair pretence
Of an ambafiy, font him, and
^fioUes, a profent of a great
ittmber of beautiful young girls,
^0 had,, from their infancy,
ken brought up to dancing,
^nrg, and all other capti'
▼Kbg arts. Tkefe were not
•riy received with open arms,
Wth by the king and court, but
^itertained wkh fuch frequent
feafliiigs anddWeriionsythatthey
prefendy abandoned the bufi-
■cfeof ftate, to give themfelves
«^tDjrtcafare. The king himfelf
became inacceffible to Ms moft
^ous minifters. Among the
^ Confucius having tried, in
^, all poffible means to re-
oil him, divtfted himfelf of
^ his oftces, *ieft the court
M kingdom, to go in queft of
Aoredoeile minds to follow his
aaxims ; but, to his great mor-
tifcatiaD, fbmdUs do6lfine and

morals dreaded, in every king-
dom through which he paflM.
So that^ by that time he was
come to that oiSbtng, he found
himfelf reduced to the greateft
indigence ; yet without lofin^
any thing of his greatnefs of
foul, and ufual conftancy.

This obliged him to refume
his former functions of a private
fage, in which he met with bet-
ter fuccefs. His learning and
merit, and, above all, his great
modefty and condefceniion,
gained him a vaft number of
difciples (fome fay 3000, 500
of whom did, in time, raife
themfelves to the higheft pods,
in fevefral kingdoms) ; and all
of them continued firmly at'-
tached to hi« perfon and doc-
trine. Thefe he divided into
four claiTes 1 the firft of which
was, to make virtue their chief
ftudy and pra£iice ; the fecond
was, to learn to reafon and
write clofely, juftly, and ele*
gantly j the third was, to ftudy
the ait of government, and to
inftru6t the mandarins and great
minifterff in their refpedlive dui
ties ; while the laft was to learn
to write^ in a concife and ele-
gant ftyle, the principles of mO'
rality. In all thefe claffes ^ he
had fome very eminent ones;
but one efpecially in the firft»
Whofe premature death cauied
his mafter to ftied abundance of
tears.

As his praftice ftlU laept con-
ftant pace wkh his excellent
philofophy, princes fometixnes
invited him to their court, that
they- might reap the benefit cS
hisinftrudiona; and Ihewed tho-
greater jregard to Jus learning
and

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|o6 She Hificty of ChjM. RI.

in religion and in the ftate/ and was eactowed ifith all the
proper qualities for fuch a noble work. We are told, that

tnd merit. At other times,
upon the death of one of them»
by whom he had been highly
honoured, he has feen himfelf
become the contempt of the
conrt, and the ridicule of an in-
fnlting populace; yet, under
ihofc extremes, he never Ihewed
the lead change in his looks^
or behaviour, but preferved
fitll the fame fteadinefs and
tranquility. His reliance on
the divine providence was ftill
more remarkable, infomuch,
that he hath beheld, without
the lead fear or emotion, an
' officer of the army, named
Wban-ii^ by whom he was
hated, come fnll-drive at him,
with his fword drawn, and hath
given this anfwer to fome
nieiids, who advifed him to
hade aWay from the danger, Jf
Tycn froteSs us^ of 'wbi<b tve
hnfi now a fenfibU proofs nvbut
harm can the rage ^Whan-d
de to as, though he is frefident of
$be tribunal rftbe army f

^ Confucius lived to finifh his
philofophical and hiftorical
works, aiTd died in the king*
dom of £», his native country,
in the feventy-third year of his
age, ^eatly lamented, both bv
tl^ king and court, and much
snore by his difci]^es, who had
the hi|;heft veneration for him.

A little before his lad ficknefs,
he told them, with abundance
of tears, ^hat the diforders ivhicb
reigned in the empire bad miell
nigh broke bis heart i and began,
Irom that time, to lan^uifli till
^e feventh day before his death,
when he told them again, in the
iame melancholy tone. Since
bingj rffy/e tQ follow nymetmtntt I

am nonv no hnger uftful apsn earthy
audit is necejfary that I fhould
lean)e it. He fell immediately,
after thofe words, into a le-
thargy, which laded/even days,
at the end of which he expired,
in the arms of fome of his dif-
ciples. They built him a hand-
fome fepulchre, on the river
Su, near the city of Kjo-few,
on the fame fpot where he nfcd
to ademble them. It hath been
£nce inclofed widi a wall, and
now looks like a fmall cityi
and the veneration which all
good men had for him in-
creaiing with time, he came, at
length, to be refpeded as the
chief do6tor of the empire.

He was tall, and well pro-
portioned, his bread and fhool*
ders were broad, his eyes large,
complexion olive, nofe Hat, and
beard long, and his voice drong
and piercing. His works, wbidi
are edeem^ a perfect role of

foverttment,and contain all that
e had colleifted out of the an-
tient laws, are as follows : i. His
Tay-hyo; that is, The grand Sci*
ence, ox School of Adults, a. The
Chong'-yongt or Immutable Me*
dium, 5. That called Lun-yut
or Moral and pithy Difcourfit.
4. Meng'tfe, or The Book of
Mencius 1 u> called frcMn one of
his difciples, who is fuppoied
to have compiled, or finidied,
it from his mader's writings,
and contains a perfed rule of

fovemment. Thefe four are
eld in the greatededeem, and
are the chief ones among the
canonical books of the iecond.
rank ; to which they add two
more, as the next, if not equal*
to them in 'authority; v/««
S-TJn

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C f. fbi Hiftary of China. lejr

heoondefflned the idolatry, which was then become very rife,
ID CMfia .' if fo, it is a wonder that his difdples {boold af teiV
WBrds rear ftatues, altars, and temples, to him. However,
itphinly appears, that his main defign was not (b much to
ifllcnneddle with the outward, as the inward and cflcntial,
ftttof rd^on, the reformation of the hearts and lives of his
ommtrymen ; aJl his ftndies, leftnres, wridi^, precepts, and
fnftice, were chiefly tending that way ; and in this, not- O^M
wiAlhmding the great oppofition which he met with fix)m h '^
thcTO^s mandarins and grandees of every court (for thou^ grmaduu
csdi prorince was under the emperor, yet thofe petty kings
that governed in diem were, in fome meafure, delpotic, and
frcqi^tly became formidable to the imperial throne, and
were not only very debauched th^nfelves, but fufiered thdr
ffliidfters to be fo too ; and this was the real date of the em*
{are, at the tunc that Confucius was ftriving, with all his
id^t and fagadty, to introduce his intended reformation) ;
p in this, we fay, notwithftanding all their oppofition, he
iad the pleafure to fee his excellent morality at leaft univer-
H^ admired : and defervedly fo, not only for the beauty HhfiA*
tod ooblenefs of his precepts and maxims, but much' more i^ ^fff^
for die judicious way he took to inculcate them, and to ^ri"*^

5' '^Hyam-Ufig, which treats
^ filial reiped, and contains
^ anfwers which Confucius
Bade to bis difciple Tfomg, con-
ttrmag the reverence doe from
AUien to, parents. 6. The
SjM'lyff, or 7hi School or Set*
9Ht of Qtildren ; which is a col-
lAoQ of fentences and ex-

31es, extradfed from antient
modern authors. It w6ald
cany 08 beyond our bounds, to
CMcr into a farther detail of
Aofe books. Thofe that are
ainoos to know more of them,
say confolt the Latin vo^oa
wWdi Father VoeU one of the
aodent miffionaries into China^
^ given of them, printed at
fcarar, armn lyii, or die ex-
tsaa which Father J>u HaUU
kath made of it, and printed in
Jill defcripdoii of the Chinefr

empire (44). One thin? w«
cannot forbear obferving nere,
concerning thofe books, that^
though the four firH contain
the moft fablime dodrines of
morality, and are univerfalljp
held to be of the greateft audio*
rity, next to the canonical ones
of the firft rank, of which wc
have formerly fpoken, yet they
have had bur few followers
among the degenerate Chinefe \ .
whereas the two laft, which
treat of the duty of children to
parents, are fo univerially ob«
ferved throughout the empire*
that one may venture to affirm,
there is not a country in the
world where parents are moro
refp^ted, both during their life,
and after their deadly as wo
(hall more fully Ihew in dit
fequel.

(i«) J)« IMi, wkiPt* ^ 4<S. ¥J^

Kakie

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w»8 ' m ffi/li^ iff Qina: B.%.

make virtue appear lovely and defirable to al| his difijpks aoA

jeaders. . ^

His philofophy, though fuhlimci wa$ quite £r«e froai
'thofe fubtile and intricate queftipos and inquiries, with which
that of the befl Creek philofophers were moftly dogged : and
Confucius, inftead of diving into thofe- phyfical and Mirufc
Nohle no- notions about the nature and attributes cxf the fupreme beio^
ti(msofthix!tiQ origitt of the world, of evil, and other fuch fpoculative
Deity. points, too high fcM* unaffifted reafon ; or of dogmatizing about
the nature of rewards and puniflmients of virtue and vice^
confined himfelf to fpeak with the deepeft regard of the great
Author of all beings, whom he reprefents as the moft pore
and perfeft eflence, principle, and fountain, of all things^ t^
infpire men with greater fear, veneration, gratitude, aad
Jove, of him ; to aflert his. divine providence over all his
creatures ; and to reprefent him as a being of fu^ infinite
knowlege, that even our moll feqpet thoughts are not be
hidden from him, and of fuch boundlds goodnefs and juftioe^
that he can let no virtue go unrewarded, or vice unpunifhe<t
He had likewife a moft mafterly hand at painting the on^ i^
its moft lovely, and the other in its moft deterring, colours-;
and to inforce the praflice of the one, and abhorrence of ibe
other, by the moft powerful arguments, worthieft motives,
• and, in the beft of methods, his own extraordinary exatmple,
which may be juftly ftyled a pattern of moral virtues. And
jhough it muft be owned, that neither the one nor the other
had the good effefts they deferved, and that he hath had but
few followers, except among his moft celebrated difciple^,
%ho have made it their glory to copy after him, yet his writ-
ings, as well as his feft, have been always, and are ftill, held
in the higheft efteem *'. So that it Ihows, at leaft, fonxe kind
of merit in the Chincfe, that they can ftill profefs fo univer£J
admiration for him and his do£lrine, though fo few di tbea
do care to praftifc it,
Zeii of?Qf The other prindpal feft, and indeed the moft predomi-
fitnt of all, is that of Fo, Foe, or Fwi, whom fome writers
have confounded with the Fo-hi, who was the founder of thiS
.monarchy, though it is plain that this worfhip was not
brought hither from India till fixty-five years after the birth
muhetif tf«^ of thrift, as was lately hinted f . The oc^von of its being
bonv, introduced into Chinas where it made fuch fwift and rapid
ff^ught progrefs, was a dream whicli the emperpr Meng-ti, of the

/rom In-
dia.

^ See what Has been (sjd under the laA note. See jl^ NoBi^V
I.atin verfion of Confticius's Ethics. Le Compte, Couplbt,
Du Halde, Sc ill. . t. S^^pge loz of tbUtolume.

5 dynafty

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C. tt -fhe fflftory of OilnsL.

jynaftyof ifan, hsid abont that time, which put him In mini
rf a fentence which had been often in the mouth of Confu*
ms, that the Hoij One was to be found in the lueft. Upon
irhkh he immediately fcnt ambafladors in fearch of him, and
fridi exprefs cwders not to return without bringing a full acr
oottnt of him and Ws religion. But they, whether difcou-
nged at, or tired with, the length and difficulty of the jour-
acy, proceeded no farther than InJ&a ; where having met with
the WOTftiippers of the idol ¥oy or Foe (G), they brought it

with

So"9

(G) It is not eafy to gnefs in
vbtpart of hidia this moi^er
ifpea^, or whether he was
Dan or devil ; if half of what
Us difciples have rcpbrted of
lum were true^ he could be. no
other than a devil incarnate.
We ihall give our readers a few
nuticulars, by which he max
judge what credit is to be given
to the reH of what thofe In^on
vonder-mongers relate of him.
His father, whofe name was
h'fa^g-wau, was, they fay,
king of an Indian territory , call-
ed by the Cbinefe Shun-tyen-Jho ;
hismodier, named Moye, the moft
of the time of her pregnancy,
dreamt that fhe had fwallovyed
I white elephant, or, as others
will have it, that ihe conceived
hy that animal, or by the devil
io his ihape ; and hence arofe
that veneration paid hy the In-,
ia» kings to the white elephant.
However, fhe was delivered of
lum thro^ her rieht fide, and died
foon after. They add, that he
fiood upon his feet as foon as
he was got oat of her womb,
and walked feven fteps, point*-
ing with one hand to heaven,
tnd with the other to the earth ;
and then pronounced the follow-
ing words diftindtly : fhere is
Mone either in the beamen^ or in
the earth, *wbo ought to be adored,
ktlalone^ '

At the age of feventeen he
marHed diree wives $ and at
nineteen forfook them, to retire
into a folitary place, under the
guidance of fo«r fazes ; and^ at
thirty, he was transtornied on %
fudden into a god ? from which
time he minded nothing but the
propagating his dodrine, and
how to make himfelf adored hj
the vail n amber of mirackt
which he wrought, and with
the account of which his bon-
zian prieils have filled feveral
large volumes. There were nf
lefs than 8o,oOo of his difciplei
employed in difperfing his im-
pious tenets throughout the ea^
a^d, amongd them, ten of g
more diilinguifhed rank and dig-
nity, who publi{hed 5000 vor^
lumes in honour of their mafler.
The Chinefe call his followers^
or priefls, ^ong and Hojhmng \
the Tartars, Lamas or La^ma*
feng ; the ^iankfe^ Talapoins; and
the JrApanerSf and, from tbem^
the Europeans^ Bonzas Qt Bon*
sees.

This flrange god, however^
found himfeif mortal, and died
in the feventy-ninth year of hit
age, or, as his difciples believe,
paffed into the (late of immor-
tality ; and, to crown all his im*
pieties, Ending his death ap-
proaching, exprefTed himfelf to
the following purpofe to his
difciples :

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«»t

rbiHf/l0y^Omu

B.L

withtheoi, and, with it, the doOrioe rf trmnfii^atioii, ml

other ^1^ foperftitioDS, and athdftical notioos, witbwfaidi

the Indian books are filled : all which were greedily received

at coart ; from which the coata^on quickly fpread itfelf tfaro^

other provinces, and in a little time through the whole empire^

which was already but too much infef^ed with the mag^im-

piedes of the fed of Lau-kyunp mentioned in a late note ^

^rtiSly From that time this chimerical god met erery-where with

9t€nHHilm worihippers ; the greateft number of idds, altars, and tern*

CUba. pies or pagods, were reared to him ; fome of them ms^mfi-

cent to the higheft d^rce, whilft the bonzas, who becamehis

priefts, filled the country with large volumes of his pretended

miracles and prodigies, which they alfo reprefent in prated

%ure$, after their manner ; infomuch, that he is now celdnted

' Vid. Martini hift. Sioic. Lb Comptb State of Cliioa,
part 2. letter a. J>^ Haldi, k aL

difciples: / htm hitherH cmt-
temltithf imibt andj^e fytm
theft firtyyemrt in far obits and
€mgma$ i htt mw i am going t§
ittnHjtm^ ItmilrfPtalttyouibt
nuhtlt mfitry tf mf do/Srint •
Learn, tbeu^ that thtrt is no ttbtr
frincifk of all things hut trnfti*
mtfi and nothing ; from nothing
all things frocetdtd, and into jt^-
thing 'will they all return ; and this
is the tnd of all our hope (45).

Tbefe iaft words caufed a kind
of fchifm among the bonzas (
fome of whom became die heads
of an athei^cal fed, which
hath continued ever fince ;
whilft the much greater number
adhered to his former dodbine,
cndeavoariog to palliate thb lafl
by a fttbtile diftindion of exte-
rior and interior do6trine, which
is merely evafive, and means no-
thing; and to propagate his
wormip bv the moft impious
cheats and fables, particularly
by pretending that he had been
bom 8000 times, and tranfmi-
grated into the bodies of a great

▼ariety of amroals before be
was deified, in whofe fbrins he
hath been fince worftippedbf
his infiituated followers^ The
next note will give an accoont
of the villainous methods which
thofe bonzas take to dekdt
them.

As for thofe bonzas who (iJI
in with Fo\ Iaft atheifBcal doc-
trine of all things being pro-
duced out of nothing, t!fe, tho*
they and their difciples are few-
er in number, in comparifon of
the oppofite fed, they have like-
wife endeavoured to refine upoa
their mafler, by introducing a
great variety of fubdle notioos,
on the hypochefis of a vacuom,
which they fuppofe pregnant of»
and producing, all things, and
then fwallowmg them up again
into their primitive nothing;
but thefe are ever expofed, not
only by the other bonzes, hot
likewife by the literati, a ftiB
more modem fed, of which we
ihall fpedk by-andby (46).

^45) Du HalJt^ vbi fyfrs, f, 630. Lt^Qomptt, »bi hf* Mtttim, S ti
(^J Itd.ibtd,

4 ^

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C.I. fbi Hi/tory of Qinz. iii.

bfhb followers as the (aviour of the world, great law-^ver of

Baokind^ fent by heaven to teach them the way of falvation^

laf even, accordii^ to L^ Compte % to make atonement for

tb fins of all men. The emperor, who is a Tartar^ follows ^^ #«i^

Ae idoktry of hisKiwn nation, which differs little from the '^'^ ^^

Omefe, excepting that the lamas, or Tartar priefb, worfhip ^^'^^^

their deity, which Le Compte tells us is the fame with the ^*^J^*h

Omefe Fo, under the fhape of a young man, who, they pre-

loxi, never dies. He is kept in a fbtely temple, attended

iridi nizmberlefs lama$,~ who ferve him with the greateft vene*

Jtiati ; and, when he dies, they chufe another from among.

tiniblves, as much like him as they can in fbiture, features,

id to pafs on the people for him : whereas the bonzas, or

(Snefe ptiefls of Fo, worfhip him in feveral forms, fuch as

tfaole of a dragon, ape, elephant, ire. through which they ^

preteod him to have tranfmigrated before he was deified K

The lamas that are in CMna, only ferve the Tartar nobility

there as chaplains, whilft the bonzas engrofs his worfhip to

thoaielves in all the Chinefe temples, and make a vafl gain of

it by the vileft and moft impudent impoftures on the people.

Ik emperor, to outward appearan(;e, pays an equ4 refpeft

^ both, but defpiies their legends and fuperftitions in his *

beat; and, if we may believe the Jefuits accounts, worfhips

01% the fuprcme Lord of heaven and earth. They own,

bowerer, that he p^d the fame honours to Confucius^ and

ofes die fame facrifices in the heathen temples, that the reft

(i^ Chinefe did ; but this, they tell us, he only fubmitted to ^^^her^

fcrreafons of ftate ; which, they add, was the main obftacle ChnfiUm

to his declaring himfelf a Chriftian, though they pretend to ^^^J

beficrc him to have been one in his heart.

We ihall have occafion to examine this matter mott dofely
^jlica we come to that great r>*onarch's reign. In the mean
time we (hall only obferve here, that fuch a fuppofition is quite
inoonfiltent to a declaration, ^which, they tell us, he once
BJsrfe to them : That, if he could be fatisfied once of the
tnttb of their religion, he would not delay one moment to
unbrace it ; though he was fenfible, that, if ever he declared
tiafctf a Chriftian, the whole empire would do the fame in a
^ years. For, if he had been really a Chriftian in hig
httrt, what could divert, much lefs deter, him from pro*
feing it, when he knew that his whole empire would fo foon
Wbw his example ? Father he Compte^ therefore, feems to
OS to have more rightly judged, that it was partly the fear of
difobliging his fubjefts, and partly the gratification of his *

\ Uhi fuf ra. * Vide and. fupra citat.

predominant

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Itt The Bifiory cf Qiih%. B..1,

predominaiit paffion, whkh he knew wai oppofite to the 'fpi^
rit of Chriftianity, that were the maia obftaclcs to his em^
bracing a religion, which, how much foever.he might adimirc
it, was neither fuitablc to his.prefcnt circumftances, nor to the
fuperftitious temper of his fubjefts, much lefe to the tafle
and intereft of the whole jnggliDg and rapadous bonauiic
tribe, who might eafily caufe an univerial revolt iu the cm*
fire.
Counte- And this was, doubtlefs, the motive which made him not

nances /^^ only outwardly cpm ply with their rites, but exprefs fuc^ aa
honzas. extraordinary regard for their perfons, as to fufFer fome of tiiofe
of the firil rank to live in his palace, whom his mother had
^heirfad formerly fettled there. Though he could not but be fenfible
cbaraaer. that the greateft part of that fraternity \yere the vileft cheats
and villains in his whole empire, as well as the moft impudent
tyrants on his bigotted fubjefts, if thofe of another focdety
have not painted them in worfe colours than they deferve.
The reader may fee a fketch of fome of their moft flagrant
impoflures in the next note (H) ; and a greater detail xA them

(H) They make the greateft
fliew of fandicy, abftinence,
mortifkation, fefc, by which
they pretend to atone for the
fins of the living and the dead ;
but, in truth, are given to the
moftfcandalous vices, even thofe
of the moft unnatural kind.
They will drag heavy chains,
faftened t > their arms and legs
in fu(5h manner, tbat they wound
every ftep they ^o. They beat
their heads againft the ftones
and pofts, till they fetch blood,
to extort alms from the people :
fome, we are told, have got
themfelves carried about in a
kind of fedan, with nails drove
on every fide with the points
towards them, fo that they
could not ftir without wounding
themfelves \ and thefe nails
they fold to the gazing popu-
lace for a few pence, as amu-
lets, and prefervatives againft
all harms, and as efHcadons
means of bringing down bleff-
ings upon the buyer and his &•'

mily. Thefe jugglers at the
fame time declare, that the mo-
ney thus given to them is not tq
be applied to their own jprivatc
ufc, but to build temples, altars,
l^c. to Foy who will not fail of
proportioning his favours to
them, according to their muni-
£cence to him.

The dodrine of the tranixnir
gration of the foul is another
never-failing fource of gain:
they pretending to know precife-
ly the prefent ftate of the dead,
and the future one of the living,
that is, into what kind of bo«
dies the former are tranfmigra-
ted, and even to know the very
identical creature or perfon into
which they are paft ; and into
what kind of one the livieg
will ftiortly go. Jn the firft ca£^
which they leldom fail of repre-
fenting to the furviving friends
as either dreadful, miferable, or
uncomfortable, they extort mo^
ncy'from them|to procure the dc-
ceafed a fpeedy rtieaftj and par-
age

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mLe(imff^uDuIfaJde9boycqtioisd\ for which we haive
i»iO(HD» ia a work like this.

* Lb CoMPTSy ubi fapri;

«'f

%e loto a better ftyte, as oat of
adog^fiiake^ or infed, intoaa
ckphint, a pkilofopher> man-
mn, ai^ the like. In the
odker, by threatenittg the living
w^animhappjr traiuinigration»
the/ dcher get money of them
tOKQcarethem a happier one»
0r leave them to live in dread
tf the fatal change.

Lf 0>mft$ tells us a dory of an
old man, whom theie bonzas
biaade to bdieve that his
M fiKHiki, in her next migra-
<ioo, pafs into the body of one
^ the emperor's poft hcnrfes.
They had likewife advifed him
toeat fparingly, and bear it pa-
tiently, that fo they might the
iboDerfend him into a better
habitation. The poor man, un-
able to reconcile hirofelf to fuch
1 change, could neither flecp
■<l*y or night, through the dread
of it; but grieved at fuch a
nte, as would foon have ended
his days. Happily for him, he
learned that the fouls of the
Chriftians had a particular ex-
toption from thefe kinds of me-
tamorphofes; upon which he
^lied himfelf to one of our
jciiuts, and earneftly begged of
^^ that he would make him
aChriftian; afTuring him, that
l»c would rather be of that, or
any religion, than be turned
mo a poft-horfe. The good
™er, who could not but pity
his fimplicity, took care to in-
^ him firil with better mo-
tives of becoming a Chriftian,

and then readily granted his
reoueft (47).

He relates another inftance of
the knavery of the bonxas, to
the following effed: A young
prince of the blood, being in-
confolable for the lofs of one of
his molt amiable companion's,
applied himfelf to them, to know
into what' ftate his foul was
pafTed. To which they anfwer-
ed, that he was now turned in*
to a Tartar boy, whom, they
told him, they could procure,
for a fum of money, to be
brought to him. The prince
readily agreed; and a Tartar
boy was accordingly prefented
to him, as the perfon into whofe
body the foul of his favourite
was tranfmigrated ; and he waa
accordingly received into favour
as formerly, to the no fmall com*
fore and fatisfadlion of the
prince, who failed not to give
thofe jugglers fome tokens of hit
generonty {48).

The fame authors relate feve-
ral other inftances not only of
the fame unprecedented villain*
ous kind ; but fome of them of
fuch an atrocious and barbarous
nature, as can hardly be read
without horror, or rather per-
haps without diiSdence, though
related by pretended eye-wit-
neiles. Of this kind, we are
told, is their privately feizing
on men and women, and hur-
rying them away into a clofe fe-
dan, where nothing is to be ieen
but the tops of their heads, and

/47 J D9 BalJe, Le Compte. part 2. let z. Martin,', & al, (^%) U Cdwpfe &
^MU.ubifrp. ' ;

Mod. Hist. Vol. VIIL H the*--

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Theprinci^ Ai to thcv p^cipks^ they pifet^d that thdr^god Fh hadi
//« c//i&^/ left them ten commandments. Xhc firft of them is, pot to luil
jfif^' any living creature, of what kind foever. 2. Not to take

a'Way another man's goods. 3. Not to indulge in afts of im-
purity. 4. Not K) lye. 5. Not to drink wine. What the
others are, \ye are not told; but they lay.a g|-eat ftrefs on
afts of mercy, charity, jknd iti building of temples to. Fo,
monafteries for his priefts, and providing for thw njaiutenaacc,
as the moft effeftual meaas to partake of the benefit of their
prayers, mortifications, penances, and other xtKeutariousad^iOAs,
tpwards the atonement of their own iins, and obtaining -u
Tranfini- happy tranfniigration in another life* Oa • the other hand,
£ratton of they threaten no lefs thofe who with-hcdd their bcnefaftions
the foul, from them; telling them, that they will tranfinjgrate into tHc
bodies of rats, horfes, mules, and other fuch creatures 4 whicli
lad point feldom fails of making a deep impreiBon on t^e
There- credulous vulgar, infomuch that they often perfuade . diegi
njoardand to biirn paper gilt, or- waflied with filver, filk, ck>tjl> ai¥l
funijhmeni other garments, which, they t^U them, will be turned iato
in the next fuhftai^tial gold and filver, clojd^fs, <bc. in the other woiid,
^' for the uj3e of their deceafed parents, friends^ and relations,

.or elfe Ipc laid up for them againft their coming thither : for,
fay they, you muft not imagine that good and evil are as coil-
fufed in the other world as they are in this ; for there are re-
wards for the good, and punilhmcnts fcirlthe bad, according
to every one's merit, or accordmg as they have taken care, ^
their generous benefa<5lions, to make fure of a title to tbo^
of their teachers *.

> Lb Compte U Du Haldi, u^h jbprt.

their eyes moving in a dreadfal ment ; and yet Father Le Comptt

manner, to the next river or alTures us* that he faw an in*

canal, and drowning them with- ftance of it ; and, by diicovej^^

out mercy, before whole crouds ing the impofture, had faved a

. of fpe£tator5,wJio are harangued young man, whom they were

by one of the, fraternity into a violently dragging into a ffvcr>

firm belief that the perfons had firom becoming a vidim to their

earneftly requeued to be thus inhuman knavery and impiety,

difpatched out of tae world, in But this may fuffice to give our

order to obtain immortality in reader an idea of thofe rdigious

the next. One can hardly think cheats (49) : thofe who defire to

that thofe jugglers, bad as they fee more, or greater variety, of

.may be, would dare attempt them, may confult the authow

.fuch atrQfiious enormities, in fo above quoted.
polite and regular a govern-

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Ci. fie Sijhry df CMnsu I15

One ^lAig they partkularly rccommendy viz. the often call- Fo/rf^
uf iqxMi him for happioefs a^ ialvadon. Fo, in one of his yui^itAf itf
books, had mentioned another ddty more andcnt than him- "ffoMfy
itf, called Q-tmtOt finqe \?orftui)ped by the Japanners like- ^ ^^*
vik, under the name erf A^mida^ who formerly had appeared ^ ^*'*.
11 the kingdom q£ Bengal^ and had raifed himfelf to fuch ^^*
Mght of power and merit by his great fandtity, that the bare
kyoking of iiina was foAiciefit to obtain the pardon of the mod
daioable crimes. Hiifti tiie bonzas have conpled with thdr
f#;^¥hence the Chtnefe-tsi this feA have continually in thdr
moAs the words O^-to-f^ which, tbeir mailers tell them,
itibfficieat to expiate for their blackeft fii^. All thefe pleafing
oodoDs to corrupt nature £ul not to gun greatly on vuglar
■iods, and to fai^ihe them "^th an uncommon gen^ofity to
Adr foothiag teachers ; whilft the ^(er and better fort pity
til foraacT for their fimpiicity, and defpife the latter for their
cxoavsigandes aod iatpiety ; being but too well convinced,
tktthegp^e^ieft part <^ them are arrant cheats, and men of
debauched lives, not^thftanding their fan£ti&d looks, and
i^Kioos pUBtonces to mortification and hdinefs "f.

Besides die various reprefentations under which they wor- Hunu n^
% their god Fq in their tempks, among which that of a-dra- fnfcnttL
gw is efteemed the nobkft, and next to it the elephant, they
kwc a variety of others, which, whether they look upon m
<&£reQt deities, or dtffbent images of the fame fb, is not
■Jpoed. Two in particular they have in their pagods, com-
W»ly about twenty feet high, and pretty much m the lame
Mtkikle ; thq one is called the god of immortality, and is re-
prdeated iu the form of a groS fat man, fitting crofs-l^ged,
withafiuiling er laughing countenance, and a monftrous pro-
Bineat belly, quite bare ; the other not quite fo thick, and
€Wercd before with a thin drapery, and in the fame fitting
Fofture, w^om they ftyle the god of pleafure. Between thefe
two is commonly placed a third, richly clad, with a rich crown
oa his bpad, and fome ornamental drapery hanging loofe from
it. This laft is called the great Idng Kang, and is thirty feet
i^h, and richly gilt and carved. To thefe we may add an Other rt^
innoBacrable variety of odiers of all fixes and forms, which t^^M^^'^
tbeyfetupintheh'houics, ftreets, fhips, fields, burying-placefe, '^*'''*
«wi4fiKh-like, tovrhoin the bum* incenfe, and other perfumes,
ttd offer up their prayers, and other parts of the fame wof-
ftip which is performed to them, in their temples. They are
ftjfied by their votajries their* Jbaufliold deities, and are to be
found among the pooreft, as well as among the richeft, and are '

? ti Cqisfti, part z.lct.». ^IXuHAtDi, ubi fup. 653, * feq.

H 2 o;tV

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ii6 The Hiftory of Chirta. B, I

often fl-eated in the fame contemptuons and vindi^ive mannei

as the Portuguefe are faid to nfe feme of thek favourite faints

Their cha- that is, after having prayed to them a good while, and wkl

* fiifi^int fomc importunity, if they do not anfwer thehr petitions, the]

yben they grft upbraid them for their negleft and ingratitude, and thei

do not tttt' proceed to chaftifc them. This laft is commonly done b]

pravirs ^^^ baftonading, dragging them alo'ng the ftreets through dirt anc

mire, dunghils, isc, : which done, they throw them by, aj

• ufelefe, into fome obfcure comer of dicir houfes : but, if thcj

happen toobt^ the elFeft of their prayers, they then fctcr

. the poor idol out with great ceremony and refpeft, reftore him

to his place, with a promife to have him new painted or gilt.

.They then fall down and adore him ; confefs that they have

. been as much too hafty towards him as he hath been remifs

' and negligent towards them ; b^ of him to forget and forgive

what is paft, which cannot now be recalled ; and that he will

be more dil^nt and kind to them, and they will be more

' careful of thdr duty, and more lavifh of th^ incenfe and

.perfumes to hhn »,

An unwary reader might be naturally inclined to bdieye thefe
to be fables, invented merely to expofe fome of the like kind
of fuperflitions praftifed in a neighbouring church, were they
not conveyed to us by fome of her moft eminent miffionaries %
one of which tells us a long, and ftitl more furprifing, ftory,
which happened at Nan-king during his ffay tliere ; the fub-
Om of 'ftance of which is : That a man, who had lofl his only daugh-
themjued ter, notwithftanding his moftferverft prayers, facrifices, oftcr-
hy his vG" ings, ifc. to this god, and the promifes of the bonze that flic
taryi ,w6uld recover, refolved to fue the idol before a magnate,
cither as a faithleft or impotent, and therefore an unworthy
or infignificant deity. The caufe was dragged from, one tri-
bunal to another; and the judges, bribed by the bonzes, ftiU
adnfcd him to drop his profecution ; whilft the priefl endea-
voured to perfuade him, that, if he did, the god would make
him ample amends for the lofs of his child. The man, whe-
ther through grief or refentment, proved deaf to both ; and,
^dcoff 2fter fevcral hearings, carried his pdnt. The idol was con-
demned, demned to perpetu^ baniftimenr, as ufelefs to the nation ; the
temple to be demoliftied ; and the bonzes that attended it to
be (everely chafUfed, tho' not degraded from officiating at fomn
other pagod ". Thefe ftories are not indeed fo confonant with,
what thefe authors elfewhere tell us of the Chinefe learning and
politenefs, and would induce one to believe them to be told

... * Lb Compte & DuHaldi, ubifap. Vid. & Martin. Ca-'
.Hfcki,Ni£WBOPF« kdX. *LbCompt£9 uhifup. part 2. let t.

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C. i. yii Hi/iirj of China.' 117

bythafe reverend authors with t defign to palliate the faper-
Aidoi» of their own church, by exaggerating thofe of the CU*
nefe : but, whether fo or not, it is allowed on all hands, that
Ade extravttgaodes are defpifed and condemned by the wifer
fcrt, and efpecially by the feft of the Ktcrati^ of whofe rife
and tenets we ihall now give a Aiort account, before we dif*
aHs thb article.

This feft, which is a very modern one in comparifon of the ^ht fia §/
itft, may be faid to have fprung up from the dregs of thofe ^^f^ttera^
two laft fpoken of, Lau-kyun and Fo ; by both which the whol^ aJ^^
country had been for a long feries of ages immcrfed in all-^*^*^*
kiods of magical witcheries, fuperftitious idolatries, and the
soft univerfal depravity of manners ; all which, tc^ether with
infrequent wars and devaftations which naturally flowed froni
fc general a corruption, had driven the antient religion and
kumg in fome meafure out of the empire. There were t^ut a
ftaall number of Confuciuj's difdples left to keep it up, and thefc
W odther credit nor courage enough to awaken the reft out of
their lethargy. At length there ftarted up a fmall number,
dxwt the years of Chrift 1070 and 1200, who, by their
writii^ and example, eiFeftually ftirrcd upmanyof thewifer
ibrt to the love of learning ; fo that it began to flourUh again
bjr degrees^ infomuch that, Anno 1400, Tong-lo^ the then Supfarted
reigning emperor, and "a great encourager of it, made choice h ^^' ''««
of e^hty-two of the moft learned doftors of the empire to/^''^'
compile a fyftem, or body, of doftrines, agreeable to the fen-
timents of the antient writers, which might ferve as a pattern
ordireftory foe the learned hereafter. The emperor's autho-
nty, and the reputation of thofe doftors ; their concife and
fdkc ftyle, together with their high boafts of underftanding *
^ antient writings ; foon gave a reputation, and gained a
pttt number of difeiples, to their fentiraents.

But thefe doftors, inftead of reforming the corruptions ^heir te-
and errors of the Chinefe religion, according to the antient »^'' ^ ^'«^
liooks; and' particularly to the writings of Confucius^ rather ^^^']/^*
ftx>ve, by forced interpretations, and falfe glofles, to diftort
tbdr fenfep agreeably to > their own prejudices, and intrp-
doced a new ^d of concealed atbeifm, and licentious free-
dom from the worihip of God, at the fame time that they
^Kte of him in the fame magnificent expreffions which the an-
tienti had done. They acknowleged him to be the moft pure
tad perfeft ^nce, fountain and origin of all beings ; but
i^Jrdcnted hkn, at the fame time, as nothing differing from
nature, that is, from that power, energy, or natural virtue,
which produced, and ftill keeps all things in the fame con-
ibat «rd€r« They tether explained themfeives to mean by

H 3 it

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126 The Hiftory of CMna. B. I.

Thus much we thought ncccflary to fey of this fo £aiQea

new Chine/e feft, and their princiideg ; but whether or ao

tbejr

«* fore which fuch facrifices
•* were offered, bears this in-
** fcripdon, To Sbang-ti, that
•* is to fay. To the fapreme
•* Lord : that is is from a deep
" fence of refpeft to that fu-
*' preme Being, that none of
'' them prefttmes to call him by
*' his proper name ; and that
*• they chufe to invoke him by
** thoie of fupreme heaven.
** boamifiil heaven, univerfal
** heaven/ in the fame refpedt-
<' fal manner as when fpe^ing
•* of the emperor, they call him
" not by his own name, but fay,
** tbeftefsofbittbrMey tbt fu-
•* fretne court of bis falace, and
'* fuch-like: and, laftly, that
*« thofe names, .tho* exprefled
** in different terms, arc never-
•* thejefs the fame with refpe£l
^* to their import and fignifica-
** tion.'V The emperor, upon
another occafion, in which he
ivas fpeaking in public, afhrms,
that the Icarnea Chinefe fay,
like him, that tbefrineifie of all
things is called Tyen, bgaven, in
mn txaltfd aifdfguratinfeftjkt in
t be fame manner that (be emferor
is called Chau ting, from the
name of his palace^ nvhicb is the
flace nvbere the imperial majefiy
Jhiites with the greatefi fpUndor

The fame author farther af-
fures us (53), that that 'mon-
arch, not content with having
pybHihed the abovefaid edidl in
the mo(l authentic ^manner, got
it moreover confirmed, andfub^
Ccribed to, by a great number of
the mod eminent mandarins,
.^o^ors, and other members of

the fe£l, with their prefiiient St
their head ; all of, whom ^
peared furprifed to hear tlliit
they had been fufpcfted by the
learned of EuroU of having
honoured a Ufelefii and inanl-
mated being as the material
heaven ; and univerfally ac-
knowlegc, that they underftood
by 7yen and Sbangti^ and as
fuch worlhipped and invoked,
idxtfufremi Lord of beoH^em, frht-
ciplt of all things, tbedif^fer tf
all good J tvboft all'inpnmng aid
all'fieing pronndence gi'V4s us fftf
things. This one would think
fufficient to clear the literati
from the fufpicion of atheifin 1
bot yet there were many of 4e
miflionarics who ftill fuipeded
the imperial declaration, as wtB
as that of the literati ^above-
mentioned to have been the ef-
fe£l, the one of politenefs, and
the other of complaifancc, efoc-
daily as both are conceived in
fnth ambiguous and equ^vQ^
terms as no atheift would reMe
tb fubfcribe to. Nor need #«
indeed greatly to wonder Aat
thcfe good fathers, who arc fuch
adepts in the art of eqoivoca-
tion, fhould fufpedk thofe literati
of the like prevarication. ^

However, if we may judge
by their jpraftice, and that be
not likcwife niifreprefcntcdi^ we
(hall have but too much ream
to join in the fufpicioti i and
though we may in charity be*
lieve that fome of the wifcr
and better fort may ftill adhet
to the antient doArinc, and
really acknawlege a fupreme
Being, and his divine pwvir

fS^JDu Balde, p. ^o- f^%) W fapra.

dcacei

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C. I. 7ii Wftory of CAni. t2i

thi^ be i«aifyibfi«e from downright athdf^ as diej |)retendt
dtttdoth not Under them from dealing in all the magical and
Afolical fuperftitions of that of Lau-fyun : for all the Chine/It
kgeneral, (^whatever feA, rank, or condition; are extremdy
ftod of' adl foch kinds of witchery ; and even thdr greateft
JMB will pti£ttfe a great variety of them in private, tho* thcg^
Kk chimed to condemn them in public. They are likewi»
tMiery fond of the notion of all ibrts of fortune-tellers, of
mvokiDg and dealing >vith good and bad fpirits* of appari^
tiQQ^ exofcifms, incantations, and all the whole tribe of for-
coy and ibrdle^ous trafh ^ ; neither the philofophy of their
|NSt CmfuaMSy a<Kl other learned men, nor the new refined
jAdfinof tMr literati, nor their pretended fuperiorlty of
wkxk and kno^e^ above all other nations, having hitherto
hmaUe to root thofe abfurd notions out of their minds*
Stome of thdr fefts likewife pay a kind of worfhip to the fun, i/^^rjhif
noon, ftars, planets, to mountains, rivers, 6r. ; and moft,^^v/#/i»
f not all of diem, to the fouls of their anceftors, to whom^, &c. *
tbqr rear ftatnes, altars, chapels, and even temples, according To th§
to thdr rank and faculties : and the nodon that is propagated^^tt/r rftht
^WNigft them, that thofe ibuls are ftill prefent, and take par- ^^i^;
ifSxixc nodce of the aftions of the living,' generally proves as to thofe of
peat a determent from vice, and fpur to virtuous actions, as eminent
the many vcdumes of morality of their philofophers can be. •^*
. The fame fort of worfhip, but in a higher degree, they pay to
ftdr deceafed monar<;hs, great philofophers, and other «m-
fient perfons, who have done any iignal fervices to their coun*
tqiytoallof wh^n they build temples, altars, triumphal ardies^
^« And as. this laft kind is the' worfhip paid to Confucius ^
iftd to fome of then- htfk mcmarchs and great men, and ftyled
tf the philofophic and learned feds a civil one, fo was it

' MAarini, CovrLET, Le Comptb, Du Hald^e, k al.
%. ciut.

tee, which, we are told. Fa- enemies to all religion : for this

ther foFvre proved agaiafl an lail clafs is known to be as

tfcnbly of 3CX) literati, from much addi£led to all the ex-

Ac authority of their canonical travagancies, and ridiculous no-

tooks, laad without the leaft tions, of demons, magic, wiich-

<fpofition from any of them ; craft, and other fuperltitions, as

£the far greater part Aoy in the profeiTed difciples of the

r hearts, difbdicvc it, what- other two fefts, and pra6iife

<^ declarations to the con- thenr as much in private as they

trtrjr they may fabfcribe . to, pretend to condemn them in

ttereiy to avoid the odium of publia.'
itbeifii^and of b^iog thought

complied

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cdimpfied ilridi by the Jefiiit mUEootriet^ aad pehnittod to tbote'
profe^tesy nnder that nodoo^ tbo' highlf ccodeamed aod icoov.
plaint againft by thofe of tha DaminicMt Fr^ncifiuui, ind olt^r
orders^ as idolatrous^ nod a (caiidal to tbe Chriftiao reli^oa*.
Whende arofc tho^ fatal dafcords botii^eeQ tben^ ^ppeate (O
i?om^y and other feuds, which ended -ia the atmoft lotal end**
£on of Chrlftiamty in this empire, as iv:e ihaU fee at the cMe
of this chapter. And thus much may fuffice for the rdi^Oot
ami feds of the Chinefe.
fhe Mo- We have akeady taken notice of Mohammedan^ iatro-
hammed- during itfelf Kkewife iatotbe empire, thro' fomeof die north-
^lff'7 ^^^^ provinces bordering upon T^^aty. This kfX \mk
^ i^ead itfelf thro' moil provinces of <!lpma; and hath been to^

krated by the reft, ^^thout any great diftur baoce, on aocoQat
of th^ peaceable behaviour, th^ never entermg hKo diip«ia
with others 5 but quietly enjoying their llberqr, without fta-?
dying to propagate their doctrine, «ven by intermarriages, oat
Makes hut ^ ^^ ^^^ kindred. They are indeed neither (o«fidierablc
mfttmll enough for their number or wealthf to harbour any fuch views,
fignTf. there being reckoned no more than about jooo or 6000 fa*
milies of them, and thofe difperfed thro* the whole ^mpfll»
and, for the generality, of the lower rank, as huibftridaien,
artificers, isc. Befides, we are told, that 19 thofe places
where they are mod nutnerous, and make the beft %ur«, as
in fome territories beyond the Whang-ho^ where they hav^
been fetded durii^ feveral generations, in fome of the towns
along the canal, aiS have very high moiks built after a dijfierent
manner from the Chinefe taftc, they have boe^.ftill looked
Often in- ppon as of foreign extraft, and hatve been fi^ucntly infused
jilted. by the Chinefe people. Even a few years dgO, in the cky rf
Haag'-chew, in the pitsvince of Hu^iuutgi^po^vA:^^^ UpoH
fome diflike taken at the Indifcrete behaviour of fome of them,
made uo fcruple to deftroy flteii* fine mofks, nptwithiUndmg
all the endeavours of the magiftracy to prevent it *. . '

It is not eafy to gnefs, from the Chinefe accounts, when

M*)hammedifm was firft introduced into Ghinay fome pkchrg k

no earlier than the bcgit^rfn^; of- the fixteenth dynafty, add

The empe- others carrying it as far back as the thii*teenth. 'However,

ror not a from the finall encouragement they have had, and ftill meet

Moham- with, as well as from what we have lately obferved of the em-^

inedan. peror's religioo, upon more occafions than one, it is plain,

that thofe monaichs are not of that religion, as hath be^

affirmed by Mr. Collier ; nor own any of Mohaonmei^ doc*

nines, except that of worftvpping one fupremc Bciog 5 oa

« Du Haldb., ubiiuprk, p. 76U • *♦ ' -

whkh

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C. I, fbiBjiory tf Chhwi. 113

id|ki iccount only, both they, and the fcft of the Htcrad,
iiiril»aght fit to tolerate them*;

IhiBTHER dirlftiaidty was preached in diis empire fo CMJHam^
«i^a5 the times of the apoAks, hath been a matter of con* /(; tvhm
tmtfj among the laamed. That Stl Thomas carried the flantfd.
gojrilnto Ethiopia^ Perfia, and fev^ral other parts of India,
wefcwe liewn m a former part of this work * ; but that h0 Whither
fWCKfled fo far as Chtna^ we have no other proof for, than h^^"
88 aadent Malabaric breviary, written in the Chaldaic tongue ; Thomai.
kimt ci the leilbns and anthems of which, mention is made
of that apoftle's planting Chriftianity in Ethiopia, Perfia, In*
ififlj-ttiid China. To confirm which, another proof is fetched
(wa the fccond part of the fynodical conftitutions (ch. 19.),
viBrtiir mention is made of Chinefe metropolitans. Odier
pwofe, drawn from fome antient erodes and monuments of
fli«ore doubtful authority, we omit, all of which the op-
pohe fide think fufficiently confuted by one avowed faft ;
vitfsax the firft miffionaries, who fet foot in China about die
I ©idfle rf the fifteenth century,' found not the leaft footfteps
of k b any part of the empire.

I filTT that this is no conclufivc argument againft its having
[tell formerly planted and propagated in fome provinces of
k, il pkin from that antient and venerable monument which
Wdag up near the city of St-mgan-fiif in the province of
^htt^-fiy and of which we have given an account in the lad
fcffiai^; by whi^h it appears to have been brought into this Iniroducei
tft^ y/. (7. 782 or 7?3 ; to have been readily received by the An. 782.
Afa^igning monarch Lyen-tfong^ or rather Tay-tfongy and
h^ encouraged during the reigns of feveral of his fuc*
cdhfe, under whofe aufpices they freely propagated the go- Itsgretilt
fpd, built a good number of churches, monafteries, \iQi^\^ frogrefu
^1. &r. maugre all the oppofition of the bonzaic feft. And
AoBghit is not eafy to know from the Chinefe records, which
fcldom meddle with any events but thofe which concern the
ti|^flpvernment, when, or by what means, U was afterwards
fi^^ed>' fo as to have left no traces behind; yet it is com- Total fi^p*
"WO^bdieyed to have happened about the year 845, in which frejjion.
?%ierition ati idjft pf the* emperor Vu^tfong^ given in the
Wifear of his reign, and condemning, among other bonzas,
Ajfetf Ta^tfing^ or Judea ' (and fuppofed to be the Chriftian
friaftj^^ in namber 3900, to return to a fecular life '. Such

• Lj Coiim, obi Top, Sec alfo Du Halde, & al. * Ant,
Dtfr. ijai. vol. XX. p. 106, & fecj. & (H). ^ Sec before,

5'77i (L). ' Sec Dv Halde, vol. 1. p, 196. & ii. p, z, &

5 ^

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114 ^^ Hyiory cf China. B. I.

an authentic teftimony, therefore, puts it beyond all doubt
that Chriftianity was preached, and had made a confiderable
progrefs, in that fpace, whatever be the canfe of its having
been fince fo throughly abolifhed and obliterated at the time
of the Raman miiBonaries arrival thither ■.
■ fhtjefuits In this ftate of fuperfiition and grofs idolatry it had cooti-
Jrft at' nucd above fevcn centuries ; during which, fevere kws were
tempt to enafted againfl all foreigners entering into any part of the em-
Ptflant It. pjj.^ . ^jjgjj Xaverius found means to land in it undifoovered,
with a defign to replant Chriftianity there; but died fooa
after, in a little ifland we have fpoken of in Ae firft fefticMi ".
Above thirty years elapfed before any other of that fodety
ventured to come thither : but thofe who were fettled at the
city of Ma-kau^ or Macao, lately defcribed, were all that time
contriving the moft proper means to gain a fafc entrance mto
SharpO' '^ » '^^ order to which, leveral of them were perfe^ng them-
g^j^ felves in the Chinefe toi^e ; and Father VaVignau^ the then

fuperior-general of the mifTion, was procuring a great number
di European curiofities, fuch as watches, clocks, maps, quadrants,
globes, and all forts c^ mathematical inftmments, and a mul-
titude of other valuable things, as the moft powerful intro- \
Queers of his brethren to the greedy mandarins and grandees,
andlhe moft likely means to recommend them to the imperial
court. They met accordingly with a very kind recepnm,
father *"^ encouragement from the viceroys and grandees ; but were i
Ricci geti l'^" ^^^ ^ fternly repulfed. At length, after dWers at-
into fa- tempts. Father Rlcci found means to recommend himi^ \Q
Hfour at the court of Pe-king, and became a great favourite of the
court. emperor (L), and was permitted to fettle at that metropc^; i

whne

^ Vidr Kercher China 111 aftrat Le Compte, nbi fup. Lh
Martiniere, Dv Halde, & al. " Seebefore, p. 88» (R)*

(L) Though we are obliged viceroys and mandarins, who^

to abridge the account of this being apprifed of the vahaUe

celebrated miflionary, the read- curiofities he had brought wl6

mud not thence fuppo(e his him, were all greedily gaping

fuccefs to have been fo quick as for a (hare of them. He was

we relate it ; on the cpntrary, likewife imprifoned, and met

we are told, that he fpent twenty with many other :obftacles and

years from his firil attempt to difficulties ; but his prefcnls at

fettle at Pfiing, to his obtaining length overcame them all, and

leave to do it ; during which he procured him the fetrleoienlrhe

met with the moik mortifying had fo long endcavoi^red aft^r.
difcouragements and repulfes The prefentK he made to the

from the rapacious and jealous emperor, in particular, were, a
4 fine

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C. I. Tbi Hificry of China. 125

vtore he and his companions took a handfome houfe, had a
peafi6a fettled upon them ; and were allowed the liberty of
OK of tl^ courts of the palace, into which none but the offi-
cers of it w^re allowed to enter. Here he foon gained an ex-
traorcBnary reputation, on account of his great (kill in the
attdiematics, and the rich prefents he made to the emperor,
ad his court ; infomuch that bis houfe became the receptacle
of all the grandees and learned men, and particularly of the
piindpal Koiau^ or firft officer of the empire, who gave him,
4M1 all occafions, the greateft marks of his efteem.

RICCI^ thus firmly fettled in the favour and efteem of the Pn^«
emperor and his court, began then in good earned to fvo^TL- gatesCM^
§lte the Christian religion in that capital ; and (if we may A^'(J'
4tptaA. upon the rdations given us of it by thofe of his y'^^fT^^
Adety) with incredible fuccefs and reputation ; and,' among-^^^^*
edior judicious precautions, ordained, that no converts (hould
be admitted to baptifm till they had made a public and folemn
proteflation, expreffing their abhorrence of their pafl lives,
and the fincerity with which they embraced the golpel ; and
Ais they were obliged to comply with, to prevent all doubt-
Jig about their fincerity, and real fentiments. The reader The sud
may fee the form of it in the author often quoted o, from that •/ the nenm
vUch was made by a celebrated mandarin, named Li^ which cowveriu
.Wtt deiigned as a model to all the reft, and which runs in
ihe moft pious and fincereft ftrain ; and concludes with a
prayer to God, tha^ he would enable him not only to live up
to die rules of his holy gofpel, but to fit and permit him to
preach the fame faith to others, and with the fame fervent
2cal as he had embraced it.

LPs example was foon followed by a multitude of other
ffandees, mandarins, and literati, and by much greater num*
bfts of people of both fexes and inferbr ranks, who aU be-
cime not only zealous profefli^s of the Chriftian filth, but

Et promoters, and advocates for it. They likewife proved
Uberal contributors tbwards the building of churches
llld oratories, that, we are told, there were built in the
province of Kyang-nan no lefs than ninety of the for-

^ Du Halde, vol. ii. p. 7.

fiiepidureof oar Saviour, and to an honourable place in the

anotocr of the Virgin Mary, and imperial palace; aid a fine

a clock of cxtraordinarv work- tower was built fpr a rcpofitory

ntnihip ; the former of which, of the latter ( i ).
we are told, were conveyed in*

(i) Vide Mtnifi^ MAgMtU', It Cmpte, Du Baldf, ^ mK mufi.

mcT,

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p^^ aikt forty-five of, thelatrer. They were tia kfe cauifiii
to tranflate feme of the Chriftian commeats on: the gpfpt^
together with, other reDgions books, fiich as the lives of tbp
Candida'/ faints, and others of thd like nature \ all which one flnglp
gnat libi' lady, a zealous convert, caufcd to be printed at her owii
ratify. charges, aad to be difperfed ^road among the unconvecMi
Honoured of aU ranks (M). For thefe great -aSs of piety and liberal*^
iy ihi em' ftie was fo highly refpefted ^t court, that the emperor hin%-
jeron felf honoured h^ with fei«ral .rich pjjefents, and with the
titlie of Sho'ijji^ or virtuous woman^ This raifed a nobfc
emulation in other great ladies of quafity to imitate her ex-
ample; who, by their zeal and piety, brought their hufbaa4l
to become not only profelytes to, but great fupporters o&
the Chriftian caufe ; fnfomuchthat the churches. mliltLpliedi^
every province of the empire, notwithfEanding Uie ibreauoqs
dppofition of the bonz^» who leftuafbne uatum^d tQ ga^

(M) This excellent lady, who
wai at her baptifln named Can-
elrday was the daaghter of Syn^
one of 4ke moft celebrated lite-
latiy and one oi the eftvlieft and
jBoft^sEealQiK cQttrerts. that Fa-
ther JiicdYiiA made, I& daju^-
ter„ beii^g vldp becpnue s^ ilnoere
Cbi^iilian, wa«r nogaqiiied ax the
a,^e of fixteen ; and, by ber
wifdom and piety, converted
her hufband, who left her a
widow at ^irty. From this
time (he fpent the remainder of
'^ life in the fervice 6f reli-
gioQ, and the cducadeo o^^ht
cbildseft (he had had by hSn ;
ad^, (hough (hepcoyida^ hand»
ibmely for them alii yet, by her
good Gbconomy,(he faved enough
of ker fortune, not only to de-
fray the charges of printing fo
great a number of books, bat
likewife to build fome churches
in the provinces ofKyang-Ji^ Hu-
quango tLndSe-chiven (into the laft
*«£ w&chihe followed her fon^^^r-
/iiktSf who held fome confidera*

ble pofts there); after whichi
(he invited fome of the miffioA*
aries to. come and take care of
diem.

Her eharity extended to the
poop infants and chiidren,whom
the poverty of their pancnti lofcad
to Qxpo(e to the wide wodd:
for thefe ftie ene&ed an hoM-
tal, which was prefendy an^
fo filled with thefe obje^ tM»
notwithftanding the care of this
nurfes, arid thofe about themt
200 of them died commutfitis
amis. The very loweft die«
o# peepkt the old and Im^
et pietekided Co, wha went sd>oat
the ftreets cheating psoplsi ent
of their money^ under. pr^Mce
of teUing ihem their fortaoi^
(he caufed to be taken ap» io*
flru£led, baptized, and provided
for. She Kved forty-three years
in widowhood, and ia all fuch
kinds of charities ; and died, as
{he had lived, an eminent an4
exemplary Chriftian (i).

(a) Du Halik, wit ii. ^. 8, &/ef.

vent

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ifm ife ^veiA^of airw religion, wJucb W9S fi> ostrKry
10 Adr pafioQstml ioteicft (N).

This

fW) Tkett it ftircghr «ny

Toen to foppofe tkat thei^ per-
wuBtun are antcfa. cxa^gcntod
Af the fflifionancs, w)^d we
cvnUer the in£uDOBs ckarader
of die wlnlebonzaic tsibe ; tho*
dot is great ftaibo to belirve
t^X iuHre cbe maBf mirfculoiis
mmsos ui whkii tie divine
Pkmiciice is faid to bsre is
iBfafiMi in £uroar of the per-
fitttei. Hie reader wiUreadilx
jidgp al k ii)r tiNfe two that
Aiioiil ttd whiflfc i»e have in-
^OQt of a grett vmnecj of
odMnwhieh Hefeattered amoi^
tiiarother aocouait*, as fa maa^
^ttkntic atiefbcit>nt of Ood't
^coBding their endeavours, and
(Mieg att tbenudidow ^bvices
i^thttr cnemioft to hXL
tfi^otn heads.

^NMBedtaftop the prngrefs of
Mcf AVo^f cosiveifiaiis, h^
^^rfi]^ a fcaadaloaa lampoon
^MQt^ccmrt, in which tkcf
^ochU dw cuyceoi of having
^Nhdicd ftM his oht reli.
9^ and bebg becone a piro*
al|ie and pi^ingeefi of this now
^wfakh they fcraplod aat
^^tin the snoft odious oa-
•J*»j as wen as its preachers ;
^tttfck of their wife fcheme
2J« ^tat they wete all appro-
^^ ^n<i pomQied in the
*^«ttl and moft mortifying
^i^^er; and that the prindp^
Ijwog thca, tho' a man highty
*'P'^ at court, and rcvc-
"^«daj a prophet by the peo-
lp» was condemned to fach a
'^^adfulbaftonado, that he ex-
Pwtdundtr it; whilft Father
{^f« had the pleafurc to fee
»»» crsdit and faccefs increafc,

in pfopertion fia their opfnfitioxi
againd him.

After th0 death of Father
Rieci^ his coUegue J4tm $^i«e/
was no iboner chofea piecefiar
to the young emperor Kang-ki^
thaa a petition was presented m
the agents, by one of lh« lil*>
rata, fail of the bittareft iaveo*
tires agauiA hhii» aad thtos
others of his ibctety; aad a
■aoft dreadful peHacutita was
raifed ag^iaft them* Theyweoe
ail elapt into gaol, loaded with
chains, and very feverelji uied
Jam 1664^ *^> ^ ^^ "^^^
year,Cbritfbanity was profcribedg
asidfeaodperaieioMs;, andi-'a-
ther Jdam coademned to Iw
teingledL Bat, that being
thoagk too honouriUe a deaths
they exchanged it for a moia
infamous aad cruel one 1 whidi
was, that he Bioald be brought
ant,, and enpofcd in a pobisc
place, and, whilft alive, be cut
into ten thoa&nd pieees. The
featenea wa» fent to the princes
of the blood, aad regent maa-
dflrias^ for their confirmatto»»
when God was. pleaded to iater-
pofe in a fignal OKumar ; for,
everyt time they attempted to
readmit, a iodden eacthqaake
Ihook the haU with fuch vehe-
mence, that they all ran oat of
it, to prevent being crufhed un-
der its ruins. We are not told
how often this was repealed;
but only* thatit threw the peopTe
into the gteateft confternation,
and made tham believe it occa-
Eoned by the ui^iift fentenoe
againd Father ^^jii. But^ adds
our author (3)* the earthquake,
which was renewed more vio-
lently than ever, aad a 6re
'which

(l) Du Ralde, ubifu^, f» 15, ^ f*f.

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128 The I^hry ef China. fi. I.

Tms is the account g^vea by thofe miiBoQarles <^ didr
firft plandng the gofpel in this great mnpire ; and dioug^ ive
may reafonably enough fuppofe^ that they have fet it out to
the greateft advantage, yet^ all thii^ impartially confidered,

wldcli confumed moft part of
the palace, with feveral other

concomitant prodigies, opened
the eyes of, the onjuft jadgei,

and convinced them that Hea-
ven interefted icfelf in favour of
the pifoners, who were imme-
diately fet at liberty ; and Fa-
ther if^m permitted to return
to his place, till the young en^^
peror ordered it otherwife (3).
Thefe two inftances may ferve
as famples of the reft, which
ireiat quicmnque *vuU ; •nly one
cannot forbear wondering that
Providence fhould difplay itfdf
In foch fignal nunner in favour
0f thefe preachers of ChriM-
anity ; and yet fufFer them to
fall fo foon after into fuch vio-
lent and nnchriftian divi&ms, as
proved the main caufe of its
utter extirpation out of the cm*
pire.

However,' thofe good fathers
did not fo far truft to thefe mi-
' racles, as to omit other means
.to recommend themielves, and
their religion, to the Chinefe na«
tion : and we muft not omit one
fignal advantage which they
gained over the bonzas.by means
of feme quinquina t or jefuits*
powder, then altogether un-
known in Chinat and brought
thither from France by Father
FounteM^^ one of their fociety.

^ The emp6ror had languifhed
fome time under a tertian ague,
which was very uneafy to him ;
and, upon the proclamation be>
ing made at Pe kin^^ according
to cullom, that thole, who knew.

any effednal remedy agadift diat
diftemper, (hould come and de-
clare it at court, one of the
bonzas came, and pretended to
cure, as is ufual in fuch cafes,
feme perfons* alHi^led with the
fame difeafe, by a elafs ^f wa-
ter, over which hehadra>eated
fome words, and fmotantii
fome magical ceremonies. The
medicine not fueceedittg, two
eminent Jefim piopoM the
trying oi the fuinqmna i which
effe^ally pertbrined tiie cure.
Father Fwtomutfn when infn^-
land in dia year 1703, told the
Royal Soctecy one circnmiance
which Du Hmhk hath omitted ;
n)i$i. that they prepared three
dofes of it, one of which the
emperor was to chafe for Kim*
felf ; and-they to drink the odicr
two before htt face, topioveat
all fuipicton of poifon. The
emperor, by that means, was
eafily pofuaded to take it, and
was perfedUy cned by tiie firft
doiie ; andingratttude to them,
for having, as he expreiled it,
faved his life, aligned them a
no'ble apartment in the Whm^
chinw^ or firft conrt of his palace,
caoMd it to be fitted up for them ;
and, being informed by them,
that it was not ufual Ibr Jefuits
to have houfes without a church,

f ranted them a large adjacent
eld, on which tl^y built a
ftately one, which was finifli-
ed, and opened with great ce«
remony on the 9th of Decemttr
1702 (4> .

('i) Du UalJe, tih'fu^ra.p. 15, $^fiq»
Utirei •i.ifijnt* vpI, vii. f, 222^1» /*f.

(4) Hid. p, 29, ajtf. ni
diere

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Cn. 9^ Hfft^y of Ch\nt: I19

^bm «n 00 &ubt be entertained of its having «i«<le t very
Ub as well as confiderable progrefs through moft of its pro-

fiflces ; and which might, in all probability, have proved much DMjSons
greater, and more lafting, had not the unhappy divifions, whicji ««w»^
Dttan to reign among the feveral orders of thofe miflionarics, C^//tf«r
iWthe perfeutions which the Jefuits raifed againft cardinal^*'. ^ -^
JWwa, and other fellow-labourers, for too freely cenfuring '^ 'i' ^^'
Mr Ihamefiil comfl^ance, and that of their profejytes, to ^'^^'^
ftne pag?ui rites (0), put a ftop to it,

AvTEk

(0) Wc lately mentioned a
ttiof worflup which the CbU
<#P«y to tht feuls of their
«Kdten,of fomc of their great
AOBtrcb and eminent men, and
«^i«Ily to their great philo-
tophcrand lawgiver Confucius i
wfakworihip, however, we arc
^ is ftyled by the phHofo-
fken and literati, who arc ob-
1^ to coflipty with it, a mere
ovil wor^p, in order to avoid
•♦echafgc of idolatry. The
Moits Tcadtly took hold of this
^i^inftion (if they were not
«% t^lc aathors of it) ; bc-
«afe, as they alleged to the
!JP«» tkat paid to the great men
jw-mcniioncd, being eiU-
J«d iy the law, could not
Wfpcnfedwith withoot mani-
tt danger to Chriftianity ; and
«at paid to the fouls of their
•wws was fo deeply rooted
U ^"Cbinefe nation, that few,
■«f» woald have cared to
jcwic Chriftians, if that had
•prif ed them of the liberty of
P^nmng what they eftcemcd
* *nt!al and delightful a part
<r ilial duly ; upon which ae-
J^t they thought it very cxpc-
*^ to indulge them in it,
H for both thefe, they were
«gWy Warned; and at laft com-
pWncd againft both to the pope,
•^ to the fodety de propaganda

feU% and the diftin^Uon be-
tween religious and political or
civil worfhip expofcd as a mefe
fubterfuge, to palliate a eom-»
pliance which diey j udged high*
ly injarions and fcandiUous to
Chriftianity.

The truth is, thefe complaints
were made by odicr miffionaries
of the DomtnicaUf Franeifian, or
fome other order, none of whom
ever loved that of the JefUits ;
and were, in all likelihood,
joined with them in the miflion,
by the political conrt of Rome,
to be a check upon that fubtle
and infinuating fociety. Upon
which account their charge may
be reafonabiy enough fuppofed
to have been in fome meafure
aggravated, and profecuted with
too great animoutv. However,
the Jefuits, to diiculpate them-
felves, procured, by their great
intereft at court, an explanation
of thefe Chine/f ceremonies to
be drawn up by two learned
mandarins, and to be approved
and confirmed by the cmperor>
to the following efFeft (5) :

** When the Chxne/r honour
«« Con/ucius, they do it to fhcw
** their reipeA to him on ac-
«* count of the do€lrine which
*' he hath left among them s
-** and, having once embraced
" it, how can they better pcr-

.(5) Jtfufi Ittters, Set alfo tht hik dh<mequ9ttd, Di Cidtu Zinttifum.

Mod. Hut. Vol. VIII. I « form

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ISO The Hijiory of China. B. I.

After having faid thus much on fo remarlcaMc a tranf-
aftion as the intl'oducing and propagating of Chriftianity thro'

thk

form thefe dae honours to
him, than by pfodrating'
themfelves, and touching tiie
ground with their heads, to
him whom the \»hoIe empire
acknowleges as their ma-
tter. As to the libations,
and other rites, performed to «
their deceafed parents, they
are only paid as a mark of
refped, and acknowlegement
that they revere them as the
heads of their race and fa-
mily. And as to the pidlures
(ftatues itlhould rather be)
which they fet up in honour
of their anceftors, they do
not mean by it, that their
fouls reilde in them, neither
come they to afk any favours
from them ; but only fet
meat, and other prefents, be-
fore thofe pi£lures, to exprefs
their conuant love towards
them, and their forrow for
being deprived of them.
** As for the facrifices which
the antient kings and empe-
rors were wont to offer to
heaven, they are fuch as the
Chinefi philofophers ftyle
KiaO'cbetth2Lt is, the facrifices
which are made to heaven
and earth, by which, they
fay, Shang'tif or thefovereign
Lord) is honoured; and it
is for this reafon that the
little pictures, before which
thofe facrifices are offered,
bear this infcription toShang-
tty that is to fay. To the fo-
vereign Lord : from whence
it is evident, that they do not
offer facrifices to the vifible
and material heaven, but only
to the Lord and Creator of
heaven and earth ; and, be-

" eaufe their' veneration and
*' refpeft for him will not per-
*• mit them to call 4iiin by his
'* proper name, they invoke him
** undeft^the appellations of the
** y*5^'*«»^ beanjen, the hountifml
** heaven f the unimerfal bea^en^^

The emperor Camhi*% (or ra-
ther Kang-hVi) approbation was
to this effba : " That which is
'' contained in this writing is
** very right, and conformable
** to the grand dodrine : to pay
<* our devoirs to heaven, to our
*^ lords, to our parents, to our
*' matters, and to our anceftors,
*^ is a law common to all the
** world. The things contained
** in this writing are yr^ry true,
'* and need no amendment**

But neither this declaration,
nor any other apologies which
the Jeluits made for their coo-
dud, could hinder its being
publicly condemned by the
pope*s legate at Cantcn^ Aum
1707, by a decree dated from
that city, forbidding all Chrif-
tians, both profely tes and others,
to pay any fuch honours either
to Confucius^ or to the pidnret of
their ancettors. Upon which
they found themfelves obliged
to procure a more favourable
one in their behalf from the
pope, Jnno 1715 ; which or-
dained, that the word Tyen-chi,
that is. Lord of heaven, ttiould
be ufed to fignify the true God,
as had been long fince done by
the mittionaries; and that the
fame condud fhould beobferved
with refped to the ceremonies
to be allowed to Chrittians,
confining them only to fuch as
were purely of a political and
cinnl nature: and, laftly, that

4 the

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C. r.

^e Hiftory of China.

'St

this vaftempire, we fhall not go fo hx out of our bounds or
province, as to enter into a detail of thofe difputes which oc-
cafioned the total fuppreffion of it ; much lefs of the intrigues
of the Jefults at the court of Rome^ and the pope's partial be-
hanour to that fodety, the fubjeA being fo well known to mod
of the learned in Europe ; even thofe who only read Father Du
Haltk's account ot it p, and coniider that he was one of theofi,
and writes rather a vindication of his brethren againft Cardinal
TwrnoTit bifliop Maigrot, and other of their oppofers, will
cafily perceive where the fault chiefly lay ; and thofe, who arc
dcfirous to fee thofe tranfaftions more impartially dated, may
read it at full length in a book intituled, De Cultu Sinenftum^
printed at Cologne^ Anno 1 700.

All that we need to add, by way of conclufion to this
aitide, is, that, after the cpnqueft of China by the Tartars^
the two emperors Shun-chi and Khang4i likcwife favoured
them with their fpecial friendlhip and proteftion during their
whole reigns ; but, immediately after the demife of the latter, a

P Du Haldb, vol. ii. p. 7.

the apo(!olic comminary, and
yifitor-gencral, for the time be-
ing, in Chinay or his deputy,
ihould be confalted, if any dif-
fculty arofe upon that head,
Thb decree was direftcd tp the
pope's legate, bifhop Tournon^
with the title of cardinal ; but
ladled before it arrived, and,
84 is fuppofed, of grief, on ac-
toont of the perfecutions raifed
«|ainllhimby the Jefuits.

It proved, however, a means
Ofincrcafing, rather than of re-
ooyine, the difficulties about
which both parties contended ;
^ ftill differing as much as
ever about what ceremonies
were parely civil and political,
•r not fo. Upon which the
Wc thought fit to fend a new
*cgatc thither, to compromife
4ofc difputes, j^nno 1720 : but
he was, foon after his arrival at
Cwr/wr, not only forbid to come

to court, but received expreft
orders from the emperor to leave
China, with all the other mif-
Aonaries ; for that the pope*8
decree beine inconfiftent with
the laws and ufages of the em-
pire, the Chriflian religion could
no longer fubiift there. He
was, however, permitted, Du
HaJde tells us, to wait upon the
emperor ; and was received and
difmifTed with fingular honours,
and permitted to leave China
only to go and give the pope aa
account of the flate of the
Chriftian miflion, and with a
promife to return back in three
years with the fame charader ;
but the death of that monarch,
which happened foon after, and
was followed by the total pro-
fcription of Chriftianitjr, put a
flop both to his legation, and
the further progrcfs of that
milBon (6j.

W Jtfuit slitters See o/fojbe book abcvt quoted^ De Cu'ju SiKeiJium* Vid,

I % number

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miJjiQn
aries,

"Emperor's
decree
againft
them.

j[32 . fbe Uificry^ of C)mn. P. ^

J^emon- number of petitions and remonftrances were prefented botji
firarces' to his fon and fucceffor, ind to the tribunal rf rites, againll
mnd ediBi the Chriftian religion ; upon which it was profcribcd by fevc«
againji the ^^\ edifts, and thefe publiflied in moft of the capitals of the
^' " '" empire The tribunal above-mentioned save this dccifioii
againft the miffionaries (or, as they are there ftyled, Eurp-*
peans) : That fuch of them as were at court might be Hept
there, as they were ufeful for reforming the calendar, and
other fervices.; but that thofe who were difpcrfed in the pro-
vinces, were not only ufelefs, but dangerous, as they built
churches, and drew the ignorant people, both men and wo-
men, to their religion ; and fhould therefore be all fent awajr
to Ma-kau (a Portuguefe town on the Chinefe coaft, and
lately defcribed). This order was confirmed by the emperor,
in words to this efFeft, written with the red pencil : That it
fhould be done according to the above decree ; and that the
Europeans, as foreigners, fhould be fent to Ma-kau : but that,
to prevent any infult being offered to them in their way thi-
ther, a mandarin fhould be appointed to conduct them feffe
thro' every province, and convenient' time allowed them for
repairing to that place.

The Jefuits made ufe indeed of all their arts, and intereft
they had with the emperor and mandarins, to ward off the
fatal blow ; but all they could obtain from him, was, to have
the city of Canton, inflead of Ma-kau, to be the place of
their exile ; and this only on condition that they behaved fo
as to give no caufe of complaint. This lafV order was imme-
diately publifhed in all the gazettes, and in all the provinces of
the empire ; and the miffionaries, without diftinftion, were all
driven out of their churches, and condufted either to Pe-klng
or Canton \ the emperor further declaring, in a new book
written for the ii^flruftion of his fubjefts, that he tolerated
only fome few of them, on account of the advantages which
the empire received from their fkill in arts and fciences, Pur'%
fuant to thofe edifts, more than 300 churches were deflroyed*
or turned into paged s, fchools for the literati, and other
common ufes ; and above 300,000 Chriftians derived of their
paflors, and expofed to the mercy of the unbelievers, and
without any profpeft of feeing their religion reftored.

The Jefuits, however, have flill three Chinefe natives, and

Demoli-
tion of
their
churches.

Sadflate

rfdhrijii' the fociety dc propaganda fide a few priefls of the fame ^oun-

anityat try, who privately mingle with the new converts, and offi'

fre/ent, elate among them ; and, as thefe are too few for fo great a

number of converts, they employ fome of the moft flulful

catechifts, whq difperle themfelves among the provinces, fur-

«ilb them with calendars, books of devotion, and other helpsj

and

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C. /. Itie Hifiorf of China. 133

aod endeavour to keep up the fpirit of Chriftianity among
as many as they can ; for the doing of which with more
fcfety, they put themfelvcs under the proteftion of fomc
mandarins, which is not to be obtained but by fome confider-
able prefeatsi and this is the prefent melancholy (late of
ChrilKanity in the Chinefe cmpu-e *>•

But this is far enough from being the only country in ^^^^^ ^*«
which not only the Chriilian religion, but the very names of ^^^Jo**
Chriftian, Praguay or Portuguefe, and European, are held ^^^^^
inthe utmoft abhorrence, thro' the mifconduft, or rather ill ^^^iL^
Aligns, of thofe who are fent to propagate it j and where,
after a moft promifing profpeft of a plentiful, if not an uni-
vdai converfion, and the greateft encouragements given to
tkmby^the reigning monarchs and great men, all their hopes
kve been quafhed as in an inftant ; the preachers, and their
profelytes, perfecuted with the greateft feverity, their religion
frofcribed and detefted ; all farther avenues clofely flopped,
«wl carefully watched againft ; and as many as have fince
attempted, under any difguife, or upon any pretence, to gain
admittanec, have been put to the moft fpeedy and excruciating
deadis. That this has been the cafe of a great number of Ww th§
Aofc Kmijh miflionaries, not only in Ton-king^ Cochin China^ mijjsona^
and Korea, aS we have feen in the preceding volume, but in ''^^f ^^
Jfl>««, Siam, Tibet i and the greateft part of Indujian, v e ^/'^>. .
lave from their own teftimony, and the letters that have been ^''^'^fi^^^*
tranfmitted from time to time from thofe parts, and are to be
found in that large coUeftion printed at Paris ^ under the title
rf lettres curieufes et edifiantes ; and with this aggravating
prcumftance, that thofe miffionaries, who attempt to penetrate
ttto any of thofe ImUan dominions, to avoid the fufpicion of
IJttng either Chriftians, Praguay s, or Europeans, which would
not fail of proving fatal to them, are obliged to difguife them-
fclvcs under the name, garb, and profeffion, of eaftemy^in-
J'/V, or penitents, fuch as we have defcribed in a former
^ptcr, and to conform to all their rules of living ; that is, to
*fen from eating any thing that has life, drinking any thing
^^rating, to eat but once in twenty-four hours, to lie and
*ehard, Seep little, and rife by the earlieft dawn, and obferve
*peat number of other aufterities peculiar to that feft ; the
<*^on of any one of which would render them fufpcfted,
ind defpicable to the brotherhood. To avoid, moreover, the fjyg nami
**fpicjon of their being Europeans, on account of the differ- ofChrifii"
®cc of thdr complexion, they affeft to call themfelves north- an and
^/<^«/#, or teachers ; and tell the Indians, that they come European

detejkd.

< Du Haldb, vol. ii. p. 35, & fcq.

I 3 • among

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134 ^ Hifiory qf Ching. B, L

' among them with no other view than to inftruft them in a
more worthy way of worlhipping the fupreme Creator, to
give them more juft ideas of his attributes and perfeftions,
and to direft them into a better way of obtaining his fevour
and bleffings in this and in the next life, than any they have
been able to learn frcttn- their own teachers. By thefe, and
fuch-like difrnterefted fuggeftions, they introduce themfelves
among them ; by their learning and addrefe they quicldy gain
the cftecm and proteftion of the great ; whilft the aufterity
of their life draws upon them the eyes and admiration cf
the vulgar : the refult of which is, that they foon make a
fufScient number of profelytes to build a church, and per-
form the divine worftiip. The mlflion goes on and flouriflies,
without meeting with any oppofition, except from the idola-
trous priefts, who arc great enemies to, beqaufe great lofers
by, this new religion, which is levelled againft their own.
But no fooner is the pretended fanjajfi difcovered, or even
barely fufpefted, tQ be an European, and his doftrine that of
the Praguays^ or Portuguefe, than a dreadful perfecution is
raifed againft the preacher and his converts, and their religion
is profcribed and forbidden, under pain of death : fo odious and
detefted^are become the very names of Chriftianand European
all over the eaftern parts of India, even to the farthermoil
boundaries of the Chinefe dominions *•
Wheihit Whether any Jews, were ever fettled or tolerated in CUna,
there nvere hath been a queftion among us in Europe till the be^nning of
finy]^v/s this century ; though whoever confiders how they {warm in
i« China. Spain and Portugal, where the laws are fo fevere againft
them, could hardly |ind any room to doubt of their being
invited in much greater numbers into that rich and opulent
empire, by the fame profpeft of a gainful commerce, where
there are not, that we can find, any laws, or imperial edifts,
to interdift them from it : but all that while our news from
thence made no particular mention of them.- Father Ricdt
and fome others of the firft mlffionaries, feem indeed to hint,
that there were fome of that nation difperfed about the coun-
, try ; but, whether they met with any difficulty in it, or did
not ibink it worth their while to find them out, we heard no-
J^Jyna- thing farther about them till the year 1 704, when Father
gogue of Paulo Gozani, a Jefuit miflionary, being come upon fome oc-
fhem tn cafion into the province of Ho-nan, had the good fortune to
(iQ-nan. And ^ confiderable fynkgogue of them, and, as they them-'
felvcs told him, the only one in the whole empire, in the city
of Kay-f^ng'fit, the capital of that province, and fituate iQ

♦ V}d. Recu^il de L^^tres qur. ^ cdifiant. paff.

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C. I.' ne Hifiory of China; 135

the very centre cf the Chmefe dominions. He foon contrafted
ao acquaintance with feme oi their learned chiefs ; who, on Their /k-
account of his charafler, (hewed him a more than ordinary cred booh
refpeft, introduced him into their fynago^e, and fbewcd him »« He-
one of the volumes, *oi- parchment rolls, of the pentateuch f , b^^w.
written in Hebrew ^ and in fair ind legible charafters, together
with fome others of the Old Teftament, als thofe of Jojbua^
the Judges, Samuel, Kings ^ fome of the prophets, and fouie
(rthcrs containing their liturgy, commentaries, and the like :
theie laft much worn, and kept in boxes under their feats ;
but all of them written in the Hebrew tongue and chara-
fier. They owned to him, that they had loft fome of the
&cred books, and fome of their targums or paraphrafes, ex-
politors, <bc, by a violent overflowing of the great river
Hoam-ho {Whang-ho), or yellow river, which had laid that ca-
pital wholly under water, and had likewife much damaged-
thdr thorali, or roll of the pentateuch : upon wWch they J'<wehi
ordered twelve fair copies to be taken of it, which are ftill new copies
prefervcd in the like number of partitions in the tabernacle, of the ten*
where it is kept. tateucL

Thet informed him, that they divided the Chin-kin^ or
five books of Mofes, which they diftinguifli, like all other
JtwSy by the name of the firft word in each book, as Bere'^
ftntb, EUeJhemothy &c. into fifty-two parafliah's, or leflbns,
one for every fabbath-day throughout the year ; which divi-
fion is fuppofed to have been inftituted by Ezra J. They
retain the fame ^number of letters, which they reckon twenty-
feven, including the five final ones § ; but whether th^ have
admitted the ufe of the vowel points, we are not told ; our
author not being, as he frankly owns, acquainted with the
Hebrew tongue, and confequently not capaole of making all
die inquiries one could have wiihed, about this and other
curtous matters. They acquainted him furthermore, that
two famed Jefuits, viz. Fadier Roderigo de Sigueredo, who
flouri/hed under the laft dynafty, and Father Enriquez, who
fiourifhed about the beginning of this, had had frequent con-
ferences with the then chiefs of that fynagogue, but without
coming to any agreement ; from which, as well as from thofe
two learned men neglefting to get a tranfcript of their pen-
tateuch, he fuppofes that they found it corrupt and muti*
lated : and concludes, firom the whole, that thofe Jews arc
of the Talmudift feft.

t Dc his, vid. Antient Hift. vol. iil. p. 104, J Ibid*

▼ol. X, p. I94f k fcq. § Vid. ibid. vol. iii. p. 2fi; $t

1 4 THEia

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Their J^' Theih fynagognc is there built mUch after the fluumof
nagogue that they are in other parts of the world, excepting dsitff- i«
defcrihcd, \^ turned towards the weft, that is, towards JerufsUeMy to-
wards wluch tl»y mm thdr face when they prxy, a$ all others
did, which were fituate e^ftward of that mctrcqpoils, once tbe
centre of their worfhip. It is moreover divided into chreef
ailes, OT partitions; but whether in imitation of tte threi^
courts of Solomon's temple^ as Father Gokien, thepubBftier d
thb account, would infmuate in his remarks, at the &id of it,
or no, is fcarcely worth inquiring after, or eafy to det^^nkid
from the imperfeft fkotch here given of it : but, if fo, it
differs in that particular, from all thofc we have feen in Eu*
repCj if not from all that are in the world.
JteaJing" ' In the centre of the middlemoft aile is placed their rcading-
dejk. ddk, or, as it is ftyled, Mqfes's chair, where the law, an<f

other portions of the cid Teftamcnt, and their ufual littirgy,
are read with great ceremony. This chair, or defk, otir au-
thor tells us, is grand and lofty, and richly adorned with
crimfon velvet, with gold fringe, taflcfe, Sc. with ftatdy
candlcfticks, and large candles, perfume-pots, and other €*•
naments 5 and over it, inftead of the emperor's arms, which
their law doth not permit them to reprefent, is fixed a fine
large board, ^ith his name and titles luperbly infcribed upoa
Th taher- it. At the farther end of the fame aile, and facing the chair
"%^^j • above-mentioned, is the tabernacle, or repofitory of the fit*
railed tn. ^^j ^.^jj ^f ^j^^ ^^^ ^£ ^j^^ xwehc tranfcripts 4ately fpok«l

of, each of them in' a fcparate niche, fhut up with folding*
doors, and a rich curtain drawn before it ; the whole indofcd
within a handfome baluftrade, into which none but their kba*
Farms jtam, or chirf officer, is permitted to fet his foot. The reft
in/crrp' ^f ^j^^ fynagogue is decorated vdth inforiptions taken from tho
^'°"^' pcntateuch, and other facred books, and proper to iolpis^
them with devotion ; they alfo cover their heads with the iSfiiM
fhaled, or veil, all the time they are jM^ying.
fheir Thet flri6Uy retaini the rite of circumcilion, and obfervance

rites the of the fabbath, during which they fufFo* no fire to be kindled
^Tr '^f*^ ^ *^ houfes : the three grand fcafts, of the paffover, wed»
thofeof 0' Qj. pentecoft, and of the tabernacles, together with other oc*
^^^'* J^^*' cafional feftivals, fefts, and other antient inffitutioBS, art!
Kkewife kept with great fh-iftneft among thtm» tho^ kt f<«M
pther cafes they readily comply with Ae Onmrfe euftoms, ani
religious ceremonies. They call thcmfclves KtA^^kin-kia^ *
name which was at firft given to them by the Chinefe^ on ac-
count of their abftainlng from blood, and their peeulitfr ^ay
^ killing the wimab they tat 5 but which th^ gladly tc-

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Ci u The ti09ry of Chma." 137

tskid^ te Order to dUKngnifh thcmfelves Ir<Mh the Mohofn*
mdM, who art aJled Tee-mo-kiaOy with whom they cnter-
tdo not the Icaft commerce; and frdtri whom they affeft to
(fifltogoifh themfclTcs by fomc peculiarities in their drefs, and
the Mxtm tnra <rf* their whifkers.

Tatf caM the Supreme Being by the Chinefe name Tyen^ Namts •/
aad^torMphim under the titles of C'/i^tm-f/^, Chatn'tiySham'ti, Ood hr*
(xtvixaShang'tyen, the Lord of heaven, Shang-ti, thefupreme rowed
Lord, TeM^van-tfoe-tche, or Creator of all things, and of ^f? f^f
fm-voi'tchU'tcaiy or Governor of the univerfc ; which names, ^*"'^®*^
they owned they had taken from the Chinefe books, that of
Tiym fignifying properly heaven, as we have already obferved
ttpofl another occafion ♦. Their law they call Tyen-kiao, or
Ae law of God, or of heaven ; they Hkewife ftyle it fomc-
times KoiV'kiao, or the antient law ; and J/Iaeh Kiao, or the
hrof I/rael: where, by the way, we cannot but obferve,
that they have, by long difufe, loft the pronunciation of the
^, for which t;hey fubftitute the L, as do the Chinefe, among
whom that letter is never ufed, when they pronounce fome
^opean name that hath it, as j^alon, Mliam, inftead of
^mn, Miriantj &c,

AoiiN, as they have their Kterati and graduates, our au- Ccnfirm
4or afked them, whether they paid the ufual honours to nvithfe've*
^ikius that the reft do ? To which they anfwered, one and ^^^ Chi- .
A^ the affirmative ; and added, moreover, that they per- °"^ '''^'*
Wfflcd the fame ceremonies that other literad did, at the halls Pay bo'
rfthdr great men. They likewife owneS to him, that they ^^g' *"
jflcoitfonned to the folemn rites which are performed to their 9®»f«-
^ftors, with this only difference, that, inftead of offering ^^^\ ^^^
WfieVfldh, whkh is forbidden by their law, they fubilituted ^^JJa^s
'^ of fome other clean animal ; and that, in their more ufual ^
^fOftonies to the iteceafed^ they contented themfelves with
fettiag brforc them fotne diihes of meat, fweetmeats, and
prtimes, ferved in china-ware, accompanied with profound
?oftratfons, after the manner of the country.

Tbev condufted our author to this grand hall of ancef- fheir hall
•W» which is ccmtiguous to their Ly-pai-fou, or fynagogue, defmhid*,
^where thofe rites are performed every fpring and fall.
B»e, inft^d of fuch pi^ures and figures as are irfed by the
j^, but fbrlndden by their law, they had only a number
* perftime-pans, or boxes, anfwerable to that of their ^>5/w-
M, or great men, the largeft of which Was that of their,
Nt fatha Jtrahafn, and was placed in the heart of the halL
«txtto that were thofc of Ifaac and Jacob; and, next tQ

f S^e bcforo, p. 119 (!]•

them,

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1^8 ^he Hiftpry of China. 3. 1/

them/ thofe of his twelve fons, whom they flylcd Che^cum-pdi-
tfe^ patriarchs, or heads of the twelve tribes. The next in
rank and dignity were thofe of Mofes^ Aaro% Jojhua, Sa,^
muel,^ Ezray and other illuftrious perfons of both fexes, be-
longing to their nation ; excepting, however, that the maa-
darin, who is over them, is intitled to have hb tablet fct up
in this hall, infcribed with his own name, and all his titles.
Never The miffionary, being thence condufted to a houfe of en-

Jbeard of tertainment, took occafion to aflc them fome queftioiis about
Jafiu the promifcd Meflias ; and tells us, that they fecmcd greatly
CSr//?« furprifed at what he told them concerning Jcfus Chrift : biit
gave him no other anfwcr, than that their facred books made
indeed mention of one JefuSr the fon of Sirach; but that
they had never heard any thing concerning the other of whom
Conform' he fpoke. He took likewife that opportunity to compare
ty of their fome parts of his owii bible with their Hebrew one, particu-
hihle ^ith j^rly that which relates to the lives of the patriarchs from
9uny Adam to Ndah; and afliires us, that they agreed exaftly in
hut not every particular. Now,, if his bible was the vulgate Latin^
nmth the of wWch there is not any room to doubt, that being the only
fiftua^nt. one authorized by his church, it follows, that their Hebrevj
is exaftly conformable to thofe. we have in Europe^ becauie
the vulgate is fo } and, confequently, that the sera between
Adam and Noah^ or the creation and the iSood, according to
the feptuagint, exceeds them by 6o6 years, as the reader
may fee by the tables we have given of it at the b^inning
of the antieni; hiftory f . As for the occafion of this prefent
remark, it will be beft feen when we come to fpeak of the
Cbinefe chronology, towards the end of this chapter.
the time of ^^^ ^^^^ needs be added concerning thofe Jews^ is, the
their firfi ^"^^ ^"^ which they firft fettled in that empire ; concerning
eoming in- which, they told our author in general terms, that it was du-
ta China, ring the Han-chaUy or fifth dynafty, which began 2o6 years
before, and ended in the 220th year after, the birth of
Chrift ; but in what part of it, they did not tell, and, in
Jftruey ^1 likelihood, could not inform him : but, fuppofing it had
thtf could been at the very latter end of it, it is plain they could not
notheT2X' be Talmudiftsy as he fufpefts them, much lefs guilty of mu-
mudilh. tilating and corrupting their facred books with their felfe and
fabulous glofles ; feeing neither of the Talmuds^ nor any of
their fabulous traditions and commentaries, are of fo old a
date by feveral centuries, as we have fliewn in our antient
hiftory X* Neither is it juft, on the Qther hand, to fuppofe

t Vol. i. c. I. fcft. J. p, 143, & feq. % Vol. x. p. 490,
& {e(). 8i notes.

% tho

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C X. ^be Hifiorj of China. 139

the TabttuJi/ls Xo\i2,\t corrapted the facred text, which diey
have been fcrapalous to preferve/ even to a fuperfUtioas de-
gree, thoogh they have ^afibly perverted the fcnfe of it by
their ^Ife ^ofles and comments. Our author, therefore, feems
plainly to have miiapprehended what they told him out of the
htier to have been quoted out of the former : but as their Butufr9»
adopting the fabulous traditions of the Mijbnah and Cbe- babiyMm^
marra fiiews them to have been infefted with the Tabnudic tedattd.
leaven, fo they muft of courfe have impofed upon him with
refpeft to the time of their firft coming into that country,
and that it muft have been of a much recentcr date. This
is no ftrange fuppofition, efpecially from a Jew to a Jefuit ;
and, if fo, may we not as juftly fufpeft what they told him
about thdr having no other fynagogue in the empire ; and They art
what they further added to him, probably from the feme reduced f
fpirit of diffidence and fear, that, though they were frcttjfi*^/^
numerous at their firft coming, they were at that time reduced *"*'''•
to fevcQ femilies, whofe names were Thao, Kin, Che, Theman,
Li, and Ngni ♦.

Thus far our author's account goes, of thofe that he met
with in that great city. How many thoufand more there may There art
be of them, difperfed and difguifed throughout the empire, probahfy
and who outwardly conform to the religion and cuftoms of the '»^'*' tf
country, as they do in Portugal, Spairi, and other Chriftian '^'^ ^*
countries, where, inftead of being tolerated, they are pro- ^'f^/^»*
fcribed by the laws, can only be conjedhired by thofe who '^'^^
know what ftratagems they will ufe, what hazards they will
nin, for the fake of gain. , But we have dwelt long enough
ipon this one article, and (hall now proceed to a new topic.

S E C T. m.

Oftbe Government^ Laws^ Politics^ &c. of tbeCYintk.

T'HE CbinefenzAon had been, from its firft beginning, fo Chinefe
"■• mured to, and, we may add, fo highly delighted with, govern-
a monarchical government, that, when the 2>tt/rAambai&dors ^^j^, *'*•'
made thdr firft application to it, they found it very difficult ^^^^^^fi
to make them comprehend what they meant by the high and ^ ^^*'
ffl^ty lords, the ftates general, and the republic of Holland.
What thdr antient form and ftate was, we have already pven
tt account of in ^ former p^t % as &r as could be coUefted

• Sec Lcttrcs cur. & edifiant. vol. vii, p. 4-— i*«28. » Se«
Ant. Uwv. Hift. vd. xx. p. 124, & fc^.

from

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t46 , Tk Hijiofy sf CKxm: S. t

ff ooi the Chinefe records, for no mention is made of it in any
other authors) ; neither is there any reafon, fix>m the fingular
tenacioufnefs of that nation for its anticnt laws, cufloms, iic.
or from what we read of the reigns of fo long a fuccefiion "
of monarchs, to fuppofe that it ever received any coniidera*
ble alteration ; fo far from it, that we find their very con-
querors, contrary to the ufual prafticc in fuch cafes, of altering
and inverting, have fhewn a fingular readinefs to confcwm toit^
and made as few changes In it as they poiEbly could : aijd this
xiot fo much out of complaifancc to the conquered, as from
an unavoidable efteem and regard for the excellency of their
laws and conllitution ; infomuch that, in this refpcft, they
feem rather to have fubmitted to, than to have ^en their
laws to, their new fubjefts.

It cannot, however, be denied, nor indeed is it at all to
be wondered at, that this vaft overgrown ftate hath formerly
fplit itfelf into a number of petty kingdoms, fomc of which
(tho' all of them according to the fundamental conflittitioD
of that monarchy, were dependent on a fupreme emperor)
would yet nov^-and--then (hake off their fubje6tion, and ;nake
themfelves defpotic in their refpeftive dates ; but time and for-
. tune have never failed to reduce them back to thdr former
dependency (P) ; fo that there is no reafon to doubt of its
having continued,, in the main, mlich in the fame defpotie
form of monarchical government in which the Tartars found

(P) This is plainly hinted by a lofs what to make of the

the Chinefe author often quoted pompous language and titles

(7), whofpeaks of feveral fuch ufcd by the Dutch ambafladors

revolutions, civil wars, i^c, to them, as we lately hinted

which made a fhort alteration in out of Nie'whoff'(i)) ; much lefs

the form of government, but at their not being able to -com*

which foott after difappeared ; prejiend, as the fame authdi'

after which, thngs returned to adds, how fuch a political

their former ftate. He adds, ftate (which appeared to theta

that the empire was one while rather as a monfter with many

divided into loo, nay, into 300, heads, the fpurious offspring of

partsor polyarchies, and after- lawlefs ambition and .^bborn-*

wards reduced to feven, then to ncfs, begotten and bred, as they

three, and at length to its pri- fuppofed,in times of anarchy a^

initive ftate of one intire mon- confufion) could pofiibly fubfii^

archy, folely fubje£l to one fo- without fome fovereign power

vereign (8). to curb and fupprefs the one.

We need not therefore won- and fteer ^nd govern the Otter

ierthat they (hould be at fuch (10).

(7) Dion. K10, apudJJbrandialdes, eb, a^, (%) Ibid. (9) Dutch

fMafy to China* (10) Li Compte^uh fup. part a« letter i«

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Ci: ThOJipry of C\m^ f4f

it at the time of their conquering. it : iincQ that time it U
become, if any thing, rather more abfokite and arbitrary than
ever; feeing the power of thofe new mooarchs e3(tonds itfelf
.pot only over all civil and military, but, as we have Icct|
nnd^ the laft article, is abfolute and uncontrouled in ail reli«
gipas matters.

TjjP Chinefe monarchs, belldes their own proper names, EmferoHt
were wont to afTume fome high and fwoUen titles, fuch ^fomfut
hd]ifins (f heaven f lords of the whole worlds file governors titles.
over the earth, great fathers of the people, and others of the
like pompous found ; befides which, when Jthe government
pa/Ted from one branch or family to another, he who was thQ
M or head of it gave his name to it, which continued as long
as the dynafty remained in his family, which was, from him, Dynaflee^
called the dynafty (or rather, as ^Chinefe word Chau imports, yr^/o
the epocha, or term ci years) of fuch a king. Since the (x>n» "^h^m
qu?ft by the Tartars, tfiat monarch ftyles himfelf Cham, or *"w«^/* ,
Ki«g, or emperor; and his power extends itfelf not ovi:^ ^heir $^_
OTcr all the iixteen provinces defcribed in the firft fedticm, temfiv^
butfikewife over feveral others of eaftcrn Tartary, over fome /^'"-^^
of which he hath an abfolute fway, whilft others are only
tributary, aad fome of them only pay a kind of homage to
lum; but is no-where more defpotic and arbitrary than ig
tWe his new<onquercd dominions.

Here he hath the power of life and death not only over Jhfilufi
^Hhis fubjefts, but even over all the princes of the blood,/^^/*
Hs will is the fole law, and his commands admit not the leaf):
difpute or delay, under the fevereft penalties. He is indee4
obliged to govern according to the laws 5 and to confult hi«
proper courts and council in all important matters, whether
dvil or criminal, military (x religious : but, as he b the fu*
preme and uncontrouled interpreter of the former, and bear$
w abfolute fway over the latter ; or, in cafe of any too ftre*
nuous oppofition from thefe, can difplace, punifli, or new*-
mould them at pleafure ; the whole government muft centra
>t laft in his fole wiD. The crown is hereditary in his fa^^ Croiun
niily ; yet he hath the power to alter the fucceffion, . and ei^f hereditaryl
tber dtmag his life, or even on his death-bed, may name his
fccceffor out of what branch of it be pleafes, or even out of
it, as fome affirm ; but, in this laft c^e, his choice muft be <rheir
cwifirmed or ratified by his great or fupreme council, which grand
«Hififts of princes of the blood, and the chief rainifters of council,
fete ; for tndr concurrence is efteemed of fuch confequence,
4at not only the Chinefe moiwrchs before the conqueft, but
«^ea thofe of the Tartaric race, have always thpught it ne-
ccflary^ before they ventured to enaft atjy new laws, to re-

j verfe

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I4i ^e Hiftory of Chirta. ft. I.

verfc or fufpend the ofd oties : infomuch that We read of
fome ioftances, in which, though the emperor and his T^ar^
tars have agreed upon paffing fome decree, efpecially in mat*
ters of religion, or fuch as related to the antient Chinefe la^vs
and cuftoms, yet they have chofen to lay it afide when they
have found too great a majority of the Chinefe againfl: it, ra-
ther than run the hazard of a rebellion *. But thefe inflances
we may fay, happened when thofe monarchs were not quite
fo firmly fettled on the throne : for it hath fmce plainly ap-
peared, that the late emperor Kang-hiy both in thefe religious
matters which were brought before him, and in his appointing
his fourth fon to fucceed him, ventured to aft in a more de-»
fpotic and uncontrouled manner ; and no wonder he (hould,
% when he faw himfclf fo firmly fecured of the whole imperial

authority, and the intereft, happinefs, lives, and fortunes, of
all his fubjefts, fo intirely at his difpofal *.
Qreat ho- The honours paid to thofe monarchs, both before and
iamr4 paid fipce the conqueft, is next to, or rather, a kind of adoration.
• /« the em- They feldom are feen but on folemn occafions, -and with the
ter9r, greateft fplendor and retinue. They are never approached
but with deep proftrations, nor fpoken to but with bent knees :
neither are the grandees of his court, nor the princes of thi
blood, nor even his own brothers, exempt from this cere-
mony ; but all bow before his throne, with their faces to the
ground, whether he be prefent or abfent. There are more-
over certain fet days in the week, or month, in which the
nobility by turns are obliged to appear at c(Durt, and pay him
that homage, and acknowlege his authority, by the moft
refpeftful genuflexions, proftrations, and other marks of the
during his deepeft fubmiffion, whether he be there, or not. When he
Jicknefs. |g yj^ efpecially if dangeroufly fo, the palace is filled conti-
nually with mandarins of eveiy order, who fpend whole nights
and days in a large court, in habits fuitable to the mournful
oecafion, and invoking heaven for his recovery. Neither rain,
fnow, cold, or any other inconveniency, will permit them to
difpenfe with this duty, as long as he continues in pain or
danger ; and any one, who faw the people at fuch a time,
would think that they had no other fear or concern but about
the lofs of him ". Nor is this to be wondered at, confidering
how much their intereft, their happinefs, or even their lives,
depend upon his recovery ; and the great changes which com-
monly happen under every new reign, as he is in moft refpefts

• Palafox Conqucfl of China. Martini, Le Compte,
J)u Halde, & al. * Vid. Du Halde, vol. ii. p. 30, &

feq. Le Compte, ubi fupra. Martini, Du Halde^ U aL
^ Le CoMFTE^ &al, ubifup.

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C. i. The HiHitry i?/ China. 14$

dte Ht difpofer of all ibte dignities, of all places of honour
smd truft, both civil and military *•

However, though their power be fo dcfpotic and nn* Their fm^'
cofltrouled, yet they feldom make fuch an abfoiute ufe of it, preme
as to go contrary to the anticnt laws ; but, in all things, c^undls
confult their fupremc councils, to whom all matters relating
to the emjHre are referred, and commonly decide them ac-
awding to their advice : and this they are obliged to do,
upon two accounts ; viz. to avoid the fufpidon of tyranny,
vrfiich is fo contrary to the repeated maxims of their old law-
giver, which all condemn it, with one voice, and fo hated
bjr the whole nation, that it feldom fails of occafioning fomc
revolt or infurredlion ; for which reafon, they are very fear-
ful of forfeiting the endearing title of fathers of the people, a
tide for which they are always mod applauded and loved by
their fobjefts, and is a more confiderable topic in ail their
panegyrics on them, than their power, grandeur, learning,
or any other princely quality. The other reafon is, that as
the emperor is to be informed with all matters of importance
that arc tranlafted in his empire, and every fentence of the
inferior courts, efpecially in capital cafes, muft either be ratified
or reverfed by him, he would be overwhelmed with the mul-
tiplicity and variety of matters, that are continually brought
before him, without the affiftance of thofe councils, whoie
bufmefs it is to examine, digeft, and prepaire them for his »iaft em^
definidve fentence. So that though he is reprefented, by fomc fiojment^
writers, as living and wantoning in eafe, with his wives, con-
cubines, and eunuchs, in his feraglio, like other eaftern mo-
nawis, and many of them have, doubtlefs, done fo, and left
ftate matters to the care of their kolaws, mandarins, and other
officers, and commonly to their own great detriment, if not
total ruin ; yet thofe, who give fuch a conflant attendance on
die affidrs of the empire, muft be fo far from living in eafe
and luxury, that they muft be fuppofed to be the moft bufy andaffim
and aflSduous of all their fubjefts ( QJ. And fuch have beenV«/>y.

many

^ Lb Compte, & al. ubi fup. ,

( Q^) This will ftill more to make to him, either againll x

plainly appear, if we add the himfelf, or any of his viceroys,

petitions that are faid to be governors, the princes of the

continaally prefented to him ; blood, generals, and other of-

the grievances which, from all ficers. All which, we arc.told,

pans of the empire, are laid he is obliged, \iy the conftita-

Deforc him ; the repre/en rations tion of the empire, to read him-

ivhidhis mandarins are allowed f<;lf, and refer to fuch of his

coun*

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toaaay pf tho& mootrchs, if we may bcUeva the tdadoas ipe
have from thence ; according to which, this goveminent is
one of the tnoft r^ular in the world, in which the tiibunals
and magiftracy are eflaUiflied in the oioft exa£t and umform
jnanner that hyinan prudence can contrive, bx the due ad-

xouncils, to whofe cogntKance
the cafes properly belong, in
order to regulate his determina-
tion according to their report.

We read of feveral reprefent-
ations which have been made
to thofc m on arch s, for their not
ading agreeably to the confu-
tations of the empire : but thefe
are not often attended to ; and
fometimes meet with a feverc
repulfe. Le Comptt gives os fome
inftances of both. In t}ie one,.
they laid before him the ill con-
fequences of bis fo often going
into fartary, and his making
fuch long ftay there, to the
great prejudice of his fubje£is,
&r. ; but this he paid fo little
regard to, that he fcarce gave
them any other reafon for thofe
journies, than that they were
for his health. Another was
made to him, by three eminent
kolaws, relating to the educa-
tion of the young prince; for
which they were all turned out
of their places. But as irkfome
and nnfuccefsful as this kind of
xemonib'ances may be to their
nonarchs, there want not thofe
noble and public-fpirited mi-
filers, who will not be afraid
of preferring them, at all ha-
zards ; of which we may have
occafion to give fome fignal in-
ftances in the fequel.

As for diofe again ft the gran-
idees, or even princes of the
blood, they have met with bet-
ter fucceft. We read, in the

fame avtbor, of one that was
prefented againft three koUvr^,
or chief minifters of ilate, who
had under -hand taken mo-
ney, for fome fervices done in
the execution of their office.
Upon which the emperor im-
mediately cafhiered and dif-
miifed them. What bcfel to
two of them afterwards, our
anthpr could not learn ; hot the
third, ^yho had been< a loaff
while a mag^ftrate, and in hig^
efteem for his learning, and jne-
vered for his old aee, wa^ ire-
duced to the condition of a
common foldier, and forced to
ftand centind at one of the p^l-
lace-gates.

Another was likewife pr««
fented to the fame emperor,
againft fome of the princes of
the blood, intimating, that tb^
unworthy behaviour was Jikcly,
in time, to bring their rank intp
contempt. Upon which he ilTued
out an edi6t, tha( none fhould
(torn thenceforth bear th;it ti-
tle, without his exprefs leave i
which he took care to give only
to fuch who, by their virtue*
prudence, and diligence in tbfjr
ofEces, had rendered themfelves
worthyof it (ii).

Thefe few, inftances will fof-
ficetoihew, what a C&f»^ em-
peror'^ employment m^(^,b^ in
his retirement, who hath the
good and welfare of his fubje^
at heart.

(ii) LeCm^U, uhijitf. Mdhini, Du HaUe^ ^ «/.

jniaiAradMi

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C i: STie Hffiory ef Chinas 24^

mimflnuioa cf juAke, and the exa£l difcbaige of all the oF-
te of a i«eU regulated ftate ^

For the more eafy management of fuch a great variety Two/k*
cf 9&m, thole monarchs are aflifted by two fovereign freme
apadls, which fit at Pe-kingp the capital of the empire ; comtdb.
the one ftyled extraordinary, and compofed of the princes
of the blood only ; and the other ordinary, coflfifting of the
&iQe princes of the blood, and of a good number of kolaws,
orchttf miniilera irfftate^ The firft of thefe only fits upon
extraordinary oceafions ; but the other, like our privy-coun-
dl, is conftantly attendh^ on affairs of ftate. Bcfidcs thefe
two (which, by way of eminence, ^are Ayltd /upreme), and
(bbordinate to them, are fix courts, or fuperior tribunals, for Sixfiipi^
dwl, and five for military, affairs, all likewife refiding in rier tri^
that m^opolis, -whofe authority extends to the whole em- bunah^
pire; and each of them hath its particular province, or bufi-
oeft, affigoed to them, in fuch a manner, as that they fliall
be a conilant check upon one another ; and, in matters of
great confequence, the concurrence of three or more of them
moft be had, before the bufinefe can be difpatched. Thofe
tribonals are as follow (R) :

I. The

Le Comptb, k al. ubi fup.

(R) Thefe mandarins have
^0, from the earlieft times,
<lividcd into nine orders, in fuch
pcrfed fobordination to each
wbcr, that nothing can exceed
tkcrcfpcaand fubmiflion which
tic inferior bear to the fuperior
ones.

The firft order is, that of the
«>Iaws, or chief minifters of
te, chief prcfidcnts of the
wpreme courts, and other prin-
cipal officers of the army. Their
aumbcr is not fixed, but de-
pends on the will of the em-
pror; batis^fekiom more than
aye or fix; and thefe have their
Annals and apartments in the
palace. He who is at the heiid
»f lliem is ftyled Shenxt-Jhyang^
*wl is prefident of the council,
^"^ in the greaicft confidence
^^^ the emperor.

Mod. HisT. Voi^ Vllt.

The fecond order are a kind
of affiftants to the iix^y and bear
the title of Ta-he-fsy or literati^
and are men ofapproved capa-
city. Out of their number are
commonly chofen the viceroys,
gav^nors, and prefidents of
other tribunals.

The third order, ftyled C^wjrf-
fiu'kot or fcloQol of mandarins^
zx^ the emperor's fecretaries,
whofe bufinefs is to write down
all matters that are deliberated
by the fevcral tribunals. Thefe
are taken out of the fourth fifth,
and iixth orders, and, with the
two fuperior ones above-men-
tioned, compofe the emperor's
privy-council.

Out of thefe three orders are

chofen the prefidents, and chief

members, of the iiyi, trib^unn $

above-mentioned : with this dif-

K iercftce.

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The ti^(h7 of China.

B. I:

1. Li-pu. i^ The court of Li'/>u, or Li-pou; that Is, thteourt^ or

tribunal^ of mandarins \ which prefrdes over all the m^nda-'
lins, aad other miniflers of ftate ; and ts to fbrhifh all the
provinces with prbpcr officers', to watdi ovier their conduct,
examine their qualifications; and give an accdttnt thereof ta
the emperor. Thefe ma^ be properly ftyled the inquifitorr of
Jlate ; according to whofe report, thofe officers under their
Cognizance are either advanced to higher pofls, 6r are' de-
graded from their old ones, according to their merit or de-
merit, though not without the emperof^'s approbation pircvi-
oufly obtained (S).

2. Hu pu, 2. The court oifid-fiiy oxHou-poii ; that is, the high treafurer

' of the king ; hath the care of the treafmy, finances, togetTier
with the private cftate, treafure, revenues, and expenccs, of the
emperor ; of paying all the'falaries and pcnfions to the petty
kings, viceroys, and other mrnifters of ftate. This tribuii^
^ hath likewife the keeping of the rolls, and regWefs, which

are made 'every y6af, of all the families, numbef of men,
meafure of land, and the duties arifidg froni them to the em-
peror. * '

3. Li-pu. - 3. T^E court of Li'pUy or Li'pou, ot trihmal of rights (T)^

infpefts all religious matters, as, the obfervation of andent

rites

fercncc, that the Tartars have,
fince the conqucft, doubled the
number of members of thofe
courts, both fupcrior and infe-
rior,by placing as many of their
own nation as of the Clhineft, in
every one ; by which means the
former was broufi;ht into the ad-
miniftration, without excluding
the latter, who might, in fuch a
cafe, have beenjlefs able to brook
the Tartarian yoke (12).

(S) Every one of thefe fix tri-
bunals hath a number of infe-
rior ones p aiTift them, and
proper matters for their infpec-
tion ; but it would carry us too
for to enter into a particular de-
tail of each tribunal. This of
Li'pUi for inflance, hath four of
them. The firft of which is
charged with the choice of thofe
who^ by their learning, virtue,

(12) rid, Du Haide, lol, i,

and other qualities, are intided
to ferve in the higheft pc^«
The fecond examines the eon*
duA of thofe candidates. The
third feals all judicial af^s, af-
figns and examines the refpec-
tive feals of the mandarins fo
diofen, as well as thofe of all
the difpatches to and from the
court, whether they be true or
counterfeit The fourth exa-
mines the merit of all the gran-
dees of the empire ; that is, of
the princes of the blood, petty
kings, dukes, and nobles of all
ranks.

(T) Though this tribunal
fecms ^0 be called by the fame
name as the fird. yet it is plain,
from their different provmces,
that there is a manifell difference
between them, which, however,
is only determined by the pro-

p. 2-iJ. & aL/tf,tit^.

nunciadon.

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C. t. tie tiifiity rf Ghlw; t47

rites and asremooks, all arts and fdeoces, and thofe that are
. caodidates for degrees. It defrays the charge of the temples,
facrificeSy ifc. ; and receives and diibUIes foreign ambafla*
dors.

4. The court of Ping-pu, or tribufuU^ anns^ fnperin- 4. Ping-
tei^ all the ibldiery in the empire ; examinrs their arms, f^
eaercifes, itc.\ grants commif&ons to the army and fleet;

orders levies to be made for both $ repleniihes the magazines^
and keeps all the ^urifoo^, towns, and fortrefles» in repair,
and fiiraiflies the foldiery with arms.

5. The QE>urt of Hir^-pu^ or Hini'^Mf fnperintends all ^. Hlng-
criminal caufes brought hither from the inferior courts, by pti*
jq)peal, and palTes a final fentence in all crimioal matters:

and under it are fourteen fubgrdinate tribunals, according to
the number of the provinces^

6. The court of Kong-pu, or Cam-pw^ or trihurud cfS. Kong*
^ ptibUc works y fnperintends aU public ftruftures ; fuch as, the pft.

iing's palaces, fortifications,, public roads, put>lic temples,
palaces, fepulchres, bridges, towers, triumphal arches, dykes,
navigable rivers, lakes, canals, ifc, ; and hath four inferior
courts under it, who prepare matters for their infpedlion^
Both upper and lower tribunals haye likewife different cham-
bers, or committees, appointed to their refpcftive bufinefles,
for the more regular and ready difpatch of them. Every
high court hath a chief infpcftor appointed by the emperor,
who g^ves him an account of their proceedings, as well as of
thrir failings and milbehaviour. Thefe are commonly of the
firft rank of mandarins, or kolaws ; and are in fuch authority^
that the very princes of the blood fland in awe of them U

Of the four, or, according to others, five military courts^ Thefcuf^
wWch are, in fome meafure, fubordinate to the fourth fupe- mhiat)
rior one, called Ping-pUy or tribund rf drms 5 the, firft dif- tribmiuis*
pofcs of all military employments ; and fees that the troops be
well armed and difciplined. The fecond diftributes the officers
and foldiers into their refpeftive ftations, for the fecuring the
public tranquility, and the cities and high-roads from robbers
and highwaymen. The third fuperintends the horfes of the
empire, the pofts, ftages, imperial inns, and barges appointed

y Le Comptb, ubi fup. Vid. & Dv Haldi, vol. i. p. 248.
&feq. , ^^.|

nanciation* In this, Z/ fignifies of found in th^ firft monofyllable/
Rights and /», or pou^ tribunal ; it iignifies/>^^ tribunal of the man*
but in the other, by fmall change darint (13).

(13) Du Haldt, ^* !}*h P- *49«

K a to

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148 The Hijiory of China. B. I.

to convey provifions for the foWiers to their refpe^ve ftadons-
The fourth ordiers the maldng all forts of arms, and layfeg
them up in arfenals *. t

7he courts THERE are feveral odier courts of the military rank, of
infpeaed which we (hall take notice, when we come to fpeak of the
hy proper military government; and only obfenreiia^, that all thefe
ojficen^ tribunals have Hkewife an infpeftor fet over them by the
emperor, who gives him an account of every thing that fe
tranfafted in them, and of the behavioar of every member ; afti
thefe arc obliged, by then* office, not only to aiBft at aH thmer
aflcmbliies, and watch over their conduft thert, but ^evea to
pry into their more private management (U), and mftke a
feithfiil report of all to him. This obliges every member to
an a check fpeak and behave with the utmoft circumlpeftion. And feveral
to each provinces of thofe courts are fo prudently linked together, as
^tberl to be a check to each other. Thus, foe inftance, the army,
which is under the Command <A the Pin-pu, or fourth tri-
bunal, and 'paid by that of the Ho-pttj fhall be ordered to
march by the former, but cannot ftir till their fubfiftence-
money is fent to them by the latter.
Viceroys^ SUBORDINATE to the above-mentioued tribunals, are the
an^ other viceroys and governors of provinces, judges, and magiftrates,
magi- and all inferior <^cers, in city and country, for the eafier
firatesi difpenfmg <rf juftice to the fubjefts, and maintaining the peace
fubordi' of the empire. It is even affirmed, by moft writers, that aH
nate to the ^^^ viceroys, governors, inc. are obliged, from time to
ri una s. ^.^^^ ^ tranfmit to court a full and juft account of their ad-
miniftration, and with it a note of all the mifcarriages and
. mifnianagements laid to their char^, to be examined by the
fuperior tribunals ; and, in cafe they be found to have con-
cealed or paHlated them, are liable to be feverely punifheJ.
This was indeed prafticable enough before the conqutft, -
when the Chinefe monarchs had, befides the infpeftors over

'\ Dc his, vide Martini, Lt Compte, DuHalde, & al.

(U) Thefe infpeftors, or, as princgs, and perfons of the

the Chinefe call them, ko-taus, highett rank, and to run. the

are commonly men of fiich pe- rifque not only of their places,

netration, that nothing hardly but of their lives, rather than

efcapes thein ; and therefore, defift from what they thought

irmch dreaded hy the minilterj* juftice and equity, and the

oflUte, and other officers. Some ^ood of the ftate/ exadkd from

of them have been intrepid thexn {14),

enough to cenfure and accufe ' '

(H) Du Halde^^ ubijuf. p, 23c. Le Ccmpte, 'uhi fup Sf ah

every

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C. r; Tbe Hifiory »f Chiiwi; 149

every court, fixne private ones in eviery province, who were
to give tiie emperor an account of every fraud, bribery, and
opprefliCHi, committed by any of thofe cheers. But the 7kr- h/^eBort
tarian mooarchs found afterwards, that tboie fpies, or in- ofthefro'
formers, had fo grofsly abufed their truft, by making their *^^^cfffi^
reports rather according as they wer^ bribed, than to the.^^'*
merit or demerit of thofe under their inipeftion, that they
th(Might fit to fet them, wholly afide, and only oblige the per-
ibns in the adminiffaration to be their own accufers, by {end- '
wg the above-m^itiooed tranicript of all their go6d and bad
adions. Tha^ this, however, is feldom pca^fed, is very
plain, ^om ihe ccanmon complaint of all thofe writers againft
the ayarice, bribery, and corruption, which reign through Chiade
the whole empire, from the higheft tribunals down to the ^^^^^
loweft offices ; infomuch, that he who can bribe higheft is *^*X/^«
morally fure to carry his point, let his merit or demerit be
what it will. It is therefore in vain they tell us, that the Chinefe
govermnent and laws are^the bdl calculated to make a people
happy, above all others, if thofe that are at the head of affairs
are fuch rapacious creatures, as to make all places, and even
juiHce itfelf, venal; and if their laws, like thofe excellent ones,
of a certain country in Euro^^ are fo little ohferved or re-
garded, that minifters, magiftrates, and people, arefuffered
to aft not only in contradiftion, but open defiance, to them,
and a circulation of bribery is left to run frpm the higheft tq
the loweft rank. ,

Besides tbefe tribunals, which do always rcfide at Pe^ Pro^vif^^
iin^, every, province hath a fupreme one, under its viceroy, ^'^ tri*
or governor ( W), and that hath feveral inif^rior ones under it,, ^^^^^-f* ' -
and a certain* number of inferior ijiandarins, to affift that mi-
nifter in the difpatch of affairs, - Next to the provincial ones,
are ihofe of the FA's^ or capital cities of each province, of

. (W) There is a diffl^rence of them the imperial ceanmanda

names, as well as dignity and are tranfmitted, and by them

power, between thele govex- diiperfed through all the other

nors ; the one, who is called cities and diilricls of the pro-

Fu-ycivefi, is only viceroy of vince. On]y the 7/ortg'tus6[g^

6ne province; and the other, ' nity is reckoned more consider*

ftyled T/offg'tu, hath a govern- aWe, as it is more extenfive ; fo

ment over two or three. Both that he cannot be advanced to '

are nominated by the emperor ; a»y higher, except he be m^de

iind both are at th« head.of the a miniflcr of itate, or "prefi-.

fupreme tribunal of the pro- dent of one of the faprcmo

vince, wherein all caufes, civil courts (15).
and criminal, are decided. To

(15) Dm Hald4, & al uhi fupra^l

K 3 which

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1 5p Wf Hifiory 9f China. B- \.

which we fp<!*c, in the firft feftion (rf Ais chJipter ; and thefe
are under a mandarin, who is fiyled Chi-fA, tinder whom ar5
the Chi-ehews and Chi-yienSy or mand^ins of the ddes of thp
fecond and third rank, with thdr re^jeftive inferior tribnnals ;
and thefe are fubordinate to each other, and aU to the fu-
preme or provincial one, which hath none abote it, ocoqit
that of Peeking. And thus much may fuffice for Ae dvil ; k$
us now take a fliort view of the military govefnment *.
Military We have already taken notice of the four tribunals fnb-
goverti' ordinate to the fourth fupreme cme, called Ping'pu, sod thdp
ment ; particular provinces. There are five others likewife refiding
fnJfrue at Pe-hng, ftyled CZ/^a^; that is, the Jive claps ^ 9r tr^, ^
f^V^h '(he military mandarins % the firft of wWch is, that of thtf
mandarins of the rear-guard ; the fecond, that of the left^
« wing ; the third, that oi the right ; the fourth, th«t of the

main body ; and the fifth, that of the van-guard. Each rf
them hath a prefident, and two afEAants, who are of the firft
prder of mandarins ; and all of them are ftibordinate to a fu-
preme tribunal of war, called Tmg-ching-fA^ whofe profident
is one of the greateft nobles of the empire* and hath autho-
rity over them, and all the officers and foldi^s t)f the court,
He hath likewife a mandarin, and two inlpcftors, to be a
check over him : and his tribunal is fubordinate to the fourth
and fixth fiiprem^ ones, which prevents his abufing his ex-!
•fcnfive power.
^anJa" ^^^ ^^^ military mandarins are obliged to undergo die
rins\ homj fame examination as thofe of the literati order; that is, as
fjfanstiiud^ thofe muft give proofs of their knowlege and learning, to be
admitted to their refpeftivc degrees, fo muft thefe df tbdr
ftrcngth, courage, dexterity, and experience, in the art dP
^^^rar. The principal military mandarin, anfwering to onr
general, hath a number of inferior ones under him, airfwert
ing to our Jieuteaant-generals, eSrc. and all of them have a
train and infignia fujtable to their rank, and are always atn
Sol^ersy tended by a company of officers under thdr command. Thefe
/jo^ ixfr- are obliged to occrcife afid review the foldiery often ; but
^J^^' . thofe excpcifes have nothing r^^pilar in them, confifUng only
iu fomc diforderly mJ^rches, when they attend their mandat
lias, or in forming of fquadrons, marching, filing off, rally*?
ing, eneountering each other, at the found of their horns
or trumpets, and in a dexterous ufing and handling tbeir
fiibres^ i)Q^s, inuikets, ^uirafles, helmec<» 6c. and ^pH)g

% Martini^ Le Com pt|, Dv Ha;.db, nbi fvpi p* 249.

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them cfean, and in right order ; and as die military life Is
neither kborions nor dangerous in time of peace, it is be-
ftowed, as a favour, on tiiofe who can make mod friends
with the nulitary mandarins, their fervice being commonly
confined to the places where they dwell, and have their fami*
lies, fo that they may at proper times follow their own em-
plojrments.

The military mandarins are computed to amonnt to 1 8,000, Numhtf
and die foldicry to above 700,000, who are all difperfcd thro' •fthem*
the feveral provinces, efpecially the frontier ones of the em-
pre, and along the Chinefe wall, and are ftationcd in the mili-
ary dties, towns, fortreflcs, and cafWes, we have elfewherc
ckicribed; and, being commonly well doathed and armed, Hfic aw*
make a very good appearance either m their marches or rc-/^/*^#
views ; bnt come vaftly fhort of thofe of Europe in courage fiMtbeJ,
er difcipline, and are eafily put into diforder, and routed ; ^f^^*
•fflad, as the country hath now been a confiderable time free
from foreign or domeftic wars, they have had little employ-
ment, except in fuppre/Hng the highwaymen and banditti in
the inland, apd the pirates on the fea-coaids, and in guarding
the frontier towns. Their pay is about fiv^-pence and about
a pint of rice per day, and the horfe in proportion *.

Their artillery, till the Jefuits taught them a better way Their or-
of cafting and uftag it, was very pitiful, and hardly worthy ^'^^^ '*^'"
of that name (X) ; and though it be allowed, that they had P^P^^

. the

^ Mahtini, Lb Compts, Du HaldB, ubi fup. p. 249, U
fcq.

(X) All that we find men liandfome ones, which the For*
tloned of their old artillery, is tuguefe of Makau, or Maca^^
only a few (hort and thick bom- made a prcfem of to the* em-
hards, kept rather for (hew than peror, Jnne 1 6s i> together with
nfe, at the gates of Nang-king ; proper artiils to manage them,
hot antient enough to (hew. The firft trial of the^i was
tiiat they had fome notion of made before fome mandarins^
cannon, thoagh little or nothing who were much furprifed at thci
of the European way of ufing novelty ; and much more at
them. We read likewife of oneof the pieces recoiling, ahd
ibme fort of patereroes, which killing a Portu^ne/e, and tn^o
they had in their veflels, of the Cbinefey who did not get out of
ttfe of which they knew little the way time enoagh. Th^y
more than of that of their bom- were ftill more terrified at the
hards. ' havock which they faw them

The firft they ^ver faw of the make among the Tartetrs^ who

Etaropean fabricature were three came in fwarms towards the

K 4 ' g'*^^*

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*5«

That of
Europe
introducid
and ad-
mired.

Verbicft

c-'Jh fome
hundreds
of cannon.

His *way
ofhbjfing
them.

the invention of cunpowder much earlier than xht Europeans ,
they hardly ufed it for any thing but fireworks, in which they
excel. This made them at firft be much furprifed and terri-
fied at our Euroiean guns, and the havock they made both in
their being fired, and their recoiling ; infomuch that they fled,
from them in the greateft panic, and could hardly be per-
fuaded to come near them again : but, fince then, the good
miiEonaries have not only reconciled them to thofe frightful
engines of deftruftion, but taught them the way of cafling
and ufing of them, fo that they are now as well uncjerftood by
them as by us; efpecially as Father Verhiejl^ the emporor's
chief mathematician, did, by his order, caft, in one year,
132, and, in a little time after, 320 more, after the beft Eu^
ropean manner ; and foon after publifhed a treatife on found-
ing and ufing of cannon, and prefented it to that monarch,
with forty-four tabled, or cuts, fhewing the whole art, and the
manner of ufing the inftruments neceflary for levelling them.
For this Angular piece of fervice, Father Verbiejl was highly
honoured by that monarch, and all the military tribe of man-
d^ins, who were prefent at the trial of them, and furprifed
at the exaftnefs with which they hit the mark ; whilft the
good father was feverely lampooned for it in Spain and Italx^
as a perfon who deferved to be doubly exconununicated, for
furniftiing an infidel prince with fuch deftru<^ive arms : how-
ever. Pope Innocent XI. did not fufFer him to labour long
under thofe ccnfures ; but; by a particular brief, highly ap»
plauded what he had done, as tending to promote the con-
verfion rf the Chinefe \ andcxhorted him to go on in the feme
laudable track, promifing him his apoftolical bleiling, and
pontifical affiftance and proteftion in it. Befides, thofe pieces
appear to have been of a reKgious caft, and had been blefled
in a folemn manner : for the good father had before erefted
an altar in the foundery, with a crucifix upon it ; and,
in his furpHccand ftole, paid his homage to it, with the fame
proftrations and ceremonies as the Chinefe ufe to their images ;
and gave each gun the name of a he or (he faint, which he
caufed to be engraven on their breech ; which, we are tol4,
was done to prevent the Chinefe ufing any of their fuperflitious
ceremonies about them, who commonly offer facrifices to the
fpirit of the air, mountains, rivers, lakes, <bc. according to

■ great wall, infomuch that they
fled from them in thie greateft
fright and confufion, and ne-

ver dared come near them more
(16).

(16) Du y^ie, Mbi fyp, Vii, Q Martini, Le Ctmptt, & al

the

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C i: 9ife Hiftvry if China. 155

the natnte of the work they go about, or pnt the laft hand
to^

Having taken thus far a view of the cIvU and military Govern-
government of the empire, there remains, that we (ay a few mentoftht
words of that of the provinces, capitat dties, and of the di- frovmc.s^
ftrids under them. We have already hinted, that every pro- citUs^ Uc
viflcc hath a viceroy, or governor, who commonly refides at
the metropolb of it, and is the fupreme judge and magiftrate
of it, cxccjptiog oidy his being lubordinate to the fupreme
tribonals ot Peking. He fits as prefident of the provincial
coBTts, and fuperintends all the govemcH^, judges, and mem*
ben of the inferior ones, as well as the governors of all the
dties ci the firft, fecond, and third order, and all the infe-
rior fiiagiftrates of every diflrift. Every city, befides its own Warif^
governor and tribunal, is divided into a certain numbei* of
wards, every one of which hath its own refpeftive head, who
is as anfweraWe to the governor for every mifdemeanor that
happens within his precinft, as the matter of every family is
to him for what is done within his own walls, whether by
children, fi^-vants, or lodgers ; and, in fome cafes, as of a
tumult, robbery, murder, and the like, the houfes on each
fide are fo for what is committed in that one. Not only the Guard mU
gates of each city, but even of each ward, are fliut up at *^*^«^-
nights, and kept by a fufficient guard, who watch over all
that pafles within their refpeftive boundaries ; feize on all dif-
ordcrly perfons, fufpicious ftrangers, and all night-walkers,
who can't give a good account of their errand, and bring
them on the next morning to the governor, to be either pu-
nifhod or releafed : but, for this, we (hall refer the reader to
wh^ hath been faid in the firft feftion •. One thing, which we Commm
did not there take notice of, we jfhall add, concerning their ex- proftitutes,
treme care of keeping every part of the city in the profoundeft Apw toie-
peace that is poffiWe; viz, that they fufFer none of their rated.
common proftitutes to live ^within the walls, but in fomc
outflcirts of the fuburbs, beeaufe they are apt to caufe dif*
turbances. Some of the governors will oblige a certain num-
ber of them, as tenor more, to live togetter in one houfe,
and nnder the care and government of a man, who (hall be
anfwerable for their behaviour. Some governors will even
deny them the liberty of living within their diftrifts, and
fcverely punifh as many as are found to do fo after fuch a
prohibition *; fo that they can, at the moft, be faid to be but
bardy toleratejU^

• Du Halde, ubi fup. p. 262, & feq. *" See bprore,p. 21,
^fe<i. &IE). « Du I1ald£, ubi fup. p. 265. & al.fup. ciut.

Evert

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154 Ttn ffijfpfy tf CStM. «.l

The via- Bte^y province bcftdeis its owa vioecoy, hMk ieverfl
ray and his orders of mandarins, which are fubordinate; and might bi
mandarins {Jich an cficftual chcck to him, that it would be impoffible fd
join in op- ^^ ^^ be guilty of mal-adminiftration wkbooc thrfr lEfK>Mfr
*^^^ J^^ and connivance : but the misfortune is, they imd it t\
fea^. iiiuch their intcreft to wink at one another's crimes, tiuit thi
j)eo{de are fleeced and oppreded by diem all in their txma.
The firil clafs oi thefe mandarins are the judges of the coartd
who determine civil and crimind caufes ; the next attend tM
affairs of the treafury and revenue ; and die third commanfl
Some 'wife over the militia* All thefe, according to the Chine/econ&i^
fiate fna- tutbn, ought to renuun in their offices no long^ than three
xim. ycaj-s . and are never to be natives of the province whei^
they officiate, left, if they be of mean defcent, they fiieuU
be defpifed ; and, if rich, they fliould be too well refpeded,
or become too powerful, in it^ This is efteemed one of then-
wife maxims in politics, in which they excel ; to which we
may add anodier, equally juft and falutary, if ftrifUy kept,
viz^ never to fell any office, but to confer them on perforii
merely out of regard to their merit, learning, and probity;
and to allow them fufficient falaries, that they miy be enabled
to difcharge their offices, and adminifier juitice vridiont fiees
or bribery.

Their palaces, and places of refidence, are likewife pro-
vided for them at the charge of the government, to prevent
l^ludedhy dieir running into profufion of furniture, eb^. notwidiffamd-
^^^* ing all which wife precautions, thofe governors and manda-
rins find means of amaffing vaft eftates in thofe few years, and
to conceal their extortions from the emperor ; fo that it
plainly appears they all in general combine to conceal them
from him, that they may more eafily di\dde the fpoil among
Extortion themfelves. Thus we are told the fupreme tribunal at Pe-
and fraud' king extorts vaft fqms from the viceroys of the provinces, and
run thro' dicJe again from the mandarins under them, who, by confe-
thenvhole qnence, muft fleece their inferior officers; and all of them
v^t:on, JQ-jjj hands ia oppreffing the people, who dare neither reiifl
nor complain, for fear of being ruined. Upon the whole,
the Chineji appear to be litde better than a nation of fignal
hypocrites, who boaft of the equity and excellence of their
laws, and ftick at no violation of them ; and, under the faireft
outfide, and pretence of juftice and probity, indulge them-
felves in all manner of extortions, fraud, and villainy : for
we muft not imagine this fliameful depravity and corruption
to be confined to the placemen, and officers of the government,
it being obferved to run no lefs through all the iirferior ranks,
from the richeft merchants and tradefmen to tb^ loweft porter

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« Mdtflife^ ixrho, thoBgh they catfAMop^refe like the grett
MeS| are comioooij'^ttk to chei^t^ aad coeening all they
dealtritk; ic^much that there kfearce any country in this
aA, wh^opptfeffion, corropcioii, and all manner 6f fraud,
is Biorei»uvemUy pra^Hlady ascordii^ to the unanimous report
of all who have written of it.

Tmi^b ixAjht added another caufe of Ah general cor- NoUlhj -
rapdoQ ; viz. th^lr conflitution not allowing of hereditary not btrtS*
aobi%,ordKHnAion of quality, but fuch as^fes from their ^^«
oictt, and the dignities beftowed on diem by the emperor ;
ib Aat the' a man be arrived at fome of tfie higheft of them»
yet his childrtin have ftill thdr fortunes to malce ; and if they
^ther ^rant ability, oc are given to pleafbre, may, and do
flfcn, defcend to the loweft rank and occupations : the pre- Another
D^fldi^ <^ which, by making fome handfome provifion for c^ff ^
Acm, Of getting them into fome civil or military pofts, by ^^^
dint rf prefents, proves a new fource of avarice and corrup- ^^^
tioa; to fey nothaig of the figure, flate, and retinue, which '^^'^
thofemimfters are oU%ed to keep up ; all which, added to
theexaftioQs they labour under from thoTe above them, help
to keq) them poor, craving, and extorting.

Even the princes of the blood, who are alone intitled to
tbe digaity rf nobles by bkth (except the family of the great
Confiicius, of which we fliall fpeak by-and-by), are fubjefted
to the fame neceffity <rf bribing the kolaws and infpcftors, in
Wder lo get into, or preferve thcmfelves in, fuch high pofts
vtiie emperor is pleafed to nominate them to ; and, in order
to ieep up. the grandeur of their rairic, prove often as vora-
^ as the mandarins ; and as for thofe who cannot obtain Priftets •/
'omefnch advantageous pofts, they are c^en forced to Qon- the bUod^
Wd the only bad^ of thdr rank (which is a yellow girdle, wabd.
2nd is common to all the imperial race), becaufe they cannot
appear In an equipage fuitable to it : and yet it muft be ob-
fenred here, that, by thefc, are not meant the defcendants of
^i(xmex Chinefi mpnarchs, wl^fe race is quite extinft (Y),

but

(V)Wefhallfcc,inthchifto. loweft poverty: the crcatcft

W part, how every dynafty part of them deftroyed oy the

fodeavoored to extiipate thole pirates, who made themfelves

•^thcfbrcgoifig. We are told, mafters of P^-^/»^ ; and thofe

1^^ at ^ time of the con- who efcaped were forced to lay

fRtt, there were fUU above a(ide their yellow girdle, change

3000 fi^niilies of thefe princes their names, and mix themfelves

of the dynafty of Ming^ in the whh the people. It was but

^ty of J^ang-cbew, feveral of lately that one of them, who

?ltom Mrerc ' rcdqccd to the itfu reduced to be a fervant of

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The Hiftory of Gha»;

B.I.

Confa-

mily the
cnfy nohU
cne.

Their
titles.

Anothtr'
folitical
maxim.

but thofe of the Tartaruin emperors, who arc nof confe*
quently above five generations backwards ; but who are, how-
ever, multiplied 'to fome thoufands in th^t ihort time ^ poly-
gamy, as well as poverty, caufing them to increafe to fucb a
degree, that their penfions and appenage are therein continually
lellened, for they are allowed neither lands npr eftates^

As to the family of Kong-f^-tfe^ dr Confucius^ above-men-
tioned, they are ftill to this day looked upon as the moft re-
fpedlable, or indeed the only, nobility, not only on Account
of the extraordinary merit of that excellent philofopher, but
likewife on account of its great antiquity, it having been con*
tinned in a direft fucceffion for above 2000 years, from cwJ of
his nephews, who is, on that account, ftyled Shing'jinrti-Jbi'el^
or the nephew of the great fage. There has been always one
of the family honoured with the titlex)f Kong^ or duke, and
the place of that pliilpfopher'^ birth hath been always go-
verned by a mandarig pf that family. Upon the -wlKjle, tf
we except the princes of the blood, and the Confucian famjly,
the Chinefe nation may be rightly faid to be divided only into
three clailes ; viz, the- mandarins, the literati, and the ple-
beians; which diftinftion (eems to have been thus fettled by
the Tartarian emperors fince the c^iiqueft, as the moft effec-
tual to keep their new dominions in greater fubje^on and de-
pendence.

, There is one more excellent piece of politics among thofc
monarchs, worth taking notice of, *and which we fliall dofe
this article with ; viz. their obliging the petty kings, their
tributaries, the viceroys, mandaiins, and other great offices,
to fend their children to court, under pretence indeed of
giving them a better education, but in reality to remain there,
as hoftages for their fatliers good behaviour /and loyalty,
and to prevent their forgetting their duty to the emperor.
With the fame view he obliges thofe great minifters themfelves,
as well as the princes his vaflals, to refide at courf during a

^ Du Halde, & al. fup. citat.

the miflioriarles, being di fee ver-
ed to be of the royal blood of
Mittg, was forced to flee,, to
avoid a worfe fate From the
Tartars^ who were in fearch
after him ( 1 7) ; fo that none arc
now flyled princes of the blood,
but thofe who are related to the

prefcnt imperial famfly ; and, in
favour of thefe, they have cre-
at*;d live honorary titles, the
higheftof which, that of Kong,
anfwers to our dukes, and the
others to our marquifes, earls,
vifcounts, t^c, ( 1 8).

(17) DtrHaUcy uhi Jupra, p, 269.

(18) Nievjboffj Navarttt.&sl

ccFtaia

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Ci. the Biftory of (Xitiz. 157

ceriun dme, to attend on the prince by turns; during
wUch tinae none of them dases, on any pretence, repair
dther to their refpeQive governments, or to their own pa-
ternal dftates, without his particular leave, under the fc-
vweft penalties ; ndther dare any of them difpenfe with
this attendance, «icept by a fpecial licence, without the ma-
nifeft hazard of expofmg their families to the fevereft refent-
meirf of thofe jealous monarchs* ; and this we may alfo look
upon as another fource of the avarice and corruption of thofe
gftat mimflers ; who are not only obligal to appear them*
Aires, fauc to maintain their families there, in the greateft
ifhndor tHat their drcumftances can poffibly allow ; ail which
an aeva- be done by theu- bare falary, if what moft authors
tei4is be true, that the higheft of them doth not amount to
nneh ^dx>ve 2000 crowns a year K '

IBt what we have juft now hinted of the numerous and TbeJ^Un-
f]^did appearance of thefe grandees, the reader may eafily dor of the
gnefe at the mtagnifkence of the imperial court j and indeed, imperial
by all the accounts we have of it, nothing can be imagined ^^»'*^*
mote grand and fupei4), efpecially when that monarch makes
his public appearance, as he commonly doth four times in a
month, at wMch times he is accompanied by all thofe tribu-
tary kings, viceroys, mandarins, and other officers in wait-
ing, to the number of 4 or 500Q. As often as he is called Vqfi rtti-
otfl of his palace by his imperial funftion of high-prieft, and nue.
tile only perfon fit to offer facrifices to Tyeriy or to perform
aay other religious rites, he is always attended by 8ooci men,
four elephants, a great number of trumpets, feveral hundreds
of horfemen, with banners and other infignia, all drefled and
adorned in the moft pompous manner ; whilft he himfelf ap-
pears commonly on horfeback, the harnefs covered with gold
tiffiie, and glittering with the richeft variety of precious ftones*
The umbrella that is carried over his head, and covers him
and his horfe, fparkles fo with diamonds, that the eye can
hardly bear the luftre of thiem, efpecially «n a clear funfliine.
One hundred large gilt lanterns with flambeaux are carried
before it ; and, after him, follow all the tributary kings,
princes of the blood, 200 mandarins and minifters of the firft
raok, 2000 commanders of his army, 500 youth of quality,
attended each by two footmen dreffed in fine coronation filk,
richly embroidered with gold, filver, ifc*

His retinue is ftill more numerous whenever he goes out
of his capital upon any particular expedition, or to vifit feme
places at a diftance from it ; at which time his attendance

2 Du Halpe,& al. fup. citat. '^ lid. ubi fup

^ * looks •

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f5t TbeHi/hrfo/QAii. B.l

Hmthg htkt more Kbe a little army than a piteoily dcorte. Biitthc

divirfiyn. mndeft of all b, vfacn he goes out to take the ofiial ikn-

Ion of hantii^^ as he commonly docb in the promoe of

Lyau'tongf wi£oiit ihegreat wall ^ or in fome of the fimfis on

the frontiers of Tatrtary t at which dme he is attended with

an army of 40,000 boHe» ftadoned at prefer diftancesaiong

the road, 3000 Tartarian archersy and a party of baCBrs

riding before and after him, beii^es his uftial cetimie of 10-

bles, Tioeroys, oovrtiers, ire.

Bomamt ^^ ^ ^^ ^^^ ooca£ons thai; the Tartarian princevJi

p^j ^ tafids or tributaries, to the number of thiirty or fbrty^ a?

kirn fy his obliged to oome aad pay their homage to him, in the Ml

Hfaffk/t. (pkadid eqmpages, and with a retinue fuitable to their raoki

for, tho* Taflals, or tributary to him, they are AiU ferwiad

to bear the title <£ Chams^ or emperors, and ifaive to JMb

the nobkft appearance thqr can, and to outne one ansdier

in the fplendor of thrir train : dl which ftill adds moreli^

and magnificence to that of the Chin^ monarch, and it to

eflfeftnal means of keeping thofe princes more fteady in tbetf

obedience; becaufe he commonly obliges them widi bm

marks of his favour on,all fuch occafibns, either by beftowiog

ibme of his daughters on them, making them fome couiider-

able prefenis, or afSlting them with fome of his forces, to

protefl them from the weflem or Mufcoviti Tartars.

y ft g^ It is not eafy to reckon what the imperial rerenue amoonts

^^^ ' to, becaufe a great part of it is paid in goods as well as in

foecie. Niew^ computed it at about thirty-feven millioDS

fterling per annum^; and L/ Compte ^y t» tweaty-oneor

twenty-two millions ' ; others, as Magaillan^ Martini, and

Navaretta^ iliU differ from them, and from each other}

which fhews there muft be cither fome confiderable flwftaadoo

in it, or, which is more likely, too great a difficulty to come

at an cxaft calculation of it. The laft author that wrote

upon it makes the whole to amount to about 200,000,000 d

taels"*, each tael weighing an ounce c^ filver, worth 100

- French fols, or fomewhat above five of our fhilUogs, wbidi

will be above equivalent to fifty millions fterling. That of

In goods, grain, fuch as rice, wheat, and millet, is computed, somm-

nibus annis, at 40,155,490 facks, each fack weighing no

pounds; the fait to 1,^15,937 loaves, each loaf wagWi*

50 pounds; beans for his horfes, 210,470 facks; truffi^oi

4 See before, p. 94, k feq. See Martini, Navaketta, Lb
CoMPTE, Dv Haldb, Sec, k'Duxh AmbafTy. ' Stati
of China, part 2. let. l- °* Dv Haldb, obi fupw*

p. 224. See alfo beforei p. 34, Sc k<{, k alib« paiT.

hay

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du 'fhe Hiftory of Chinz. 159

fiijand Rtxw, ^^>598>597 ; wrou^t iilks and ftufis, 191,530
pomds weight, each pound of 20 onnices ; unwrought filk»
409,396 pounds ; callico, 367,480 pieces ; linen cloth, t;6o,28o»
idUes vsdi quantities of veltet, fatdn, damafk, and other
lifts ; chma-wai^e, varnifh, oil, oxen, fheep, hogs, deer,
Md and tame fowl, fifh, pot-herbs, meal, bifcnits, butter,
itMgar, fruits, fpices, and other provifions, and feveral Ibrts
0I wines, ifc. ; all which are annually brought into the
palace by the imperial barks, amounting to 9999, or, accord-
.kg to others, 10,000 (Z), and employed by the emperor ia
doAemg and bringing his revenue from every province to
. Ill czp&l \ All diefe provifions are levied on the fubje£ls, Tritmii,
H particular duties on their refpeftive lands : for it appears J^ow
'mm ail our accounts of that empire, that lands are there en- raifid.
jiftd in property, and* ncTt- at the prince's difpofal, as in
Aer parts of Aulia ; and hence it comes that the tenants Lan^bcw
'ite here commonly very poor, becaufe they farm the lands held mid
from the owners at the rate of half the crop, out of which Ittt^
ibelafldlord i^ys the taxes'; and the tenant, out of his, pays
lie tillage and manure^.

' Another part of the revenue arifes from the tribute Ijud
en erery male in the empire that is above ao, and under 60,
years of age ; and is laid to amount to an immenfe fum,
though we are not told how great (A). The third is levied
♦ out

° See Martini, Macaii.i.an,Lb Compte, Navarbtta,Du
Haloe, &c. See before « p. 12* ^ lid. ibid.

(Z) Moft authors tell aSf tKat kidded another barge, out of

the former is the true number of contempt to the Cbineje fuperfti*

tbfe barges, which the Chimfi tion or folly, we are not told,
prefer to the latter, as carrying (A) There have been rcc-

4 more pompous found: for koned formerly, we are told (zo)^

which reafon they will not add above 58,000,000 of perfons

ooe more to it (19). Whether that paid this tribute; and, at

the Chinefe were ever guilty of the poll taken in the emperot

fc low a piece of pride, or whe- Kanghi'n reign, there were

thtrit was not rather done out found 1 1,052,872 families, and

of a foperfticious regard to the 59,788,364. men able to bear

aomber 9 four times repeated, < arms, exclufive of the princes

wc will not affirm. Du H<{lde officers, civil and military^

makes ufe of the round number difcharged foldiers, literati, li-

to,ooo ; but whether to conceal centiates, dolors, bonzas, and

their weaknefs in that p int, or all males under 20, and above

hecaufe the Tartars have iince 60 ; all which muft amount to

(»9) ^« Batdi^ i^ifmp. p, 224. Sit be fori, /. xa., ^ fej* (lo) Td» ibid.

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i6q The Wftory of Cjiiiia. B. I.

out of the mines and manufaftures of the country : befides
all which, the emperor hath power to raife new taxes on the
people whenever the exigencies of ftate require it ; but, thofe
already fettled being commonly more than fufiicient to anf^ver
all his expences, he is fo far from making ufe of that power,
that there fcarcely pafles a year in which he doth not eafa
Ibme one or more provinces of a great. part of their tribute,
if they happen to labour under any faniine, or other public
calamity p.
/ n^ / ^^ polygamy is allowed both in Tartary and China, the
J[J^^^^^ emperor hath commonly a good number o£ wives, tho* but
ioncHiiftis. ^^^ ^^^ ^^ properly called empre/s^ or fele^ confort, who
alone is allowed to iit at table widi him. Among thofe of
the next order are reckoned nine of a fecond, and thirty of
the third rank, and all of them ftyled wives. Next to them
are thofe ftyled queens, but are in reality rather concubines,
and of thefe he 9«viccs as great a number as he pleafes, and
keeps them in different apartments from the former, except
he fhould take a particular fancy to any one of them, and
bring her into the inward court (B). But, in general, he

ihews

' MARxrNi, Magaillan, Lb Comptb, Navaretta, k,
- Dtr Halde, ubi fup. p. 244, & feq.

an immcnfc number, feeing the emperor's charity, till they have

very bonzas are computed at confumed what is equivalent te

above 1 ,000,000, and the licen- their arrears ( 2 1 ) <
tiates, or literary bachelors, to (6) Martini relates a (ingolar

90,000. ftory of one of this laft fort oi

The whole land, and the ladies, named Pan^ who, for her

number^of families, being duly wit, beauty, and fingular pru-

forveyed, it is eafy to compute dence, was become fuch a great

what each province, city, and favourite of the emperor C^/;^-

diftri6l,,is to pay yearly to the hi^ or Kanghiy that he could no

tax-gatherers ; but thefe, it longer brook that fh^ fhould

feeras, are not permitted to lodge in outward and inferior

feize the goods of thofe who palaces, allotted to thofe of her

are flow in their payments, or rank, butrcfolved to bring her

even refufe it, which would into one of thofe more fplendid

ruin their families : the only ones of the inward court ; but

courfe they ^take, is either which (he refufed, with a rxko-

baftonading or iinprifonment, defty peculiar to her, and in

or quartering upon them fome woids to this efFedl : ** I have

of die old men of each city, ** learned from fome of our an«

wliich are maintained by the " tient paintings, for 1 am ig^

(213 Du EaUe, ubi fup, f, 244.

•' norant

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C. i;

n«^liO^0/ China.

i^tn tbe wtA ttfyxSi and fsronr to thofe tirioD bring Mm
moft chUdfoOy and efpedally to the motber of the firft fon,
iboQgli thef 9i?e aU inferior. to the imperiai confort, ani
0h%ed to ^nOt on her wbilft fhe fits at taUe with him. How^
eror, with vefpeA to their children, tlioie of the lower rank
ftwdasgood a chance to fncxeed in the empire as thofe of the
ftrft> foine of rthem having been raffed to diat dignity by the
bare v3L and nomination of the emperor ; for tho' he com^^
fSionly beftows fone high title on thoile women he takes to his
bed> iefpeciaJly when tbey are the danghters or fifters c^ fome
Tartarian princes, yet doth it not appear that he e^'^ enr
dows her by any contract, or other engagement, as (hall in-
Ikle her ifliie by him to the fucceffion; no, not even the em-
fK£% confixt, though ihe be at the head of all the reft (C) ;
ibr that right of naming a fiicceflbr he wholly referves to

neirthil^

iy capable
offuccetd'^
ing to tki
tbroni^

BOraat of letters, that good
enperors adi^it^ed none near
their perfons but the wifeft
and mod Eaithful roinlders ;
aad that bad ones, on the
contrary, delighted to have
fuch^wonien about them as
debauched them into the
greateft irregularities and
crimes. You are now defi-
reus to prefer me to your own
imperial confort : but take
care, left, by fuch a ftep, you
do not begin to tread in thofe
of wicked monarchs. As
for me, who have a fincere
love and efteem for you, who
am always proud of being
commended by you, and the
height of all whofe wifties
is, to (ee ypu excel daily more
and more in all kinds of
princely virtues, I cannot con-
lent we fhould increafe the
number, you of bad empe-
rori, and I of wicked wo-
men. You have a worthy
emprefs at the head of your
other wives , and it is her
whom you ought to keep

** near your perfon, and not
<' f|idh a one z% I, who am only

" % fervant to you both." Tfejf
fignal inftance of female mo*
d^^Y^ our author add«, was
highly applauded by the em-
peror 5 and much more fo by
the emprefs, who failed not to
fend her her thanks, as foon as
fhe was apprifed of it (2 1 ).

(C) It is alfo upon the fame
politic account that none ot
thofe wives, or other ladies, arp
allowed any ihare in their go^
vernment and councils, though
there have been inftances q£
fome of them being much fitter
for it than thofe that fat at the
helm; but this is a maxim which
runs through moft eaftern coun-
tries, that that fex is excluded
by nature from all government,
either civil or even domeftic %
and for that reafon it is that
they call Europe the kingdom of
ladies, in contempt; where, they
have been told, they were fut*
fered to fuccced to the crown,
and to be invfefted with the fo*
vereign power ijii).

(ii) mUrtin, Uiftor, Sinie, /. x. timp. Ii«
le Cornet, Niewhoff, 6f al.

Mm. Hist. Vox-* Vni.

h At

•'4

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As fobn, tKereFc»'e» as he hath once named one* 1p it, wlie-
thcr elder cm* jpunger, all the reft readily fubmit ; and Kve hi
palaces aiSgned to them, either in the capital, or fdme othef
cities, but without any government, and never rcmdvc from
them without the emperor's leave. Thdr appenage is duly
paid to them by the treafurcr of the province wheice they rc-
fide, and live as private gentlemen ; nor dare they ever com-
plain of an injury being done to thdr birthright, thqugh the
p^rfon nominated to the fucceflion, ,or upon the throne, be
ever fp much younger, which, in either cafe, would be inter-
preted as no lefs a crime than treafon.
Theimpi' HAVING mentioned the various apartments, or rather pa*
rial palace laces, of the imperial wives and concubines, it may be ex-
defcribed. pefted that we fhduld fubjoin a particular defcription of theift
Jiere: but, as that would unavoidably carry us beyond our
bounds, we fhall content ourfelves with referring our readers
to what wc have faid on this head in the laft feftion, when we
were defcribing the metropolis of Pe-king ** ; and oidy mention
here that ftately part of it called the hdl of audience, where
foreign ambafladors are admitted to the imperial prefence, m
order to give them a clearer idea of that auguft ceremony,
Hallofau' This noble fabric ftands in one of the inner courts of the
dience de- palace, and in the centre of a fquare folid bafis, of an extra-
Jcribed. ordinary bignefs, the top of which is furrounded by a fpa*
cious balullrade, and over It another building fomewhat left, "
and over that three more, all decreafing in fize as they do in
•height, and all of them of white marble. 0» the upper-
moft of thefe is a large room of ftatc, fupported by four
TOWS of pillars of a corifidei*able hisight, and beautifully gift
and varnifhed, where the imperial throne is placed, and the
roof covered with fhining yellow tiles. Thofe vaft bafes,
with their baluftrades, which are dipofed in form of an anv-
phitheatre, make a magnificent appearance ; and, with their
Reception .varnifh and gilding, quite dazzle the eye. Here the empe-
efambaf' ror, attended by a great number of his grandees, and prime
fadon. minifters, in their robes, by the princes of the blood, tribu-
.tary kings, (be. all prollratc on their faces before the throne,
and each of them at a proper diftance from it, according to
their rank, gives audience to the ambafTadors, who are coo-
dufted to the throne by fome of the viceroys in waiting. The
throne is raifed about three or four feet from the ground, in
the fafhlon of an altar, and covered with fables, on which the
.emperor fits croii-legged, after the manner of the Tartars*
ne throw Ix. is placed * againft the farther wall, facing the eaftem en-
dtfcrihed.

< See before, p. 23, & fcq.

.'. \ . • - traace ;

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traaoe $ aod opens with two folding-doors^ curioufly canred
and painted. It is about three ^thorns high, and as many in
breadth ; and before it are two afcents, with fix fteps each,
adorned with rails beautifully wrought and pit. The plat-
form on which it is raifed is Ukewiie encompafled with a ba-
lofhade of curious workmanihip, and either of beaten gold»
4u of lilver deeply gilt. '

The hall itfelf is about thirty fathoms long, and ten broad ;
the fides and top curioufly pannelled, carved and varniihed i
and the floor covered with carpets rcprefenting landfchapes
and hiftories, with variety of figures and ornaments. As to
what relates to the ceremony of receiving, and giving audience
to, foreign ambafladors, the reader may fee the moft material
part of it in the next note (D), as we have chiefly taken it fi-om
the rdarion which his excellency Mr. Izbrands Ides^ formerly

ambaflador

i€}

(D) He was, he fays, coo-
dofted to die palace by three
nandarins, in their robes of
ibue, richly embroidered with
|old on the breaft and back,
ioBie with figures of dragons,
others with lions, and a third
fort with cranes and tygers.
Thefe brought him fifty horfes
for him and his retinae j; and,
being alighted at die gate of the
outward court, he pafled thro*
£ve others, and came to the
hall of audience. Here he
found his majefty feated upon
ius throne, attended by a vad
number of mandarins, and de-
livered his credentials to him ;
aod, after a fhort foeech^ was
leconduded to his houfe with
the fame ceremony and attend-
ance. The emperor was dreiTed
in a dark - coloured dama&
waiiboat, a coat of deep-blue
ftttin, lined with ermines; he
had a ftring of corM about his
neck, and on his head a cap
fsced with fable, with a red
filk tuft or knot, and fom^ pea-
cock-feathers hanging down be-
hind, and boots or bufkins of
black velvet oi^ his legs.; but

had neither gold nor jewels
about him^

He was afterwards invited to
an entertainment at court, to
which he was conduced by the
fame attendance as before ; and,
after having crofTed fix courts,
was introduced into the palace,
where, foon after his entrance,
the emperor feated himfelf on a
high throne, attended by fome
penons who played very finely
on the fmall flute, and a life-
gaard of twelve men with hal*
belts ffilt, and without any
point, t>ut adorned with leO"
pards and tygers tails. As foon
as the emjperor was feated, the
mufic ceafed, and the halberdiers
fat down crofs. legged on each
fide of the throne. The vice-
roy, the emperor^s uncle, and
two other grandees, flood on
each fide of his majefty^ and
the ambafifador was at firft placed
about eigh^ yards dlAance ffom
him, but was prefendy after or-
dered to come nearer to him.
The viceroy, who received his
majefty's command on his knees,
conducted him, by the hand,
four yard^ nearer to the throne,
L z whilft

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t^4 ne tiyiity^ CXmu E7.

iMnbyEiddf to the emjscrdr Skang-th frotn Ab cSar of MuJSny^
luth jgivcn us 6f his owh '. That of Padier Le Compfe waiih
tfccd loinc>^t diflaent fr(^m it ; Which ^^

'* Ch^.r4,fefeq.

filed wi<!h iMn/i ni {r«fAr2ii
li^udr, (kid to be dilUUul'Sdn
inmresiiiilk) wn handed tDbiii
by theVicefoy; an^ ^^^^
liaving drank feme of it, jp
retiiitte« being ordered to il-
vance fife or Sx yards iieimv
were treated likewife #ith'lt
l^refently lifter tliac ceitMif^i
the viceroy conduAtd hiiii lb
hit former place ; ^ere» after
haTing (at about a qaarter of
an hour, thi emparor luofe;
"aady (albtiag him, retired toUi
own apartment i.aod thdn tk
inandanns condndcd his end-
lam to fea a Cbhrnft pla^. «f
. the faeibic lend, aid interkidd
'with a farce of t^^'tBa

In his aadieace of leaver le
ob(erred a new kind of cot-
bony, which wai Ofed opob^
eimperor't being feated on Us
thnyne; ^«. ^ herald catHss
aloud tothegtasdeet diea pre*
(ent to (land sp, aiid bow them-
fehres to the earth } which dvf
did three tibies, the drmnt bett-
ing, mufic plaviw, and bells
fingingi all me whOe. His ex-
celtoncy was^iitibwaidsbro^
up, and vtacdd witlhin Aine or
ten yards of the throne, b^
'tween two Tartarimn loi^a, and
there 'matichii compiimeBtirib
the emperor ; ^after wiudi, be
tKras reconduAed to his ova
boQ(e with the ^al cereai^»
andinenrbf the emperor's cbt-
' riots, drawn by an elepbata

iirhilft his ^tinue w^ plac^
about ten or twelve yards 'bfe-
Jiind him. Here the emperor
lent 'again the viceroy to inqniie
.after the ezar^s healdi ; and re-
4or|»0d hif excellency** anfw^
,to. hi|B in the (ame kneeling
po&ifc; , .

The covering of the empe-
tor's table, which was of yel-
low damnk, being taken off*,
die ^bafladpr, whp had one
Tpread '^ him(blf, was deAftfft
to fall t9,,as we^e alfo 'abotti
^too mandarins more, who were
feated two and two at th^ir Hr-
btes alfo. They all fat crofs-
legged upon d(rpees, 'Ahd the
ambafiador was forced tb (bb-
mittodiatoneafyjpolhire. The
cntertainmdit confined of cbhl
meats and ftliits : and, ittOr^
'the fbnriet, the itorperor fent
his excellency a cold goofe, )i
pig, and a Imn of mutton, 'all
roafted. Th/ee Jefuits being
afbrwards fetit fbr to ferte is
' interpreteri^ ^and havfng paid
their refpefts to th^ throne Ob
'their knees, one of them Was
ordered to alk his excellency
- feverid queffions concemiYighU
' 3ourney, thelebgth and ma:nner
of it; arid, havibg commtml-
' eaced his anfwer to the t^tt-
; rorj-thc viceroy Wis 'agkin bM
to briitg hiflA tiearer to his
throne ; and^ having led htm
five or fix Heps higher, tethik
at the table onpbfite to the tin-
' jpcrial one, whfere, if^er mkiiy
*%ilm qiiilAions, a golden <%

(13) iaaiOt'MfijUi^i, u 4, 6f h\

|eea

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C. i; '^SUHifioty of China; iSs

teenmore'^table to the cbtra^ler in whkh he appetm), or
ferhaps, .as ttelj, to the mourning which the emperor an^
tourt were tiiea in £or tbe death dl his mother, yiibo there*
ibre chofe to be feen in that ftate, rather than in the ufnal
fpkndor of a Chimfe monarch '. However, either pf thofe
lodienoes fu£cient^ ftiews the politenefe an^ magnificence of
tkat'pqurf, as well as the vaft rcfpeft it pays to its princes.

Ve hare alr^dy taken ^otfce, timt the ^i6m^ laws had f^^Chi*
thdr ordinal ^m th^ canonical book$ of the &ft and iecond oeTc ^^'
rfok, oT ^ch hool^ we ^v^given an ac9ount Ui a former ^^^ ««
put of this woric \ Bqt, ^ tfew jyc^archs are the iUe in- r^..
t^rpietei^Qf thtsm, b that no feoteoce c|n be valid, Mother ^^^'^'^^^
la civil or criminal cafes, how conformably ibever to chcfe
hws, till it bath bepn ratified and confirmed by them ; and
IS atl the edi(l$ and declarations have the f^ce of laws, and
idnut of po difpute or demur, under the ievereft penalti^
foone may fay that the fole legislative power \& locjged in their
Wft, abd whoUy dp|)ends upon their wi|I. Whether thdr
power wa$ ajitiently lb extenfive; w^ iJai^e pot fay ; the con-
trary (eem? rath^ more prebable, both from their hiftory,
and from ttie imperii adle^oos di edidh of the feveral dy-
nafties, iincc compiled by order of the emperw Kang-U, wifli
his judicious remarks at the end of a|moft every one, and
written with the fed pencil, that is, witK his owa hand, and
tranflat^ into Latin by Father Hervieu, one* of the miflion-
aries in Cfnna. t^rpm both thefe it appears, that fcveraj of
ifok antient emperors h^vc repealed and apnuUed Tome of
^dr did edablifhed laws ; and fabAituted others in their ftead,
ynbich fhty thought m<^ beneficial to t|ie commonwealth,
though it muft be alfo owned, that they feem rather, from
die tcncMT of their declarations, to have recommended the do-
ing of it to their fupreme courts and councils, than to have
done it by their fole authority : fuch, for inftance, were fome Seme^
d the declarations of the ^peror Ven-ti^ in one of which, their ex*
viz. againft profecudng dK>fe that criticifed upon the theticellent^i*
form OT government^ after having ^ven his reafons againft cUreticns.
.^ law that cbndemnpd them to be profecuted, he concludes
•In thefe words: Nos J gan never ft^er the continuation rf
fuch a laWf and therefore let it be repealed ; and in another^
which fubjeded the parents, children, and relations, of a
criminal, to the fame punifhment, which he calls a cruel and
imjufi one^ he concludes with faying, fuch that law^ feems ta
me, of vihich I cannot fee the good tendency : let it he maturefy

• ^tate of China, part i. let. a, < See before, Ui\,

Hift. vol. XX. p. iz6» & ^^. .

L 3 deliberated.

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i6^ thi JSpry of Omz. B.I.

deliherdted^ whethir it bi not neceffary to have it repealed. W<
(hall give our readers the fubftance of two or three other fuch
declarations in the margin (£)> that they may fee not only how

much

(E) That againft involving
the innocent relations in the
punifhment of a criminal^ runs
m words to this cfFcd : " Laws,
•* being, the rules of govern-
«* ment,* ought to be faultlefs j
** and fhonld not only punifli
*' the guilty, but proted the
" innocent : yet I find, among
^* our laws, one ftill in force,
'' by which, when a man is
•* criminal, his father, mother,
^^ wife, and children, arc in-
•* volved in his punifhment^ and
** the leaft puniftiment they
♦* have to dread is flavery.
** This law I can by no means
*• approve of : it is a fure ma-
♦* xiro, that laws, when per-
" feaiy juft, are the furcft
'^ means of keeping the people
^* in their duty. When punifti-
** ment falls only on the head
" of the guilty, all the world
** commends rfie judgmei^t.
** The firft duty of a magiftrate
** is, to guide the people like a
*^ good fhepherd, and to pre-
♦•vent their going aftray. If
'** our magiftrates have not fuc-
•' ceeded in this, and have ftill
*' laws to judge by, which are
^* not corififtent ^ith the ftrift-
•• eft equity, thofe laws, though
" well defigned at firtt, turn to
•• the prejudice of the people,
** and favour of cruelty." Such
is the law I have mentioned j
and therefore the emperor Kang-
bi's remark upon it is as fol-
lows :

Thsfe lijifs princes y the antient
[Chinefe] emperors^ afien de-
Jcendedfrotn the majefiy of their
iJfrane, to bewail and nveep over
the fui/(f^ Ho<w unreafonafik U

it to include^ in the pumfimtent rf
amalefaSor^ bis father ^ bis mo*
tber, his ivife, and children ^
Ven-ti fwas for the aholijhing of
that laWy and therefore *w€ may
conclude him to have been a good
prince.

Another declaration of the
fame emperor Ven-ti ^ for the
promoting of agriculture, is x%
the following purport : " They
•' who have the government of
" the people in their hands,
*« ought to infpire them with
<* all poflible concern for what-
«* ever contributes to the good
« of the ftate : foch, without
<< doubt, is agriculture.

<« For this reafon I have been
<* recommending it to them
" thefe ten'years ; yet I do not
** obferve that they have fuffi-
" ciently cultivated their new
** grounds, or caufed a greater
•• plenty of grain : on the con-
" trary, I fee hunger and want
•* painted on the face of the
" poor. Surely either the ma-
*♦ giftrates, and fubordinate offi-
** cers, have not had a due rc-
" gard to my ordinances on
*« this head, or they are un-
" fit for the rank they polTefs.
*• Alas ! if the magiftrates, who
«' are immediate witneffes of the
•• people's mifery, arc regard-
" lefs of it, what cflfeaual rt-
" medy can I apply for their
♦• relief: this muft be thoagjit
" of. In the ,mecMA V^mt I re-
*' mit half of my revenuc^in
«* grain for the current year.*'

The empsror Kani^hVs rtflc-
xion upon it is no lefs remark-
ably beautiful ; and runs to tills
eCelft : Nothing can be more ptf
then

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C 1 . ' Tie m/i^rygf Chim. iCg

jxmch foBie of thofe excellent moiutFchs had the peace^ and Condefcen'

welfare of their fubje£)3 at heart,

but alio how tender ^'^^/y**
they

than this declaratum^ «r more «/<-
mrahly exprejfed \ e<veu to this
^ it is affeBing^ and nvbat muji
it ha*vi been 'when it nuas firft
^lijbed?

The reader may fee, by thefe
two inftances, in how amiable a
•manner they endeavoured to in-
ftfce the obfervance of their fa-
ktary edi^s, and the repealing
of fach old laws as tended to
the detriment, rather than the
peace and fafety, of their fub-
3eds; and in how different a
ftylcthey recommended the one,
and condemned the other, from
what we ofually obf^rve, not on-
ly in moil of the other eaftem
monarchs, but even among
thofe in our weftern kingdoms,
where their power is neither fo
cxtenHve, nor their wealth or
ftrengthfb great, to fupportthem
in their tyrannic government.
The reader may fee a much
-greater number of them in the
above-mentioned <;oUedion, all
.rooning in the fame gentle and
fatherly flrain. We fhallonly
fingle out one more, which^ for
its excellence in this way, may
.be termed an original in its
kind. It is from the fame ad-
mirable prince; and the occa-
fiqn of It, the many conttant
prayers and fupplications offered
,hy his miaiflers on his behalf,
whilft they negleded their duty
.towards his fubje(is« It is to
this purport :

" I am now arrived at the
** 14th year of my reign ; and
** the longer it continues, the
" morel amTenfible of, aud
** confounded at, my want of
f' i^bilities : ^nd thQug^ I have

*• not hitherto omitted the year-
** \y difcharge of thofe ceremo-
'* nies prefcribed to Shaft^-ti^
" and to my anceftors ; yet I
«* am fenfible, that, in thofe
" ceremonies, none of thofe
'* antient and wife princes had
•* any view tp their own private
<< intereil, or offered up their
** petitions for what is common-
•* ly termed happinefs. On the
" contrary, they fet all confi-
^* derations of blood or family*
" intereft afide, to promote an
** able worthy man, though no
** way related to them, and
*• preferred the wife counfel of
" another to their own natural
'* inclinations. Nothing can be
'' more commendable or wife
'* than fuch a difmtereiledne£i
" in great princes.

** A preient I am given to
" underftand, thatmany officers
•* llrive to outdo one another.
** in their prayers for the j?ood
*« fortune, of who ? not of my
'< people, but of my perfon.
«* This is what cannot by any
<< means be agreeable to me.
" CouW I approve that officers
*< unmindfal of their duty, and
** unattentive to the welfare of
•* my people, (hould be wholly
" taken up with promoting that
*^ of a prince who has fo littfce
^< merit as I have, I ihodd
*^ think it no inconilderable ad-
<^ dition to my other failingf.
<< I therefore ordain» that my
•• officers, inftead of their pom^
" pous petitions for me, dp
'' give all poffible application
^' to a conicientious difcharge
« of their duty."

This dedaratioii, like nioft
L 4 othm^

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they ^ira« tf wttMidifig tha amiefit c^rititetkm of tte
empim by too defpotic a «£i of dm power aedmtlieritft
ferooe may plainly fee, that it was diiefly owing to this
AriA obfervaoce of the fandamtntils of their govemmeQt,
that the (Mu/e have been able to preferte it in ftidi weakh
ttd fplendor during fe lom^ a ieries of ages; and flill confi*
eue to do, even under a fordgn yoke. It is no leTs viCbfe
Ukewife, that the prefent peace, wealth, and grandew:, whkh
both they and the Tartars enjoy under this new fett of cm-

ErorSy is no leis ondng to the tender rqprd whkh tbafe
ve» a8 £u: «« poffiUe, (hewn to tlte aodentCSUn^ oonflaa^
JmiiMUdh ^i^A * <^ <^^ °^y pbdnly jtidge liow msdi the iaie empcnr
/i^Tarta-Jt^jT-'Af admimiit, as well from the ftrift obfivvance he paid
fian Mv- to it, as from the judidons reflexions he made on the dedi*
f€rm^ rations above-mentioned* We may add, that he could not
have fallen upon a more efieftual means to endear the ChmA
n^don to him, and make bis yoke fit eafy upon them, than if
caufmg thofe declarations of the heft antienttTi&tii^ kiqgp 10
be colleAed and pubMied, with his (agMJous ammadverfiov
and encomiums upon them ; by which 1^ ieemed to give the«i
•ft moral fecurity, that he defigned to make them the model «f
lus own conduct and government*. Accordingly we find;
^dMtt he admitted none in his cdUeSdon, but thofe ^x^ch d*
ther propofed the repealing of fuch old laws as were mani-
ibftly hurtful to the fubjeds, or the enacting fuch new ooei
as were bcft calculated to promote their peace and welfaie;
tas the reader may fee by the heads of the moft reffi«rkabk^
them, which he will find in thq next note (F)«

■ See fiv Halm Ctigl. v«L i. p. 454, t^ fbq.

%ikei^, it fobfcribed, and much ^W-/i afbibed all the def^rfh

^wywywd, hy the wife emperor that happened hi die ftate 10 hb

4tkfigjbi f and with this j«di- efwn feff ; but with regard ID

*ciouB obArvauon, tiuit it is a happinefs, he difcbuned it all«

^pMSi^ vkwe, and net the dfer^ -except where kis fufaje^ haft

4agB'and pil^s of other peo- • their common ibare in it; 4i

ipte, tiiat d]<aws down bleffings which he was a worthy imitam

'1tm^ Ty4t9 (heavfn) unon him : and 'flKxeffinr of our antieiit

^whidi<MiratfChor adds air ob- monarchs (14).
-ftnriMitkMi tf one of the famed (P) Befides the tiuee fingulitr

<}ke9ati|nttiied7/£Ki^/»-j^v«u;,ivho one» above-mentioned, die col*

4oitriflMd Minder Che flynafty of leCtion mentiqns diefe ^h^^l*

^5»ttyi qphw the 'geoS eto^ptrot Ipw;

4. 4

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0,^

fit Hljtay «/ CMna.

iSf

Wb mtj fiuttier oblerve mdtr thig bcid, from tbf tenpr ^^t«^ 'v*^*
of JcYCfal of thofc impeml dcgkr^tow^ that tbQugh thfiptutioM

4. A ckchmtdon of die (ame
tnperor Ven-tiy on occafion of
aDfdipCe of die fmi, in die ^ays
of Asar ; wkerein he ackiiow-
^gcs due jfcaeiK>iDeoon to be a
waving m>ai f>rii <ifMico)«
iiQ&io^im aodJuifuh^eififi^of
fomefatnre calamitj; and, as
bad piinces often draw them
xa^ die people^ he ^efiret bi^
aiiaiAersand fubjedls to examine
^Nh the otmoftari&nefs into hi$
co&dnfi;^ and to acquaint him
idfli What they find amifs in ic,
diatbe may^ by his reformation,
and good example, induce them
to do die like, and thereby avert
the threatening omen. One of
the i^lofles cpon it adds, that
diis 18 tiie firil time that a C&i-
9^ emperor had, nponfucfaan
occafion, de&red to be told of
his faalts ; but that, fince the
days of Ven-ii^ many of thofe
monarchs had followed his ex-
ao^le.

5. A declaration of the fam^
for exchanging fome/fevere mu-
dlations, infiided on ofFenders,
into fome milder paniflupenti.
In this the good emperor be-
wails himfel^ that under the
itign of Sbunf a prince of ex-
traordinary wUdom, the execa-
tii^ delinquents Jn e^ie was
deemed fumcient to keep peqplc
^^lin their duQ^; whereas, ip
his d^s, the moft fevere mad-
lations, fuch as cutting off, the
■oie, hand, foot, brandii^ in
the forehead, could not otXex
men frqm the blackeft cdmcfi.
However, he ordains the ex-
cbanffing of thefe for fuch other
^awhmeftti,«diicji, tbo*iavere
according to the nature of the
k&s, 4h^ not fix an indeUble

brand, but rather prove a means
of thdr amendment^ and being
reftored to the common privi-
leges mf a fubjed.

6. Another of the feme, cliar«
t;inc all his minifters, fraim the
kighfft to the bweft, to inquiae
airmen of die moft appr9ve4
virtue, merit, learning, l^c. and
xt> pre(entthom to him % and» 19
the mean time, that tho&, whp
were in the higheft pofts, flu)uI4
afiift in examining the four fol-
lowing eflendal points i 'viz^ i.
His daily and perfonal faults^*
2. The defcfts of the prefent
adnuniftradon. 3. The inj^^
dee of the ma^i&ates. 4. Tho
neceifides of we people.

7. Another of the fiune, giv,-
ing his reafons for notting W^
end to ^ bloody ana ^penAve
war, and makmg peace witjl^
Tan JU9 a Tartarian prince, M
thd north of China, and which
he concludes with dieie remarks
able words : In this i^twr, I ca9

fay liawf Jicquittid ngfe^oftbt
firfi dut^f ancumknt on a frince^
njffhich Ut to tfiaUiJb ftace in bit
family.

8. Another of the iame, in
which he exhorts his fubjefU tp
give him their advice in his ad«-
miniflration, tofendhim people
jof virtue and. cxpedence, toaf*
4ift him widi their ,cipunfcls,;qid
to iyn>ly.and fpcak to him ;ijvit)i
freedom. This declaration pro*
Q^aed him a memorial ifoni
one of bis head minifters, ii»
much to .his liking, that Jie i£-
ined out.a

9th, to the fame purpofe with
•the •former, but ftill more ear-
neft and preffing, .to the reft ef
his officers, to come and acqnsunt

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Chinefe conftitutioa be cried up as fuch an excdieot model of
goveroment, yet it had originally, or at kail antiently, feve.
ral fevere laws, that favoured rather of tyranny, than of a
well-cllculated polity between the prince and his fubjefts. Of
this nature was that which condemned all the relations of a
criminal to the fame punifliment with him ; and another which
hurried the condemned perfons to execution, without allow-
ing them a fufficient re{pite for farther inquiry ; fo that great
luimbers of guiltlefs perfons had been unjufUy put to death,
whole innocence had manifeftly appeared afterwards, when it
wa^ too late. The reader may fee many others of the fame na-
ture in the lift below, as like^dfe in that of thofe new ones fince

him with every defeat in the ad-
miniftration', and to tfdvife him
bow to remove them in the moil
efFedual manner.

I o. A declaration of the em-
peror Suen'tt\ ordering perfons
remarkable for their filial piety
to be prefented to him, out of
every government in his em-
pire, in order to their being
promoted by him according to
their merit.

n. Another of the fame,
which grants an exemption from
all attendance on pamic fervice
to thofe who had loft their fa-
ther or mother, grandfather or
grandmother, till they had per-
formed all the ufusd duties of
mourning to fuch parents. What
thefe dutie€ are, will be feen in
the fequel.

12. Another of the fame, by
which he difpenfed, for the fu-
ture, with a fon's accafing his
parents, or a wife her hufband ;
fcnt made it capital for a father
or a hufband to conceal certain
crimes of his fon, or of his
wife.

1 2. A declaration of the em-
peror Chingti to the great mini-
iters of his empire, recommend-
ing to them the care of fup-

(iO See Wrvieu*s CoiUaion M^i^fuottd^ Du Hsldik v$rfim 9/ ii, Mtldtii

taaftcd,

preffing all unneceflaryexpences
of equipages, clothes, entertain-
ments, weddings, houfes, farm-
ture, gardens, ponds, &r. and
forbidding all people to go be-
yond theirrank in any of thefe.
13. A declaration of the em-
peror Ngayti, for the reforma-
tion of muiic, and fupprefling
that kind of it which infpired
people with watitonnefs and
effeminacy, and difcharging his
own band of mniicians, by way
of example to his fubjeds, and
by which, the glofs obferves, he
faved the yearly falary of uo
perfons. We (hall go no far-
ther with them ; but only ob*
ferve, that thefe excellent de-
clarations from the throne com-
monly produced fome good me-
morials, or difcourfes, on the
fubjeft they treated of; which
were handled with fuch polite-
nefs, and ftrength of reafoningf
that they feldom failed of the
defired effed : they being chiefly
written by fome of the wifdl
,and moft experienced miniftcrs
of thofe monarchs, and by thofe
confirmed, anddepofited in their
archives, for the oenefit of thofe
that were to come after (2j;}«

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tasi&ed, by which it will plainly appear^ that the Chinefi go-
vemmoit did not arrive to that mildxiefs and excellency, but by
degrees^ and that it was chiefly owing to thofe wife and good
princes, who made it their chirf ftudy to reform and improve
It by their wholfome ediAsy and laudable example.

Neither can it be faid that this reformation hath been fo Some tru"
cflfeftually and tmiverfaUy completed, as to anfwer the great eltia/UU
<hanifter which fome have pven us of this government ; wit- t^^^M*
aefs the corruption and depravity which full reign amo^gft
them ; and the great power, or rather tyranny, which the
viceroys, or governors, fUll exert againft the fubjeAs, in the
fines and corporal puniihments they infli£l upon them : for .
though, as we hinted above, no criminal can be put to death,
aooording to their laws, till the emperor hath confirmed the
fotence, ye^t whether the reducing them to begary by fines
aad confifcation, torture and imprifonments^ or baflonading
them till they expire under the blows, or become poor mifer-
aUe nipples by it, as is commonly, and impunely, done by
tfaofe mercilefs mandarins, be not much more cruel than the
worft death the law condemns any criminal to, and do not
argue a defed in their conflitution, more fit to be reformed
tt^ any of thofe mentioned in thefe declaradons^ will hardly
admit of a queftipp.

Their puniilunent$ are dther capital, as in c^fcs of rebellion. Various
murdor, ifc^ corporal, as in lefler crimes, or pecuniary. Rebel* pt^ijb-
Bern and treafon, being efteemed the greateft of all crimes, are «wj;
punifhed vrith the greateft rigour, viz. by cutting the criminal/^ ''^*
into 10,000 pieces, in the following manner : The executioner,-^" •
having firft tied him to a ftake,^ tears the (kin off his forehead
and head, and lets it hang over his eyes, to prevent, as fome tell
us, his feeing how dreadtuUy the reft 6f his body is mangled ; he
next (lafties the other parts with a kind of cutlafs, till he hath
cot almoft all his fleih in pieces ; and then abandons him to
the cruelty of the gazing populace, who commonly difpatch
Urn in the fame butcherly manner. This puniftiOfsnt, how-
ever, isfeldom executed to the laft rigour, unlefs it be under
fome cruel princes ; for, according to the kw, it confifts only
in cutting the body of the criminal into feveral pieces, ripping
up his belly, and taking out his entrails, and throwing the
carcafe into a river, or ditch, as is commonly done to greit
nalefeftors ^ (G). ^ The

* Du Halde Engl. vol. i. p. 4i3» & feq. Martini, Lp

C0HPT(, & al,

(G) This pum{hl^ent, as was ufcd to be infli£lcd on all the
iMQted in the laft A0t6 but one, near relations pf the criminal,

till

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ijt fBr Hijhry. of Ch&ia.; .B. 1.

For difih' "^^E ncxt crimt to cpbi^oii, or tr«afon, tgamft thff «mp6*

i/w»ff /« jForj i^ that again^ the ^jiitn% vj^hSchU'pmilked ^rtlh ^

/or/;?// •• ^e, if ifLOt greater, fevcrity. tp this cafe, If ii fathec Aatgcs

nis fen witfilt bdbre a m^iftratc, no ferthcr proof is recmii^

9pd thp criqunal is imme<@t?eiy ooBrf^mncd and executed, thb*

\t be but for obMnate djfot^cncc, or diffy^eSEt ; but if it

%|nounts to a higW guilt, racH as'^ mockery, Infult, or Hftifig

|ifP a hand againft tlrem, cfpedaTly Ibiking them, the vrtwfe

country is alai-med, and the ^poiritirig of his puniftlment^1^

Tiisr ferved for thie emperor bimfett. In tms lafE cafe, the maglf-

great n- tr^tes of the place are tufnei out wi^ diferace, and the whofe

fiia to Ij^^igihbourhood is threatened with fome fi^ere puniftimcnt, finr

tbm» fe^ving given birth to a monftcr, find fiiffered it to grow by

yegyees to that pitch of wcjccdnefs, without infbnmng AA

^governors oi it. The criminal is condemned to be cut, like

f traitor or rebel, into io,oqo pieces, and afterwards burAt ;

ijs lands, houfe or hdufes, and the houfes next to hb, to

1^ deftrpyed, and to remain fb^ as a pionument againft fe

jj^cteftable. a crmip "(H)/

till the emperor Vm'ti caufed Even the einperors al^e obliged

* fl^it jQ^} \w to be repealed : by them to (n^w as deep a re-

kjfid it may, in the fame manner, foe£t to them as the meaneft of

"have been mitigatjed, with re- tJieir fabje£b; and we rcadtJf

'^^ft.to the execution of the en- - one of them, who, having ba-

ininai; by that or fome other nifhed his own mother for eo.

monarch, tho' originally it was tertaining ^ criminal cOQViBrfa-

Erformed aocording to the tet- tIo{i .with p^c of his jcomt^^y

, aod *8,tHe n^pie .pf xk^p pa- ^as fo iipportuived by his mini-

luflvinent impli/ss; fo that one nifters and fiibje^ with p^U-

.jija^y jyruJy ffiy of fome pf the tions for her recall, and widi

j^^^j^l W^ oiChina% what the daily remonilraaces ^|;ainft his

Cr/eh{2Lid of thofe of Draco the breach of filial diity, in bani/h-

, Athpiian lawgiver, that they ingTier, that 'he was forced at

were written in blood (26), till length to yield to them, thoag^

' they were afterwards mitigated not till he had rfied? to d^

Jby princes of a milder diipo£- ^ucm isov^. apji^ing to \xm *^

Vtwii. hex behalf, ;^t pnly by fopc

: (^) Thwje is no A^ )w^ich fjeyerc edicts, but by putting <a

the (^tnifi ^aws fo mjich re- death fevcralip'f thpfe^zcfljous in-

i^|]^e, or lay fo great a Itrefs on, tefceflbrs : in^pmucli .that his

as obedience to parents, whofe grandees entered into a combi-

^^tbority /caches, in fome cafes, nation aojt to let 01^ .day pafs»

even beyond their funeral, as without one of them prwrriAg

we ihall fhew in the fequel. a^tition to him in tneir tari^

{2^} Smh/ir*fJ/jiiv.]^ifi. v$Uyi ^as^j §f/es^

thoagh

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^ Mc7ki>«tttlBEew^f)iuifliediirith4etf|^

tetare of U» If a nam kills his ijivrfa^ in^ a doel,. tm H fmt^bUlf
ftaiglec^ which is th«:e:r^oned thelefla*puaiflanent| ^sStftrmnzUttg
if £y aflaffitiffcltoD^ 6r irirh aajr i^gravadqg drcumfbnices, ht ^^&-
is Ueadd, which is m^oded the mere di&oao«nib)e^ Un. ^*^H^
CMtk Us h^d» ^ principal {)art of a fosa^ U icvawd 6^9
^body, ib th^t be dodi riot go out of l^ wotld wiih Ae
fiflK'faidFe body with whic^ he came into it : in either cift^
perfaos ^diove the commtai rank are always oinried to the
fiack of execntion <^er in a ledfti^ or % oovered cart. Tfak
eofkrar, when he cosiBrm$ toy of thefe fentenees of dckthi
CDnmobly fubfcrib<^ thexlead warraat ^<!cording to the Hating
€f iSe crime ; as, when it is df aa atrocious kiAd> 'with
diefe words, Asfion m fits order is received iy you, let him
hkxecuUd witiout dny iklay : bnt When die crimie is of a
cbmifaoa hature, ^nd hath tothing to ^gnavate it, he wrii^
ddsfoiteiKe'tindcr tt^ JM the crimiml^ iej^ in fri/bn^tt
autmmh andihen b^ e^ecut^; fyr thei^ is ^ fixed day in
thatieajbii, on Which ^ eriminlils cf this tiature are io be .
fat to death tfaib* tfatecm|>ir6 \

* Du HaliHe
Coj4pYe, &al.

EiigL vol. Lrp, ^tj, ^ (cq. Martini, h%

Aoagh fore to be cut off" fox it
ok die i^ot, till picy had carried
^^ur point J AccorHmgly two
if t&em tiAie on di^^i-entdays,
kfrd wei^ imniediately pot 'to
dSiflil and onthe jie^cidtfe a
iMfd, iifho bi^itghtMs Isefk^vasd
cofin widrkim, 'and left k at
4e ^ate of -the [plalace ; and,
findmg'the emperor fti 11 more
jncenied at what he called his
infidence, fpoke tohim to'thT^
rtffcft: iVbat JhaU we lo/e by
nr* death, hut the fight b/afriiAe
iiffm *wh6m tve cMot^hok but
vitthifmrorandamdkeMittrSij^e
ym kJbill'notht^ us, '^e <uM'p
eaidjeek yvur,'imdihe emfrtfsytkr
'weekef^s, ameflarsi ihey *will
hear dur eomplaints : and you *wi/i
fnoffahif, in the darkfiienceef the
m§f»t, bear our aud their ghofit

V^oach yeu fir your injafilcAi
Tiiis noble fpcech Uriew upoa
hitii the moll druel ddafh tKit
inott^ch coikld dlmfe ; which
was, hO#evcr, fo far from deter*
riiig, that'it fporred a hutnhdt
of odi^ihandari&s to followhi^
tncatttj^, and to cotne daily ^
die' martyrs to the caufe i tilltiie
emperor, wearied with ^acri*
ficii^ fo many worthy lives, and
fearing it might occafioh fomc
Yctolt, was at length obliged m
recall Ydr ; fo tcnatious is th^
Chfftefirnsi^n of their antie^
laws with refpea to this fsliat
dtity(27), that they wonld^nol:
fttfi^ra-moi^rch to Ihew a jut
refemi^entagainft amot^r whp
had (6 fiiamefully Tallied thc^hor
nour of his family.

{%7) te CftH^te, part a, letter x. Martini b\fi* Sim, /. Ui. imp. 28, ^41/.

4 Adwltert

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Brm^ing Thbrb Jue certain eoormite, fwJuditheoffindflrsar^

•Htbt feiQrfit on the foreheacl« or on the mrochoeks, witha Chhutf^

ebeik. charafter, ngnilying the cnme: &r others they coodeiBa t^

Bamjb' baolftitn^t, which is often perpetual, if the place beaiqrpar^

*'*^' of Tariary \ and thefe are commonly condemned to rccOTc t

certain number of "blows of the haftonado, acfording to th^

nature of their crime, before they fet omt. In liomc oafey

they condemn theoflfender to tcrworrow in the imperial tek^

for a certain fpace, which feldom exceeds throe y^us. Som^

ether punifhmeHts they haye for IdTer offences, fuch as canyi

hg a weight on their Leads from fix to tea cr more poimik

according to the dire^on of the mandarin who prdudes u

the tribunal.

Wr tor* 'I'he Y ufe two fortsof torture in Cbma. tocxtort OMifeffion j

1^^ . ' the ordinary one, which jsiiowever veryacute and painfiil, i^

a Idnd of engine, which they clap the hands or feet, or bothi

of thennhappy peribn in, which diftorts the bones to fuch a

degree, that that on the feet fqueezes the ancle-bone quitd

flat: Jiowevei:, we are told, that they istvc £>me reowdies t(^

diminlfli, or even Jftupefy, tbe eKqiufitQiie& of die pun; «pd

others to r^bie tbou* lin^ in aiew days, after havstng 4)001

unrmr- & tmribly distorted. The exmuvcfiaary tortufe is mkfk

JUutry. vM, lauipt ia otfes <£ treafoii'and rcbellicm, and incite

to oMn the |ieribn totdisfe liis accomplices, itfter the fift

hftAbeenpttrfei. TWslaftisliDnety oitthiglBg^tgifttt

M^the body, mA Rrippii^ off the fldn In nanow Wfi or

fiSets^. Thefe are the punUhments moft in vogue : food

there 'have l)een, Indeed, of a much more cruel natusi^ &r-

ineFly inBi£led by fome of their lysanmc mooArch^ «Qoea

pardcular not unlike in ittnoffeAs, as ^ritU as harbanqr^ •

ihAtof ^AUbm'a bull (L); but tbofepriacei were not ooif

detdM

« Ste tlv ilAi.R9 ubifupn, p. 313, -k bq.

Ife'raft-to pMcoie a weddings tion, «niong'Mkerfoclid«(eAed

k^ Shc£mn faood « moi tyrants, the emperar G^fw> 0*^

mho went aad dcmandtd kar, of whofe concubiiies, on ^boii

«ft«lK>(econditiens,oftiie'matt- tepaffionately'dested, wastbr

^budnj who pasd kitt the mo- inrsntoeft of this new Iciad ^

oey accordingly, und ddivcrcd panKhment cdled Fem-k* ^

<lier-np to.kim, frtefromker vwas a bnifs toiler, orcdlttmB,

AamefllaiidnaireiafappdrtaMe twemy cubits high, and e^^^^

^cke (129). diameter, And hollow ia ^

(L) .Tke Ci&/»^}recordatM»- 'middle, with tkfee epeniags^

(29} Fstk, Ctntamn afttdDu ffgUt, 9tki fu[f. ^* 3tS.]

pottifll

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C I. The Hifiwy of ChinaT 177

detefled daring their life, but their memory hath been erer

odious to this day. > - ".

One thing muft be (aid in praife of the Chinefi^ with tc- Prifint

fpeft to the prifons in which they confine their oflfenders ; viz. it^tirhfi
that they are much more capacious, airy, and fwect, than the ^^'^ -
common gaols in Europe^ cfpecially in England. They arc "^P^*-
generally large fpacious courts^ on whole four fides ire the '
apartments of the criniinalsy raifed upon wooden columns in t

the form of a gallery ; and on the four corners are fecured the
more notorious rogues> in! ftrong cells and fetters ; and thefe
are never let out in the day-time, as the others are, who are
allowed the freedom of die court, and of converfing with
each other. The women are confined in a fcpanfte cour^
where no man is admitted to come to them, or even to fpeak
to them but through a grate, or the turning-box, by which
thdr viftuals, and other neceflaries, are conveyed to them;
Both prifons arc very well guarded, and kept at nights in ^^^
profound filencc. The centinels are relieved every hour ; the V*^^^,
reft of die guard are ordecrd to patrole all the night ; fo that
all attempts of refcue or efcape prove not only vain, but dan-
gerous. Every gaol hath a mandarin, who is trufted with
the care of it, and is obliged to vifit it frequendy ; and, if
any prifoner is fick, to provide him vdth a phyfician, and
proper remedies for his recovery ; which is done at the em-
peror's charge. If any dies, the emperor muft be ac-
quamted^th it (or, in the other provinces, the viceroy), who
rftcn fends a fuperior mandarin thither, to examine whether
the inferior one hath done his duty. And thus much may
foffice for criminal cafes.

The dvil ones are determined by proper tribunals. We CMl
took notice in a former feftion, that every city of the firft, caufahix^
fccond, and third rank, had their proper courts and judges, Jwgul.
the latter fubordinate to the former, and all of them to that of
the metropolis of the pro\dnce, unto which a plaintiff or de^
fendant might appeal ; or even, paffing by all the inferior
pncs, bring his caufe to, if he thought he fliould not obtain
jofHce in th« inferior ones. Ip greater matters, a man may
even appeal to the fupreme tribunal of Peeking ; but in mooe

potting in of fuel. To this they and foon after reduced them to

^cncd the imhappy objefts, alhes, in the Drefence of this

making them embrace the pillar . monfter of crueff, who it feems

with £eir arms .and legs. A took an unnatural delight in

gfcat fire was afterwards kin- fuck dreadful fpcdacles (39).
^cd within ir, which roaftcd,

(30) Fjtf^. Cantawein a^ud Du Haide, ^.314.

Mod. Hist. Vol. VIU. M tf

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178 . . the nifidry of Chmz: B. 1;

-Not ma- of thefe cafefi is the appeal, or even the caufc, brought to a
va^id by court by lawyers, advocates, and attorneys ; but every roan
tfmyets (frjs to be hi^own counieUor and manager, unkfs he gets per-
mtnr^tys. jjgpj fome oipert perfon to draw up his plaint or cafe for him,
Law'fuih '^ ^^^^ ft meaner and form ascuftom requires; which being
ko^ car* jdone, be b to bring it hknfelf to the tribvnal ; and, being
jried M. Arrived at the fecond gate^ beats on a drum, and then falls on
his knees, with his hands lifted up as high as his head, and
prefents his plaint to the officer m waiting, who comes out to
him at the iound of the drum. This laft takes the paper from
him^ and carries it to the tribunal, where it is examined by
the ju(^(i& ; and» if the fuit proves u> be of a frivolous or
j^exatious nature, or if the jplaintifT cannot make good his al-
. lq^taon^ he is coiamonly lent home with a found drubbing
jdT the bauonado : but ^ the plamt be juft, and well fup-
ported, the defendant or accufed is fent for by a proper officer
cf the coUrt» and obliged to appear in perfon, and to make
ih^ bed defence he can (M). Xn ibme c^ the judges allow
them a longer day ; ts when the defen(|ant's wi^tnefles are at
Ibnie Aiftance, or any circiimAance happens, that requires a
lusher ;acaminatim \ dtherwife the controverfy is decided
.'upon the fpo^ according tso the appearing merit of it. If ei-
ther of the partis is diiflati&fied ^th the fentence, he may
-appeal td a fuperkir court; and, from that^ to a higher; and,
whether thisy do, or not, the judge of the inferior is obliged
to tranfimt an account of every foch uyal to the next fuperior
court, to be there f urth^ eitamined, and be either confirmed
or cafliiered : for, if the fentence g^ven appear uojufl, the
fiiperiof couft is dbliged not only to rcverfe it, and do juf-
lice to die iiyured perfon« but to puailh the inferbr judg«»

(M) Thislaftdrcmnftanceof fuch as that of the CbiHefft to.

/ununnniae the defendant b not forejudge any man, before htf

.mentioned oy Ma^ailUn^ or any be permitted to offer what he

other writer, noi; in what mah- has to fay in his own defence,

ner be is to make his defence This may likewifc be concludcit

before the tribunal ; which was from fomc of the Chineft ftorici

an unj^ardonable overfight in which Z><r H^^/e hath inferted i«

them. However, we have ven- the hiftory of that conntrvj

tured to infert thus much ; as it wherein mention is made ol

is impoiiible for the judges to fuch kind of tryals, and their

determine any caufe regularly, manner of proceeding (31)1

without hearing both M^ ; it which may be reafonably (up*

being unjiift and illegal ia any pofed to be founded on the bM

well governed nation> efpecially and cuiloms of the country.

(ji) Shva a, f. is«, «r jif.

fori

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£r ootlisviBg done it, whtdicr an/appeti belodged againft
him, or no. This, one would imagine, moft be a moft ctr
cdleat 11^7 of admiaiftriQg juflicc to the fnbjefts, and ba*
jdfliingfinand and comipdoB fr^m thofe tribncols, by making
the fnperior ones to have fbch a powerful check over the low-
er: bat, as we have lately had occafion to obierve, all this is Tribunah
mere formality and grimace ; and there it fuch a fellow-feeling corrupted
between aU thofe tribunals, or rather the higher ones do fo i^ irittfy*
prey on the lower, that a phdntiff will ftand but a poor chance, '
let his caufe be ever fo juft, if he doth not back it vnA fuch
round bribes as may turn the fade on his fide. Notmthfland- Som of
iog all thefe difcouraffements, we are told, that the people m /^^^ feofU
imc diftriOs are fo Hdgious, that riiey will mortgage thehr v/rjr isti*^
lands, houfes, goods, :md aU they have, for the pleafure diff^^*
fgAag to law, and procurii^ a baflonado to be riven to an
antagooiil ; thou{^ it often happens that the dmndant, by
privately bribing the mandarin with a lugho* fum, vrill divert
die blows fk>m his own to the plaintiff's back. Hence arife
mortal difcords and enmides among them, which wiU flick in
thdr hearts tUl they find new oppdrtunities of fatisfying thdr
revei^ ; whilft tboie miniAers of iniquity, mc^e intent on
their gain than their duty, or the peace and welfare of the
iubject, rather fhive to blow up, than to fupprefs, the flame,
in hopes of new presents and gains, to fatlsfy their boundtefs
avarice •.

SECT, IV.

Of the Leamin^^ Arts^ Sciences^ Language^ &c of the
Cbinefe.

TTHE Chinefe have doubdcfs been too much crigd up by Learnings
^ the miffionaries for their learning, and as unjuiw under- arisMc.^
valued by other writers for their want of it ; neither is it /^^thi-
poflible to reconcile what we are told, on the one hand, of ^^^^
their having carried fome of their fciences to fuch a high de-
gree from the times of their earlleft monafchs, feparatQ. as
tiiey were from the refl of the world, with the fmall improve-
ments they have finc^ made to them during the fpace of near
4000 years ; whilfl the Europeans^ who received theirs fo recently
from the ^r^tfA^ and Romans ^ have fo far outflripped not only
them, but the Chinefe^ within the compafs of two or three
centuries. This may be clearly feen by what we have a,lready
dbferved of their maps of the world, and of the heavenly

* Du Halde, vol. i. p. 278, LeComptE;Macaillan,& al^

M z conftellations.

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msMSi

180 The Hi^my 4f Chinz. B.l.

conftelladoiiSy as irell as 6t>m theimpcrfeft apparatus of their
£uiied obiervatorj of Pe-kingK What incUffereiit aftrono-
inen» and worie geographers, they were when the firft Eitrth
f€an miffiooarks came into thofe parts, is no le& naanifeft,
from the reception which they gave to thofe learned ftrangers.
The prpgrefs they have fince inade under them in thofe {dences,
plainly Ihews that thdr inferiority to Host Europeans was not fo
Their n* much owii^ to want of cenius and capacity, as to their bdng
fituate at U) great a diftance from them, and to their being
debarred the benefit of travelling, and correfponding with
other learned nations of the world ; ib that, all things con-
lidered, it ought to be rather a wonder that they had made
fo great a prcgrefs in them, with thofe flight ailiftances they
had only from themfelves, than that they came fo far behind
Bs in every point. And it appears no inconflderable ohd-
mendation of their underftanding and capacity, that they (o
readily fubmitted to be taught by a people of whom they had
fcarccly heard before ; and to be inftrufted in fuch a variety
of branches of learning, which they were not only flrangecs
to, but which were fo veryoppofite to thofe which had, till
then, paded kr current among them. It is true, indeed,

. that the Jefuits took care to be well backed by the impend

raged by authority add favour, before they ventured upcm any thing of
the empe- that kind ; eUe the literati^ who, till then, had looked upoo
ror. all kinds of fcience and knowlegc to be centred in them, m^ht

have given them, in all likelihood, a quite contrary recep-
tion, for picfuming to introduce a new kind of learning, which
caft fo diiadvantageous a reflexion upon their old. And thig
is no other than what Father Verhieji intimates in fome of
his letters, that it was with great difficulty, and not widioot
. the emperor's interpofition, that the generality of their kamed
fubmitted to the exchange •.
Their However that be, whether by compulfion, or thdr own

great fro liking, they foon found reafon more than fufficien't toacknow-
grefs. lege the fuperiority of the Europeans with refpeft to fevcral
branches of the mathematics, and other fciences ; and to ad-
mire the furprifing experiments which were /hewn to them in
optics, hydrolbtics, pneumatics, ftatics, catoptrics, perfpeftiv^
fir. as well as their various inftruments for navigation, allro-
nomy, mechanics, i:c . their watches, clocks, chimes, organs, and
other fuch curiofities, as were not only perfectly new to them,
but were looked upon, if not as fo many new and ftrangc
automata, fuch as the vulgar imagmed them, yet as machines

• Apud Lc Comptc, ubi fup. part ;. let. 3. ^ Idem ibid.

rartly

KiJJiona
ries encou

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ct:

Tbi WJlory of China:

tiftly exceeding human capacity and contrivance (A}» dU, by t
looger continuance with them^ they were let into both theory

(h) One of the moft furpri-
fiiig eacperiments in optics^
wiiich they (hewed to that mo-
narch, was a pretty large femi-
cylinder, of a very li^t kind
(i^wood, in the middle of whofe
axis was placed a convex glafs,
which, being turned towards
any objedk, reprefented it within
the tube, in its natural figure.
This was fi) mach admired hy
that monarch, that he ordered
a machine of the fame nature to
be made, and fet up in his gar-
den at Pektngy by which he
might fee every thing that paff-
ed in the fh-eet^, and places ad-
jacent, without^ being feen :
which was accordingly done, to .
hb no fmall fatis?a£Uon and
wonder; but moch more fo of
his emprefs, and other |>rince^es
of the court, who, being con-
fined within the palace, could
have no other way of behold-
ing what was done abroad ; on
which account the objedl-glafs
was made of a larger compafs,
in order to take in a greater
iScope.

Father Gri«M?M gave the mo«
narth another inftance of the
wonderful efieds of optics, which
albnifhed all the grandees of the
empire. He made, on the four
walls of the Jefuits garden, a
haman figure, of the fame length
with the wall, which wa? fifty
feet ; ,and, as he had ftriaiy fol-
lowed the rales, there was no*
thing to be feen on the front
bn^ hills and dales, foreits,
duces, l^c, ; but, from a cer-
tain point of fight, one obferved
die figure of a man handfomely

(haped, and well-proportioned.
The magic4antern, catoptric
in^uments, telefcopes, micro-
fcopes, and other glaifes, which
thev prefented to the emperor,
and other grandees, did no lefs
excite their admiration ; parti-
cularly a tabe in the form of an
octagonal prifm, which, being
placed parallel to the horizon,
exfaibitM eightdifiFerent fcenes in
fo lively a manner, that they
were eaiily miilaken by the Chi"
nefe for the objedb themfelves.

Among other hydraulics, they
prefented that monarch with an
engine of a newinvention,which
threw up a continual ftream or
cafcade, and gave motion to a
very regular dock, which exhi-
bited the motions of the hea-
vens. Thefi^ and a great va-
riety of others in the flatic,
pneumatic, and mechanic way,
fome curious barometers, ther*
mometers, inftruments , for dif-
covering the degrees of moiflure
and drinefs, prifms, clocks,
watches with chimes, alarums,
and other contrivances, which
would barely ferve for amufe-
ments to our learned in Europe^
we only mention here, to ihew
how ignorant the GhineJexkZXiork
was in thpfe various branches
of the mathematics ; fo that we
need not wonder if fuch a great
variety of new inftruments,
experiments, books, ledareQ,and
demonftrations, in fome meafure
abated their natural pride, and
caufed them tp look upon the
Europeans as fuperior to them
at leafl in all thofe refpefts (i}.

(i) DuHalde^ ubi Jupri^t p. 3x1. voii.p, 117, 6f/f.

M 3 ac

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X 8i ne mpry of China. B. t

and pviStlU i t&d confoudded to find, that aoy itation io dt"^

ftant from, and till then unknown to, tbem, ihoiild have ar'"

rived to a height of knowlege fo for (vtrpaiiCvag thdr own.

Kang-hi The eiiqperar Kang-M^ in particdbr, was fo cfcarnidd with

€igreatai' ©very tMng he faw and heard frimi them, that he feemed w

mirer of 0^ge every moment he was'abfent frcmi ^em, and conttnaed

thein dieir ftcdfeft inend and benefaftor fo long as be lived. His

Uaming. example, and the Angular favours and honours he (hewed to

thofe miJEonaries, foon encouraged the whole court, and the

reft of the grandees, to ieek their fiiendQiip and acquaintance,

and to e$j)r^fs ^n uqcommoa de£re to be inftru£led in thde

liew branches of Eurapean learning ; fo that in a litde time

the greateft part of the Uterati and nobles became dieir diio-

ples, admirers, and patrons ; and, by reading the books

tvhich they wrote, hearing their leftures, and aflifting at their

cxperiihents, became themfelves almoft as well acquamted

ivith theip as their matters ^,

This hath been their cafe ever fince ; and tho* they have,
^s we have fhewn in a former feftion, expelled all the miffion-
arie^ out of the empire, yet they ftiil take care to culrivate
what they have learned from them, and to teach it in ail thdr
academies : but it will not be amifs, before we go farther, to
give fome idea of their learning, before it received the im-
Jfir6nom^ provcments above-mentioned. Aftronomy was one of the
ho^ culti' fciences which they valued themfelves moft upon, as having
voted. been very intent, according to their accounts, in obfcrving the
motions of the heavens ever fince the foundation of their mo-
narchy ; and having fome fevere laws to punifti thofe who were
entruftfed with that employment by the ftate, for every n^lefti
Calculate- *^» ^ *^^^^®® t&ks^ even with death. And if what we are tdd
ing of by *lic Jefuits be true, of the cxaftnefs with which they cal-
ecliffis: oulated eclipfcs from the earlieft times, infomuch that, of the
thu*ty-fix mentioned by CmfiiciuSy there are but two 6dfc and
two doubtful, and all the reft have been inconteftably verified
by fome of the beft aftronomers of their fodety % it muft bd
owned that they excelled all other nations in that fdencc x
but we hope we have elfewhere given fuch reafons for our
doubting of the truth of that aflertion **, as will at leaft in*
ciine an twi prejudiced reader to fufpend his judgmait about it.
Thofe ftate aftronomers might, in dl probabiKty, only record
thofe early eclipfes, together widi the exaft time when, and

* Ve RBI EST apud Le Compte, ubi fup. part z, letter 3. Ma*
GAitLAN, Navaretta, Martini, & al. Du Haldb, v«l. ii-
p. 126, & fcq. ^ Du Hah?b, ubi fup, vol. ii. p. i«8,

k fcq. * See tefore, Ua. Hill. voL ;tx^ p. 150, * feq.

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£gfi where, th/ey fa^pcoed, 9S tfaey did ^41 otbo* cekftial
f^seoemeiu that came under thdr <A>fer¥ati(»i8 ; «k1 in pro^
ceis of time, when the way and methpd were fovad put olt
cakulatiog them, rhofe records m^h^ be made to paTs for
cakolatioos or predkHons (B). ratJio' Gaubil, who hath

«»i

(B) There is, however, a
fingular pafTage in on6 of their
ftnttent books, chilled Sbu-kingt
die fenfe of which, if rightly
given OS by the dranflator (2),
mil, if not quite explode what
we have offered above as a
probable conjedure, at leaft
prove, that they had the art of
calculating eclipfes much earlier
than any other nation we know.
It contains a charge againd Hi
and Ho^ the two ftate aftro-
Boners, who^ drowned in wine
and debauchery, had negle^ed
to give timely notice of an
eclipfe which happened on the
£rH day of the moon, which
was alfo the time of the au-
tumnal equinox, at eight in the
morning, not far fron^ the con-
ftelladon Fa?tg (a ftar in the iign
Scorpio). But J fays that writer.
Hi and Ho pretend they knenxf
wthing of it. Our antient em'
feron/e*uere/y punijhedthofe tjuhofe
hufinefs it 'was to examine the ce*
lefial mot ions i and didnot exadly
foretel them. It is ^written in the
la*wsf *which they ba*ve left uSy
that if the celeftial pb/enomenon
he not truly Jet dtyvjJi in the ka-
hndar, or hath 'not been predi£led^
Jucb a negleQ ought to be punijhed
ntiitb death.

Now, if Ju, fpeaker of the
above fentence, was really co-
temporary with the emperors
Yau and Shun^ the eighth and
ninth in defcent from Fo^hi, as
is there affirmed, it will evi-
dently follow, that they had

(2) Du HaUi, ubifu/t. W. ii. f. la?. ^ fip (i) ^^- '*''' P- '^*«

^/<?. (4) FtJe Univ. Hifi. ifoh xx. p. 109, ^ f'i- & m^^- '^- ^'^^^
(S) Bid. faff,

M 4 grciitly

this art much etriier than ibme
modern authors are willing to
a)low them, even though we
ihould retrench fome centuries
from the pretended antiquity of
Fo'hii efpecially, if what Dm
Halde adds may be depended
upon, that the above-mentioned
eclipfehathbeenfmceverified by
feveral eminent mathematicians
among the Jefuits, and was fuch
as could not be feen in any
part of Europe or Jfia, but i4
China (3).

Buty if what we have fot*
merly obferved concerning the
great uncertainty ofihicCbineJk
dironology (4) be allowed to b^
well founded, it will appear tp
be more probable, that this
quotation out of the $bu king
might imply no more than that
Hi and Ho neglefted to make,
and record, their due obferva-
tions on this eclipfe, they bein|^,
as the text favs, drowned nt
their cupi and debauchery when
it happened; which is more
likely to be the cafe, than tha^
they ihould do fo when they
were compiling their kalendar
for that year, if aily thing like
that was really done in thoft
early days. LalUy, if thofe
antient records have been de-
ftroyed, what could hinder thcfe
who pretend to have recovered,
or. revived them, from repre-
fenting things in a more advaor
tageous light, than ever they ap-
peared in thofc protocoh [y]l

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J8^ the Wfiory of CKina. B^ I;

greatly extoQed theur (kill in aftronomy, doth himfelf acknow*
lege. That he was not yet certain of their method of calculi
ating ; but only that they exprejfed in numbers the quality of ^
ihofe ecUpfes^ the quantity eclipfed^ the parts where vifible^
&c. He adds, that the figures were written above loo years
before our Saviour ; but that the numbers^ are obfcure, and UU"
derjlood, at prefenty but by few Chinefe.
The cer- BuT whether thofe early eclipfes were really calculated,
tatnty of q^ only obferved, and recorded, by thofe antient afh-onomers,
theQsii' nothing can give us a morp irrefragable proof of the cxaft-
"^^^'' Bcfs, and confequently of the authenticity, of their annals
and records : and we may add farther, that the various teili-
monies alleged in favour of their early (kill in, and cultivatioa
of, aftronomy, are, notwithftanding all the difficulties alleged
againft them, fufficient to convince the moft incredulous, that
it manifeftly bears a much older date than any other nation
can pretend to. But we Ihall not here anticipate fome curious
hints and obfervations, which have been lately communicated
to us, by fome of our learned correfpondents, upon this fob*-
jeft, and which, we flatter oiMrfelves, will ffaike a much greater
light upon thefe dark and controverted points ; but which,
we think, will be bcft deferred, till we come to fpeak of the
origin, chronology, and antiquity, of the Chinefe nation,
wWch they more properly regard.
Motions The fame Father Gaubil further afTures us, that they had
andaffeSis ctirious diagrams of the pofitions of the heavenly bodies,
•f*he computed above 120 years before Chrift, exhibiting tte
flatlet's, pumber and extent of the conftellations,, what ftars anfwered
to their folftices and equinoxes, the declinations of the flars,
with the diftance of the tropics and the poles. They were ac-
quainted with the motions of the fun and moon from weft to
^ft, and likewife of the planets and fixed ftars, though they
did not determine the motions of the latter till 400 years
after Chrift. They likewife had a pretty exaft knowlege of
the folai; and lunar months ; and gave nearly the fame revo-
lutions, to Saturn^ Jupiter^ Mars, Venus^ and Mercury^ as
we do, though they had no way of accounting for their
feeming retrogradations and ftations. Some fuppofe the hea-
vens and planets to revolve about the earth \ and others,
though few in comparifon, about the fun : nor is there any
thing to be feen like this laft fyftem, in their aftronomical cal-
culations, but only in the writings of fome private perfons ^.
Thus far that learned Jefuit.

* Gaubil, apud Soucict. Obfcrvat. Math. Vid. & Du
HALPt, ubi fup.

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C. ^; Tbe Hiftory of China. i 85

Wb arc told by others, of their antient obfemtory at jintimt
Nang'king, in "^R^ch were large globes, armillary fpheres, quad- ot/erva*
rants, aftrolabes, i;c. not unlSke thofe of that ciPe^king^ which tmes.
we have elfcwhere defcribcd ', and whicb*Father Ricci, who
viewed them fome time after the year 1 599, when he firft
came into China^ fays, looked as fine and beautiful as any
he had feen in Europe, though they had been expofed above
ooo years to all the injuries of the weather (C) ; but, as to
tikdr ufe and exaAnefe, they flood, like the others, iti great
need of improvement, or rather were fet afide, to make way
fac a better fett. They had another pbfervatory at Tong-fong^ flat c/
a dty of the third rank, in the province of Ho-nan (ofwhich Tong-
we Have likewife given an account, in a former feflion 8), and fong«
which the Chihefe pretend to have been built by Ciew-kong, one
of the moft expert mathematicians thdr nation ever had, and
who is faid to have flourifhed 1200 years before Ptolemy was
bom, and to hate fpent whole nights in obferving the rifing,
motions, and figures, of the confiellations. Among their No righ
other obfervations, upon record, of eclipfes, notable con- notion of
junftions, i;c. we meet with fome relating to the tranfit of comets.
comets ; but it doth not appear that they had any right no-
don of thofe bodies, their motions, orbits, nature, periods,
6c. but looked upon them as fome portending meteors, fuch
as they interpreted every phanomenon they could not account
for : and as for the reft of their aftronomical obfervations,
they -were no more exaft, till they received their farther im- Kalendat'
^TQvements from Schaal, Verhiejl, and other miflionaries, zip^ mended bf
pointed by the emperor Kang-hi to reform, or rather to new- the Je»
model, their old kalendars; for thefe, notwithftanding ih&M*^*
pains which the Chihefe aftronomers pretended to have taken,
if they really did fo, to regulate them according to the ca-
nons formerly compiled by Father Ricci^ were yet found fo

' See before, p. 28. & feq. t Ibid, p. 70. & fcq.

die what thefe good fathers tell about it as fo many diminltive

0$, of globes, armillary f])heres, minifters attending on their

andotherinilruments, which ne- over-grown empire, as, it fcems,

ccflarily fuppofe their having a all their maps did reprefeht it,

right notion of the figure of the till the Jefuits gave them a jufter

earth, wth what they tell us elfe- notion of it. The reader may

where,oftheirfuppofingittobe fee what we have faid on this

flat and their <:onntry in the very head in the firft Tcfilion (6) .
center of it, and all the other

(6) Sit kifore, p, 6. (D).

cle&6tive.

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dcfc£ttv^ at the bcj?nwng of that jnoD^ch-s re^» ^ to
Sand in need of frejb corrcAIoh, ^d foine facther aniend-
ments.
Calendar We fliall add another Ecwark, which will much Icflcn th<e
mended by credit of the Chinee natloij, with regard to th^i^ great appli-
the Je- cation to, and b<afted jj^ill in, aftronomy, though they^bad
A'*^- attained to a greater decree of it thai they really appear to
hare done ; which is, that their cxjccflSvc fondncfs for that
fcience was owing to a fuperftitious infatuation for aftrology.
Chinefc They believed, and dp fp to this day,' that every ftar or coa-
much ftellation, and every planet, hath a particular influence on all
gihen to fublun^iry things, cither good or bad, according to their i^-
ajirdegy. j^rg^ q^ various configurations ; and that if was poffible to
foretei a vaft number, if hot all events, by calculating before^
hand their motions, traofits through every iign, and their
various afpefts to each other ; infomuch, that, Uke- the ge-
nerality of our aimaiiac-mak^s, they point out the lucky aod
unlucky days in each yea^rly ephemeris, and pretend to fore^
tel wars, famines, ficknefs, droughts, good or bad feafons,
neir and a vaft number of other fuch trafh : and it was, in all
afiroiogiad probability, to prevent the many frauds and abufes that were
tribunal i committed by thofc pretended aftrologei*, and to have thofe
'planetary calculations more exaft, and the predif tions from
them more furc and regular, that there was an alhological
tribunal erefted \ which is oqe of the moft confideiable in
in pMee. the empire, and fubordinate only to that of the rites ; whofc
bufineu; it is to prefent to tlie emperor, every forty-five days,
a complete fcheme of th<j heavenly motions, and afpefts, for
the next forty rfive day? ; and tp fet down the alterations of
the air/ according to thj? various feafons ; together with their
jprediftions relating to difeafes, drought, pl^ty, or fcardtyj
the days on which there will be winds, rain, hail, thunder,
fnow, ifc. y and to give a particular account of the eclipfes
that are to happen within thatfpace; together with their
duration, the day and hour when, the place of heaven whei-e,
<he nunibcr of digits obfcured, and die efle^te-they fuppofe
it will produce, according tp the figns they happen in, and
the configuration of the heavenly bodies at that time. Thdc
. accounts muft be prefented to the emperor fome months be-
fore the edipfe happens, in order to have them conveyed, by
proper officers, into every one of the fifteen provinces, exaftly
calculated according to the longitude and latitude of each
of them, and there to be pubUfhed, in a moft folenrn man-
ner, and with fuch ftrange ceremonies, as ftiew their great
fondo/efs for aftrology and fuperftition, rather than a true and

well-

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Ci.

fWJNyw^^TCWnft.

if7

vdtfomided fldU to aftmwoqr; is tht rtator magr ifce by
tbpfe fe«r we we hsfc taftvtcd in the foOowisig note (D).

THBift geonetiy k fliU more fuperfidal ; and their me* GimHfy%
tbod of ftMng ef prdUoas b nther by indn^tion tban any
fettkd pniK^des, they hsirii^ neither theory nor praAice, in
aoytGlmibfe di^ree; they are indeed more ezaftinmea^
fitriag, tbrir method being both eafy and eieaA. But what Exallim
^ moft excell in, according to Du Haider is their vAi\i^writbmiticm>
metic, io which are ftnmd til the roles far adding, fubtraft*
log, malti4[>lyfaig, and dividing, esadly kod down in thrii^
hooks ; act indeed by arithmetical chatafters, like onrs, from
I to 9, which thrir know not the vfe of, bnt by the help of
aa inifantment, which they call Swan^pan^ wludi the leader

(D) The ceremony of it is
as follows. Fixft, there is af-
fixed, to all public places, fome
days be fore- hand, a fchcme of
the eclipfe, the time when,
dBration, and other particulars,
above-related. The mandarins,
having likewife had previous
notice, are to appear on the
day it happens, drefied in their
Wmalities, at the agronomical
tribonal, and to have tables iet
before them, on which the whole
procefs is delineated , in order
to obferve the exaQ time of its
be^ning and ending, and other
particulars, compare them with
Ae fcheine, which lies before
tiiem, and to commanicate to
each other their remarks upon
the whole tran&^on.

As foon as they perceive
that die luminary begins to be
darkened* they fall upon their
knees, beat their heads againd
the mund ; while the drums
and kettle-drums make a fear-
ful noife along the {b-eets of
dtt city, accompanied with the
fliontsof the people I purfuant
to an old notion they have had,
from the earlieft times, that the
aoife fuccoured thofe two ufc-
fol planets, and frighted the

dragon away, whofe horrid
daw, they imagine, hath Mt '
hold of the luminary, in oroer
to devour it, and is the cauib
of the defeat of its li^ht For
though the wifer fort are, by
this time, fenfible enough, thac
ecllpfes are natural effects, yet
can they not diveft themfehret
of the old prejudice, that they
commonly portend fome finillMi
events to their nation ; and, for
that reafon, the fame care-
mony is obferved throughout
the whole empire, in hopes to
avert the omen.

Whilft the mandarins, and
other officers, continue thus
proftrate, all the time the eclipfe
lalls, there are other perfons em-
ployed in~ obferving and exa-
mining, with the utEioft cardfui«
nefs, the beginning, lengthy
end, «ind , other circumftances^
of it, and comparing it with
the fcheme delivered to them.
Thefe obfcrvations are after-
wards to be brought, written
with their own hand, and fealed
with their own feal, to the em-
peror, who compares them with
thofe he himfeU hath made on
it, with equal attention, in his
own palace (7).

(7) Vi4i lUvaretta, Martini^ te C^mpte^ Du Haldff Cf «/•

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1 88 ^ Tie Hificry ^ ChSU: B.I.

will find dcfcribcd in a former part of this work *, it bein^
affirmed to have been invented by a learned ko-lan, ever fincc
the reign of Whang-ti, their third emperor, and to have cx>n-
tinued in nfe ever fincc. By this inftrumenty we are told,
they are able to difpatch any arithmetical opo-ation, vrith
toQirt furpriiing eafe, quickneis,^ and exaftnefs, than the heU
^ Bxailer in that art can do in Europe, either by counters cm-

figures ^. How far that method wiH extend beyond the four
general rules above-mentioned, whether to decimals, frafHons,
feUowflup, ire. we are not told; yet, confidering what a
trading nation they are, and that they have no other way of
reckoning but this, one would fuppofe, that it*muft take ia
all thofe branches. Some notion they leem to have of algebra^
by the ufe they are faid to make of fome of its problems, in
jtheir geometry i ; but in this, as well as other parts of the
mathematics, they are ftill very imperfeft, much lefs were
they furniihed with any fuch excellent helps as our tables of
fines and tangents, logarithms, 6t. fo very neceflary and ex-
peditious; and exafb, in all agronomical calculations; except
the miflionaries above-mentioned have thought fit to inftruft
them in the ufe of them : but that is what we can hardly fup-
jpofe any of than ever did, the Chinefe, in general, being na-
turally averfe to every kind of abftrufe learning, and inca-
pable of too clofe application ; and thefe they could not be
taught, without being made previoufly acquainted with the
European 'arithmetic ; which, befides its novelty, would have
appeared to them an infurmountable tafk : and this, joined
to their reluftance to be beholden to ftrangers for any branch
of learning, could be but a fmall encouragement to the Jefuits
to force fo fure and expeditious a one upon them, the cort-
cealing of Which would ftill fecure them a vifible fupcriority
over them.
Varmga" THEY continue^fHU very unfkilled in the art of navigation,
tien and though they pretend to. have had it from the earlicft times,
fiifping. ^xiA to have failed, fome thoufand years ago, over all the In-
dian feas, as far as the Cape of Good Hope^ and that without
the help of the compafs ; which, though they boaft themfelves
f o be the firft inventors of, yet they did not difcover till a
long time after.
Whether The learned Huetius, in his treatife of the navigation of
ihejf ever the antients, hath endeavoured to confirm this, from a paflT-
y^V/£ to age in ^iiat jj^ calls the Annals of the City of Ormus ; in
the Cape

of Good y Univ. Hift. vol. xx, p. 141. & feq. »» Vide Martini,
*^P^» Hift. Sinenf. lib. i. Le Compte, ubi fup. letter 8. Carreri,
Navarettjv, &aL * Le Compte, ubifupia.

1 . which

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C. I. fbi Hi/hry of ChiiuL iSf

whkh it is affirmed, diat 400 Cbmefc vcfleb' htvebdea ob»
ferved to come into the Perfic gulf, and to lade and unlade a
prodigious quantity and variety of the richeft merchandizes.
The oisfbrtune is, that that learned prelate doth not give
OS any account of thofe annals, nor about what time fuch a
prodigious number c^ veilels >vere feen in that gulf. Neither
dcttfa it appear, hrom any of the Chinefc recohis, or in any of
what is flyled their clai&p books, if we may believe the cele-
brated Jefuit Parremn *. From which he conjefturcs^ that
the word Ta-Uu>cban^ which the Chinefe pve now to the cape
abore-mentioned, and fignifies no more than the mountain of
hi^ waves, might have been formerly given to fome of thofe
which they met ^^th in their filing to Batavia, Siam^ &c. :
and many fuch there are, doubtlefs, along, thofe feas, and to
have been fince appropriated to that far diftant one, out of a
food ambiticm of beii^ thought to have extended their naval
commerce fo far beyond whatever they did, or indeed couM
poffibly do, confidering the unfitnefs of their trading vefleli^
and their imperfeft fldll in the art of navigation.

Their (hippii^, indeed, as it is at prefent, and hath been Shifs^hm
cm fince the coming of the Europeans, appear altogether Aw2f*
unfit for fuch long and dangerous voyages ; and though they
have them of all bulks and fizes, yet the very beft of them
hm only defigned for thofe feas which furround their coun-
try, and the rdk for failing on their lakes, rivers, and canals*
The former are properly no other than flat-bottomed veflels,
with two mafb, and not above eighty or ninety feet in length.
The forepart is not made with a beak, but rifes up fome-
what like two wings, or horns, and makes but a very odd
figure ; and the flem is open in the nuddle, to receive the
rodder, and fhelter it from the beating of the waves. This
mdder, which is about five or fix feet broad, may be eafily
raifcd or lowered, by means of a cable faflened to it from the
ftern.

These (hips have neither mizzen-mafl, bowfprit, nor
fcutries, but only a main and fore -mail, to which they fome-
timcs add a fmall top-mafl, of no great ufe. Their fails are Sailf*
of nuts, made of bamboo, divided into leaves, like a pocket-
book, which fold and unfold jn the fame manner as a flcreen,
and are joined together by a pole, made alfo of bamboo. On
the top is a piece of wood, ferving for a fail-yard, and at the
bottom a fort of plank, above a foot broad, and four or five
inches thick, which keeps the fail fteady, when they hoi A it
ap or down. In a word, thcfe (hips are only made to fail on.

* Lettres. edifiant. vol. xxvi, p. 7 3. & feq* '

thofe

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<^90 ^ Bi/hfy $f OSftiZ. B. I.

tboTe fttSy aad woold be of little ufe in the hands of any but
Chimfes^ who know how to manage them ;'and though thqr
take in and retain' more vnnA^ on acoonnt of the ftiUbtls of
thdr fails, ytt they k>/e that advantage in other re(pe6l% by
being built fo diflo^ntly from ours.
WooJen Their anchors are made of a hard and heayy fort of wood»
mcb^rs. which ^ey call Tye^mu, or iron^^ood^ which, diey fay, k
fiot fb apt to bend as thofe made of iron : however, they tslee
cart to dp both flukes wkh that metal. Their ihips are
canlked, not with pitch and tar, as ours, but with a kind of
gum, which is fo good, that a wdl or two at the bc^tom of
the hxAA is fuiBcient to keep the veflbl dry ; for, hitherto, they
know nothing ^ the ufe of the pump, but draw the water
out ^ih buckets. Theu- (hips have'ndther mafter nor |Mlot
on board, but are left to the management of thofe that fteer
them, who are commonly pretty good jnlots in coaftii^
though indifib^ent ones in the main fea, and would be (till
more fo, were they to take any long voyages (£)•

(E) Their method, it feems,
is to lay the head of the fbip
ujioa tke riMimbon which they
pcopofe to fail, and hold on
tkeir courfe, without giving
themfelves any trouble about
the deviation of the veflel;
which is done by the help of
a iilken thread, which divides
the fttrfaceof the card into two
equal parti, from nordi to fonth.
rnUs may be performed two
ways; <zmc. either by patting
.the rhumb parallel to the keel,
and then tumin? the veflel
(fuppoiing they oefign to fail
north-eaft}, till the needle be-
comes parallel to the ftring ; or,
Which anfwers to the fame, by
putting the thread parallel to
the keel, they make the needle
point to the north-weft. How-
ever, the main difEcuhy is
to keep the vefTel fteady on
its rhumb, which is next to im-
podible, confidcring the fmali-
ncfs of their rudder, and the
ftrctching and wabbling of the
ropes to which it is faiiened.
S

Their compafs is ftiU
defedlive, beiag only a bos,
the rims of which are divided
into twenty-four equal parts,
and make the different points
or winds. This box they place
upon a bed of fand, or Some-
thing of that foft nature, not fo
much to keep the needle fteady
from the agitation of the (hip,
which is ever jogging it out of
its equilibrium, as to hold the
paftil with which they perfume
them every moment : for fuch
is their fnperftition, in this re-
fpedt, as not only to regale the
winds with fuch perfumes, but
even to offer inAuals to them,
bywayoffacrifice. The needle
of the largeft compafs is not
above three inches long, and
hath at one end fomething like
a flower- de-luce, and on the
other a kind of trident : but
for thefe, we are told, they are
beholden to the Japam/ei for
they are brought tO them Arom
Nangafaki.

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C. i: ne BJi^y of ChihsL. 191

We have already fpokcn of the 10,000 imporiil barki, State/j
which carry the tribute and provifioBS froai all rfie provinces tarh ;
to the city of Pe-king^ a&d are, by far, the ibeft and largeft,
and of equal breadth from head to ftero. The next cm% b»
that of thofe which are kept by theempcroTy to convey the vice-
roys, gpviemors, and mandarins, to their refpeftive govera-
menrs, of which he hath iikewife a great number, and all of
them finely gilt, carved, and adorned without, and fofniftied
with moft ccMnmodious and handfome apartments within.
Next to them, are thofe which belong properly to the princes nfariow
of the Uood, to the nobles, grandees^ literati, and, laft oi forts of
aUj thofe that belong to merchants and tradefinen. All of '^^*
diem are built, adorned, and Curxuihed, moi*e or le& fump*

This account of their method
rf failings vcffel, tackle, ^c.
wloch we have cxtrafted out of
the obfcirvations which five Jc-
fok mifiionaries made, on their
palage from Siam to Ch^a^ in
a vcflfel belonging to Can- ton ^
sMMo 1687 (7), will Tffice to
five our readers an idea of the
rdt, and ferve to convince them^
that if the Chtnefe were fuch au-
ttent failors, and the real in-
vestors of the compafs, they
hive reaped but (mail ad van.
tages from, and made but very
poor improvements in, both.

Thefc needles, whether they
were brought from Japan^ as
thelaft quoted authors afErm,
Or made in Chinas as Du Halde^
and fome of his fraternity, feem
to intimate, do not receive their
viftae, if we may believe what
another of the fame order tells,
npon the authority of one of
their fancied Chinefi books,
fix>m the loadftone, though they
have it there in great ^enty ;
but from a ftrange mixture of
orpimeBt, dnabar^fandrakj aiid
filings of fteel, all reduced into
, a fine powder, and made into a
kiad of pafte> by a fufficient

quandty of blood drawn from
the comb of a white cock.
This pafte, in which the needles
are to be put, and clofely rolled
in paper, is to be kept feven
dafs and nights, over a clear
and coufhmt charcoal fire ; after
whkh» they being takea out,
and worn, three days longer,
next to a man's ikin, will be
found £t for ufe, and point di-
re^ly to the north ; and, what
is ftill more furprifin'g, without
being liable to thoic fVequent
variations with thofe that are
touched with the loadftone (*).

Our author doth not feem
indeed willing to think foch au
odd mixture, and much lefs
with fuch a procefs, likely to
produce fuch extraordinary ef-
fe6b. Neverthelefs, from the
Chtnefe being ignorant or in-
fenfible of the variation of their
needle, fo much complained of
by other mariners, he fcems to
conclude it probable, that thofe
which are in ufe among them
have chat peculiar quality, above
thofe which arc touched with
the loadftone, whatever be the
means by which it is conveyed
into them.

(7) Dn Haldi, ahi [up, nnl. i. p. <>a9. ^ /»^»
Heo/eil dt Lett, edifiant, v§l^ xniu p* 464. j^f .

,(*} D^ Entrfcolfet^ in

tiioufly^

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192 the Hifiory of Omz. B.I,

tuoufly, according to the rank of the owners, yet fo, that
thofe c^ the loweft order are ftill very beautiful and conve-
nient, and in fuch number, as to make a very noble fhew on
their canals and rivers, and efpecially in their moft confider-
able cities, for concourfe, where they appear in fuch vaft quan-
tities, as to extend themfelves for fome miles together, in
cxaft rows, three or four deep, on thofe rivers and canals.
But thofe which belong to the princes and nobles appear quite
magnificent, and more like cafUes on the water, being divided
into a variety of fumptuous apartments, for ftate and convc-
WindonjQs. nienc^. Their windows and doors, which are made like
grateV^hAve oyfter-fhells, or fome fine linen or filk fpread
over with fine white wax, inftead of glafles, to let the light
through : and even thofe t^rhich are employed, to the number
of 365, to carry the emperor's fifti from fome diftant pro-
vinces to Pe-king, together with fome of the fineft fiUcs^ bro-
cades, and other rich merchandizes, for the court, are all
painted with a fine vermilion, curioufly gilt and carved •-

All kinds of veflels in general, that fail upon thofe canab,
rivers, lakes, ifc. (F) ar# under th« befl: r^ulation ; and all
^re obliged to flrike to thofe which belong to the emperor,
and the reft to each other, according to their rairic : a^d a^
the whole country abounds with lakes, rivers, and efpecially
artificial canals, fo one may behold there, with pleafure, an
infinite variety of veflels failing on them, fome for diver/ion or
grandeur, others for commerce and carriage, all fwarmlog
with people bufily taken up with their various employ-
ments.
Floating We (hall clofe this article with a word of their floating
'Ullages, villages, and their rafts on the rivers and canals. The for-
mer of thefe are flat-bottomed barges, neatly built, with
little houfes upon them, in rows, fome larger, fome fmaller,
in which live feveral families, who carry on fome fort of
bufinefs or manufafture, and feldom go on fhore, except to
Timber buy or fell, but live wholly in thofe veflels. The other, viz,
Jfoats. the rafts or floats on the rivers, do moftly belong to the fait

(F) To thefe we may add a feet water ; and, as their oars

a kind pf gallics, in great afe do not reach to the oppofite

amongd them, not only along fide of the fhip, as ours do,

the coails, and between the but are placed on the outfide,

iflands, but alfo on the nvers, in a poiitioh almoft parallel to

canals, and lakes. Thefe are the body of the bark, each oar

likewife Hat- bottomed , and is eafily moved^ with few bands,

about as long as onr merchant- and the veficl made to go very

men of between 300 and 400 fwiftly.
tons, and dra^w not above two

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C 1. ^bc Hiftory of China. 'i\^

and dmber-merchantSy who are commonly the richeft in China.
Theft, inflead of bariu to carry their goods, make uie of thofe
rafts; which are made in the following maimer. After the
tifflber, which they cut down in the woods and forefts of the
profince of Se-chwm, b brought to the river Kyang^ they
take what is nccdSary to make a raft four or five feet higli^
and ten or more loi^ ; then boring holes at each end of the
j&sces of wood, run through them twifted oilers; by which
theyfaflenthereftof the timber togetho-, fo as to foroi a raft
d any length, to float upon the river, fome of which will ex-
tend half a league, or more. The feveral parts of the raft,
being thus put together, are eafily moved any way, like the
£nks of a chain, and four or five c^ the foremoft men guide it
vith th^ poles or oars ; while others, placed at proper di-^
ibmces along the fides, help to conduA it. Thefe men build
upon theai little huts, covered with mats, or boards, from fpaoe
to fpace, and there keep thdr moveables, drefs thdr viAuab*
and take their reft. At every city they touch at, they fell
tbdr houfes along with the timber. In this eafy manner do
thoie floats perform thdr coiurfe upon thofe lakes and rivers,
the longeft of which is reckoned above 600 leagues, when
diey carry their wood to Peking ^. And thus much will
filffice for their (kill in navigation.

Should we carry our inquiry higher, with relation xoJ^ffi8iv9
Aeir (kill in other arts and fcieuces, we fhail ftill find them *^ o^her
more defeftive. They know but little of natural philofophy, ^'Z' ^'
Aat is wdl founded, but what they learned from the £ft-^'*^^*
ropeans. Some of dieir greateft virtuofo'a appeared quite
aftoidlbed at fome common experiments the Jefyits fh^ed
them, foch as, caufing hot water to freeze before a large
fire, the petrifying or making of artificial fione only vnth two
di£Eerent liquids, the efie^s of the aurum ftdminans, and
others of the like nature \ and owned, that nothing lefs than
ocular demonftration coidd have comdnced them of the pof-
iibility pf them. Much more were they furjprifed, at leaft
inwardly, to have thofe e£^s clearly explained to them, from
natural principles, and that by ftrangers, bom at fuch a vaft
diftance from them, who had, till then, imagmcd aU kind of
learning confined within the limits of their own empire *.

As to moral philofophy, tht>ugh they have more good books
written on that fubjedt than on any other, and think them*
felves to excel all other nations in it, yet a little acquamtancc

* De his, vide Magaillaii» Navarbtta, CAERiat, Ma»-'
TiMi, Le CoMPTB, Du Haldb, & al. * Parrinin, ubi

fup. vol. xxiv. p. 5 1 . & feq.

MqjP.Hjst. Vol. VIII, N. witl|^

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4g4 ^ Hi/iory of China.' B. I.

with their writings will cafily convince an unprejudiced reaiier,
how (hort they come not only of ours, but likewife of feme
of the bcft heathen philofophers. The whole of it is reducible
under the two following heads ; viz. the relative duties of
parents and children, and of princes and thdr fubjefts. They
make no diftinftion between morality and politics, between
the art of living and governing well. In thefe, fays Du Halde^
their fages, who are very numerous and voluminous, have
endeavoured to excel, not fo much in high flights of elo-
quence and rhetorical ftyle, as in adapting tfieir realbnii^
and perfuafives to the meaneft capacities, in order to make
mankind wifer and better by their writings.
l^hty ha^e LoGic and rhetoric, one would have reafotiably expeftcd
neither lo- to have been in no fmall perfedtion among a people who value
gic nor themfelves fo much, and have been fo highly cried up for
rhetoric, ^j^gjj. j^f^ ^^^y ^f reafoning, and polite method of fpeaking
and writing; neverthelefs, what talents they have in that
way appear to be intirely natural to them, fince they have
not one rule to teach them how to argue clofely and regularly,
nor ibt fpeaking or writing politely and elegantly, but truft
wholly to the light of their reafon, and the juftnefs of coin*
paring their ideas together in the one, and in the dear and
luccinft arrangement of their periods, lively and energetic ex-
prelfions, bold metaphors and allufions, in the other. To
this iaft, however, they add conunotily the wife makims and
t fentences of their feges, which being in higheft repute among

ttiem, and couched in fuch a concife and myftic ftyle, as to
contain a great deal of reafoning, and variety of thouglits, in
few words, conimonly make a much ftronger impreiOon than
the boldeft figures of our artificial rhetoric, or at Icaft will
not fdl of filencing, if they do not altogether convince, an
antagonift '*
PS^^, Physic, they pretend to be as antient as thdr good em-

peror Whang'tiy or H^ang-fi, the third in fucceffion from
Fo'hi^ their founder. This good prince, they f^, obfcrvit^
that mankind, being tormented by the rigour of the feafons
from without, and by their pafTions and intemperance from
within, did feldom live their full time, ordered three eminent
perfons of his court td examine the nature and oeconomy of
the blood-veflels ; after which, he appointed proper medi-
cines for every difeafe " ; thefe were chiefly of the vegetable
kind, to which they have made fome few improvements finc«,

/ ' Parrek(in, ubi fup. vol, xxiv. p. 51, & feq. « Mar-

tini, Hift. Sinic. imp. 3. Dv Haloi, ibid. U al.

4 hardly

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C. t. the Hiflpfy of China; 195

hardly worth BEkentiomog ; fuch as introducing foih^ of tbt ml» ^
oeials into nfe, together with iweating, cauteriiing, and fome'»
dmes (though very fcldom) [Alebotomy. As to purging, vo*
midog, and dyfters, they have but a mean opinion of their
efficacy^ if there be not, perhaps, fomething in them that
ofeids their oKxiefty, and makes them averfe to them. How-
ever, as their fldU in anatomy, natural philofophy, phyfics,
6c, Which are the foundation of that noble fcience, is fo very
fiaall, we cannot expeA them to have made any great pro*
ficiency in it.

They pretend, indeed, to an extraordinary knowlege in Skill h
pQ^, and to difcovcr not only the nature and degree of a/»^'*
patient's difiemper, but likewife how long it will laft, and
whether it will prove mortal, by the fole feeling of his pulfe ;
aad, if we may believe the miflionaries, their fkill in this
way b furprifing, though not fo fure, but that they are
ibmetimes miftaken. The misfortaane is, that they are more
expert at difcovering the diflcmper, than happy at prefcribing
prq)er remedies ioc it; though this feeming defeat may
probably enough be owing to avarice, that they may keep
their patient the longer under their hand, and ply him with
a greater quantity of medicines: for they have no apothe- -^^f/*/^
caries among them ; but every phyfician prepares his own ^^"'»
piefcriptions, which they- commonly adminifler in pills or
bolus's, and feldom in draughts.

In moft forts of pains and aches, which they attribute Ca»//r-
commonly to fome malignant wind, they apply burning-hot ifi^g*'
needles, or irons fhaped like fmall buttons, and cautoriie and
toRoent their patients, upon the flighteft occafion ; and in
vident cholics, which are caufed by indigeftion, and attended
with vomiting, i;c. they will even apply a hot iron {date to
di^fok&of the feet. But thofe who treat their padents in
a le(s butcherly manner, will rather have recourfe to cordials,
which are extraAed from alexipharmic herbs and roots.

They are feldom afflifted with gouts, fciatica's, ftonc, or Meifidtmt
other chronic difeafes, which is commonly attributed to their ^^''^'* ^^
finapient drinking of tea ; befides wluch, their country abounds
^ntfa great variety of excellent herbs and roots, and, among
the latter, thofe called Jin-'fmg, orGen^fengy and China^ or
Pm root, of which we (h^ fpeak under another head, and
which are efteemed excellent fiidorifics, and correftors of the
blood. To conclude, every man is permitted to pra(^ife phy-
fic; no degrees or qualificattons being required, but a good
aflurance, and a gres^ pretence to aftrolc^y ; without a fuf-
ficient iklU in which, a man would i« thought a fool or a

N a kna7>;,

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^gS The Hifiorynf Chiaa. JB. I

^ knave, that- fliould fet up for a phyfician ; fo that, upon the
whole, they are no better than quacks n.
Great To what we have hinted above of their ignorance of phytic,

a<verfion to let US add their extreme averfion to anatomy, at leaft to that part
anatomy of it which is called dU&^ng ; and which is fo rooted iato
anddif- them, that no kind dl benefit, that can be obtained from it,hath
fe^ions. ^ycr bfeen able to reconcile them to it, or make them look upon ic
in any other light than as a moft inhuman praAice. To fuffer
the body of a dead parent, or near relation, to be opened, to
know the diftemper he died of, would be looked upon amongil
jthem as a naoft horrid facrilege ; and to difleft a human body,
though, executed for fome heinous crim!e, is cried dow;i as a
jnece of injuftice done to the criminal, to which the law had
not condemned him. Much more ui^uft do they deem it,
to cut and mangle any other dead body which dies a natural
death. If, lay they, the very apprehenfion of being treated
in fuch a butcherly maimer, sifter one's deceafe, would make
a man miferable all his life, how much more grievous mull it
be to the foul, to behold the horrid operation performed ? Islt
therefore juft or rcafonable to fuffer fuch a crud practice, merely
for the fake of gaiiiing a little more fkill in the art of curing
difcafesj and lengthening life a few .years, which could fcarccly
be juftified, could it enable thofe inhuman manglers to render
men immortal ? Thus they reafon, or rather exclaim, againft
the anatomizing of human bodies : and it is much to be que*
ftioned, whether the principle upon which they argue hath
not faved more lives among them, than ever anatomy did
among us *. However, this may ferve, at prefent, to flicw
our readers what Idnd of furgeons, as well as phyficians, the
Chinefe are glad to take up with. We may have occaiion, b
the fequel, to fay fomething more on that fubjeft, when we
come to fpeak of their difeafes, and theu: manaer cf curing of
^he cir-' them. AH we {hall further obferve here, is, tibat, accordiDg
culation o/^ to the generality of authors, who have wrote of this nation,
t%e hlood the circulation of the blood hath been known amongft them,
knmMi of from time immemorial ; though, for want of a tolerable fkill
old among in anatomy, they neither know how it is performed, pot how
tki^' to make thofe improvements from it, which they might other-
wife do, in their common practice of phyfic f.
Uufic^ Music and poetry, though feemingly adapted to die airy

w-y crude, genius of the Chinefe nation, are to this day very crude and

» Martini, Hift. Sinic. imp. j. Du Halde, Le Compte,
i& al. * Vide PARasNiN, in Recueil de Lettrcs Edifiantei,

vol. xxi. p. 148. & fcq. t Id. ibid. p. 135. & fcq. M-

vol. xvii. p. 389. Vide k Lb Compte, Martini, Nata-
RBTTA, Du HALDi,^& id.plur.

irregular.

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irregolar. The former, they pretend to have been brought
to its highefi perfeftion, and to haye been in the higheft efleem
among Acm, long before Confucius*^ time, who was himfelf
t great admirer and mafter 6f it. Bat their books, which
treated of that art, having been fince loft, that art is dwindled
into a mere uncouth jingle of founds, without harmony, con«
traft, 01? variety of parts, and, at the beft, is but like our
common airs, and confequently not deferving the name of
mufic. They know nothing of the ufe of notes, but learn
all dicir tunes by the ear (G). Their inftruments are ftill Mtt/icat
more uncouth ; feme like bcUs, others like drums, of feveral 'V''*-
fi2C8 and makes ; one fomewhat like our trumpet; and a few *^''»^^
of them like our viols, and other ftringed inftruments; two •*^^^^*
or three kinds of flutes ; and one of them compofed of about
twelve or fourteen pipes, of different lengths, made of cane,
and not unlike in found to the open flute of our organs, ex-
cept that it is blown with the mouth, and not above fifteen
or dghteen inches in length, and about three or four in di-
ameter, the pipes being ftuck, drcular-wife, into a focket,
which ferves for the founding-board, and receives the wind
ky a mouth-piece. They now feldom ufe either vocal or

(G) The Tefuits firft taught out of their books, was (o taken

Aem the uie of notes, when with it, that he ordered a mu-

being invited, by the Emperoc fical academy to be erected,
K<uig4>it to a Cbinefe conifl^ compofed of the moil fkilful

i& which an air compofed oy perfons in that art, and com-

ikat emperor was to be played, mitced the care of it to his

Father Ptinra took out his third fon, a prince of uncom-

pockctbook, and having prick- mon genius. Thefe began with

eddown the whole tune, whild reading all the authors that had

the muficians were playing it, wrote on the fubjeft, and rc-

Kpeated it from end to end, ducing all the inibnmenta to the

widiOQt miffing one note, to the antient ftandard, except where

aofmall forprize of the audi- that was found defective, or

<Bce, and much more of the capable of fome improvements

performers, who had been at from thofe of Europe. Which

iflch pains to make themfelves being done, they compiled a

aaftcrsofit, book, in four volumes, inti-

The emperor being made ac- tuled, The true DoSlrine of Li-

^uainted with the fecret, and hi, written by the empecor^s

Wing, with pleafure, heard order; and to them added a

wme mufical performances af- fifth, containing the elements

ter the European manner, and of European mafic, compofed

fcehcld the method by which by Father Feirera^ above-men*

each performer took his part tioned (9).

(9) Vide Le Ctmpte, Martini^ & mL :

N 3 inftru-

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f 9$ Tbf Hilary of Chim. B. I.

biftrumenul mufk, except in plays, faUb» .marriages, fa«
nerak, and other fuch folemoities : and xhc very bell of it
never yet could appear tolerable to any of our Europeans, ex-
cept they be played by a very good hand, or fuog by a vej
good voice o.
P§ghy^ Their poetry is ftill more difficiik to defcribe to thofc

v€fy dm' "who have no knowlege of their laoguage, and confequcntly
ffr/e^. cannot be eaiily mzdt to comprehend in what the beauty,
el^nce, cadence^ and harmony* of it confifts. Thofe who
know that their language is chiefly compofed of monofyllables,
will be ftill more at a lofe to conceive the polEbility of re-
ducing it into any rq[ular and harmonious verfe : and it molt
be confcfled, that the beft of their performances in this kind
come infinitely Ihort of ours, thdr poetry confifting chiefly
in a kind of relative proportion, which one verfe bears to an-
other, both in rhyme and the tone of the feet ; which laft is
what dillinguifhes the variety of fignifications which evoy
fuch word hath. Neither are their compofitions of that length,
much lefs of that fublimity of thought, variety of imagery,
boldriefs of metaphors, 6c. as ours are, but rather rcfcmbk
our founets, madrigals, or epigrams, whofe beauty cinefly
confifts in varying the length of the verfes, the choice of fuch
vords as are to be pronounced in a mufical tone, and, we
may add, that carry fome quaint or witty idea with them, or
fome pathetic exprdfions and allufions, that ferve to enliven
Jnpther the ftyle. They have another Coti of poetry, without rhyme,
kind of it. which confifts in a continued antithesis, or oppofition of the
thoughts, that form the piece ; fo that if the firft thought
rehtcs to the fpring, the next fliall relate to autumn; if the
one fpeaks of fire, the other ftiall mention water ; and foon.
Which kind rather requires patience, than (kill or genius;
though one meets, in even fome of thefe, fomething of the
poetic enthufiafm, and now-and-then fome noble metaphor,
which gives an elegance to the contraft P.
fla^s t^nd The laft thing we Ihall fpeak of, under this head, is their
^wiis. dramatic pieces and novels; neither of which have indeed
any other excellency in them above thofc of Europe, except
that they arc generally calculated to inftruft and reftwm, to
recommend virtue, and expofe vice, to inculcate the nece(&ry
ireward of the one, and punlflmjent of the other : whereas
ours, at leaft thofe of this laft century paft, feen\ rather de-
figned to captivate and inflame the pailions, by dealing fo
much in love-affairs, intr^;ues, and other inamoral fcenes and

• Martini, Hid. Sin'c. imp. J. Du Hald?, Le ComptIi
Ice l^ lid. ibid.

ckraAas^

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G. r. The fSJiory of China. t^

charafters, as commonly produce a quite contrary effeft. In
other rclpefts, their dramatic performances, which are moftly
of the tragi- comic kind, interlarded perhaps with a fhort
force, have litde of the fublime or heroic, and have a mani*
fcft defeft rmming through them all, which fticws the po-
Tcrty of their genius ; viz. that, inftead of furj^-ifii^ their
audience m fome imperceptible way, and as it were node-
fignedly, ^th the charafter of the pcrfons who compete the
drama, they oblige every aftor to declare it, at his firft ap-
pearance on the ftage, in fome fuch words as thefe :* I am the
emperor or king of * * *, and a declared enemy to all ty«
ttnay and cruelty ; I am the great general ♦ ♦ *, or prime
Bumftcr of king * * *, and a ftedfan fHend to, or irrecon-
cileabk enemy to, fuch aftd fuch, meaning fome other chara*
ftcr in the play. The reader may fee fome few inftances of
their gfnius, in the dramatic and novel kind, in Du Jfalde %
by vMch he may form an idea of the reft, "without our in- ,
laij^i^ any farther upon them.

As to their hiflory, if we may rely upon what both the H/^ory^
Omefe, and the generality of writers, fay of it, no natioQ
ever took more care to prefcrve and tranfmit a faithful and
ftcdnft ones of their empire, from the very foundaticm of
it, and to record the annals of their good* and wicked mon^
archs with greater impartiality, and free from that flattery
and fycophaacy which thofe of other empires are commonly
fraught with (H), This was then: praftice> iK>t only at the

imperial

^ Ubi fup. vol.ii. p. 143, &c.

(H) Their method for doin^- gotv hi* dignity, and gave too

it effiB&ually is admirable, and great a loofe to his paifion. On

<lefervcs an aniverfal imitation, mch a day, unmindful of every

There is a fett number of doc- thing but his refcntment, he

tors, of known probity, whofe unjuftly condemned fnch a per-

bofintfs is to obferve all the fon, ordifaunullcd an aftof the ,

words and a£lions of theempe- tribunal, without a caufe. Jn

ror, and, unknown to one an- fuch a year, day, ^c, he gave

j^cr, to fee them down in a fuch a fingular mark of his pa-

loofe fiieet of paper, which is temal afFedion for his fubjefts ;

*ftawardf to be put through a undertook a war for th^ defence

& into a cheft made for that of his people ; or put an end to

P^^fpofe. In that paper they an expenuve one to eafe his

relate, with great freedom and fubjefts, or for the honour of

finccrity, every thing that hath the empire 5 was congratulated

wcu faid or done by him, whe- by his whole court, ^c. for fuch

tW well or ill. For inftance, an adlion, law, or fpeech, and

•0 fuch a day the emperor for- appeared with an air full of mo-

N 4 dsfty.

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&QQ(

9^ BJhjj 4if China: B. 3.

imperial €Ourt, but ia every kingdom under its dependency,

and in every province of the empire ; infomuch that not oiJ.y

every eovcrnment, but every city belonging to it, hath beea

obliged, from time immemorial, to publUh an account of

every confiderable tranfaftion which happened within its, dif-

triA. This account extends itfelf to the iituation, boiinda-

ries, climate, foil, and the moft remarkable places in it ; the

genius, commerce, and number, of its inhaUtants ; the per-

fons who have been moft diftinguifhcd for their valour, learn*

ipg, probity, 6c. not excepting thofe of the female fex wlu>

have fignaUzed themfelves for their chaiUty : conjugal, pa-

rci^tal, or filial, piety; nor even the monftrous births (I), and

other prodigies, that have happened at any time ; all which^

if they could but be ftripped of the marvellous and fabulous,

for which thofe biftorians betray but too great a fondnefs, would

doubtlefs be of great fervice to compile and inrich the hiflorj

of their nation '•

But though we Ihould allow that they have been thus
careful in prefendog thdr records for a great number <^ ages,
y^t, with refpeft to thofe of their earlieft times, we have fuffi-

^ Vld. Martini, Le Compte, Du Halde, & al. .

defty and humility, in the midft
of the praifes and applaufes of
hb people.

The cheflr, wherein thcfe pa-
pers are carefolly prefcrvcd, i$
never opened, either while the
prince is living, or any of his
family upon the throne : but,
when the crown paiTes into an-
other houfe, or branch of the
royal family, then all thefe me-
moirs are carefully coUedled,
examined, and compared, in or-
der to difcoyer the truth ; and,
from them, the hiftory of that
monarch is compiled (lo)

(I) There is hardly a prodigy,
or the inoft abfurd and incredi-
' blc ftory, that they will not in-
fert in their local records. Thus,
in thofe of the city of Fu-che^w^
they relate, that a woman was.
brought-tOr^ed of a ferpent, and

fuckled it; in another place,
that a fow brought forth a little
elephant. Stones of appari-
tions, hobgoblins, £ffr. often oc-
cur, efpecially where the bonzas
have had a hand in the repel-
ling, expelling, or fuppreffing,
them ; fometimes alfo fome rich
perfons of both fexes will, by
prefents, or ibme kind of bru
bcry, to the governort, to 'get
themfelves recorded in thofe an«
nals for fome remarkable piece
of merit ; though none can ob*
tain that honour, unlefs he be
found deferving of it : and, to
prevent any abufes of that n^-
tAire» all the mandarins of every
city aiTemble once in 40 years,
to examine thofe records, in or-
der to expunge whatever part
of ^exa^ they difiE^pprove of ( 1 1 }.

(;o) Dm ^Ut^ uhifi^. W, \uf. 146. , (11; U, ih\i. t^fip W. tbifup.

ciently

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^^ tii Hijt9ry of OmiC lOt

^ihewnm a former part dF this work, bow little dq)end-
be had either on the antient Chinefe records, or on
ire find written concerning thofe early monardis, by
\ who lived fo long after aU thofe antient and venerable
'^fF^P bad been defignedly deftroyed by fome of their ty-
tkiAfiinces *. We may indeed more fafely rely on thofe
iaiiifjoltare of a more recent date, and after the time of
at Cot^iicittSf when they began to be more r^-
arcff Aept and digefted after his model : but, as to that, we
'kiMtkr our readers to what hath been alr^y faid of it ia
iyjlii'nt hiftory above-quoted, and to what we ihali havf
r occafion to add in a fubfequent le£tion.
laft thing we have to fpeak of, under this head, is Antienf
which doth the more properly belong to it, Chiaeii^
tira^ thorough knowlegc of it is one main branch of the Chi^
kiiBlBnung, and fuch a one as cannot be attained to without
/ and application ; but, once acquired, is the moft
[ direfl road to the higheft preferments and dignities
l^government. What the antient language of the Chimefe
' \ primitive xoots, and affinity to the Htbrew^ and other
pt tongues, we have in fome meafure fhewn in a former
" this work ' : neitho: ihall we here enter into the con**
fy about wtuch of then^ is the moft antient or primi-
[language, which is a fubjeA too copious to be difcui&d
ght to be, in a work like this; but only obferve iVkSnM
that it is not without good grounds that feveral very fnptmia .
.dmen have given it the preference above all the antient /'•^ ?f
that of the Mcfaip books not excepted, as carrying a '^' ^^.
I greater variety of fuch charafteriftics as one would rea- . ^1^^
blyexpeft to find in an original or primitive tongue ". '''^'^
^paucity of its radical words (whkh to this day exceed ^^'^ *
^330), and the fmiplidty of their founds, pf which we.
"I fp«dc in the fequel, cannot but be allowed to be every
\ anfwerable to the beft notions we can frame of thofe ear-
\ times, wherein mankind could have but very few ideas,
Ifuch as could be eafUy conveyed by the fimpleft wcM'ds or
bods.

On the other hand, iheur chufing to fplit diofe original ^^eirfew
words mto fuch a vaft variety of fignifications, according as '"^^^
ttcir ideas gradually multipl^, rather than coin new ones for *^^/J/l//^^
e^ new id«^ muft needs appear to every unprejudiced per- ^^ ^^

. number of

' See Univ. Hifl. vol. zx. pag. 10^ & itq* & 150, k feq. ffuaningi^
^ Ibid. p. 131, & feq. • De hoc, vid. mt. al. Howsi^'s

F% on the C^hinefe language, paffix^. Qaybe, Mtt£ic. Sixuc.

W£L?£R, ShUCKFOUP, ^ 9\.

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«oa n^HilicryofQim£ B. L'

fon a manifeft proof of their tenacious fondneTsy or perhaps
rather, we (hould fay, refpeft for thrfr mother-tongue ; efpe-
cially if he confiders how much eafier it would have been
for them to have ccnncd new words for all fuch new ideas,
than to exprefs them by the mere difference of f®und or- accent
of their old ones ; but that is a point we have neither time
according nor room to enlarge upon. It muft be eafy to every reader to
to the in- guefs to what a prodigious height the introduftion of arts
mafi ej and fcienccs mbft in time have multiplied the variety erf iooiuls
tbiir ideas. ^^^ accents, and confequendy of their charafters or hierogly-
phics ; and accordingly fome autiiors make them to amouat
to no fewer than from 60 to 80,000, a number too great fiw
any one, efpecially a ftranger, to attain in fo fmall a fpace of
time as three or four years, as fome of the Jefuit mifl^naries
pretend to have done, unlefs we fuppofe there is either ibme
alphabet, or (bme other equivalent expeditious way of coming
to the knowlege of fuch a variety of combinations than thqr
have been pleafed to acquaint us with.

We, and other nations; who make ufe of an alphabet, and
combine our letters lengthwife, which feems the eafieft and
ifnoft natural way, and clog them with fo inconfiderable a
number of accents, plainly fee what time it requires, even
with all thefe advantages, for a youth to become fo far a
matter .of his fpelling-book, as readily to catch evwy fuch
combination, aftd form it into a charaftcr or word ; for that,
we take for granted, every reader is fenfible to be the cafe :
for, as foon as he is once bcconk a tolerable proficient in
lading, he no longer joins letters into fyllables, and thefe
into words, but takes at one glance of the eye the whcJe word,
be it (hort, or ever fo long, as the Chinefe do one of thdr com-
pound charafters ; fo that, unlefs he chance to meet with fome,
irregularity in the word, as when it is wrong fpdt, the letters
mifplaced, inverted, and the like, which recalls his alphabet to
his mind, he runs over every one of them, as over fo many intire
charafters, and the exotic words elephant^ hieroglyphic^ Confian^
tmoplcy &c. offer themfelves, under that notion, with the feme
eafe and fpeed as his own native monofyllables ox, fheep, bread,
wood, isc. But if this eafy method of ours doth yet require
fome years to be attained in any tolerable perfeftion, what muft
it be fuppofed to do in an European who attempts to acquire
the fame readinefs In the Chinefe charafters, which, beCdes
their being combined in a quite different manner, are clogged
with fuch vafl variety of accents of fo many different imports,
as to multiply the number of thofe charafters to above 60,000,
unlefs there be fome particular, fome fundamental due, equi^
valent to our alphabet, to f^ciUtate die learning of them ?

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C. 1. %be Hifi^fy of China. tp^ .

Especially if, to what hath beea mentioQed itready, \Pe ThHrtbru
add, that there are, properly fpeaking, three foru of Ian- languages
guages in China ; vk.. that of the common people, which \%^ t^'M^
only ufed by them, and in compofitions of the lowefl clafe, as ''^ ^'
being by iss the rudeft of the three, and fplitting itfelf into a
great variety of diale£b and pronunciations. The iieju is that
which is called the language of the mandarins and literati,
and is tt£»i by all the politer part, and higher rank, of the
Ciiaeft, In this fecond fort, which is properly rather a te- fht wmn
fioemeat, or more polifhed d^e^, of the former, arc written darin^ U$
an infinite variety of hiftories, novels, and other compofitions ^ff-
of the like nature, in a ftyle no way inferior to our bcft wri*
rings either for clearnefs, elegance, purity, or politenefs. This
is the language which was formerly u(ed at court, and hath been
fince propagated among the more polite and neighbouring pro-
vinces to it : and hence it is that it is befl fpoken in tbofe that
are next to that of Kyang'Uan ; but it was with no fmall dif-
ficulty, and by very flow degrees, that it was afterwards pro-
pagated through the reft of the empire, for the convcniency of
the government.

The third is that which may be properly ftyled the Ian- TJIfi tvnt'
guage of the learned, or of books, that is, of thofe that are '^» ^*»-
not written in the fame familiar ftyle as that of the two former, S^^i^^
but in fuch a one as is vaftly fuperior to them in fublimity,
majefty, and brevity. This laft is now no longer ufed in
common difcourfe, but is only written ; and runs with fuch a
noble flowing harmony, when read by thofe that are mafters
of it, that the niceft car may hear it with delight, notwith-
Handing its furprifing concifenefe, and the variety of accents
in which it is to be pronounced. But as the knowlegeof this ^^f pan-
third fort is only a kind of dead one, and chiefly known by "^ ^f}*'
the leamed.of the higheft rank, we fliall only add, to whai we''*'^''''"'
have faid of its Angular concifenefs, that each thought is ge-*^^*^
nerally exprefled in about four or fix charafiers, and with-
out any pointing ; fo that the learned are left to judge where
the fenfe concludes, by the mere nature of the diftion, and
yet they are feldom, if jever, miftaken in that particular.

But to return to the mandarin or polite language : it hath
(his peculiar property, to be the moft conciie, and barren
of words, and the moft copious and extenfive in fenfe, of any
either antient or modem, in the whole world. The number ^
of its words doth not amount, as was lately hinted, to above
330, all monofyllables, indeclinable, and for the moft part
ending with a vowel, or with zxin ox ng\ and yet contains Vffi *v«-
fuch a variety of meanings, according to the accent or tone ^^^y 9f .
Chey are pronounced in, as. to ierve in all exigencies, ajjd to ^"^:^^"'*

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%{f4 3*^ Hificry €f China, B. t

be extreme^' copious and fignificant. Again, the compound-
ing of thofit inonorylkd)les multiplies their prinutive fignifica*
lion into a vaft variety pf new ones ; all which doth fo inrich
it, tHat,they are never at a lofs how to exprefe themfelvcs, not
only in all exigencies relating to human life, but in all thdr
various arts and fdences, in the moft {^oper and intelli^bte
targe manner. We cannot give a more pregnant proof of ^he almoft
Chinefe infinite variety of ideas which are conveyed by the few mono-
^^»i¥iry. fyUabks above-mentioned, than the diffionary whkh wa^
comjMled by order di the late emperor Kang^hiy which^ tho*^
printed in a finall charafter, yet amounted to 95 vcdumes,
jBoft ot them very thick; and yet was found fo (hort oi com*
prehending the whole langu^e, that they thought it neceflarjr
to add a Supplement to it of 24 volumes more. As there is
therefore no language in the world that would not be exhaufted
in left than half the number of thofe vdumes, fo there can
be none fo copious as the CMnefey or that can boaft to have
exifted fo many thoufand years in the fame ftate in which it
continues to this day.

We have ftill a more pregnant proof of the richnefs rf
this language, from the number of inflexions by which they
aker the lignification of original words. Thefe are chiefiy
five ; the feft of which confifts in fpeaking it in a plain even
tone ; the fecond, in raifing it a note or two higher ; the
third, in giving it a very acute found or pronunciation ; the
fourth, a fwift defcent from the acute to the grave accent,
or from a higher to a lower note ; the fifth and laft, in de-
fcending ftill lower. There are ftill fome other accents, fa
peculiar to their nation, that it would be impoffible to give
any idea of them to an European^ and which yet ferve to the
'fame end. But, from thefe nve, our readers may eafily judge
of the whdle ; for if we can, by the combination of 24 let-
ters, form fome myriads of words, what muft be the refnlt
dt thdr 330 original words, when multiplied by all thofe in-
flexions^?
piffieuliy It \yould be an ufelefs talk to carry our inquiries farther
pf learning into the geiuus, grammar, and other peculiarities, of this
itfrom language (K), which the curious may fee in thofe authors who
koeks^ ^ have

* Vid. Magaillan, Ex Comptb, MAariKi, Du Halds^
«rc.

(K) From the fcantling we be, and what a deal of time and
have given above, our readers pains it muft t»keto come cvca
will eafily guefs how difHcult at a tolerable knowlege of fuck
and endlefs Tuch ^ talk would a copious and intricate Ian-

3 guage.

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C i; Tki Hijtcry of Chins* i«|

hmwiitten ni^oa \t ex prtfeffb^^ or tx> dwdl longer on tMt
difficulty of kaming it, e^geaallyto ftrangers, from theM-
rioos /ignifications which ^ woixls acquire by that variety of
aooeots, as well as from the difficulty of rightly difltngtMiing
tfaem. To give an inftance of it ; the word Chu^ or SiA^
pfooounced in the l^her note, and lef^fthening the vowel %
%ufies a^after, lord ; in a lower tone, a hog ; pfonoimoedl
flxHt, it iignifies a kitchen ; and with a ftrong malctiMne tone^
a piUar, or column. Aocordii^ to tho fame variation of ac«
cents, the -word Poj though fo fbon a monofjdlable, liath nio
Ids than eleven different itgnificatioos \ in the one it fignifiei
tglafs^ in another to boil^ in a third to fan or vmrmv com, .
iaodiersitmeansto^rAsA, toj^, towater, to pr€psre,tn
tldwwum^ a Jlave^ a Bberal man, a prudent peribn, and it
Btk. Very near the £une riling may be fidd of all theur other
fdmidve w^s, and the creat difficulty a reader will find to
inwffigate tlidr variety of figoificadons, from any rules ht^
tfaerto g^ven us, and much greater fUU to comprdiend the
di&ent founds, fix the various meanmgs from the feveral

' LvD.. ToMAM* Gloffiir. Univerf. BAria, Gr
Sinic* 1. ik & Mufic. Sinent ScHiKdi^ia. Pcotagl. MAaTt««
Hift. Sinic. lib. i. pas. 22, k fe^. hz Compt« State of Ckiiui^
lett. 7. Dv Hai^de Engl. vol. i. p. 359, Sc feq. ii. 140, U feq.

euagc. Magaillan doth indeed Hkewife a very retentive memor

fappofe, that an European might ry ; and even with all thefe a

eatily learn it in a few months, man may dill mifcarry, whole

and with more eafe than the ear hath not been accuftomed

Qrnk or Latin^ becaufe all the from his infancy to diftingnifh

words that compofe it might be that great varie^ of founds^ and

leant in a day. He might at wiio hatk not framed his voice

well have affirmed, that muik to a right modulation of them ;

nught be learnt in an hour, as feeing the leaft deviation from

he Compte juflly obferves, be- it will zive the word another

caofe the few notes of it may be and perhaps a quite oppofite

learnt in lefs than a minute fenfe. The fame may be faid

(12). of a good number of their con-

The primitive words may be fonants,efpecially the compound

hdeed eafily learnt ; butthe dlf- ones, as tY-ng ; and of their gtit«

ference of accents, tones, modu- turals, wnich have a quite dif*

htioDs, and other changes of ferent found from that we are

tbeir voice, by which their great ufed to give them ; and can ne-

variety of fignifications is con- ver be perfedly attained, except

veyed to the mind, is not only peoole begin to learn them

a work which requires the great- when they are young,
eil 0udy aad application^ but

(1%) Vbi fuf, ti^.j^

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soft S'bi Hiprjt tf ChiMi B. I.'

w&y»of fpeffing by which the miffionaries, and other Euro^
pion writers, have endeavoured to fexprefs thent ; (o thai^
^ter the molt curious and intenfe application in confulring all
the grammars and lexicons of the Chinefe tongue, and oblerv<*
ing th^ vaft difoencc in which thofe authors fpell the very
fame word; and what pains fome of the latter fort, particu-
larly Father Du Halde, and his i?;j^/i/& interpreter, have taken
to fix fome more certain rules for writing that language \vk
our European charafters, and how fliort they thcmfeives own
they have come of the mark ^ ; it will not be a wonder if, afeer
aU thefe pains, they do not fet down at the foot of the account
' , Labour lost.
Great *va* For it is not only the vulgar Chinrfe (which hath as manj
riety of different dialefts and pronunciations as there are cities and
£ale£ts9 villages) that is thus hard to be attained, but the fame difE-
eulty runs, though not in the fame degree, through the man*
darin or polite language, which is moft univerially fpoken
and pro- through the empire ; for not only every province, but every
nunciit' city and town, and it can hardly be otherwife, pronounces it
tiom. in fome different way ; which, confidering that this chiefly
fixes the various fignifications of the fame word, ixmkes it
quite unintelligible to all the refl, except fuch as, by travel or
Gonver&tion, have accufl<wned thcmfdves to that variety ; fo
that it often happens that a man, who hath perfedHy learned
the pronunciation of one province, will find himfelf as it were
in a fh-ange country as foon as he pafTes into another, and will
be forced to rack his brain to underftand what is faid to him,
or to make himfelf underflood : and though the Chinefe of
one province may, by cuftom, obiervatioa, or fome kind of
rote, be able to underAand thofe of ^another, the cafe will be
found quite mherwife with a ftranger, who, after he hath
fpent tlu-ee or four years in learning it, and can make fhift to
IVammer it in fuch a manner as to be tolerably well underftood
by thofe that are ufed to his jargon, will be forced, after all,
, to have an interpreter whenever he happens to be among thofe

he never faw before. We will only add, that, befides the
various ways in which each province founds the vowels and
confonants, and the different accents or tones in which th^
pronounce the words, they obferve feveral degrees of lenity
and rapidity in fpeaking them, to exprefs their proper fig-
nification, which may eafily efcape the nlceft ear that hath
not been early accuflomcd to them ; for want of due attention
cvei;i on which nice particular either in the fpeaker or hearer,
men will, inflead of underftanding each other, cither be

y Du Hax.de, abi fupra.

plapog

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ao7

C. I. 7he Uytory ^ ChiM.

playing at crds-purpofes, or be forced to be ever repeadag
what diey have faid or heard ; fo that, upon the wholei the
Cbinefe language can never be learnt to any tolerable degree,
except it be done from one's very infancy *•

Their writing is ftill more diJlicult and intricate, becaufe, Wri$imii
as we ktely hinted, they write not with letters, or an alpha-
bet, as moft other nations do, but by charafters fignifyii^ a
fyllable or whole word, and which, though chiefly com-
pofcd of fix principal ftrokcs, fuch as the reader will find
dcfcribed in the margin (L), yet may be, and are, combined »

into
« Du Haldb, ic al. Tup. citat.

(L) As, oar writii^-maders
tell us, that moft of the letters
of oar alphabet are compofed
of the j and o ; fo the Chinefe
pretend, ^at all their chara^ers
are, properly fpeaking, formed
of diefix following ftrokee (13):

bat bow, and by what rules,
thefe are combined to gether, to
compofe fuch an infinite variety
of charaders, we are not told ;
and whoever will be at the pains
of analyiing any large quantity
of their charaders, will foon
difeover a great variety of their
nembersywhich are by no means
redodble to the ^x above-men-
6oDed, thou^ he ihould allow
himfeif the liberty of altering
their pofition all manner of
ways, as a tranfverfe into an up-
right, or even turning them up-
fide down, or about to all points
ofthecompafs. This pretended
rale feems therefore to as ra-
dier an amufement, calcalated
by the faperior daft of the lite-
lad, or dodors of the firft rank,
merely to conceal the true my-
ftcry of combining them not on-
ly from the vulgar and Gran-

gers, but from the lower claffes
of their learned, or rather per-
haps to difcoura|;e them from
attempting the difcovery of it,
. by putting them upon a wrong
fccnt, which, they well know,
will foon make them defpairoF
ever coming at it.

Were we to allow ourfelves
the liberty of following the con-
jedure of a few learnra men im
fome of our foreign academies,
which, though hitjierto unfuc*
cefsful in unravelling the whole
royftery, yet have dived fo far
into it, as to give one vtry
ftrong hopes that the founda-
tion is juft ; and may in time, by
proper helps and application,
and a |;enias foitable to the taik,
be fet in fo clear a light, as to
put it beyond all pombility of
doubting; we fhould tell our
readers, which is no more than
w^ believe, and are in a great
meafure convinced of bv our
own experience, that all this in-
finite variety of charadlers is
as reducible to a regular alpha-
bet, as our infinite Variety of
words is ; only with this diflTer-
ence, that whereas we difpofe
our vowels and confonants in
one way, that is, one after an-

(13) Du Ba!de, ubi fvp. wA i. p, 3<9.

othcr^

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208

9le Hijfory of China.

B. !•

more in'
tricate.

jfmttent

bierogly

fhia.

Into fuch a procBglous variety, as exceeds the capadty of mofl
men to learn in a whole life, though natives, and men of
letters ; and it is to this vaft multitude of characters, and the
difEculty of learning their foveral combinations> that mofl
writers impute the fmall progrefs and improvements which
the Chinefe. nation hath made in the fciences, there being fo
great a part of their time Ipent in learning to read and write
thdr own language.

Antiently they only ufed hieroglyphics, and rather
painted than wrote : a round circle fignified the fun, a crefcent
the moon, a fquare the earth or a houfe, a crooked line bead-
ing in and out, a river, a triangular figure, a mountdn, a groap
of trees, a foreft, isc^ which might be eafUy done, when the
number of ideas was contdned withih a fmall compafs, and
ixehanged coitfned to things tangible, vifible, "iyc. ; but when they l)e-
forthepre- gan to multiply, and extend to fuch objefts as could not be
fent cha- reprefented , by drawng, they were obliged to have recoarfe
to thefe charafters, of which we have ^ven an account in a
former part of this work*/ and whkh, whether proper
hieroglyphics, or not, are combined in fuch a regular, manner,
as to aiifwer to all the vaft variety of terms ufed by ckem, both
in all exigencies of life, and in all their arts and (ciences ; but
the manner of joining and combining the fcvcral original

» Sec Univ. Hift. vol. xx. p. 133, & fcq.

raders.

other, in the fame order as they
are founded, and with the accents
over tlie letters, they, 01^ the
contrary, place the confonant
in the moft confpicuous part of
the character, and the vowels,
accents, and other critical points
or marks, on the top and bot-
tom, and on either fide, accord-
ing to fome certain rules pre-
fixed and agreed among them.
All this may the more eafily be
done in their langus^, by rea-
fon of the ihortnefs of their
words, wliich feldom exceed
two confonants and tt^Q vowels,
and perhaps an accent or two,
cither conical or grammatical.
It would even be eafy to (hew.

that the mercantile part nmft
have fome more expeditious
way to read and write thofc
charaders, which barely relate
to their profeffion, their religion,
and morality ,t than that tedious
and intricate way we have beca
fpeaking of; becaufe we are
told, they are commonly in-
fhuded in them from their in-
fancy, down even to the chil-
dren of the meaneft mechanics;
and they contrad^ thereby fuch
a habit, or even deHght, io
reading, that one ihaU hardly
fee any of them, when their
hands are off from their buii-
nefs, without a book befbie
them ( 1 4).

^14; Martini, Le Comfte, Jfbana^ Kircher Chin, VluJIraU NUuboff, Dm
HaJJe, &* aL ^

ftrokcs

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C. i; f^ Hijforj of China: apj

ftrokcs which compofe it, and run through the whole, is a
myftery known only to the higheft ckTs of the learned.

These charafters have been fince multiplied to fuch a de- Faft num^
grce, as to amount to 25,000, according to fome ; to 30,000 ^^ ^f
(T 40,000, according to others ; and by fome of the latter '^'***
writers even to 80,000 ; though there are but few of their Difficulfy
literati who underftand half of them, and he is reckoned a rfjj^^rning
Fery learned man amongft them who is matter of 1 5,000 or *"^'
20,000 ; becaufc the greater number of them a man knows,
the greater quantity and variety of books he is able to read.
By this, if it be really the cafe, one may guefs what length of
time it muft take to learn fuch a prodigious number of them^
to diltinguifh when they are or are not compounded, and to
remember their refpeftive fignifications and .fliapes ; if what The trm
we lately hinted do not make it more than probable, that tMithod
dieir higheft ranks of literati are poflefled of a more expedi- P^^^^fy
tious way of attaining this kind of learning, which they yet J!"?^^l>
may defignedly conceal from the reft, to prevent the too great ^^J^^^
increafe of competitors to the higheft preferments in the ftate ;
and to referve to themfelves and families the (horteft and eafieft
way to wealth, honour, and grandeur, and, what they fecm Their
to affeft above all the reft, to the diftinguifliing prerogative 'wearingof
of wearing long nails (M). And this may probably account ^"g^^^h
for the (mall number of thofe eminent literati in comparifon of ^/^^.
the reft, who attain their knowlege in the learned books by ^^^^^^^
the mere drudgery of labour and ftudy ; though even in this
laft cafe, it muft be owned, that thofe who can advance fo
fer^ tobe able to read about 10 or 15,000 characters, may
ftill be learned eno^h to exprefs themfelves clearly in their
own language, and to be able to read a fufficient number of
books to pafs for men of learning, and be intided to fome
confiderable pofts in the government (N).

Besides

(M) It is efteemed a charac- xicons and vocabularies, in

teiiftic and prerogative of a which that vaft variety ofcha-

profoond fcholar, or a man of radlers is ranked in feveral claf-

deep learning, among the Chi- fes, pretty much in the fame ^

mfe, to wear their nails of a method as the Hebrew ones do

coi^fiderable length ; infomuch all their words under their re-

that fome of their moft eminent fpedtive roots. Tbus^ for in- .^

dodors will have them as long ftance, every thing that relates

II their fingers. to hea'ven^ emrth', mountain, man,

(N) Tq cafe the learners as hor/e, SiC, is to be looked for

much as they think proper in under the character of heaven,

this difficult tafk, thefe doctors earth, mountain, man, horfe,

have compiled fome forts of Ic- fcfr. Thefe vocabularies arc

Mod. Hist. Vol. VIII. O more

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fbeirjljle,

ftto ^hi Bfiory of Chiiu, B, i

Jn old Besides the chancers aboTc-mentioncd, ^ey have a very

fortpU in ontient fort Ml in ufe among them, tho' chiefly in dtles, infcrip-

Hpf" dons^ feais, and devices, and in fome old books, which, for that

r^on, the learned are obliged to underftand. , They have

alfo a common rUnning-hand for deeds, bonds, afls (^ joIBce,

ifc. And, lafUy, they make ufe of a letter or peculiar cha-

rafter for difpatdi ot buflnds ; bat which requires a more

than ordinary ftudy and af^licatbu^ on account of the grsat

variety of ftrokes, abbreviations, ligatures^ and other fi^-

larities, which make it difScult to learn ^.

- Their ftyle'in writing, efpecially among diofe of higher

rank, is grave, concife, abftrule, and all^orical ; and {osm*

times fo obfcure, that its requires a perfeS knowkge of the

charaAers, as well as a deep attention to them, to ^void

making frequent miftakes in reading them. Their allegories are

bold, and oft^n fublime ; but that which gives the greateft

ornament to their ftylc, is the frequent interfperfing it with

ieiatences out of the canonical books. Next to that, they value

tbemfelvcs t\tix'ncly for writing neatly, drawing their cha-

rafters trui) ml beautifully, for that they prefer to fine paiBt-

ing ; and ecu the unlearned will pay an uncommon reg^d

for a fcrap of paper on which the charaders are finely writteo,

though they know not what it contains.

Wi^ of Their way of writing thofe characters (contrary to moft

nioriting. other nations) is from the top to the bottom. They begin

their firft line on tlie right fide, and fo go regularly on to the

left. They obfervc thz fame rule with refpeft to the order

of then: pages; fb that the fartheft of them towards the

Inftru- right is always the firit. They ufe pencils inftead d pens,

mints. which they hold, not obliquely, but upright, and fcarcely fcf-

fer their hand to touch the paper. Their ink is a compound

of lamp-black, made of fome forts of burnt woods, or oil)

and mixed with a kind of gum-water, which gives it a con-

fiftency ; after which it is caft in oblong fquare cakes, for ofc,

after having firft mixed with it fome quantity of muik, or

** Athan. Kerchbe, Chio. Uluftr. Martiki^ Lb Coum*
Du Halde, & al.

more or lefs extenfive, that is, or more ; but the moft complete

comprehend a greater or Icffer it that which they call the ti^*

number of cKarafters, as fuits pyatt in which they mxf find

beft with theexigence of the lear- any of thofe.which are wandflg

ner. Some of them cpntaining in the lefier ones (15].
only about 8000, others 1 0,000,

C\S) Martini, Le Cow^e, Atb^aL Kinbir Chitu Jllujir, NioH^ ^

Other

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e. I- . Tie Hifiory of Chkuu 2f I

odier perfume, to take off the difagreeable finell of the lamp*
black, which is alfo more or lefs fetid, according to the nature
of the oil or combuftible of which it is made. When ink
hath been preferved a confiderable time, it is then feldom ufed
for writing ; but becomes, according to them, an efiefhial re-
medy againft the Uoody-flux, and convulCons in children*
They lock upon it as an excellent alcali, and fweetener of the
Uood, by abforbing the (harp juices of it. The dofe is com-*
monly about two drachms of it to a grown perfon, in a glafi
^ water or wine.

Their paper, which has been commonly fuppofed amongft Pi»^»
us to be made of /Uk, by reafon of its thinne&, and beautim
wlute (hining colour, is made of the inward bark of the bam-
boo, and ieveral other trees (O). They have feveral forts of
k; which, with their various ways of making, whitening,
lilvering, and preferving, it, the reader may fee at large m Du
HaUe, and other authors ^» It is fo thin and tranfparent,
that it will not bear bdng written but on one fide ; and, when
they are obliged to write oh both fides, they generally double
the leaves, and join them together with a fine glue, which is
fcarcdy cUfcemible ; the paper being fo fmooth and even,
and the glue fo thin and clear, that irftiU Ipoks like a fingle
leaf. And this b the method they ufe alfo with refpeA to
their bound books, whether written or printed, as well as
with the prints or cuts that are interleaved with them. The

^ AriftiN. Kercher. Chin. Illuih'. Marti if i. Lb Compte,
Du Halde, & al.

(O) That which is moft in wafhed it, mix it with the feed

file among them, is called Ku- of the Seja-mou (which is the

chif from the Chu^ku, or Ku-cbu^ fame as tne Portuguefe call G^-

titc, from whofe inner rind it gelino)^ and fcatter them toge-

is taken ; which tree in figure ther, at random, upon the

nearly refembles our mulberry, ground The Gergeiino will

bat, by its fruit, is rather a Iprout out with the fir ft fhoots

kind pf fig-tree. of the Chu-ku ; but you muil

Theirherbalsprefcribeame- take care not to cut it in the

tiod of cultivating this ufeful autumn, nor in the winter, but

plant, fo as to prodnce the flay till the next fpring, and

|;reater quantity of bark, and then fet fire to the field. That

an the perfection that is required very year you will fee the plants

for making this fort of paper; of the Chuku increafe confider-

wluch is as follows. At the ably ; and at the end of three

vernal equinox, take the ker- years it will be fit to cut, and

Bel of the tree, and having make paper of ^i 6).

(i6) Du Halde, uhi fuf. p, 36S, B h'

O z invention

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212 ^be Hijlory of China. B.I.

iavention of paper in China^ according to their account of it,
is reckoned to be almoft as old as our Chriftian aera, or vdthin
about fifty years of it* : before that time, they rather en-
graved, than wrote, with an iron tool, upon thin planks of
fome hard wood, or of bamboo, which were confequently
more lafling than any parchment. At leaft all their canonical,
and other valuable antient books, were couched upon fuch
hard and durable materials, and hot upon paper made of the
bark of trees, as fome late writers have abfurdly imagined,
and even ventured to affirm f . In procefs of time, they came
to write with the hair pencil upon white fattin ; and, after
the invention of printing, upon fome fort of paper, but fuch
as was far enough from being fo friable and brittle as hath
been pretended ; efpecially that which is brought thither from
Korea, and is very near of the fame toughnefs as vellom ; tho',
' had that which they ufed for printing been lefs durable, the
planks would have ftill remained the fame.
Printing The art of printing hath been in ufe in China from time
Sfferent immemorial, but in a very different manner from that which
from ours, we ufe in Europe ; though it is not improbable that the cele-
The hint brated John Fuft, or Fauft, of Merit z, took the firfthinuof
taken from }jg difcovery from them, his firft eflays being exaftly after
^^^' the Chinefe manner, by wooden planks, and with the fame kind
of ink, and only on one fide of the paper or parchment % till
his fon-in-lawP^/^r Scheoffer invented the fiifile or metal types,
and, with them, a new fort of ink made of varnifh, or boiled
oil, the fame which hath been in ufe ever fince ; but this im-
provement would be abfolutely imprafticable among the Chi-
, nefe, on account of the vaft number of characters they ufe,
which would require cafes of fome hundreds of yards in length
Way of to contain even one bare half of them. Their method is,
printing, whenever they want any thing to be printed, to have the copy
Wjcll and exaftly tranfcribed by a good writing-mafter ; after
which, every page is glued very fmoothly on a feparate block
of fome hard wood, like thofe we ufe here for wooden cuts ;
fo that the engraver hath nothing to do but follow the exaft
ftrokes of his copy, by cutting down with a Iharp-pointed
knife all the wood that lies under the white of the paper, and
leaving all the black ftrokes untouched, which by that means

^ Atham. Kercher. Chin.IIluftr. Martini, Lb CoMrri,
Du Halde. & al. Du Haldk, vol. i. p. 372. t Rinodaut
ap. P. Prcmar. in Recueil de Lettres edifiantes, vol. xix. p. 47^
& feq. * Vid. Malincrot &Trithem. de orig. art.

typogr. Chevalier La Caillf Fbrtel Orig. de rimprimcric
Orlandi Origine della Stamper. Mattair. Annal. Typ^''*
Palmer Hid. of Printing, lib. \. k dl,

3 become

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C 1. Sr^ Hiftory of China. % i^

become emboflcd, and prominent enough to receive the Inlc
upon them. In this way of printing, which requires as many Jd^van-
blocks as the book contains pages, there can be no long time tages of
fpent in correfting the proofs, feeing the graver works by '^^'> ivay
thcftrokes of the cppy itfelf ; and cannot poiGbly err, if the of printing*
manufcript be exaft. There are feveral other advantages in
it, which oars hath not ; one is, that thofe planks, when en-
graved, may ferve for as many editions as the work will bear,
and at any diflance of time, without the neceility of a new
compofition, or other labour, than perhaps retouching the
feces of the charafters when they are battered by long»ufe.
Another is, that they only print the flieets as they are befpoke ;
fo that they are in no danger of lofing by over-printing them-
fclves, as is too commonly the cafe in Europe, A third is,
when a book is become fcarce, and not eafdy to be got, one
may go to the printer, and get a fingle one printed with eafe,
cheapnefs, and expedition ; there being no more required
than the looking out the blocks, and bringing them to the
prefs. The laft advantage we fhall mention is, that they caa
print books in any other language in the fame way, and with
ail the ornaments ol initial letters, head and tail-pieces, (i;c,
and, provided the copy be but exaft, and finely written, it
may be not only fairly and exaftly cut, but even receive fome
imjM-ovements from the engraver. The only inconvenience it DifaJ-
hath, befides that of being printed only on one fide, is, ih^t ^vantagem
it requires a vaft deal of room to keep thofe blocks in, and
fuch as, were books to be printed with them in fuch vaft quan-
tities as they are in Europe, no printer could poflibly find
ftowage for ; fo that, all things duly weighed, our European,
method is vaftly preferable to it (P).

(P) We are told, however (17), that are engraven by the beft
that they have fince fallen into hands. If that be true, which
a way of printing by feparate we much queftion, it can never
types, not indeed of metal, as be done with fo litde difiiculty
ours arc, but of wood ; and, by as he pretends : for, if we fhould
the help of them, corred and al- allow thofe books to require no
ter their Pr^/;/ 5/ii/^ ^ China, more of thofe characters than
which is printed at Pe-king every 1 000, and we can hardly fnp-
three months. Our author adds, pofe that any of them can con-
on the authority of common tain lefs than 1000 different
report, that the fame thing is words (that, efpecially, called
done at Nan-king and Su-chenv, The Prefent State of China, one
where they print little books as would rather fuppofe to require
neatly and corredly as thofe at leaft double that number) ; a

O 3 ^fe.

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U4 W# H0dry of China. B, I.

We have already taken notice of thdr folding tx donUing
die paper, as its tranfparency will not admit of its tAang
priottd on both fides, wit|ioat confounding the charafiers.
Hence, in the binding of their books, they take care to harc
the fold at the edge, or outward mamn, and the opening at
the back, at which they join one leaf to the other ; and, in
order to direA the binder how to place the fiieetsv fo as to
anfwer each other exaAly, there is a black line drawn upon
the folds of the (heets, which runs through the ^ole nund)er
of them, and ferves to the fame pnrpofe as the r^ifter or
point-hoks which are made in our printed (beets, which not
only direct the preflmen how to place them exaAly at the
roteration, but likewife the binder how to fi:dd them up ex-
a&ly, and according to thdr form. Their books are com-
monly covered with a kind of grey pafteboard, or, if for the
carious, with a fine (atdn, or flowered filk. Some of the ncher
(brt are covered with red brocade, interfperfed with gold and
filver flowers, and appear neat enough to the eye, dio' none
of them dther fo convenient or beautmil as oars ^.

' MAaTiwi, Lb Comptb, Du Haldb, & al.

cafe, containing looo boxes, ing and warping of the wood,

cannot be To eauly reached, nor it would be in fooie metfnre

everv charaAer fo readily found impoffible to keep the lines ftraic

oat Dy a compofitor, as he ima- and perpendicular ; or, thongh

gines. To which we may add, the form be kept ever fo ckne-

that feparate wooden types, ly locked up, to prevent feme

(hould we fuppofe them to be ofthofe charaders ftartiDg np

-even a qaarter of an inch fquare, above their level, or even qaitc

will be apt in time to twift and out from the reft> which woaM

warp with the weather, and foon (hew them the neceffity of

much more by the dampnefs of exchanging them for fafile or

the Chtntfe ink, which is not metal ones; for this, we are

made of oil boiled into a var- told by the writers above-qoo*

^(h, as that which our printers ted, of the origin of priotij^ii^

^ufe, which neither their wooden £«m^, happened to the M

.blocks or types, nor their Toft difcoverers and imj^rovers of

paper, could admit of i but it that art, whofe ircuaent mif'

18 ofa watery, nature, Uke that .carriages with thoie woodea

we write with> e^^pt that it qrpes put them upcp excogi-

.is mixed with a fmall auantiiy taiing the more folio inet^l oa^

pf glue, to give it a confiftenc? : ( 1 8).

(9 tlMU, by the frequent fwell-

, * - i. .

SECT,

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C H Thi Hifiory af China. | ,|

SECT. V.

Of tbi Agriculture^ Silk Mamfaaure^ Cbituhwart^
Jdpan^ Varnijb^ and other inferior ArtSy of the Chi-

BCfe.

A MONG tkeir other inferior arts, we (hall begin with that ^griaJ^
*^ of agriculture, not only as tfie moft antient and benefi- ^regtMt^
dal among, but as beft underftood, encouraged, and im-^ ***•••
fiwed, by, them, beyond any other nation in Hie whole ^^^^*
world. We have already given, in a former part of this
work*, feme account of the vaft encouragement and ifflpRyve*
ocQt which it received from Shin-nong^ their very fecond em-
peror : their hiftory fumifties us with many other fuch fignal
aamples, particularly that of then- feventh monarch Yau^
who, according to them, began to reign 2357 years before
Chrift, and who preferred a worthy hufbandman, named
^ to his own fon, to fucceed him in the empire. Shun^
aod his fucceflbr 21s/, who was chofen after the fame manner,
oot <mly promoted hulbandry with uncommon zeal, but the
l^ter wrote feveral books on that fubjeft, taught them how
^dma the lowlands, to till, dung, and water th^, in the
c^ aod moft frugal manner. Their examples were fol-
Wfidby fo many ot their fucceflbrs, that it inlpired the fub-
jcftswith an extraordinary efteem and fondnefs for all kinds
^'f agricnlture, and made them readily fubmit to thegreateft
%ues and Wdfiups of it, not fo much from a r^ard to
die emoluments accruing from it, as from a kind of facred
vcQcradon they had conceived for thofe antient and royal pro-
*JM)ters and encouragers of it.

Hence, as is currently believed, took birth that grand and Afefihvd
foloiui fisftival which is celebrated every year in all the dties in f its In*
^^ m the day of the fun's ingrefs into the 1 5th degree affiour.
4*ttTw, which is with them the beginning of the fpring (QJ ),

* Sec before, Univ. Hift. vol. xx. p. 13a 139, &feq,

JQj The ceremony of this that folemn manner, ou>W8 to-

'Aval is as follows : The go- wands the eaftcm gate of the

vemor, or cUef mandarin, of city, as it were to meet the

•^erycity, is canied oat of his fpring, attended with fever^

Palace in a chair of ftate, pre- litters painted and adorned with

^^ by banners, tordies, and variety of carious iilk tapeftij»

n^ofical inftruments. He is exhibiting the portraitures of il-

^^Hith flowers, and» in laftriouspcrfous, whohadprae.

O 4 ti&d

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ti$ Tie Hiftory of CWiuu . B. t

as well as that other ceremony performed by every new onpe-
ror, in the rural way, of which we have given an account in

PtrfoHs a former feftionh. One further encouragement fome of their
frcmoted ^y^ nionarchs have given to hufbandry, is worth obferving ;
forthetr ^^^^ ^y^^^ every governor of each city is obliged to fend an

fifftca ion j^^^y,^ every year of the perfon who fignalizes himfelf mod
by his induflry and application in this way, who is thereupon
raifed to the dignity of a mandarin of the eighth order, and
intitled to the drefs, infignia, and other honours, belonging
to that rank ^ ; and fo intent are thofe at the helm upon this
point, that, upon the arrival of the deputies of the govemcn^
at court, the emperor never fails of afking them in what con-
dition the fields appeared to them ; and, when a dearth hap-
pens in any of the provinces, either through a long drought,
a fwarm of locufts, 6c. thofe monarchs commonly remit to
them a great part, if not the whole tribute of gnua of that
year, as we have formerly feen by fome of their declarations
from the throne ^.

Fprh'Iiiyof 1t muft be owned, that the foil, for the moft part, as

(be foil* well as the happy temperature of their climate, doth richly
defcrve, as well as amply reward, their care : and though,

h Sec before, p. 27, & fcq.
CoMPTB, Martini, & al. (up. citat.
p. 166, (E).

* Vid. Du Hai.de, Le
k See before.

tifed hultandry, and other hifto-
ries on thatfubjedl. The (beets
are covered with tapcftry, and,
at proper didances, adorned with
triumphal arches, lamps, and
ether illuminations.

Among other figures carried
in the proceifion, there is a cow
of earthen ware, with gilt horns,
a idof fuchamonftrousfize, that
forty men can hardly carry her.
Behind the cow follows a young
child with one foot (hod, and
the other bare, whom they
Ayl« The gittius of labour and in-
dufiry^ and who ftrikes the cow
continually with a rod, a$ if to
make it go forward. Behind
him follow all the hufbandmen
playing upon fome inftruments.

and attended by companies of
maiked comedians, ading foBte
kind of rural plays. In this
manner they proceed to the
governor's palace, wliere they
ft rip the cow of all her or-
naments; and, drawing out a
great number of leflcr ones
made of the fame clay, out of
her belly, prefent them to the
multitude, together with the
fragments of the great one,
which they break into fmall
pieces. The ceremony ends
with a (hort (jpee^, which the
mandarin makes to the people*
in which he recommends huf-
bandry to them, as one of the
moft conducive things to the
welfare of the ftate (19).

(19; Pn Halde^ voU u f* 275.

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C. i; nt tiiftory «/ CMna: 21 y

in fo vaft a trad of ground, there muft t)ey of comfey a great .

Tari^ of foil, fome more and others lefs fertile, yet fuch

hath been the indefatigable induffary of the Chinefe nation,

that every fpot hath been improved, and made to produce ^'veryj^

fome of tiie"conveniencies of life, from the higheft barren improved,

mountdns down to the fertile vallies and plains ; infomuch,

that there is fcarcdy a province which doth not yield a fuf-

ficient maintenance for its numerous inhabitants, and fome of

them, efpecially towards the fouthern parts, almoft double

what will fufiice them. So careful are they of procuring every Way of

kind of manure (R), that may enrich their land, that they manwingi

will purchafe it at a high rate ; and fo fearful of lofmg a foot

of thdr ground, that one fhall not fee either a hedge, ditch,

or even tree, in their corn-lands. They will even deprive

themfelves of the pleafure of planting flower-gardens, fin«

walks, and other fuch ufdefs gratifications, as they ftyle them,

for the fake of making them produftive of what is more i<x

the public good. We have already taken notice, in our de-

feription of the feveral provinces of Chiruiy that the fouthern

ones produced a double crop of grain every year, befides a,

vaft variety of the fineft fruits, herbs, isc. Thofe that are

fituate more towards the north and weft, though not fo fer-

.tile, yet ]^eld plenty of wheat, barley, millet of various

ftwrts, tobacco, peas that are always green, and a kind of

black and yellow foit, yrhich they give to theh: horfqs inftead

of oats.

Nothing; can be more fruitful than their low-lands, which TertiUtyef
are interfefted with fuch a vaft number of canals, as conftantly tbefUUut^
fiimifti them not only with a fufficient fupply of water, but
alfo with oth^r manure, which is brought thither in barges :
and inthefe low-lands it is that the beft rice grows, and in the
greateft plenty 5 becaufe that grain thrives beft in watery

(R) Of this they have great a cherifhing warmth to the

variety, fuch as dung of all ground. They have a great

forts, none excepted, which they many^ other ways of manuring

take care to temper with a pro- and cultivating their lands,

portionable quantity of water, which we have no room to ex-

to prevent its burning up the patiate upon, and can only add,

young plants. Hair of all kinds, that if thofe who wrote on the

as huknan, hog*s, horfe's, ^c, fubjedl of agricnlture among

are found to give ftrength to them, had been more verfed in

their lands, efppcially to thqfe phyfics and natural philofophy^

- fown with rice, and lime mixed they might have ftill made much

with water, to dellroy. worms, * greater improvements in that fo

infers, ^nd w^^ds^ and to give ui^fol ^nd neceiTary art.

grounds

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22.0

fjg^

ers.

The Hiftory of China; B. 1.

wolves, foxes, and a variety of others not known to us,
among thofe *of the deftruftive kind ; but which aflford the
Chinefe the diverfion of hunting, as well as the commerce and
profit of their furs, which are commonly very fine, and va-
luable.

These, and a good number of others we ftiall name under
this head, may, by fome readers, perhaps, be thought im-
properly brought in : but as it is no inconfiderable brapch of
good hufbandry to promote the increaie of all ufeful and
profitable creatures of the animal, ^ well as of the v^etable
lund, and to deftroy or fupprefs the growth of thofe of the
contrary fort in both, and to adapt, as much as poifible,
|he nature of their lands, fo as to anfwer thofe two main
%nds, we hope it will not appear quite irregular, upon fecond
thoughts, if we exhibit to them, at one view, the Chinefe
management in both, firft with refpeft to the animal, and
next to the vegetable, part of the creatures which their
country produces,

' Among thofe of the wild and deftruftive kind, with which
their woods and forefts abound, we do not hear of any lions ;
but tygers are here not only in great quantities, but efteemed
as fo niuch the more dangerous, as they fally out for their

Uance to mankind than any
other apes, both for the fa-
cility in which it walks on its
hind-feet, and performs fcveral
other a6lions. There is ftill, no
doubt, a much greater variety
.of ftrange creatures, wkich, they
tell us, are found in the moun-
r tains and foreds of this great
empire, than our Europeanshayc
been able, as yet, to difcover ;
but many of which' have fuch
an air of fable, that they hardly
deferve mentio;iing, much lefe
belief: fuch is that which they
relate of the horfe tyger, faid
to differ only from a horfe in
its having claws like a tyger,
and fcales all over its body,
. and in its leaving the river in the
fpring, to prey upon man and
bead. This roonfter, the mif-
iionaries, who travelled throu^
Uioft territories where it is faid
.to breed, never could fee or
Ji^3^ of, thou|h the people were

very fond of (hewing and en-
tertaining them with every cu-
rious thing that was to be feea
in that province (Hu-quaf^J;
and therefore juftly looked upon
itasa fabulous one. But, leaving
thofe monfters to their books,
where they are only to be found,
thofe woods and forefts breed
two wild kinds of mules, one
fort of which, fit only to be
eaten, is very fleet, can never
be tamed ; but the other may,
and is chiefly ufed for the fer-
vants of the mandarins to ride
on. Camels, dromedarieSyhorfes,
oxen, and bufialo's,.are likewife
in great ufe among thero, the
former for land-carriage, and
the latter to plow and plain their
lands : but that which they feed
moft on is the hog-kind, of
which they breed the greateft
quantities, both in the upper
and low-lands.

prey

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C. i: ^e Hytory of China: ^21^

pre]rin large droves^ and are exceeding quick and fierce.
Bnt diey have plenty of odiers of a more valuable kind 5 par-
dcularly thdr mufk-cat, a profitable creature, which carries Mufk-cMt^
that noble perfume in a bladder under its navd. They have «»^
likewife a fort of roebuck, which they call Hyang-thang-tfe, r$eiacL
or odoriferous roebuck, the male of which hath a bag of a
Tcry odoriferous kind of mufk. This creature, which breeds
moftly 6n the iK)rthern ridge of mountains beyond Pe'king,
is firft hunted, then killed ; immediately after which, they
cut off* the bag above-mentioned, and de it very hard, that
it may lofe none of its effluvia. The flefh is alfogood to eat;
but the bag is effeemed of more value than the reft of the
carcafe : and to this, as well as the other, or real mufk, they
afcribe fundry noble qualities ; fuch as, purifying the air, kill-
ing feveral'fcMTts of infefts which breed in the ftomach ; and
e^iedally that of the roebuck hath the virtue of fhipefying of
ferpents ; which creature, though large, they are affirmed to
live upon, and to receive their odoriferous quality from (XJ).

But the moft delightful of the whole quadruped kind, is Litfb
a finall flag, which is bred in the province of Tun-nan, 2ndft^£^
no-where dfe ; but is bought far and near, and at a high
rate, by the princes and nobles, merely to be kept for fight
in their gardens. Thefe are exaftly fhaped like the common
fort, but their lize fcarcely exceeds that of our ordinary dogs,
on which account they are eftecmed as curiofities. But they
have a great variety of flags of different kinds in the other
provittces, fome of which are reckoned as extraordinary for
thdr.largenefs, they being little inferior to the fmall horfes of
the protinces of Se-chwen and Tun-nan ™.

Birds and fowl, both of the wild and tame kind, are here Birds*
in greater plenty and variety than we h^e room to dcfcribe;
fnch as eagles, cranes, ftorks, hawks, falcons, pelican^
birds of paradife, peacocks, pheafants, partridges, turkeys,
geefe, ducks, fwans, cocks and hens, and a vaft variety o£.
water-fowl on their lakes, rivers, and canals, where they

■ Martini, Navaretta, Nieuhoff, Lb Compte, Du
Haldb, Sc al.

(U) This, we arc told, is fo by carrying about them ftmit of
certain, that the people who that mnik, which never ^Is of
hvant after thefe roebucks have flupefying them to fuck a de-
no other way of defending gree, that they cannot come
themfelves againfl the bite of near enough to hurt them (22).
tbofc overgrown ferpents, but

(22) Dtc Ha/de, v»l, ^. /• 324*

fwarm

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fyano Id vaft droves ; and facb ds are fit to eat are feld at fo
low a price, that one would hardly think it worth the people's
vhile to lull them. Among the tame and curious fort, they
have ^ variety of beautiful parrots, no way inferior either in
plumage, colours, or facility of talking, to any that are
fhifm ^^^^V^^ ^^ Anurica. Bijt the moft fuiprifing and delight-
yUAi- ful Q? 41 the flying kindy is the little bird called JCm-ldy or
g^fdm herif which is commonly found in the promces of Tm-
natit Shen'Jit znd Se'chwen.

This admirable creature, which hath nothing that re-
(embles, much lefs that comes up to, the exquiute fineneis
^it$ /hape, the beauty, luilre, and varier|r, of its plumage,
the compile mixture and arrangement of light and ibade,
hod;i b it? yings and tail, and the fine plume that crowns its
head, w<ts, without doubt, called the golden hen on that
account. But what render) it ftiU more valuable among the
Epicures, IS the delicate tafte of its fleih, which, we are told,
greatly excels that of phealants ; for which, it is thought b;
our author », of all the bh-ds in the eail, the moft de&rviog
to be brought into Europe.
fbijkwir Theke is Aill, if we may believe the Chinefe gec^phers,
Utii iuqkJ thofe European writers who have followed them QPOQ
iruft, another one o^re furpriilng, and if not for the exquiu^'
hefs of its tafte, at leaft for that of the colours of its foitkrs,
the fine rednefs of its bill, and the fhortnefs of its life, whldi
exceeds not that of the flower Tung-wha, from which it takes
its name of Tung-v^ha-fung, ^d upon which it is (aid tp
t)reed, and to ^e its beautiful Ixkenqfs from the flower
we have had occaflon formerly to defcribe **• The mis-
fortune b, that the bird is no- where to be found, but in
Ih^ books of the Chinefe geographers, and that in ^ the
curovince of Se-cbwen, and even in the territory of the city of
vhing'tn-fiy where that flower blows in vaft quantities, and
•where that burd is faid to breed, the inhabit^ats, we are llncc
mtuitMke .told, know nothing of it P : fo that it is now much queftioned
tke fhm- whether it be not as fabulous a one as that which the fame
mx, fuf' geographers call the Fong-whang, and which, by their noble
^^^' defcription of it, is fuppofed the fame which we call the
phoenix, if any fuch burd there be. For our later authors affurc
u^ there is no fuch bird to be feen or heard of> either in
the mountains or cities, faid to be called by its name, in the
province of Shen-Ji^ nor in any others, either in China or Tir*
tary^ where thofe writers pretend it is to be found. There

■ Du Halde, vol. 1. p. 15. ♦ Sec before, p.^«

f 6ee Dv Halde, ibid.

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is, uideed, a moft noble ooe bred in tBat province; and In AwAh
fane parts of Tartary^ called the Haytfing^ which is a lund>*Awr.
of falcon^ not inferior to thefineft of ours, but excels them
iabigne&andflrength, and, for its beauty and courage, may
be called the king of the birds of prey : but it is very fcarce^
and in fuch edeem, that as (bon as it is caught, it moft be
forthwith brought to Fe-hing^ and prefented to the emperoo
who ccnnmits it to the care of his own falconers^*

CHINA feems tp be defigned by nature to produce not ^rmtt fr-
ooly all the fruits which grow in other pafts of the world, ^*j^ ^
but lifcewUe feveral excelloit ones peculiar to its foil and cli- ^^ ^•••*
mate ; fo that, if they have not ib great a plenty and variety ^'
(f the fcmner as they might, it is rather owing to thdr ne-
gbA of cultivating them ; for, generally fpeakmg, they grow '
naturally aknoft in every province, and siany of the more deucate
kind in the foutbem parts to a greater perfe^on than any in
Europe. Apples, pears, plums, quinces, apricots, peaches, ngt,
pom€^anates, mulbenies, neAarines, grapes, oranges, linoooSy
dtrons, mebns, to fay nothing of walnuts, chdnuts, {Hoe*
apples, and others in common with us in Europe^ grow almoft
cvery-where in great plenty : the only difference is, that they Chintfii
are not fo curious as we are incultivatinfi; and improving them, »^fif—
but rather content themfclves with havu^ three or four dif- ^^^
ferent forts of apples, feven or right forts erf" pears, peaches, *•
bc.\ and as for their cherries, they are hardly worth eating.
The only finits that escceed ours are their pom^anates, a fine Some of ir
ibrt of mufcadine ^pes of exquifite tafte and flavour, and bitter fori
thdr Tfe'tfe^ called by the Portuguefe Macau, which is a kind of tiatg ouru
fig, i£& defcription of which may be feen in the margin (W).

^Dehis, Yid. Magaillam, CARaEai,MARTiMi, LeCoiipte,-
NiEUHOFF, Du Halde, k al.

(W) It grows upon a (lately of them, feme having a ruddier,

tree, not unlike our middling thinner, and more uanQ>arent

walnuts, the leaves of which are rind ; whil ft others, to be brought

of a fine green, till about au- to that fine colour and flavour,

tamn, when they change into muft be laid to ripen in ftraw ;

an agreeable red. The fruit is but all are agreeable to the

about the bignefs of a middling fight, and good to eat. They

apple, and grows yellow as It will grow almoft every-whcre,

ripens ; but, when dried, be- but in greater plenty in the pro*

comes mealy and fweet like a vince of Tun-nan, zn^ 2}! along

fig, for whidi reafon the Portu* the fides of the Whang bo, or

ffiefe give it the name of Macau, ^ello'w ri^er { 23 ).
w fig. There are feveral forts

(23) Vid, Du Hglde, vol, I p. 8.

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244 ^ Hifiory df Chim: B.I.

As for the reft, they hardly excel ours ; and fome of Aem,
for want of improvement, are much iirferior to them, fuch
as, their apricots, peaches, cherries, ire. which, in fome pro-
vinces, are rather unwholfome, and, if not eaten with cau-
tion, will caufe dyfenteries and the bloody-flux.
Olf'vis, Olives are here in great plenty and variety, and which,

though different from ours, have a very fine tafte ; but whe-
ther out df diflike, or that they do not think it worth their
while, they extraft no oil from them (X).
fii Li- Among thofe fruits which grow in the fouthem provinces,
fcbL *nd are of an excellent tafte and nature, but unknown to us,

the Li'chi is moft efteemed. It is ftiaped like a date, and
hath an oblong ftone, like that. The fruit is full of moifture,
of an excellent tafte and flavour when fuU-ripe ; but flirivels,
and grows blackifti, like our prunes, by keeping. Next to
that is the Long-yen, of dragon's-eye, which is round, yd-
lowifti, and the pulp white, and a litde acid. Both thefeare
efteemed very wholfome, efpecially the latter, which, they fay,
never hurts, if one eats ever fo much of it, but is rather takea
to create than to fatisfy the appetite.
thBer Jftt' They have likewife fome Angular as well as ufeful trees,
ptiar trees, particularly that which they flylc the pepper-tree, which bears
a fort of grain like a pea, but of too hot a nature to be
eaten ; but the hufk, which is lefs pungent, is ufed by the
common people inft^ad of it. The pea-tree, which pro-
duces a fort of pea, which, for figure, colour, pod, and tafte,
is much like our common pea, only a litde more rank. This
laft tree is very tall and large, and grows in moft pro-
Tallow' vinces of China. The tallow -tree is no lefs common
tree,. and profitable; whofe fruit is contained in a«rijid, ^^ch,
*' when ripe, opens in the middle like our chefnut, and yields
two or three kernels of the bignefs of a common hazel-nut, anfl
the pulp of which hath the properties of tallow, anc^ being

(Xj Their books treat of ten than we, in gathering them, vh,

forts of olives, the beft kind of not to beat them down with

which is that called by them long poles, which is apt to

^anglan, which is large, and bruife them, and hart the bran-

of a £nc tafte ; and it is proba-^ ches ; but to make a hole in the

ble, that, if the Chinefe had the body of the tree, and, putting

art of preparing them as they fome ialt into it, flop it up

are in Europe, they might all clofe, by which they will in a

have as good a tafte : though in few days drop off of tbemfelves

Qiie thing they are more careful (24).

(24) Du Ralde^ imL i. f. %^

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C 1. gji&i fl'^^ */ China. 225

laeltcd with a fmall quantity of common oil and wax, Is made
into candles, and ufcd all over the empire (Y), Their wax- lVax'tr;e%
tree is fo called from the wax that is produced on it by a
kind of little worm which runs up, and faftens to its leaves,
aad quite covers them with combs. This wax is hard, fhine-
ii^ and coniiderably dearer than that of common bees ;
tho' this laft they likewife have there, and in much greater
quantities. When thefe worms are once ufed to the trees of
any difh-ift, they never leave them, unlefs fomething extra-
ordinary drives them away ; and, when that happens, they
never return to them, fo that new ones muft be procured from
thofe merchants wlio deal in them.

The Chu'tzcy or what we call in Europe the bamboe or Bamhoe.
bambu, grows here in vaft quantities, and of an extraordi-
nary height ; and, being hollow within, is ufed, the larger
fort for water-pipes, and the fmaller for telefcopes, and other
tubes, and the pulp vdthin is made into paper. The Nau-mu Naa-mn-
is a mil ftrait fort of a tree, whofe wood is incorruptible like *^^^*
the cedar, though its fhape, leaves, iyc, differ from It. It
is commonly ufed to make pillars, doors, windows, i;e, or
oraaments for their palaces, temples, and large buildings 5
but it is in other refpefts much inferior to the Tze-tau^ or Roft^
rofe-wood, which is of a reddifti-black, flreaked and full of 'uooJ.
fine veins, which one would believe to be painted by fome
artift. The furniture, ornaments, and other jomery, made
of it, are much efleemed all over the emph*e, and fell at a
greater price than thofe which are varniihed or japanned* We
omit a great variety of other valuable and curious trees, fuch

(Y) Their way of feparating the candleftick. They burn

the tallow from the fruit is, by well ; and, when put out, give

pottoding the fhell and kernel no ill fmell, becaufe the wick is

together,, and boiling them in made of rulh ; but would give

water, upon which, when cold, a much clearer light, and fweet-

an oil rifes, which condenfes er fmell in burning, if care

like tallow, and is (kimmed off. was taken to defecate the oil

To ten pounds of that, they that is mixed with the tallow,

mix three of linfeed-oil, and and a cotton wick ufed inllead

fome wax, to give it a hard-, of a rufh, wiiich is apt to burn

ncfs, and prevent its flicking to to a coal, and break Ihort, and

one's fingers. can only be fnufFed with u keen

The candles are like the feg- pair of fci/Tars Thofe who are

ment of a cone, the broader curious mix vermilion, and otler

part of which is lighted, and colours, with them (25}.
the other goes into the focke't of

(25) Du Halde, vol, \. ^. 9. 35—94, & fe?' & 3T9. yitl. & Marii?:/ ji.\'as
Juhvoc, Kin-wha, in proi/inc. Cij kyang^ Le Com^te, & al.

Mod. Hist. Vol. VIII. P a»

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'7.i6 ^e B/ioty of Chm. «. :

as the cedar, ebony, faundprs, pines, oaks, 6r. which ^

have not room to defcribe,

Varnijh B u T tha t which is juftiy efteemed the m<^ profitable amor

and oil- the Chip^Jt^ and hath moft excited the eni^ of the European

trees. is their Tj^^/iJw, or varni(h-tree, from which they ^xtraftths

^gnm with which they make their fine giran-vardfli, or japa

(Z), which keeps fuch an infinite number of hands employe

in tnoft provmces of the empire, and fufniflies it with fuc

'a prodigious variety of chefts, cabinets, bdJCes, and oth€

^oufiiold ornaments, fo beautifully painted and vamiflie^

'and fent abroad into moft parts of the world. The nei

to that in ufefulnefs is the Trng-Jhuy or oil-tree, from whid

a liquor, or oil is drawn not much differing frofii the varnii]

'above-mentioned, and ufed Almoft to the fame end, bu

chiefly in larger work, fuch as pillars, ccMTiices, galleries

triumphal arches, fine floors, and the like, for whkh ttet ii

not quite fo fit. This oil, when boiled info a confiftenqr,

not only preferves the wood over which it is laid, but gives

it a ftie luftre, and, like the vamifh, may be mixed with aiqf

• colour to great advantage.

Jtm-wooJ. The laft of the tree-kind, worth our particular notkse, is

what they call Tie-li'inu^ or iron-wood, from its ^tremebard-

nefs, and of which they commonly make their anchors, as

hath been formerly hinted. It is indeed very remarkaWe for

its ftrength, and durable firmnefs, beyond any other wood;

the tree is as tall and fpreading as our large oaks, though the

^runk doth not come up to ^ their thicknefs, and the wood

is of a much deeper brown, as well as more weighty ^

Shrubs. tough 'I.

Thet havenolefs a variety of flirubs, which we have no^
room to particularize in a work like this : but fliall conteni
ourfelves with fingling out thofe that are moft worth noticci

^De his, vid.MACAiLLAN,CARERi, Martini, LECoHfTip
NiEUHOFF, DuHald.e, & al.

(Z) This gam, or liquor, di- in the fpreading it for variii/o|

ftils only off the tree drop hy to emit fuch poifonous effluv

drop,iikethat of the turpentine- as prove detrimental to tho

tree, but may be made to yield that deal much with it; ao

a greater quantity by incifion ; from tlie ill effed^s of wWc

but then the tree is obferved to they ffave as yet no other wa

perifh much fooner by it. to pfeferve themfeU es, than b

Jt is likewife found either iji avoiding as much aspoflibletlii

the boiling into a confiltency, fucking them in with th«

or even pouring it off cold from breath.
one velfel to another, as well as

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at the b&A cf which we may juAly place that famed and Tm.
moft profitable one which they call Cha ; and corruptly, in
foa^ mgritime provinces, Tba, or T(;ha ; from which the
,Euro6^af2s l^Yc^ven it the name of Tea, or Te. The profit
which the Cbinefe make of this plant, fince it is become of
ibch univerfal de in Murope^ is inmienfe ; and the virtues ^^ ^i^
jrJiich both they, and fome pf our European writers, have tmtt.
.afcribed to it, are very ^traordinary, if true '. The reader may
fee.a larger account of them in Father. /X?^;?//^, and others of
Jus &dety, than we. dare vouch for ; neither is it poflible for
js to judge of them from that which is brought to us from
tibence ; fu(d which we are alTured, by good hands, is ;fo Adulter^
adulteralsed, wd mixod ^th other leaves, which, though o/r/.
,.they.hear a refemblance to it, may have quite different qua-
4ities, jth^t we need not wonder if it comes fo vafUy ihort
of jttot which they ufe upon the' fpot. We may add, that,
. lip^ fudi vafl exports have been made of it, they are neither
fo curious in cultivating, nor in curing pf it, as they were
formeijy ; and that which is fo, they take care not to let go
,abri»dm its purity, but either keep it for their own ufe, or
mix it with lome of a worfe fort. What other frauds, and Frauds
jaboo^nable tricks, are ufed in it by our retailers, after it is commttei
.j4us hrought to us, are too fadly known and felt to need men- *wiV^ iu
jdoDiog here ; all which, put together, have fo debafed and
corrupted that leaf, that it is impoffible for us to find in ft
-the tenth part of the good qualities which are afcribed to it ;
or ipdeed npt to experience many ill efTefts from the ufe of it,
which it would be wholly free from, could we have it in its
purity and perfeftion, as the Hollanders have theirs from J[a-.
iaut and be more careful and prudent in the ufe of it (A).

.It

'.Debis, vid. Magaillak, Careri, Martini, LeCom-^te,
.Ni&uHOBF, Du Halob, & al. vid. & TEf^ Rhin. de frucke
TfUa. Jacob. Breynius in hort. Malabar.& al.

(A) It is indeed rather a mical drops, fafFron, fpirituous

wopder, all thmgs rightly weigh' liquors, ^r. to fay nothing of

ed, that it is not attended with their irregular and indifcrimi- *

more dangeroos eiFe£ts, confi- nateufeof it, without' regard to

, dering that moft people among particular tempers and conftitu-

118 help to corrupt and adulterate tions ; and, by fome, both (Iron-

it.ftill more, in dieir conttant ufe ger, and in larger quantities,

of it, either by the immoderate than even the Chinefe do their

quandty of fugar they drink, pure and genuine fort. •

and the pretended corredlives Hence we may reafonably in-

they mix, with it, fuck as che- fer, that thofe flatulencies, indi-

P 2 gcftioni.

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2i8 fhi Hiftory of Piina. B. L

f^r Dutch It k certain that no nation takes more care in coltivatif^
kft it to their tea than the Japanners, nor is more honcft in felling it
•dvoH' pure and uncomipt ; neither do any people drink it more jden-
^W^ tifaUy than the Dutch^ yet fo far are they from feeling thofe

inconveniencies from it which moft of ours do, that they reap
the greateft benefit from it ; and indeed, confidering the damp-
ncfs of their climate, and their high and grofs way of feeding,
it is to be qnelKoned whether they could be fo healthy, and
free from difeafes, as they are, without fuch a fine dilutcr,
/// pW and purifier of the blood. But then it mufl be owned, oa
qualities the Other hand, that the good cfFcfts they receive from it are
**^X'" in part owing to their drinking it in its genuine purity, and
nutne, without thole correftivcs mentioned under the laft note**, fo
that, without running too far into panegyric in favour rf that
plant, we may fafely a(firm,' that tea, duly cultivated and
cured, and drank moderately, both as to quantity and Ihez^
(B), and efpecially either without, or at leaft with only a
fmall quantity of^ fugar, and without any additional correc-
tives, is a fmgular diluter, and purifier of the blood, a frrength-
ener of the brain and flomach, a promoter of digeltion and

geilioDs, vapours, colics, low- ting fo long at die tea-table, as

nefs of fpirits, diabetes, and we do, is unknown onto than,

other difafters, which commonly and is only an idle^ luxoricws

attend it, may be no lefs owing refinement (or rather abufc), y/c

to our indifcretion in uftng it, have made upon their way of

than to the cheats that are prac- nfing it.
tifed in it. See the next note. We are likewife aflnred, diat

(B) It is plain that neither the the difcovery of that infufioa

Chinefe^ Japanerst nor any other was originally owing to the

eaflem nation, drink it either fo bracki(hnefs of their water, ef-

ftrong, or in fuch quantities, nor pecially in the lower provinces,

fohot, as wedoin£«^Aixr^; but where they were not only

ofe it rather as their common very nnpleafant, but unwhol-

drittk, and without any fugar, fometo drink ; till, afrer a mul

or other fweetener. They com- titnde of experiments tried, in

monly keep, efpecially i n large order to correct them ,t hey ftum-

families, a boiler, or iome other bled upon this (hrnb, which

velfel, over a fire ; and, when- not only anfwered the end, but

ever they are thirHy or faint, was found to have feveral other

they put a few leaves of it in a qualities to recommend the ofe

baton, and pour the hot water of it, fuch as thofe which we

upon it, and, as foon as it is have particularly mentioned a-

cool enough to drink, fwallow bove ; upon which it gradually

it down, and go about their buii- became in great eftecro and

nefs i fo that the cuftom of fit- vogue all over the empire (27).

(17) Martini, Li Cmpte, Nieuhtff^ Kamffer, Da lla!df, fif ai,

circulation ,

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C I. The Hiftory of China, 229

arculadon, of perfpiration, and oAcr fccr^tions, a cleanfer
of the reias and urethra, and a great prefervative againA
chronic difeafes, as well as an efFeftual, tho' flow, remedy
figainA them. The Chinefe make no fcruplc to give it in
great quantities in high fevers, colics, and other acute dif-
tempers. Neither are thofe rare virtues confined to its native
foil, but extend their efficacy to any other country or climate,^
where it is ufed, particularly in England, France, and Hot-
land. And thus much may fuffice concerning the genuine '
virtues of that plant, could we have it as genuinely conveyed
to us.

There is now a great variety of teas in China, which, a§ Great v4h
it ftill increafed i^ the gre^t exports of it, hath obliged the ^^^*
natives to propagate the growth of it in feveral parts, where '^'''^^^
the foil or climate was more or lefs agreeable to that fhrub ;
for moft of their difference is owing to that, thejr being ori-
ginally derived from, and are in all other refpedls, the fame
plant. Hence proceeds that difference of taftc, flavour, co-
lour, and other qualities, we find in them ; fome being very
rough to the tafte and ftomach, and others as fmooth ; fome
exhaling an extraordinary fragrancy, and others having fcarce
any fmell ; fome being found more balfamic, others more fto-
machic, diuretic, ifc. than others : and hence alfo that variety of ^nd of
nam^ they are called by, either from their different qualities, or names,
the places they grow in. Thus the Songlo, which is a moft Songlp
elegant fort of green, and much eftcemed and drank by the ^^d Vu-i^
richer fort, hath its name from a mountain in the province of ^*' ^b^^*^
Kyang-nan, which is quite covered with it.; and the Fu-i, or, ^^"^ '^^''^
as we call it, Bohea, from the. mountain of Vu-i-JIjan, in the '"''*
provin<;e of Fo-kyen, where it grows in great quantiti^^ an4
i$ excellent in its kind (C).

This laft is the moft univerfally, and we may add juftly,
cileen^ed,*not only for its fine t^e and flavour, but mugh more

(C) So fay Le Compte, Da monaileries, and inhabited by
Halde^ and others ; but fome bonzas, who are fond of that
are more inclined to think it excellent irifufion, and, hav-
hath its name from the dark- in^fo much time on their hands,
brown colour it bears, in which niSy fpend fome pan of it in cuL-
it differs from all otl^er forts, dva iog, and bringing it to thaC
both in the leaf, and in its infu^ perfedlion ; unlcfs we (hould ra-
IJon. l^o;- is it a wonder that thcr chufe to. fuppofe thenx to
the mauntain above-mentioned ha,ve been the inventors of thia
^oald prodi^ce fuch plenty of ?i.ew way of cukivating; con-
it, and of a better fort than cerning which, fee. tliQ niextj
common, feeing it is covered, note.

11^ a^re tGJd, wiUi^ teipj^lea and

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230 ^e Hijiory of Oiiriiat ,B. I.

for its medicinal and other excellent qualiti^, plrticularly
that of its reftifying the blood, recovering decayed conftitu-
tions, and being fo friendly arid agreeable to the weakefV fto-
iriachs. Hence it is that they give it in large quantities to fick
- people, valetudinarians, and in all cafes of ah inward decay ;
whilft thofe that are in health forbear to drink of it in the win-;
ter, as being apt to open the pores too much, and t6 bring colds
and coughs upon them ; but in funmie^ indulge themfelves
with it in large quantities, in order to fiipply thofe liquids^
which are exhaufted by pcrfpiration, v^ith its cherifhing and
balfamic juices, to which they moftly afcribe that fat corpu-
lency which is fo common and admired amongft them.
Whether WHETHER this and the green tea were originally different
the fame plants, or whether the fame, only differently cultivate, is i
Jhrubnjjith c^tKion that hath for a long time exerc}fed the talents of the
the green, curious, and is not as yet thoroughly agreed on. The Chi-
nefe could eafily refolve it, if they pleafed ; but are too my of
the Europeans^ to give them any the leaft light into it; fo
that we are wholly left to refolve it frqm the beft;obfervation
we can make upon them. According to which, the former
hypothefis feems the moft probable, from the manifeft differ-
ence not only of their colour, tafte, flavour, fyc, but much
more from their different effefts ; the one be;ng rough, and
grating to the palate and ftomach, ev^n to the degree of an
emetic, if taken too ftrong ; the other fmooth, pleafant, and
healing, and in no cafe offenfive to it : the one a ftomachic,
and ftrong diuretic; the other rather a fweetener ahd purgef
of the blood by gentle perfpiration, and nourifliing and in-'
riching it by its balfamic quality: yet, after all, the latter
notion hath at length prevailed ; and this diffferencc of their
f ffefts has been, with no fmall probability, fuppofed fb proceed
from the different times in which the leaf is gathered, viz.
that of the bohea about a month or five weeks earlier, ^Mlft
the plant is in its full flow, and the leaves full of its juice ;
whereas the green, by being left fo much longer on the tree,
and that fweet juice either dried up or infpiflated by the
warmth of the fun, changes its colour into a fine grijen,. ^d
' eontrafts tliat bittiernefs and roughnefe which we find it to
Bohea^ a have. What feenw to fonfirm this hypothefis is, that the
ne^ im- cultivating the bohea in th^ above-mentioned manner fc6m$
provefuent, to be a difcovery and improvement of a centurj or two^
jftanding, before which they knew nothing of it ; at feaft It ii
plain, from the account which Mr, Ten I^hine, v^ho. refid^d
ibme time in Japan, and vyas phyfician to the emperor about
a century ancl half ago, hath given of it, that it was not thea

known

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. C I. fie Hijhry cf Chini.

knowD in Japan (D), though it hath been iince introdoced
aod cultivated there to a much greater perfection than any we
ever Jiad fixxn China ; fo that it is fuppcoed that this difcovery,
being then but recent, had not yet reached Japan when that
celebrated botanift wrote his account of the tea of that coun-
try, which mentions no other but the various forts of green •.
We flull* only add, that as none of their antient herbals fpeak
of the yu'i, or Bohea, and fome of the natives fpeak of it
35 a more modem difcovery, there is reafon to think it an
improvement on that x>ld fort; but whether found out by
Andy or chance, we can no-where find. But it is agreed,

* WiLLiBLM. Ten Rhein. excerpt. deObfervat. fais Japonic,
de frutice Xckia, ad fin. et al. ab eo citat. in hort. Malabaric.

tjl.

(D) That learned botanift
tells us exprefly, at the end of
his defcription of that plant,
that though he had heard of a
ctfitain ibr^ if black or brown
tra in afe among ^he Chine/e,
yet he never faw any ; only he
liad obferved. that the coarfer
die leaves of the tea were, the
2Q0ire yeilowiOi or rcddiih infu-
iioa tbcy gaivc, and the more
difagreeable to the palate, as
well as to the eye ; by which it
b plain he fpeaks only of the
coarfer fort of green (28).

It 16 plain, moreover, to ever^
cunoua obferver, that there 19
no difierence of (bape between
the leaver of the green and bo-
hea, except that the latter is
ibmewhat more roundifh; but
wheth^ the reafon of that be,
as fome fuppofe, its being ga-
thered fo much earlier,, and be^
ibre it hath expanded itfelf to
its fuU length, we dare not af-
im, tho' we think it far from
mpioJE»able. We are inde&l
told by (bme travellers who have
bee]iin(>f>a?iand pretend CO have

been particularly carious in exa*
mining this goint, th it they had;
ieen plantati3ns of both forts,
and apart from each other, and
never obferved any thing like
both forts of leaves being ga-f
thered from the fame tree, and
at different times. But admit-
ting there were nothing like that
done now, it will not follow
that it was not fo formerly, and
by way of trial, in order ta
difcover the difference of their
virtues; and that being afler*
wards fully fatisfied, that thofe
leaves, which were gathered ear-
lier, had a more fmooth and
balfamic tafte and yirtue, they
might not, by way of improve-
ment, examine which trees, op
what climate and grounds, pro-
duced the bed bohea, and which
the beft green, and fo appro^
priate them accordingly, and
dtfpofe them into different plan*
tations ; only obferving the old
method of fbipping thofe of the
former fo much the earlier in
the year, as they do to this day.
See the next note.

/2SJ Mlfartinif l^Cmpte, NUuhtff^ Kampfer, Du Haldfj ^ al,

F 4 . ^ - " that

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2^2

fb^ Hijhry^ of Chini. B. I.

that the different degrees of its gopdnefs and fincii^fs are owing

to the earlinefs of the feafon in which it is gathered (E).

torftempers The Chinefe not only ufe the infuiion of it by way of com-

againjt mon 6r diet drink, but take it alfo in powder, either in water,

which the or mixed With other ingredieots, and made into a bolus or

Chinefe ^eftuary. Their phyfical books afcribe almoft as many vir-

prefcribe' ^^gg ^q [^ ^g q^. quacks do to their pretended panaceas. They

'^* prefcribe it againft the tcnefmus and haemorrhages, againift

coftivenefs, pains of the bead or heart, Ibwnefs of fpirits,

itching of the fmall-pox, imppftumos in the head, rein%

l^ladder, ijc ftoppage of the menfes, ^ainft coughs, phthific,

and other rheumatic defluxions and aches, and a number of

other .difeafes ; and, to conclude with one of their moft fia-

gular prefcriptions, they tell you that the Tu-chu, or finefl

tea, powdered, and mixed with an equal quantity of alum,

and taken in a glafs of water, is a remedy ^ainft all forts of

poifons^

t See Du llAt.nE, vol. ii. p. 223.

(E) This we have confirmed
by feveral bands, particularly
trom the account which Mr.
Cunningham^ phyiician to the
Englijh at Chufan^ fent of it to
;he Royal Society ; wherein he
tells them, that the fineil, or that
which is called the firfl bud, is
gathered in March ; the Eing^
or Imperial^ in April or May 5
the Songlo, or Green, in May or
June. To this in a great m t-a-
Aire agrees Father Du Halde
(29) ; who adds only, that that
called the, Imperialy or Mau-cha^
is the leaf gathered from the
fhrubs newly planted, or, as the
Chinefe ftyle it, the Jirji points of
the leaves : but this fort is io
fcarce and precious, that it is
feldom ufed but in prefents, or
fent to the emperor.

The Xame almoil may be faid
of the flower of tea, which
tears an exceffive price, and is
only ufed by the richer fort, and
that chiefly on particular occa-
fions,^s feafts, marriages, grand
entertainments, ^c. This laft

is indeed beft whoi mixed with
the fineil K»ives, otherwife it
hardly , colours the water, and
rather gives a fragrance than a
tafle to it ; and that is the rea-
fon why the Mawcha^ or Impe^
rial, is preferred to it at court.

All that need be farther ob-
fifrved on this head is, that what
Mr. Cunningham^ and others,
call the firft, or earliefl bud, is
indeed the fineft of the bohea
kind ; but that there are a great
many degrees below it of fine-
nefs or coarfenefs in the leaves,
according as they are more or'
lefs blown and Ipread, and ac«
cording to the part of the tree
from which they are gathered ;
for, during all the time of their
being on the tree, the leaves on
the top are always the fmalleft
and fineft, and cdniequently the
deareft,and grow prpportionably
larger and coarfer the nearer
they come to the bottom. The
fame may be faid of the tiees,
that the/(^der they are^ the
coarfer their leaves (30).

(30) Vii, auH. fypn titat*

Tea

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C I . The Hifiory of China. 333

Tea is propagated chiefly by fowing ; for that which grows Tea how
xrild and fpontaneous is both raking, and hath fuch a difagree* propaga^
able tafte, that none bnt the poorer fort, who have not the ''^»
niceft palates, care to nfe it. The time of fowing it is in the A"^ ^^
fecond moon of the year ; at which time, having prepared ^''^^
their groand, they throw nine or ^en feeds into a hole, from f^^^^'*
which fometimes only one or two, and fometimes more, flirubs
willfpring; which, at a proper feafon, are tranfplanted into
another ground, which is alfo prepared by proper manuring.
Thepkmt is cultivated with great pare ; and that which grows
oa the lighted ground, and hath the greateft ihare of the
fonth fun, is reckoned the iineft, and thrives bell. T^he flirub
or plant hath been varioufly defcribed by authors, fome ralfing
it to the height of a tall tree, and others lowering it beneath
the degree of a common (hrub. The truth is, that, if it be
left to run up to its full height, fome of them will (hoot up
above that of our talleft filberds, and, by that means, quita
d^enerate: but the Chinefe xzk.c czxe. to prevent it, by ftintrng
them to that of fix or feven feet. They commonly tranfplant
them In regular rows upon little hills, and about three or
four feet from each other. When they have once taken deep
root, they will grow in fpite of rain, fnow, or any weather.

They have feveral \vays of curing and drying the leaves, Horwcund
when ftript, in order to make them fit for ufe, which we can- ^«^ ^fifp-
not dwell upon. The bohea is at firft dried in the fhade ; ^^*
after which, the leaves are again expanded by the fte^m of
hot water, and expofed to the warm fun, or, if that fails,,
over a flow fire, in copper or earthen pans well glazed, till the
heat hath crifped and contracted them into the fmall compafs
they come to us in. But thofe of the green fort being com-
mcmly lefs juicy, are dried up and crifped in the (ame manner
as fooa as gathered. As for other niceties relating to their
management of that flmib, and its leaves, we mufl refer our
readers to the more copious account given of them by the authors
often quoted. The tea-root is commonly large and yrell- ^^' ^^^'«
fpread ; but, if we may believe Nieuhoffy is only fit for burn-
ing, tho' the Chinefe afcribe fome great virtues to it.

The tree commonly bears leaves from the top to the bot- Leipves^
torn ; but the nearer to th^ top, the finer. The leaf is ob-
bng, and ftiarp at the end, and indented round like thofc of
our rofe orfweetbrier ; and the flower not unlike that of the ^-^•wtrr,
latter, only hath more leaves ; pr, according to others, is like-^'^f ^^^
that of the double jeflamin, with fix upper and fix m^Ati^J^^ll'^^'
leaves. The fruit or apple is of the bignefs of a finall pp--^^ ' '
pin, but more finely flavoured ; and hath a fpicy tafte, not
uplike ths^t of a- clove. The feed is blackifli, round, and of
^^^ the

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2^34^ The Hijiorj ^f China. & L

the b^nefs of a; fmall hazel when greeo, or of a- large pea
when dry. When put into one's mouth. It yields at jEurft a-
fweet, but, being kept longer in it, a bittenfh, tafte* TZhe
Chbiefe extraft an oil out of it, which th^, cfpecially ki, the
province of Fo-kyen, ufe as a kind erf fauce to thdr vifhials.
Leivon They likewife have a way of pickling the fine green tea4oavcs,
fickled, after they have been infufed,* and eat them with their ineat^
Cotton The next beneficial ihrub is that which produces the cot-

Jbrub, how ton, the manufafture of which into fuch variety of Xhii{s is
propaga- one of the moft confideraUc, next to that of filk. and c&iiia*
M* ware. The feed is commonly fown on the very fame day

that the hufi^andmen have got in their harVeft ; nothing more
being required thanr to tear a little the furfece of the gratmd
with an iron rake. After the rain or dew hath fufficiently
moiAened it, there (hoots up gradually the fbrub, till it is
got about two feet high^ the flowers of which appear about
the middle of Augiifi : they are commcmly of a yellow co-
lour; and fonietimes more upon the red, and are fucceeded by
a button or pod of the bignefs of a nut. This pod, which
c^ns in three places about forty days after the firft appear-
ance of the flower, difcovers three or four bags of cotton,
exceedingly white, and of the fame fcH'm as the cod of a
filkworm. To the fibres of the cotton are fattened the (eeds»
which are to ferve for the next year, and from which they
muft be feparated by a kind of wheel, or engine, which the
reader will fee defcribed in the margin (F) ; ^ter which, the
cotton is carded and fpun for ufe ".

It would be an endleis ta(k to defcribe the other uncom-
mon roots, ftirubs, trees, plants, flowers, and other vege-
tables, with which this country abounds ; and we hof>e
our readers will be fatisfied with our having mentioned the
moft remarkable for thdr beauty, ufefiilnefi, or rmgularity,
dther in the geographical defcription of thofe provinces,
where they are moftly to be found, or under this general

*
■ Vid* and. fap. dtat. & 0u HALDE,.Qbi fupra, vol- i.

p. 319-

(F) Itconiifts of two rollers, them, nothing can pafs between

about a foot long, and an inch bat the cotton, which the hand

thick, the one of wood, and the applies to them ; whilft the

other of iron, which turn each feeds, meeting with a ftop.

Other by means of a foot-wheel, break off from it, anfd fall into

They are fo dofcly joined to- a proper receptacle (31).
geth^r, that, in the tarniig of

head

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C i\ ^ tlifiorj of China. i^S

head of the Chinefe agriculture ; ^^t fhall thercfoi-e dbfe this
ardde with a Ihort accotlnt of two or three moft excellent-
plants and roots that are in the higheft efteetn amoog thenn-
and us, for their fingular virtues. We xni^t here b^in with Jin-feng
that moft celebrated plant called by them Jin^feng, Cenrhng^yplaMi.
^or Cpn-fen^ that is^ human plant, which is the moft «d«
mir^ and in greateft requeft, all over the empire. But as th^
beft of it is only to be found ineaftern Tartary, and that which
grows in the province of Se-chvieny which, tho' the neareft- I

to it in all China^ ijs not in any cafe comparable to it, we /halli
rder our readers,* for the further difplay, powth, and won-
derful qualities, of if, to what hath been laid' ia our natural-
hiftory of what we may call it& native foH f ; and CMily obferve
here, that it is cried up by the Chinefe doftors and bpmnUl^
as th^ greateft cordial of all the vegetable fort, and as % kind
of panpbarmacon againil all fprts of dUlempers, dpedally'
pf the venereal kind.

Their roots of Tang^que and Hu-hun are alfo in great Tang-qoe
pfe and efteem among, them, for tlieir fingular virtue of re- V'^i^^
covering decayed conflitutions, prolonging life, and even *
dianging the white hair, caufed by oJd»age, into a youthful
bla^k. Their rhubarb and China root are alio (aid to be
there excellent in th^ir kind ; the misfortune is, that it is ^
next to impoiEble to get them genuine from the natives, wha
make no fcruple to put the Europeans off with counterfeits ;
particularly with refpeft to the latter, inftead of which they
fell them another fort, not unlike it in fhape and colour, but
which is neither fo weighty, large, nor by far fo efficacioUd^
when tried ^; and indeed* it is the univerfal complaint of all
wSq have been converfant with them, that they are the greateft
Acats in all the eaft, and make no confcience to corrupt and
adulterate ^very thir^ they fell or exchange with other na-
nons.

However, from what we have faid under this head, of China,
Ae richnefs of their foil, and their various admirable ways of though fi
cultivating and improving every fpot. of it to the beft advan-/^'*'^'^* w
tage, their invincible indufhy, religious attachment to agri- J'^'/^^*
culture, and the fingidar encouragement it meets with from
the throne, and from all the grandees of the empire, there
c^ be no doubt but China is, what all the writers of it have
affirmed it to be, the moft fruitful, rich, and populous, of
all the eaftern countries, and produces the greateft plenty and
variety of every thing that is neceflary and ufeful for food,

t See vol. vii. boqk 1 2. ch. !• '^ JLe Comfxe>Nievhoff,

r^ment.

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Vraie

Europe

dwindled.

238 fhe flifi^pf.C^iM. 3. 1

.4Biecd^«cUz<^ efpe^i^y their oiedicuial 4(?^» .A^^^l^^
ipoo,p4r cmt. Tbeir trafEck with thcEur^eans is mao|fefi
- coufiderable bi;ajQch. The]^ ha«e it^d^ed fcarde any^pQrr^>pel
.to them, except that of ^ang-tong, and that only at cert^j
times of the year : neither.arc they fuflcred to iail up quit
to that city, .but ,arc forced to caft anchor at, /P^a/^-rjw, 1
f place ;ibout foqri?agues flioft of it, ,where the river Is-fi
crouded with trading veflfels for miles tjcg<ethcr, tl>at it Jbxil^
)jke^ large city on tJie water.

This trade was once very advantageous to the Eurof>e^^s
.who brought thither clothes, (words,, clocks, ftriking and othcj
watches, lookingrglalTes, diamonds, cryflal, telefcopes,, apdoth^;
mathematical inftruments, and fold thepi at a vaft rate ; but ou;
company hath fmce fo wellfuppDed, if not rather overftocked
them with thofe commodities, tt^at xht trade is greatly dwindlpd
and is hardly worth carrying on in any thing but filyer, andex
changing it for gold (H) ; which, we^c ^old, iapommonlj ibic
^inore or kfs dear, according to the time of the year, it bein{
much (Cheaper in Inarch y J^ril, and May, th^ frqm Juru
to January y bccaufe this laft is the feafon when there is th<
* grea^ number of vcflels in the port,^or xoad to^M<^ing^ta>ig ^,

Other commodities brought from thence are too well knowr!
Chinefe ^ to need ^ny fartl^er ideation ; 'aad all that needs to be a^ded
to it is, that the Chmefe are fuch.»arnvit.dxcats,, that thcj
think it neither crime nor ^me to over«reach thofe they deal
with, no not even thofe of their own Ration and neighbour-
hood (I) ; fo that pne cannot be too watchful over them.

great
cheats.

y Vid. Magaillan, I^avaret.
NiEUHOFF, Du Halde, & ah

Martini, ti Comptb^

-(H) Moft of the gold that is

. bought dX^ang'tong is brought
thither froin other parts, efpe-
cially from Japan and Cochin-
Chifia; the latter of which is

, chiefly fold by the king of that
country. Some indeed is fold

.there by his fubjeds privately ;

. but is not fo fine by a great deal,
and muft be refined at^ang-tong
(33): and is there divided, as
all other gold is, into alloys,
from 90 to 100 carats, in the

fame xi^anner as we do >ni.£W-!

r^e. j

(I) They commonly go ap(»i!
this principle, that every bnyerl
being willing to purchafe at a&l
cheap a rate as he can, or even I
for nothing, if that could be!
done, the ieller hath no lefs a ;
right to fell as dear as he can»
and to make ufe of any art or
method to raife the price of his
own ware : whence they infer,
that it is not the latter that de-

C? j) Du Halde^ vol, ii. f. 319, (§ feq, W. i. f, 334, Fid. & LeComptt, fi^
MuB. fuf, ciutm

ccivcs.

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Ct. fie l^hrf ^f CbixoL. 2^

'SuT wixat tiiey chlefty dopead opoa is thdr home trafEclTy ^tMr-
fffl'whkh we may look upon every province as a iepsrate ftate frmdi
«r kingdom, fome of vi^hich abound with cexrtain commodi-
tiies, or provifions, which others want'; and, to communicate
'Vfakh to all the reft, the beil methods have been invented,
•both by land and water-carriage, that each country vdll admit
•of. Thus the provinces of ffu'ifuang and Kyang-Ji^ which mofleme9u»
HboaoA with rice, fupply thofe that want it ; Cheeky ang fur- raged^
•Bifhes the fineft filks ; Kyang-nan the fineft ink, vamifh, and
«B forts of curious works ; Tu-min, ^her^fi^ and Sbanfi^ ykW
•]lenty of brdn, copper, and other metais, horfes, moles, furs,
ir. ; F<h4iyen the beft fugar and tea ; and Se^chvien the great-
tft variety xif mtdicinal and other plants, ^c. ; all which are
not only conveyed from one province to another, either by
(their rhrers and canals, ot by la«d<arriage ; but, when
-krought to the place of fale, are commonly difpatched in a
4iw days. The very mandarins encourage it ; and have a (hare
in the gain, by putting their money into the hands of the mer-
. , -chants, to be improved in the way of trade. In a word, there ^^
4? hardly a fiamily, how poor foever, that will not put itfdf ^^^'''^ '^
on fame way of it ; and, with a (mall ftock, hardly amounting ^^*
to a crown, will, by labour and iiiduftry, not only maintain
tfaonfdves, and their children, but, by degrees, inlarge their
ftoek, or fall into fome more profitable branch, and live more
at their edfe. Thus every town and village, but much more
their great cities, fwarm with indulbious hands all the day
long, and all the year round : there being no intermiffion from
any bufinefs, >^cept on the two firft days of the firft nKx>n,
which are ccwnmonly fpent in diverfion *.

The next branch <rf their wealth arifes from their manu- Manufac-
tb&ures, of which they have great vaiiety. We (hall only tium.
fpeak of fome of the mcrfl confiderable, fuch as their fdk and
cotton, their porcelain and japan-ware, or vamKh.

We begin with the filk, the invention of which xhtChinefe fhat of
records attribute to one of the vdves of the emperor Whang- filk^ by
ii: fince which, many other emprefles have been recorded for tu&cm in^
the Angular care they took to encourage it, by breeding the 'vented.
fflkworms, fpiiining the fdk, and delivering it to the proper

' * Vid. Magaillan, Navaret. Martini, Le Compte,
NiEUHOFF, Du Haldb, 5f al.

celvcs, but the former who de- makes of his chapmstn's fimpli-
ceives himfelf, he being under city, is looked upon as the fruit
no compuKion to give the price and reward of nis own induf--
that is aiked ; fo that whatever try.
extraordinary gain the feller

workmen

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«4C STAi? Hiftory lof CHiUa- B. I.

Much en- wotl^aen and wom^, to be woven (K). Their ^m|de conld
cQuragei. not fail of exciting the refl: of their fex to put their hands to
fuch a profitable as well as delightful work, by which they
were intitled, among other advantages, to exchange their old
drefs, which was chiefly that of the Ikins of animals^ for the
more eafy and elegant one of this new and valuable commd-
dity ; fo that in a lijttle time the manufaAure became lo a
manjier uniyerfal, and by d^rees fplit itfclf into the great and
beautiful variety in which thf^ChineJe once excelled moft other
nations ; though it muft be here obferved, thatfom^ provinces
vaftly exceed others in the goodnefe, beauty, and workman-
fliip, of it ; particularly that ot Ch^-kyang^ which, as we
have already obf<?rved, bears the bell above all the reft for
>richnefs, foftnefs, and for producing the grcateft quantities
Become the of it. But, upon the whole, that manufafture hath been fo
common well cultivated among them from time immemorial, that not
miear. Qjjy (j^g princes, grandees, literati^ and other perfons of dif-
tinftion, but their domeftics, the merchants, tradefinen, and
mechanics, can afford to clothe themfelves with it ; none, ex-
cept thofe of the meaneft fort, and the peafants, who com-
monly wear a blue? cotton, appearing in any other but a filkcn
drefs. The quantities they fend abroad of it are no lefs
prodigious ; and muft, one would think, have long fincc in
, • fome meafure exhaufted them, were there not an infinite mul-
titude of hands employed in it; fo that it is not without rea-
fon that China is ftyled the filk country.
7hetrlkill NEITHER are they to be lefs admired for their forpriiing
andinge- ingenuity, diligence, and (kill, in the management of every
nuiiy in it, branch of it, the beautiful contrivance of thek looms, and
other inftruments for fpinning and weaving it in that beauti-
ful variety of colours, patterns, isc, and thejr great care and
{kill in breeding, hatching, nourifhing, and propagating, of
their worms, prxjviding againft, and curing them, of fundry

(K) We are told, that there dies of the court, to this or-

was a fpacious orchard afligned chard; and there, with her

within the precindl of the pa- own hands, gathered the leaves

lace, and planted with mulberry- of three branches, which fome

trees, the leaves of which are of the maids of honour beat

the proper food of that valuable down to her. They add, tjiat

infedt ; and that in memory of the fincft pieces of filk, which

it, as well as to excite the rell were wrought under her eye,

by her own example, the em- were devoted to the ceremon/

prefs went once a year, attended of the grand facrifice offered to

with the queens, and other la- ^hang-ti [i^).

(34} V>u Haldci w/. T. p. 353. %id. & U Ccmfu, ©T aL fup.dtat,

diftempcTS

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d. t. rk tiyhry of CWtta. 241

diftempers they are liable to» as well as in thdr ^cdlent way
l)f cultivating their mulberry-trees to the beft advantage for
thdr nouriOiment ; the preparing their diferent apartments, '
fiHtaUy to the vanons fbages they go through, from the time
of dieir being hatched to that of their fpinnii^, and laying
thdr eggs (L) ; and a great variety of other niceties relating
to them, vrhich we have not room to dwell upon, but which
thofe who are curious in fnch things may read a particular
account of in the author laft-quoted ■. . .

That of cotton is another very profitable manufaAure, Cohan ma*
though it doth not branch out into fuch great variety as tht nujc&ur:

* Du Halde, ubi fup. vol. i. p. 355.

(L}TheC^i»^ have not conten-
ted themfelves with ftudying the
bell methods of improving this
corioas and ufeful manufaaure,
but have written feme treati^fes
upon it for public ufe. Among
them was a famed author, who
became afterwards one of the
£rft minifters of the empire ; and
was fo thorough a mafter of
ihat fubject, that his experience,
and wife obfervations on the
bell method of propagating and
aourifhing that ufeful infeit,
have proved of excellent benefit
to his nation ever ilnce.

He tells them, among other
things, that the apartments ap-
propriated for breedine them up
ought to be agreeably htuated, if
poffible, upon a riiing ground,
and near fome rivulets, becaufe
the eggs muft be often waftied,
and running water agrees bell
with them. Their lodging ought
ID.be at adiilance from dunghils,
finks, and other naufeous fmells,
^om cattle, and all kind of
soife, for that the lead difagree-
able fmell or noife, even the
barking of a dog, is apt to caufe
ftrange diforders in that tender
bK>od, efpecially when newly
hatched.

The rooms ihould be fquare^

Mod. Hist. Vol. Vm.

dofe, and warm, the door as
near to the fouth as can be»
but never to the north ; and with
a window on every fide, to let
in the frelh air, as often as oc-
cafion requires. Thefc win-
dows, which are moftly kepi
fliut, are of white tranfparent
paper; behind which are move*
able matts, fo placed, as to ihut
out or admit the light, as their
condition requires. Qnats and
flies» which are apt to fit upon
the filk cafes, and to make ble-
mifhes on it, as well as render it
difficult in the winding, mull be
kept out of their tenements, or«
if ppilible, the worms {hould
have done their work before the
air is infeded with them. There
is a great number of other fuch
curious remarks in that author,
for which we refer our reader
to Du Ualde% extrafl of him %
but which {hew, that the Chintf$
are much more nice and curiout
in the management of their filk-
worms than oxnEurofeanrnXxont
commonly are, who never give
themfelves any thought about
thefe fecming niceties, fo tha,t
we need not wonder if their
produflions come fo far fliort
of the Chinefe.

O filken

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242

Strangt
accounts
ahut it*

flheoooe. Wd have almuiyfhewB bow thc]rfeiiraiid|Mt^^
gate their cotton; and, as to the various doth^ ihey mak«
g£it» asttiiftin^, caUkbes, 6c. thdr exiceUsnc way of dydng
and printbg tb^, they are fo well known to us, that wa
peed not expatiate longer upon it.

Th£ T/e^ki^ or, as we ftyle it, porcelain or china-*ware^
maDU&fture, is of (o old a date amo^ them, that their le*
Qords mention nothiog dither of its inventor or difcovery*
There is a great variety of it made in feveral proidnces of tb«
empire ; but that which is the fineft, and doth alone deierve
tiie name of T/f-ki (M), is made no-where bqt in the town
of King'te-ching^ in the province of Kyang-fi^ which town
is above thr^ miles in length, and contains upwards of a
million of fouls, moftly employed in that fiogle branch. The
Chinefi were always fo very Ihy of letting the Europeans get
any light into«ny of their affidrs, thofe efpeclally of the giran»
or japan-vamifti, and this of the china-ware, that we have
been led by European writers into feveral ftrange and abfurd
notions, relating either to the materials of which it was
made, fuch as egg-ihells, according to fome ; the (hells of
fome forts of fi/hes, according to others ; or the length of
^dmc they took up in preparing aad perfecting,. viz« 30^ 40^
or even 100 years, merely as their fancy foggefted it to thon^

(M) We need not tell our
readers, that the name of per-
cclain is anknownto t\it Chinefiy
and moft likely of Portuntfe ex-
traft. The anticnt books that
treat of it have not fe much as
a name for it, bat ftylcd it the
prechttnn^ihf] au-chew (which
is the difltiA to which King'te*-
thing belongs) ; or elfe the fnt
chtna-ixjore -tviptch is of a lo'vehf
Jhining tvhitt, and a clear Jky*
blut% and comes from King-te-
ching. And it is indeed by
thofe two qualities that this fort
is known and diftinguifhed from
all others that are made xnChina^
none of which come op to it ci-
ther for colour, luftre, or fine-
ncfs.

We are farther told of fcve-
tid attempts having been made

of makine it in ether places, bjr
carrying the materials and work-
men thither, particularly at F»-
kyen and Can-ton^ on account of
the great trade which tKe Emr§^
peons carried on at A-mnm^ ot
A-moy ; but without any fiic-
cefs. Even the late emperor
Kang'hi, who was very carioM
in all thing! of this natum*
caufed fome of the workmen,
and all proper materials, to be
brought to Pi'king; where, hav-
ing tried their tttmoft to fucceed
under that monarch's eye, at
lead to all appearance, the pro-
jea mifcarried afreih ; fo thai
the town of King-ti-ching is ftill
the only place which 1 applies
the whole country with that fine
ware (35).

{Z^yDu JUldt,'UDl, u p, 3S3. Vid. fif Lt C$mptf, & Mkfup, chat,

4 tiU

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. rtU we had tt lengA a more perfcft account of' dl thofe par- jf truer
ticaiars from'an cye-wttncfs, of judgment and probity (N),/«'«i/rr.
who commnmcated the whole £ecret^ and its proeefs, to his
brethren in Europe.

Whether that which hath been fince mads m Saxmy^ A finer
and fo much exceeds the Chinefi, cfpecially in the beauty ai fort made
the coburs, and finenefs of the painting, be made after the ««Saxony.
jame maaner, and whether the firft difcoverer of it took the
hint from the Jefuit's account, we know not ; but as that
COflStmodtty is now fo far outdone in Germany, and is likely to
be imitated by ours, and fome other European nations, with
good fuccefs, it will of courfe excufe us from dwelling longer
OR the Cbinefe way of working, making, glazing, painting,
and baking it ; the procefs of which, though curious, is too
iong and complicated for a work like this^ and may be beft
fcen in thofe two pieces which the Jefuit above-mentioned fent
,of it, and which are publiflicd among the Lettres edifiantes of
the miffionaries, or in the extraft which Father Du Halde
hath given us of them in his defcription of the Chinefe em*

{ttTcK

All that may be farther obfervable about it is, that tho^ ^he oU
the notions of the earth being fo long in preparing, to make china fiill
it fit for the work, or of the china-ware, when made, rccdving P^^firabk^
an additional beauty by lying long buried in the earth, fecm '^ "'***'^
quite confuted from our author's obfervations on their prefent
way of fabricating it ; to which we might add, by way of
corroborating them, the new method found out in Saxony,
which is pretty nearly anfwerable to it ;yet it is not unlikely that
. the Chinefe h^d formerly fome fudi longer procefs in bringing it
to its h^heft beauty, but which they thought fit afterwards to
iet afide, or difpeofe with, as incompatible with the great
call they had for that commodity from Europe^ and which ncw^
feoned to require a more expeditious way of management^

^ Lcttrcs edifiantes, vol. xii. p. 258—360. Ibid. vol. xvi\
p. 320 — 366. Du Halde, ubi fup. p. 338— •353. Vid. & Li
CoMPTE, Martin. Navaret. Nieuhofp, & al. fup.citat.

(N) This perfon was Father deiired of inquiring into every

IXEntrecolles^ a Jefuit, who had branch of that manufadure, as

a church at King-te-ching^ and a well as into the records of that

good number of converts who town about the invention of it,

either worked at, or were great concerning which, he tells us^

dealers in it ; fo that he had all he could nnct no fatisfaclory ac*

the opporcunity that could be count (36}.

("fi) BktrafT det tettres edifiantei ap, Du Haldg^ vrL u ^. iit, & pq*

Q^a though

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a44 ^^ Hlfiory of China. B. 1%

though at the lofs of a great deal of its beauty and goodnefs.
7be $ld What inclines us to think fo, is the vifible difference there
eount^r- IS between the old and new china in both thofe refpeAs, and
ftittd. the great value which the Chhiefe themfelves fct upon the for-
mer above the latter ; infomuch that fome of them have
found means to counterfeit it in fuch a manner as not to be
cafily difcovered by any but a connoifleur. We might add
that that much finer fort which is made in Ja^an^ and of
which we (hall fpeak in a fubfequent chapter, is, by the con-
fefEon of the very JapanfUrSy affirmed to owe its excellence
not fo much to the goodnefs of the materials, and manner
of working, as to the length of the procefs in preparing the
earth for the work ; but we (haU fay the lefs of that, as we
are in fuCh a fair way of being fupplied with that beautiful
commodity much nearer, and, in time, at a much cheaper
rate.
Their *vnr^ The laft manufaAure worth notice is that of their vanufh^
nijbf 9r or, as we ftyle it in Europe^ gyran, or japan- work, which, tho'
jafan, it be vaftly inferior to that made in Japan, is yet thought va-
luable enough to be bought at a great prioe, and fent atn-oad .
in great quantities, efpecially into Europe. We have already
fpoken of the liquor or gum which gives it that beautiful
luftre ; as well as of the poifonous quality of its effluvia,
which fo fadly affcft the head and limbs of thofe who work
at it : but this doth not hinder its keeping a prodigious num-
ber of hands flill employed in it, in almofl every part of the
empire, though not with equal beauty and goodnefs in fome
The Jinefi^ as in others. The very befl of all is made at Whey-chew^ in
m/hfTi the province of Kyang-nan ; and the next to it at Nan-king^
««^- the capital of that province ; in both which, it feems, the
workmen have a better art in laying the vamiih finooth, and
Whyworft yf\^ ^^ beautiful and lafHng glofs. But the place where the
at Kan- grcateft quantity of it is wrought, though neither fo beautiful
or ferviceable, is at Kan-ton, where the Europeans befpeak
and have it wrought in great quantities, and according to
-their own direftions (O).

There

(O) And this is the main fmooth, nor in giving them time
caufc of its being fo inferior to to dry, as that fort of work re-
Chat which is made in other quires : for the beauty and lad-
places ; for the workmen being ingnefs of it cpnfifl chiefly in
• obliged to ftay till the Europeans . that there ihould be no fewer
are come, in order to receive than nine or ten fuch grounds
thofe diredio'ns, they can nei- laid, the thinner the better, and
ther take that due time inlay, at leafl the fpace of three or
iiig their grounds fo thin and four days, or even more in damp

weather.

ton.

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C 1.* TheHsftory of Chint. 245

There are two forts of varnifli ufed in China, the one fo The tranf*
tranfparent as to difoover all the beauties of the wood under- ^w-^w/
neath ; and yet fo folid, as to look like a piece of glafs laidy^^^
over it ; and at the fame time, by foaking into the pores of \t^
prcferves it from corrupting. This fort, however, will bear
gilding, or being painted upon, without lofmg any of its -
glofs ; but is mofUy ufed upon fome forts of curious woods,
which are fo beautifully veined and variegated, that it looks
like the work of art. We have very little of this fort brought
into Europe.

The other, which is better known to us, is laid on with 7-^^ mort^
a body in very thin grounds, as mentioned under the laft note, foUd,
and that commonly on a kind of maflic, or pafteboard, made
up of paper, flax, lime, and fome other materials, well
beaten together, and glued on upon the wood, and with a^
very fmooth furface ; and on thai it is that they lay firft their
oil, and then their varnifh, which is moftly of the^ black kind,
tho' they may make it of other colours, and then paint and
gild it in the manner we fee it in thofe cabinets, tables, and
other trinkets, that come over to us. And though the beft
6f that fort, which is made in China, be vaflly inferior in
beauty, colour, andhardnefs, to that which comes from Ja-
fan ; yet, when rightly made, it will pf efcrve ifs native glofs
and lufbre a confiderable. time, except fome difafter happens
toit(P).

We ihall conclude this article of their trade and manufac- Chincft
tures with a fhort account of theu: coin, which is one main cain^

weather, allowed between every long or fo fine, were their materi-

one, that the laft may be .tho- als in other refpedis equally good,

roughly dried before a new one and the workmen as dexterous,

is laid on. Another confidera* here as at any other place,
ble interval of time is likewifc (P) It is obferved that the

required between the laft layer fpilling of any hot liquor u^on

and the polifhing, paintine> and that fort of work will deaden

gilding; all which would, if duly its laftre, becaufe it will make

ebferved, require a whole fum- the varnifh grow dull, and turn

mcr, and more : but, as they yellow. The means of reftor-

have not a fulHcient time al- ing it to its priftine (hining^

lowed them for it, they content black, fays dLClinefe author, is,

themfelves with difpatching it to expofeit a whole night to \

at any rate, fo it doth hut white froft, or, which i5 ftill bet*

pleafe the purchafer's eye. And ter, to hold it fome time in th^

nence it is that they neither fun (37).
keep their glofs nor colour f«

(ji) Du UM» vol. i. f. 337, & fiq.

Q^j fprltig

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fpri^ ^ fupport of them. They Inive but two covrent
m«Ui& in all C^W, viz. iUver aad copper ; gdkd being on tbe
fame footing there as precious ftones with iig ^ and pofcbaiJedp
lik^ other valuable merchandizes.^ acxxwding to its weight and
^l^er mt fia^nefs. Silver, though ufed in payment, is not coii^y b«»t
cmed'j gjj. jutQ pieces, fmaller or larger, as occafiou reqttires j fo
but cut, that its value is rated according to its weight and ffoodaeis*
w/ hed ^^ ^^^ ^'^^ ^^ prince's lou^. This makes it, however,
^^'^ ^ ' very inconvenient to the tradefeaen, who muft be ever ctttrtkig
ana weighing it (Q^) ; and, which is ftill worfe, be trying^ it
on the touchftone, becaufe it \» often below the ccnamon
flandard ; in which cafe, a propoitioQ muft be g^en in. the
weight, to make up that defcft. Neverthelefs, the Chimfe
^hufc to have it in that manner rather than coined, as ours is»
becaufe, as they fay, it would make every provioce fwarm
with clippers and coiners^ and force the dealers to have flili
recourfis to their fcalea aad touchftone. And as» ia the fre-
^9m» hp quent cutting it, it can hardly be avoided but forne ftnall p»r-
if. it. tides of the metal will fall 00 the ground, fo there are nunH
bers of poor people tak^n up with gathering and waflung die
^t that is thrown out of daie ftiops into the fbreets, and who
commonly ftnd enough among it to fubfift by. The only ex*
peditious way they have t^ pay aiiy fum in filver, is, to keep
by them a variety of plates of that metal, beaten, cither thto^
ner or thicker, according to the prefent exigence (befides the
ingotSj, which are refervcd for larger f^ins), arid which, by Jong
ufe, they can cut to a very great nicety,, and hardly exceed 9
grain either above or under the weigh^t they defign it for.
Copftrthe TifE only coin, therefore, prMcrly fo cilkd, inufeamoog
gf^ll ^oift. them, or which they have had from time immemorial, is ct
oopper, and of a very inconfider^bk value, on accdnnt of its
^oc\rfencfs, as well as finallncfe^ ft fcarcdy amounting to the

(QJ The fcales, or rather they may more cafily weigh thci?

Milliards, with which they pieces. Thcfc kind of ilil-

'V^'eigh their filv^r or gold, and liards are fo exceedingly cxa^

iVhich they commonly carry for weighing any money, or

about them in a neat japan cafe, fmall pieces of filver, that ji-om

confift of a Hi tie round plate, fifceen, or even twenty crowns^

^n ebony or ivory beam, and ^ down to the twelfth part of a

tl^eight. The bearn, which is peny, and l^fs, may be wei^hei

divided into minute parts on in them with fi) great a nieety,

fhree fides, is fufpended by fine that the loootb part of a crowd

jillcen firings at pne of the ends; wi^ tur^ tjie fcale (38J.
in ^hr^e different points, that

^38^ M4>rti»t\ Le Commit, Hu ^ildt, & ah

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C. !•

ne Hi/hry tf Chibt.

«47

tMrd port of Me <^ our fertUngs. It is of a rtxmd figure,
idth Mse (h^iii^ dianiders on each fide, aad a fquare hole ia
the mkkfie, through which they nay be fining to any nam*
ber, tmt cetmnonly aa htntdved or a thou£iBd in one firing ;
* whkh lad is equi^^ent to a Chinrfe cirown, and fomewhat
above one of ows ; aad in this laft every hundred is divided
by a ftrif^, which hangs at the laft piece, for the greater dif-
patch of tdKng then. They have, it icms, no other name
finr what we call money, than the old one of Tfyen^ which
properly ^goifles the watir 4f a fountain that runs without
^^fi^y I>7 which they exprsiled the continual circulation of
it from one hand to another; which word they ftill retain
ivMi refpe6i to both metak, calfing the one Tmg-tfyen^ or
copper-money (R), and In^tfyen^ or filver-nKMiey; which laft
name diey gi^e at Kan-ton aUb to the piaftres, French and
Engfijb crowns, which are pretty current and comsion in that
trading city c.

< D*CNTaE<:oLLC< ap. Da Hal4e, toL i. p. ^%o, & fcs).

(R) Thitcoi«, incxnfiderable
at k B» sndBOt damped, baton-
If otft, tiioagk formerly coiaed
la two^and-twenty places of the
eaipire, was nevertheiefs for-
bidden fince, by an imperial
cdi£t, to be caft any-where but
at the court ; fo that none of
^tuc petty kings under that mon-
asth dares attempt it. Their
laws maiDe it even capital to
comterfeit it; though Fadier
lyEmtreeoiies (ays, that fome of
dieir monarchs have contented
thtmielves with puniihing fuch
offenders with the lofs of their
hand, or with banlAiment (39).

The Chinefe have, however,
had, in the antient times, a
great variety of coins of gold
and filver, and in a great variety
of forms, all which are now
only to be feen in the cabinets
of the curious, and more parti-
cularly in that of the late empe-
lur Kaug'hit who caufed a no-

ble colle^^ioo to be made tof all
that could be fouad of that
kind in the empire, and to be
deported there among his othet
rarities. The reader may fee the
mod curious and remarkable in
the plate given us by />« Hald9^
as they were taken by Father
D^EntrecoHes out of the impe-
rial coikdion above -mention^
ed (40).

fiefides thofe of gold, filver,
and copper, they have had fome
of bafer metals current in C6/W,
to fay nothing of others of clay
damped with fome names or
charadtefs, and baked, (hellsA
(lamped paper; {^r. ; and what
is molt obfervable is, that none
of them were ever damped with
the head of the prince ; it being
deemed there an indignity to
the imperial majedy, to have his
image pafs thro' the hands of
tradefmen, dealers, and th^
dregs of the people.

^39^ D'^ntffctHts af, VuUaldt, vol. up. 33P, &fef»

Q.4

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vidU,

248 ^ht Mijtiry of China: B. C

ChineTe In order to have fome nodoa of the Cbirufi motyef, wfa^er
nueights. antient or modem, it moil be ob(enred» that thdr pomicl> or
Pound, Lyang^ v^hs (ixtecn ounces, bat is divided into only ten
boyj tU' parts, called Tfyen^ this into ten Fwen^ wMdi arc eqniiralcnt
itkA'^^ to ten French fols, or about fevcn-pence EngUfb ; the Fv>€n
\jj1j into ten Fi of iilvcr. The beam rf xhi^Chimfr fcale carries
thcfe divifions no farther; and yet, with refpi^ to gold of
iUver of a conHdcrable Mieight, the divifi<fti b more minute, .
and aUmoft extends to imperoeptible paru ; for which reafon
it is (carce pdffible to convey a juft idea of them in our Ian*
guage. They divide the Li into ten IVha^ the IVha inu> ten
Se^ the S^e into ten Fit, the F4 into tea Chin^ which laft figni-
fies a grain of duft ; this again into ten Tay^ the Tay into tea
MyaUf the Afyau i(ito ten A&, the Mo into ten Tfytm^ and
the 7/$^im into ten &un. But even when one underftands all
thefe diviiioQS, it will be Ml impoi&ble to afcertain the value
of the antient coins, though the w^ht is marked upcxi then^
yet fome of them pafled for much more than their intrinfic
value came to. There were times in which the fcmrdty of ipedes
obliged their monarchs to raife the value of the (mall coi^>er
pieces fo exceffively hkh, that one of them was worth ton of the
fame fort current in former dmes, which hath occafioned very
great tumults among th^ people ; becaufe the merchants raifed
the price of their goods in proportion. This fcarclty of cop
per coin (which w^ occafioned ^ther by fome violent irrup-
tion of foreignei^, wlio ^me and loaded their barks with it,
and carried it aw^y, or through the cautioufne^ of the
people, who buri^ it in time of w^, and died, perhaps
without difcovering where it lay hid), hath been {o terriUy
felt, that, at one time, an emperor bath caufed near 14^
temples of /b to be demolifhed/ and all the images and cop*
per work to be caft into coin ; and, at other times, the people
have been exprefly forbid the ufe of any veflcls, or other
\itenfils, of copper, and obliged them to deliver up thofe they
|iad to the mint. And thus much fliall fuffice for thdr C011I5
an4 commerce.

SECT,

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C. 1, Tke Hipry §f China. 249

SECT. VI.

Of the CbaraSfer^ Genius^ Manners j Cuftoms^ Mar^
riagesy Burials^ Feajis^ and Feftivalsy of the Chi-
ncfc ; with an Account of the natural and artificial
Rarities of that Country.

TXT E have had frequent occafion to fhew, how much the CharaSer
^^ Chinefe nation valued itfelf, above all others, fK>t only ^.^^ -
in point of antiquity, but likewiie of wifdom, learning, po* ^'^'^^^*
litenefs, and other valuable qualities, in comparifon of whom,
they look upon the reft of mankind as fo many rude favages,
jDonfters, or, at beft, as creatures in human ftiape, but either
^uite deftitute, or, at beft, endowed with a very little ftiare,
of reafon ; on which account, they made it a very conftant
maxim among them, never to entertain any commerce tvith High con-
foreigners^ but juji as much as fbould be thought necejfary to ^^'t of
procure their homage andfervice. This was the high notion '^'*5/^^*^''»
they had of themfdves, and were brought up in * ; which was
ftill farther confirmed, by the fmgular deference which the
Tartars^ Perfians^ Indians; and other neighbouring nations,
paid to them, in point of wifdom and learning ; infomuch,
that when Xaverius came to preach Chriftianity among the
Japanefe, a people not inferior to them in fcnfe and politc-
nefs, their objedlion againft it was, that fo wife a nation as
the Chinefe had not embraced it.

But, abating this overgrown conceit of themfelves, ofThicha-
which they were foon cured, after they became more con* ^^^^ rf
vcrfant with the Europeans^ it muft be owned, that they were '^^.'^*'^^'
once endowed with many fhining qualities, though they have ^1^^^*^-
fo for degenerated from them of late ; that they muft have
been a wife, prudent, and politic nation ; that they had true
and juft ideas of government ; that their fundamental laws
•were excellently well calculated for the public good ; and that
the jseople were no lefs endowed with a fincere regard for,
. and a natural difpofition to oUerve, them. And hence it
was; that, whatever ftrange revolutions have happened among
them, during fuch a feries c^ ages which their monarchy hat)\
continued, they commonly proved of fliort duration; and,
as foon as they came to be ever fo little at their own difpofal,
they returned to their own form of government again : and
one may fee, to this very day, in fpite of all*the changes,
corruption, and d^^^racy, which hath been introduced lin^c

f §€? before, P. 6. (D). & feq.

• th^

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tSO The Hijhry $f OxM. B.I.

their laft conqueft^ fome plain footfteps of their prUHne w-
tne, and veneration for their antient laws and form of govern-
ment. And though the for greater part of them do now con-
tent themfeives with the btrc outwtf d fliew of probity, public
fyirit, jnftice, generofity **, itc. yet one can&ot forbear con- .
^ duding, that there was a time when thofe noble qiialkies
were the diflinguiihing charaAer of the Chineft nation ; and
that thofe princes and great men, who enaAed fuch excellent
laws, left behind them fuch wife maxims of government, and
encouraged fuch a noble fyftem of morality, both by thdr
precepts and example, were every way quaUfied to reign over
fuch fkithful fubjefts.
Of the The Chinefi are naturally ingenious, lively, and induftri-

frefint ous, and thofe of the lower rank laborious tocxcefs. They
Chincfc. have no great genius for fpcculative fciences, as we have for-
merly obfervcd, but a furprifing one for almoft all forts t>f in-
ferior ones, as wdl as for mechanics, cither for ofc or diver-
fion. They are quick and witty, but afieft a gravity with
it > outwardly afGd>le. and civil to, but jealous and miftruftfiol
of, ftrangers, efpecially fuch as they fafjpeft ^f coming to pry
into their manufaAures, fome of whom they lutve made nd
fcruple to ^ifon, upon the bare fufpidon (^ it ; but, where
only traffick and gain are in view^ they are exceedingly watch- -
ful to obferve the tempers and inclinaHons of their chapmen,
and keep up the fairdft correfpondence with them, in order
to over-readi them : fo that whether a ftranger tmfts to hia
own judgment, or to the probity erf the Cinnefs dealer, or
employs a Chinefe faftor, he is, for the moft part, in dancer
of being cheated, and laughed at, unlefs Ik be cxoao&g
careful who he deals with ; for there are ftili manyinftanoos
among them, not only of honeft and fair dealing, and opn
and generous ufage, but even of fiddity, incapable of being
corrupted. They are exceedingly apt to refent afTronts and
injuries, though they do not, as we do, retaliate them by
duels, fighting, or other public hoftilities, but mil rather
feem patient under them, even to infenfibiUty, dll they have
a fav(Mirable opportunity oi indulging thdr revenge to the
Much gi' higheft degree. Both nobles and artificers are extremely ^vco
^mt9 to gaming, and will fpend whole days or weeks at it ; and the
^an^ng. ^^^ ^^y j^f^ ^^ fm^5 ^^ j^^ ^^^ fometimcs all they are

worth, even to their vdves and children, wh^ they meet whfe
a bad run of fortune ^ (A). In

^ Secbefprc, p. i$4. & feq. ^ D^his, vi4eMAQAiLLAii»
L£ CoMPTE, Maryini, NiEUHOFF, Dv Haldb, H tL

(A) All forts of gaming are and even th)t of chefs, though
(orbi4d^n by the Chinefe laws j fo n^^ch admir^ bjr the whoio

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C 1. Tii Uifisry cf China. t^i

Ih other cafes, they are very good oeoonoimlby and ob*
ferve great firu^tty in their iioiilbs, and way of living, from
irhkh tbey feidom depart, but upon feme great occaflons ;
ffich as their national fieftivals» their birtb-£iys, weddings, Suf/^tmu^
borials, ^c. at which times they ftrire to outdo each other, /efiivait.
m the rpkiKlidne(s of their tables, furniture, and the various
methods of entertaining their guefts (B), in which they fre-^
qnently run to excefs, and beyond what their drcnmilancet
will admit of. Among the variety of fnnqmious difhes which
commonly adorn thdr tables at foch times, dogs ^efli, dif-

latiott, is yet highly cenfared
by tkeir literati, as taking up
too much of that time which
ought to be better employed ;
and yet they are fo very fond
both of that and many others
which are in vogue amongthem,
Azt they will even venture their
whole eftate upon the chance of
a game» or even upon a fingle
card, or caft of a die. Upon
this account, as well as the fear
of the laws, they are very care-
ful to indulge tnis pa0ion wiih
as much privacy as poflible ;
though they might eafily be pre-
vented f]X)m it, if the manda-
rins and magiftrates, who are
equally gnilty of it, did not
wank at it in their inferiors (42).
And, it is iH>t improbable, that
thefe being fo often hurt by it,
is one main caufe of their being
fo g^ven to cheating in all their
mercantile dealings.

(B) All thefe kinds of fefti-
vals are commoniy accompa-
nied not only with variety of
mafic and dancing, fuch as it
is, but with tumblers, rope-
dancers, jugglers, pofture-ina'
Sers, • and o^r fuch diverfions,
which are there exhibited, by a
parcel of ftrollers hired for that
parpofe, and are furprifingly
dexterous at their refpedive
parts. Thofe of the middle fort

Will add fome ihort farce, or
dramatic performance, to the
reft i and thoie of rank, a re-

fular play, with all its proper
ecoracions, interludes of mufic,
dancing, (*fc. ; there being al-
moft every-where a fufficient
number of thofe ftrollers to be
found, who are ready to a6t any
jplay which the company ihall
call for.

Thefe players are a kind o£
vagabonds, . that wander from
place to place, where they are
moft likely to be hired j and are
always paid by the matter of
the tcaft, among thofe of the
higher rank 5 but among thofe
of the lower clafs, by the vo-
luntary contribution of the
guefts. They comznoniy go ii^
companies, of , both fexes, and
have a kind of head over them,
who either keeps them in pay,
or diflributes their hire among
them, according to the parts
they a^L Theie men, in their
rambles, make it their bufinefs
to buy (and often to fteal) all
the handfome girls they can get
from the poor people, whom
they afterwards either debauch
themfelves, pr proftitute for
fome fm^l funi, in order tot
harden and fit them for theif
bufinefs (43).

(^i) Martint\ Lt Ccmft^ Du Baldi, (^ al*

fluently

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252 The H0cry of Chkia. B. !•

ferently drelled, feldom fails of being one; whatever plenty
of other fle(h, venifon, fiih, fowl, ifc. there be befides. Ye^
Sobriety at even in thefe feafts, they affeft a more than conunoa gravity
ibcM, and Iilence, and will drink but fparingly of wine, and other
ftrong liquors, even when, the cups are put brifldy round by the
mafter of the feaft, but will only take a finall quantity at the
bottom of the cup, as if they feared being overtaken with, or
betrayed into, fome indecorum by it : but they are foon re-
lieved from their gra^dty and fears, by the diverfions above- j
mentioned, which commonly fucceed the third or fqurth
round.
fTof of They neither ufe fpoons, knives, nor forks, at their tables ;
gmting, but every gueft comes furniihed with two fmall and long ivory
or ebony fticks, with which they help themfelves, wth won-
derful nicety and eafe, to every thing that is fet before them,
without touching it with their hands : and this makes napkins
to be likewife needlefs at then: tables, every difli of meat^
fi(h, (be being commonly cbt into fmall bits, before it is
ferved ^.
New The public or national feftlvals are various, and regularly

yearns obferved all over the empire ; particularly, the two firft days
feftivaL of the year, which are celebrated with feafting, mufic,
dancing, playing, tomedies, and other diverfions, and with
fending of prefents to their friends and patrons. This folemn
time, which, among the great ones, lafls from the end of
the twelfth moon of the laft to about the twentieth of the
firfl moon of the new year, is properly theu* vacation ; during
which, all bufmefs ceafes, ail the tribunals are fhut up, the pofts
fuipended throughout the whole empire, and the generality
of the people fpend then: time in rejoicing, and all ibrts of
diverfions (C).

<* Dc his, vide Magaillan, Li Compte, Martini, Niiw-
HOFF, Du Halde, & al.

■X

tion, \vhich lafta abqut three when they uke their leave of

weeks (44), pr a month (45), it, with great folemnity ; and

is llyled, by the Chinefe^ the the inferior mandarins pay their

jbuttingupofthefeah\htc2i\x^^9 homage to their fupenor, the

at the Deginningjof it, they do, children to their parents, fer-

with great ceremony, (hut up vapt^ to their roa(le;rs 2 and every

the little coffers wherein, the family concludes the d^y with

feals of each tribunal are kep^. a fumptuous fupp^r.
But the greateft rejoicing is on

f4.4) Chinefe Ambajfy, f, 76. W, ^ jp|q». Kaf, ^, itmJ, ihtd. p, »So.

(45) ^°9 yi^fapr^

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But the moft folemn and pompous part of this feftivity, Tbmtoftht
hcgLTiS on the fifteenth day of the fame firft moon, and is, by Umtboms.
the Chinefe, ftyled ^tfeqft of the lanthoms. It is commonly
ufhered in at court, and the capital of Pe-king, pretty late on
the preceding night, by the ringing of a vaft large bell ; the
firft found of, which is no fooner heard, than it is accom-
panied by whole vollies of cannon, fix)m the palace and city
ramparts, the beating of large kettle-drums, the found of
trumpets, and a great variety of other inftruments. The
fame notice is given in all other parts of the empire, efpe-
dally the great cities, about the fame time, and much in the
(ame way, the ^non excepted. Immediately upon which. Fire-
they every-where kindle fuch vaft numbers of fires, hang up *i4wi/,««/
fuch infinite numbers of lanthorns, and play off fuch variety «^^^-
of fire-works, fome reprefenting caftles, towers, (hips, dra- •w**^'****
gons, elephants, horfes, fifties, and other creatures, that the
whole atmofphere feems to be in a flame. They have like-
wife a very dexterous way of intermixing their lanthorns with
thofe fire-works, fo as to reprefent horfes, and other animals,
in full career, birds flying, ftiips failing, armies fighting,
princes marching with their whole retinue, and a great variety
of other fuch furprifing fcenes 5 whilft the ears of the fpefta-
tors are entertained with the beft mufic their country affords,
^nd with the joyful acclamations of the people ; all which are
anfwered by the trumpets, bells, and other inftruments, of
every temple and monaftery.

Ma. IJbrandz Ides^ who was prefent at one of thefe feafts *, fr^fe re-
(ays, that the noife at Pe-king, which continued the fame ttU jmingr,
the next day at noon, was as great as if an army of 100,000
men had been all that time in a clofe and fierce engagement.
And Father Le Conipte^ who was likewife an eye-witnefs of
this grand folemnity, at the time he was there, favs, that the
number of lanthorns, commonly lighted at thefe illuminations, undnum-
through the whole empire, was computed to' amount to at her of
leaft 200,000,000. Duringthefeftival, the ftiops are clofely lanthorns^
ftiut up ; all bufmefs is fufpended ; the ftreets crouded with Streets
proceflions of numberlefe idols> carried about in great pcMnp, crouded.
the monks and priefts attending them, with their cenfers,
fongs, and mufical inftruments ; the very women, of all
ranks, who at other times are not fuffered to appear in
public, are then permitted to ride through the ftreets of Pe-
king ; thofe of common rank upon afles, adorned with ribands
and other trinkets ; and thofe of quality in their two-wheeled
chaifes, covered on every fide but the front, and either fing-

♦ AxabafTy to China, part. i. ch. 15.. p. 76:

ing.

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ieg, or gently touching feme mufical inftroment, or cvca

fmoaking a pipe» ind attended with a maid-ferTant riding

behtad them, and playing likewife on fome mufical itiAns*

Ricbnefi 9/ menu Some of thoie Ian thorns are fo vaftly rich and beauti-

iife Ian- fuj^ that the price of them amounts to 1 500 or 2000 cro^rss,

iifoms. ,jmj ev^ beyond ; and not a houfe but hath fome fort cl

them, the beft they can afford, burning, both before and

within it (D). In a v/otd^ the Cfnnefe are fo ambitious of j

making the moft magnificent figure on this feftival, tiiat they 1

will retrench from their oonunon expcnces the year round,

that they may do fomething cxtraorcfinary at this time, and,

abating the mafqueradjog, will allow dsem&lves in all tl^ ex-

' bi ^^n trftv^ancies of a Fenetian carnival •. But what the caofe of

tmkMOwn* all this jc^, or the ori^ of this grand feftival is, Aey dtfaar

do not care to tell us, or probably kirow nothing of it them-

felves (E). We ftiall, bbweveri in the fcquel of this chapter,

find

• De his, vid^ & Mahtini, Navaretta, L« Comfte, Dir
Halds, 6c al. fup. citat

( D ) Thefe JantKoms are
iadorned with beautiful carving,
gilding, and japanning, and
nave about fix or eight panes
of thin blue £Ik, made tranf-
parent by a fine varniih, and
|>aiii£ej with figures of trees,
mett, horfes, teds, ^c. ^
ficilfuUy difpofed, as to receive,
as it were, life, from the great
number of lamps, or candles,
burning within them. Others
are made of blue tranfparent
horn, through which are feen
fimdry kinds of creatures, paint-
ed to the life, and Teeming to
move, through the motion of
the fiam^ within, and repre-
fcnting a variety of fcenes, to
entertain the fpe£lators. The
common forts of them are about
four or five feet high, and have
their tops adorned with curious
ftreamers, waving in the wind ;
but thofe of the nobleft fort are
above twenty feet in diameter.

and illuminated with lamps and
wax-candles, the fides of which
reprefent to the eye varions fi-

fures of men and women, in
ifferent charafters, or exhi-
biting fome theatrical repre-
(entations, with gellures fuit-
able to their parts. TheOe are
moved by wires, by people
placed underneath, like our
puppets, or, according to one
of their own authors, are aded
by living perfons {45). They
have likewife bonfires, and
other fire-works, in all the
parts of the cities, towns, and
villages ; and the whole nation
feems to run mad with joy for
they know not what. See the
next note.

(E) Whether they are reallf
ignorant of the occafion of diis
fedival, or defignedly conceal
it from Grangers, it is certain,
none of our authors, who have
fpoken of ic, nor even Kao, x

(45) Kao, ubi ju^tiu

Cbinefi

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jbid a proper place for offering a ocmjeffaire of outb, ccttK^em*
ing the origin, and extraordinary rejoicings^ of that famed
femval, wJuch^ we hope, when weighed with other concur-
ring drciunilances, may, though new, appear to give a more

255

Chini^ natire, have given any
fa(isfa£l9ry account oflt Some
tell OS, it was inilituted in me-
' mory of one of their monarchs,
' who had caufcd a magnificent
palace to be built, which he
Hluminated whh a prodigious
fiufttber of thefc lanthorns, that
4he day might not be diftin-
guiftied from the night. Others,
that it was in remembrance of
n great mandarin, whofe fa-
vourite daughter drowned her-
felf ; and that he having go-
verned them with uncommon
humanity, the country, in gra-
titude, flocked to him with
lanthorns, to help him to find
her out, though without fuc-
oefs ; in memory of which, they
isftttuted this ceremony, which,
in time, fpread icfelf through
the whole emph-e.

Laftly, as their records men-
tion, that the Emprefs Ta-kya,
wife of the Emperor Cbe^ (both
of them of a tyrannic difpofi-
tion), had, either through fear
of' a rebellious attempt, or for
Ibme other motive, accufiomed
lierlelf to have the imperial
palace illuminated with a pro-
digious numbe^ of candles, to
fupply thp abfence of the fun,
and to prevent any furprize by
night, lome infer from thence
that this fellival was inftituted,
by the people, after her death,
'in memory of their deliverance
from that cruel tyranny.

But, as none of thefc carry
any tokrablc probability, may
we not rather thinic, that the

origin of its inftitotion is either
forgot, or, which is more pro*
bable,is concealM from drangert
out of fome fuperftitious wlum ?
For, we are told, that, with re-
fpc6l to that of the ne^ year,
' they are, in fome parts of China,
io cautious of having a ftranger,
or even fome of their neareft
relations, at their own houiey^
at that time, left they (houM
catch all the good luck which«
they fuppofe, attends the mo-
ment of its entrance, from the
family, that they will not ad-
mit any one to (hare in the
feftivity of that day with diem,
nor join in the common re-
joicing of the feafon, till the
next and following ones (46).
However, by the uncommom
ma|;nificence and profufion
which reigns through the whole
empire, and the univerfal joy
that appears in every look, and
the ftrange forts of diverfions
which are in vogue, during the
feaft, one would be apt to fup-
poie, that ib iblemn, fo joy-
ful, and fo univerfal a feftiva!,
owed its origin to fome extra-
ordinary event, or blefling^
which they either are careful to
conceal, or have loft the re-
membrance of; or, at leaft, that
they expeft, from their magni-
ficent way of celebrating it,
fome great and public bl^ng
will fall on the whole realm,
and that thofe who beftowed
the moft coft on it, or behaved
moft franticly, were to have the
greateft fhare of it (47).

(46) Du HMldf,'tfoLu />. 292. (47) De bte, r-iJc Magaillan, Lt

Campte, Martini, l/branJvt, Kao, DuUalde^ &c, u^Jjtfra,

probable

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probable account of it than any we have hitherto met widi,
either from the natives or ftrangers.
The tnvo The next in rank and folamnity, are the two grand fefti-
f,fthuaU ofsiH^ inftituted in honour of their famous Confucius^ and are
C >nfu- celebrated, the one in the fpring, and the other in autumn.
^*** * The public honours paid to that great philofopher, ufed for-
merly to be performed before his ftatue, Tet up in the great
hall dedicated to his memory, till their new conqueror Kang-
hi, deeming it, we are told, a kind of idolatry ; and fearmg,
or pretending to fear, left his new fubje^s fhould, in time,
offer the fame worfliip, and prayers, to him, forbade the ce-
remony to be performed before his ftatue ; inftead of which,
he ordered a large label, or board, to be ereAed over a table,
wkh his name and titles written, or engraven, upon it,
with fome beautiful leaf-work, and other ornaments, carved
the ctre» or painted about it. The ceremony is now performed, by
MMjr ff kneding before the infcnpdon, and proftrating the body nine
*him. times brfore it, till the h«ul touches the ground : after which,
the ufual offerings are made to it, of wine, viftuals, fruits,
ifc, in the fame manner the great families do to their deceafed
friends, at their mourning teafts ; of which, we fhall fpealr
in the fequel. The fame exchange was likewiie ordered to be
made in all their fchools, colleges, and other places, where
that great man's pifture was formerly fet up, and where no-
thing but his name is now to be feen ^ We have formerly
taken notice of fome other feftivals, in which the emperors
bore the grcateft fliare in the facrifices, and other ceremonies
performed at them, and need not enlarge upon their other*
public ones, which are inconfiderable, in comparifon of thofe
we have now g^ven an account of.
Ftafttngs The private ones are either on their birth-days, marriages,
•* hirth' or funeral obfequies, all which they fh*ive to celd>rate in the
^^yi* grandeft manner that their circumftanccs can afTord. They
always obferve their birthdays with fuch feaftings, dancing,
mufic, and other diverfions, as we have already defcribed, to
which the guefts join their good wifhes of long life and p^-
fperity ; • and fome of them add either a panegyric, or copy of
verfes, on the pcrfon. The whole day is fpent in civil treats,
mutual congratulations, and mirth, even among thofe of the
loweft rank. The fame rejoicings and feaftings are obferved
at the birth of a fon, efpecially the firft ; and, in both cafes,
the guefts commonly accompany their congratulatory compli-
ments with fome real prefents, fuitable to their drcumfiancei ;

^ De his, vide & Martinj, Navaritta, Lb CoMPTE,Df7
Halde, & al. fop. citat.

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C i: The Hifitny of China. 257

the greatdl princes riot thinking it beneath tKeir dignity to
have fuch kind of fubfkntial honours paid to them.

Their marriages are celebrated with no lefs poqip. The Marri*
married couple are commonly brought together, without any ages.
previous acquaintance with each other, the bargain l?eing
ftruck by their parents, or by fome go-between, and after-
Wards ratified, by prefents fent by both fides. The bride N9 dowry
brings no dowry with her, but is rather purchafed by her brought by
fix>ufe, who, befides the price he pays for her, commonly tbi bride. "
fpends, in the marriage ceremony, double and treble the pre-
fents flie brings along with her, efpecially among thofe of
higher rank (F). The young couple arfe never fufSred to fee Wedding
each other, till the marriage contraft is figned and fealed, by ceremony.
the parents or friends, and the prefents be exchanged on both
fides : but, as foon as that ilover, the bride is fent home to
her bridegroom's houfe, in a kind of pompous cavalcade, and
with a numerous attendances of friends and fervants ; fome oti
horfeback, fome on foot ; fome carrying the infignia of the
family, others playing on variety of inftruments ; a third fort
carry torches, flambeaux, even at noon-day, and burning
odoriferous perfumes ; whilft a fourth bear the prefents fhc
brings along with her. The bride, if of quality, is carried
in a ftately fedan, covered all round with a large and rich
canopy of ftate, borne by a dozen or more lufty fellows, in
the livery of the family, and guarded by fome relations on -
horfeback. The whole retinue appears in the mofl fplendid

e Seethe cavalcade defcribed by Du Hald£, vol. i. p. 303.

(F) The laws of the country furnilh the richer fort with

making it an indifpenfible duty children, when their wive^

for every man to marry ; and prove unfruitful ; and this is

many of the poorer fort not done either clandeftinely, and

having it in their power to pur- then the good wife pretends to

chafe wives, the government be pregnant, and, in proper

gives them leave, in fach cafes, time, to be delivered ; and this

to go to the foundling hofpitals, is oftener with than without the

and beg one ; which favour is confent of the hufband. The

feldom denied, if the man have other is done by publicly adopt- *

any tolerable charaftcr for pro- ing the children fo bought j but

bity and induftry. This me- as this cannot be done without

thod not only faves a poor man the leave of the government,

the charges of buying, but con- nor that be obtamed without ^

^ tributes to make the wife more great expence, the former way

obfequious and obliging. is the more frequently cho-

Thefe hofpitals do likewife fen (48). ^ -

(48 > De hoc, vide Magaillan, Xe Compte, Martini, JJbrands^.^ Kto, ^»
Haltfe &c. vhi jupra,

■ Mod. Hist. Vol. Vm. R. dreflesj

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%^ rhi Hifipry ef China. B. I.

drefles; and in this manner they m^cb from her father's
houfe, to that of her fpoufe.; who is tnere ready^ with a vaft
number of his own relations, all likewife richly drefled, to
receive her. The fedan, in which fhe is brought, i^ clofcly
fhut vp on all fvies, the door of it* is locked, and a trufty
fervautiis intrufted with the key of it, which he is to deliver
- t(? no«e hut to the bride^i^opj^, who V^its at the door, to
flu bride's imroduGc her into an aut;er court^. Here (he is no (ooner fet
ricepti<ij2, down, than he unlocks the chair^ "With fome oageroefs ; and
is then a judge (if he never few her before, which is com-
njU?nly the cafe) of his good or ba4 fortune (G). If be like^
her, Ijie hands her out of th^ cliair, and condufts her into
tbp gr^at hall, where they make fo^ur \q\\ haws to Tyenr^ ajEtcr
. \yhich, fhe doth the lame to hy hufhand's relations j and is
. tjien JP^t into the hands of the ladies invited to the ceremony^
>yho l^ad her into a ftately apartment, and fpend the remainder
t^f the day with her, in feafting, dancing, and other divgr-
iions ; whilft the bridegroom doth the lame, with his male
relations, in another. The fealUng lafts more or lefs, ac-
cording to the circumilances of the perfons ; and, when once
ended, Ihe is from that dme fecluded not only from the com-

; [G] It* {bmetimes happens, her back, nor to divorce, or

that a man. When he receives ufe her ill. The laws likewife

his wife, and find* her beauty oblige both fides to have a due

not anfwerable to ^he character regard to an equality of age,

given hiii of it, or the idea he and rank ; but this laft is often

conceived of her, will immc- overlooked, through dint of

diately lock her dp again, and, money.

in the fame fedan , fend her The common people obfcrvc
back to her parents, choofing Icfs ceremony in this cafe ; and
rather to forfeit the money he the man may have fome oppor-
gave for her, than to take her tunities to lee the woman, be-
Some. 3ut this, of late, is not fbre he engages; and, when
^often the cafe, the female re- the marriage is agreed on, the
Jations of thebridegFoom taking bride is fent to her hufband,
all the proper precautions, not in the handfomeft manner that
only to fee' and converfe, but their circumftances will allow,
to view, and examine her, when cfpccially with mufic, torches,
ihe is in the bath^ and be fatif- and fome retinue of her friends
fied,, that (he is free from any and is conveyed thither in a
fficH defe^ls, as might render clofe fedan. The ceremony of
hef difagreeable to him. On her reception is much the fame
the other hand, her parents take with that of the great ones,
care to oblige him, by the mar-' abating the magnificence fTp).
^ riage contra^, neither to fend

(49) De h9e, vidt Ma^atVan, Le Compte, Martini, IJbrandx, Km9, Dm
lUide, &c. ukifypra.

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C. I. The Hiftory «/ China. 254^

panfy but evon firotn the fight^ of all men but her hufband ;
except, perhaps^ the father, or fome near relation, and that
only on fome extraordinary occafion ; unlefs they have con^
tradled before-hami with Wm, for the liberty of enterfeining
a gallant now-and-then, which, we are told, is fom^times done^
by an indulgent parent, and agreed to by the no lefs indulgent
fpoufe, though feldom, if ever, without fome valuable con-
fideration *•. .

The Chinefc laws allow but one wife to a man 5 but they ^he laws
are pernuttcd to have feveral concubines, who are brought «^-^<'*"'*^*'
into his ho«fc» without aiiy other ceremony, than a promiflbry one wife to
note erf the fum agreed upon, and of ufing her well ; but the ^*"^*;.
lawful wife is g^erally miftrefs over them, as well as over all %/>!?^
the fervaats in the houfe ; and the children of the concubines ^
are deemed to beloi^ to her, and have an equal right to inherit.
She alone bears the title of mpth^, and, after her deceafe, is
honoured with the parental mourning of three years. Both Second •
the man and the woman may marry a^in, after the death of ^wrr/^g'//^
dther ; in which cafe, the hufband is no longer confined ^>ow far
within his own rank, but may take any woman he pleafes, or ^l^wcdp
even one of his concubines, to be his wife ; and this fecond
wedlock is attended with but few ceremonies. As for ,wi-
ctows, efpecially thofe that have had children, they become
their own miftrefles, and may marry, if they pleafe ; but that,
among thofe of high rank, is reckoned dilreputable, though
Q?z had lived but one day, or even a few hours, with her
kuAand. But with thofe erf" the middle rank, the cafe is
qaite otherwife, though frequently lefs in their favour,
' through the avarice of the deceafed's relations (H).

Upon

^ See Martini, Le Compte, 8c al. fup. citat.

(H) Thefe are often forced the above fum to be repaid, or

by the hufband's relations, efpe- * turn bonzefs, or nnn,* which

cially if it be one that hath had few care to do. The poor wir

no children, to marry fome dow being thus fold, whether

other man, in order to hav« the with or without her knowlcge

money given for, or fome part or confent, is immediately clapt

of it, refunded to the family, into a clofe fedan, and conveyed •

The bargain is Often agreed . to the purchafer, under an efcort

with the new hufband, without of fome trufty pcrfons, and fre-

her knowlege ; and if Ihe has quently long before her mourn-

a daughter ftill unweaned, (he ing is over, which is exprcfly

goes along with her to him. againft thelaw. But if this out- ^

Neither can ftie avoid the op- rage hath been complained of

preflion, unlefs fhe can procure to the mandarin, and he be

R z found

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26a ' The Htftory of China. B. I.

^ he fad UpoN the whole, it muft. be owned, that the marriage
State of the ftate is but an uncomfortable one to the Chinefe women, of
married any rank, inflaved and immured by their jealous hufbandsr
i^omen, j^ (q^^ cafes, liable to be fold, with all their children ; in
others, to be divorced from them ; and when widows, con-
demned to obferve a long and fevere mourning, and then either
to live a fingle life, or to be fold to the higheft bidder ; without
one good law in their favour, except that which permits
them to marry again, if the hufband abfents himfelf from
his home above three years (I). The Chinefe women are ge-
nerally very handfome, fprightly, and amorous ; and employ
themfelves at home, either with their own children, or with
ibme forts of curious works, as painting, japaning, embroi-
dering, (be. Thofe of diftinftion feldom ftir abroad, and
when they do, they are commonly carried in a low clofe
chair, or a covered two-wheeled chaife (K), and are, confe-
• . quendy.

found to have connived at,
inftead of remedying it, he is
liabk to bc/ feverely punifh-
cd (50). ^ .

(I) In this cafe, fliejs obliged
to apply to the mardhrins, who,
after due examination of it, will
licenfe her to take another huf-
band ; for, without this forma-
lity, Ihe would be feverely pu-
niflied, if fhe ventured to do fo.

With relation to men felling
their wives, the law is, that a
woman that elopes from her
hufband may, aftej- convidliofi,
and receiving the correftion ap-
pointed by the law, be fold by
him to whom he pleafes ; but
without fuch a convidion, both
the. buyer and the ft* Her would
be liable to be punilhed ; and
yet, wc are told, that fome men
have fold, or even played away,
their wives and children.

• The cafes in which divorce
is allowed, are ; r. Adultery ;
hot which feldom happens, by
reafon of their being fo clofely
kept. 2. Antipathy, or con-

trariety of tempers. 3. Excefs
0/ jealoufy, difobedience, or
indifcrction. 4. Barrennefs,
5. Some contagious diftempcr.
Yet thefe divorces, we are told,
feldom happen among thofe of
higher rank, it being only
among the common people that
inftances of it are to be met
with (51). .

(K; Thefe Cedans are of two
forts : thofe belonging to thcr
lity are borne on two, or more,
men's fhoulders ; and thofe of the
inferior rank have only one pole,
put through a ring on the top,
and rather refemble a large
cage, carried between two men,
much in the fame manner as our
draymen carry a barrel of ale,
the hindermoll holding it with
both his hands, from jogging to
and fro.

Both forts are made fo very
low, that, the perfon, who fits
crofs-Iegged on a culhion at the
bottom, doth almoft reach the
top with her head. Thofe of
the lower fort, which Are com-

(so) De hoc J vide Magaillan, Le Compte, Martini, JJbrandx,^ Kas^ Vide Db
Ralde, vol, i. p, 305. (51) Id. ibid, vide & aL/u^.citat.

monly

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quently, never to be feen K We •(hall defcribc theif drcfs in
a more proper place.

The laft pompous folemnity we fhall mention, as cele- Funerals,
,brated by private families, is that of their funeral obfequies, ctnd deep
which, among people almoft of all ranks, doth, *by far, ilill ^ouniing.
exceed whatever is obferved by them upon any other ©cca-
iions. And' fuch is the Angular regard which the Chinefe pay Singular
to thp memory of their de'ceafed friends, efpecially to that of regard to
their parents, -and near relations, that they think they can <i^^^ pa-
never fufficiently exprefs it, either by the coft they beftow ^^^*^'
on their funerals and anniverfaries, or by the deepeft tokcas
of grief for their lofs. According to their antient laws, the Vength 0/
common term of mourning for a parent was three whole their ,
years (L) ; and though jt hath been fince reduced, m (oiViO, ^tcurning,
cafes^ to twenty-feven months, yet do they not abate, in any
other . refpeft, of their antient aufteriry on fuch occafioiis,
but fpend that whole time in a6l9 of the molt pungent grief.

A child "that hath loft a parent is neither permitted, nor
,will, upon the greateft exigency, indulge himfelf in the ufe
of a bed, during the fpace of lob days, but choofes to lie all '
that time upon the bare earth, lamenting, in the bittereft

^ De hoc rita, vide KerCher, China illuftrata, Martiki,
Hiilor. Sinenf. Le Compte, Careri, Du Halde, & al.

monly of japanned wood, have ( L) This term of three years

either fome fmall holes, or ob- mourning for a parent, was or-

long narrow flits, not only to dained to exprefs their gratitude'

let in the air, but give them for their parents care during

that are in it a glimpie of what the three years of their he'pleU

paiTes in the ftrcets 'through infancy, wherein they flood in

which they are conveyed ; but need of their affiftance : audit

thofe of the better fort are co- is fo carefully obferved that if

v^red over with fuch rich filks, any of the emperor's mini tiers,

as not only fhut out the light, of what rank foever, lofes a

but even the frefh air. father, or mother, he mufl lay

fioth forts, as well as the down his ofHce during all that

two-wheeled chaifes, are only time, and dedicate it to mourn-

ufed in the cities, or for fome ing, unJefs the emperor fhould,

fhort jaunts out of it j but in for fome extraordinary reafo.n,

longer journies, the quality diipenfe with it, which is rarely

eommonly convey their wives done ; nor can he rcfume his

and female retinue in coaches pofl, till the three j^ears are

and littery ; and all like wife fully expired (53).
ihut up clofe on all fides (52).

(5 a) De boc^ -vide Mag ail fart. Le CsmptCj Martini y JJhrandii, Kao, Vi > Du
H'^lde, ubi fup, l^tde ^ aL fup.' citat, (53) yide Martini, L C nptf,

Cemel Careri, Du Halde ^ <^"al, ]

R.3 terms,

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, Jnni'ver*
fary obfe-
quiesy

262 The H^ory of China. B. L

terms, their incxpreffibk lofs. They ve not to convcrfc wth
any body during a whole year ; and, which is ftill harder,
muft abftainjrom all connubial intercourfe with their whts
and concubines, under rery fevCTe penalties : for fhould any
of them be found to have been got with child during that time,
both they, and niuch more the hulband, would in£dliUy be
condeifined to fo*me heavy puniihment. In the matrimonial
ftate, the wife is obliged to mourn, in the fajne deep«m^ner,
three whole years, or at leaft two years and a quarter, tf not
of Wgh rank, and the hufoand a whole year for a dead wife ;
which laft is alfo the common term, more or lefs, of Aoum-
ingfor other relations, according to the degrees of their pro-
ximity.

Neither is this filialregard confined to the ftated time of
three years, but is ftill continued with annual* obfequies per-
formed at his grave, with fomething near the fame mournful
ceremonies ; to which we jpay add, that if a man die before
he hath married all his children, the eldeft fon is obliged to
take that care upon him ; and, being then inveftcd wth a
paternal authority over them, is efteemed as the reprefenta-
tive or fubftitute of the deceafeS. Nor are thefe funeral ob-
fequies continued to parents only, but to grandfathers, 6f.
up to the head of the family, for whom they keep anniverfary
fplcmnities, vifit their tombs, in the fame mourning guife,
and offer upon then^ tlyj ufual prefents of wine, viftuals, ifc.
as if they were ftill alive (M).

Noi^ need we to be furprifed at this extraordinary duty to
their anceftors, if we recoUeft what was formerly hinted, on
another occafion, that they are brought up with a belief that
their fouls are ftill prefent, though in^rtfible to them, and be-
hold all their aftions, and either approve or condemn, reward
or punifti, them ; which notion is of excellent ufe, to deter
Monarch them from vice, Ind excite them to wtuous deeds. Neither
not exempt ^q their greateft monarchs think themfelves^ on any account,
from them. jj^Qj-e difpenfed from this filial duty, than the meaiieft of their

(M^ This extraordinary re-
gard was- founded on a wife
Cbinefe maxim, that monarchs
ought to have the tcndernefs of
a parent over their fubje^', and
fathers the authority of kings
over their children ; and, when
young perfons behold what vt-
neration 4» paid by their parents
to their own progenitors, it can-
not fail of infpiring them with

a deep fenfe of obedience and
fubmiflion to them : and, as
their fages have jufUy obferved,
this fubmiflion naturally pre-
ferves peace in famfilies; this
produces tranquility in cities,
prevents infurreclions in pro-
vinces, and fecures peace and
good order through the whole
empire.

fubjefts,

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by Google

. C. I. Tii Hifiery of China. t6^

fubrfefts, but rather ftrivc to 6utdo them in it 5 idbmuch, that
^read of foBae of them who have refufed to attend on any
thing bat that, even at a time when then: dominions have been
invaded by a foreign power (N).

The fiineral rites arc performed, among the rich, with Funeral
much the lame pomp and magnificence (if not rather greater) '''^■^•
a$ their marriages, and with the addition of a vaft number of
bonza§, and other priefts, who adorn the fumptuous cav^-
ca(jie, fome fmging, in a mournful tone, the encomiums of
the decerfed, others playing on a great variety of inftruments ;
fome carry the tables^ on which are depofited the ofiferings of
wine, viftuals, ifc. to be fet on the tomb, others the per*
fumes to be burnt upon it, and one of them precedes the bier,
bearing the table, or label, on which are written the names
of the deceafed, and thofe of his progenitors^ The corpfe,''-''^r/^<?»*
which is dreffed in the beft cloaths, is carried in a ftately
coffin (0), covered over with white damaflc, or fome other

rich

(N) The Chinefe annals re*
cord many inllances of this filial
duty, and particularly, in the
lingular piety of Ven-fongy king
ofTJtttg, who, being forced to
travel out of his father's domi-
nions, to avoid the fnares of an
ambitious mother-in-law, and
being there informed of his fa-
ther's death, and of the lofs of
his kingdom, gave this extra-
ordinary anfwer to a prince,
who offered himhisaffiftinceand
foldiers to recover it : •* That,
** being become, as it^were, a
*' dead man fmce his retreat,and
'* exile, he no longer eileem6d
** any thing but virtue"^ and
'* piety towards kis parents;
^ that this was his treafure;
" and that he chofe rather to
*' lofe his kingdom, of which
'* 'he was already difpoffeffed,
" than to be vXinting in thofe
" laft duties, which did not
** I>ermit him to take arms, at a
" time deftined for grief, and
** ^e funeral honours which
** were due to his father (54)."

( O ) Thefe coffins, about
which the Chineft are fo foUi-
citous, that they will have them
made in their life-time, and
fome fons will mortgage^ them-
felves, 'to procure one of them
for *a parent, are commonly
made of planks about half a
foot thick, and of a lafting fort,
and fome of them of precious
wood, and are fo well pitched
within, and japanned without,
that no bad fmell can perfpire
through them. Thofe of the
richer fort are finely carved and
gilt, and coH from 300 to 1000
crowns.

Before the corpCe is laid in
them, they commonly thiow a
little lime at the bottom ; and,
after it is laid, clap on a pillow,
or a good deal of cotton, to keep
the head fteady, and fluff every
vacuity with cotton and lime,
to foak up any moiflure that
comes from the body.

We took notice above, that
fome, out of a more than com-
mon regard for their parents.

(54) Stt Du Hality f. 306.
R4

chufe

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264 ^i>^ Hifiory (/China. B.L

rich filk, which is the colour that is ufed by all the Chineje in
their mournings ; ^ver it are the infignia of the family ; the
whole carried by twenty or more lufty men clad in mourning,
attd covered with a vaft ftately canopy, which is likewife borne
by a number of men in the fame mourning drefs. The rela-
tions of the deceafed, both men and women, follow next, ac-
cording to their nearnefs to him, all clad in white fackcloth,
girt about with a coarfe rope, with ftraw wrapped about thdr
feet, and rags about their heads ; only the women relations,
fuch as the wife, concubines, daughters, and other female
kindred of the deceafed, are carried in clofe fedans, or chairs,
' covered over with white curtains.
Burying' In this manner they proceed from the deceafed's houfe to
f laces. the burying-place 5 which muft be without the walls of the
» city, and at a diftance from any towns, or inhabited places
(unlefs they chufe to keep the bodies in their own houfes, in-
clofed in fach coffins as we defcribed in the laft note) ; but,
generally fpeaking, thefe fepulchral places are on fome moun-
tain, or eminence, ^bout two or three miles from any city,
a^d are inclofed with pine, cyprefs, and other trees, and fome
^owhs. with a wall. The tombs are raifed like little houfes, but are
differently fhaped in different provinces. Thofe of the man-
darins, and princes of the blood, are of a magnificent flruc-
ture, about twelve feet high, and eight or ten in diameter ;
and near them flands a table of white poliftied marble, of a
confiderable length and breadth, on which are fet a perfuming
pot, two vafcs, and two candlefticks, all of the fame flone,
and curioufly wrought. On each fide are placed, in feveral
rows, a great many figures of officers, eunuchs, fddiers,
lions, faddle-horfes, camels, tortoifes^ and other animals, in
different attitudes of grief and veneration. As for the mean-
er fort, they content themfelves with raifing a finall kind of
pyramid of mould or earth over the coffin.

' cHufe to keep their dead bodies of all dainty meats, wines, con-

at home ; and this they will do verfation, and other comforts j

at lead during the whole three and if they are obliged, on fome

years of mourning, during which urgent occafion, to ftir out of

iheir feat in the day-time is a their hoiifes, or to go out of

llool covered wi|h white ferge, town, which few will do till a

and at night they lie down near certain time (/ the mourning be

the C9ffin, on a bare matt made over, they are commonly carried

of reeds. They deprive them- in a clofe chair covered with

felves, during the whole time, white ferge or cloth (55).

• (S§) Set Du Halde, />. ic6, ^ fef, Vii^& U Comje^ ^ aU fifrs

citat.

Thet

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C. I. ^bi'^iftory of Chiita. 265

They feldom bury maay, per,foas in one grave, and are ex- 'Regard f^r
ceedingly curious and careful about the bodies of their de- thehoiies.
ceafed friends. They would deem it an unheard-of cruelty
to have them opened, and the heart and entrails taken out, as
is done among us; and they would lopk with horror on
our charnel-houfes, and fee the bones of different, perfons
promifcuoufly laid one upon another. And this makes
them fo fond of thofe coflSns lately defcribed, which fome
will purchafe not only at a great price, perhaps from 50 to
100 crowns, but even with their laft peny, and keep them/ in
their houfes 10 or 20 years beforehand, and efteem them as
the beft piece of furniture they are matters of.

When the proceffion is arrived at the burying-place, the Feajfghffm
fervants of the deceafcd, while the funeral ceremony is per- ^^ tf^e im^
forming, »are bufied in preparing an entertainment for the O''^ '
company, which is fet on tables, and in a kind of halls reared f^^^'
for that purpofe. Some of the relations will partake of them,
. whilft others will chufe to' keep clofe to the fons and daughters PFofui
of the deceafed, and join with them in their loud crie;5 and mourmt^^
woful complaints, than which nothing can be imagined more
lugubrious and fcdemn ; except that to an Europearij who is
not ufed to them, they appear too formal and regular to in-
. fpire him with the fame fentiments of grief. The burying-
places of the grandees have commonly feveral fuch halls or
apartments reared up, in which many of the near relations
will flay a month or two, to repeat their mournful ceremo-
nies every day with the fons of the deceafed. They are not/
contented to celebrate their annual obfequies at their tombs ;
but every family bath a hall, which is called the hall of the Ualhfilm
anceftors, at which all the feveral branches of the family vlt^ ancefiors.
obliged to repair on certain times in the year. Thefe
branches, which in fome families have fometimes amounted to
between 80 and 90, or to 7000 or 8000 perfons, meet at th«
ceremony promifcuoufly, no diftinftion being then made be-
tween a great mandarin and a mean mechanic ; and, if any
preference is given, it is to the oldefl, whether rich or poor.
Only the richer fort commonly prepare a fumptuous entertain-
ment, to which the wbole family is invited as foon as the cere-
mony is ended.

One thing more we may obferve under this head of filial
duty tp the deceafed : that many of the Chinefe will not let
•the d^d corpfe be carried out at the common doors, left their
grief fhould be renewed every time they paflcd through it, but
caufe a new one to be made for that purpofe, which is imme-
diately clofed up after the funeral is over.

WjJEN

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^66 mHiJiofy^/thkm. Brt

Mourning VfHf^ an etnpicror dies, the whole empire goes into motirn-
for an em- ing, and the fame refpeft is paid to his mother or grand-
f^rw. mother. When the mother of the late Kdng-hi died, a deej)
and univcffal mourning was obfcrvcd fifty whole days, doring
which all the tribunals were IhUt up, and no kind of ftate-affiiin
mentioned to the emperor.**^ The mandarins fpent the whole
time ^t the palace, and in all outward eXpreiSons of grief;
and fcveral of them pafled whole nights in the open air, tho'
then very cold ; and even the emperor's Cms flepl in the pa-
TJkfuni' lace without pulHng off their clothes. Ail me riiandarinJ,
ral of clad m white, and ftripped of ^elr red ornaments, which co
Kang-hi'i lour is then forbidden, went on horfeback, with a very fmall
m^fr* retinue, to pay their mournful refpefh before her image,
three- days fucceffively ; after which, the corpfe was carried
wi^h fuitable pomp to the place wha-e it Was to lie in ftate (P).
This was a ftately palace out of the city, and all built of new
mats, with courts, halls, and other apartments, for the corpfe
to remain in, till it was thence conveyed to the imperial bury-
ing-place ^ '

Education This extraordinary regard for their deceafed parents is nor
•f children. ^^Jy owing to the laws which give the Fiving ones fo great
an authority over their children, but liktwife to then: excel-
Parents ^^^'^ way of educating them : for even here the laws have
funijhed taken fuch care to oblige them to it, under fevere penaltitt,
for negle^ that if any of them happens to commit fome crime, or great
•f it- mifdemeanour, and abfconds himfelf from punifhmc6t, the
father is commonly made to bear it for him, at leafl for not
having done his duty towards him. There are feveral excellent
treatifes likewife written on the fubjeft of cducaition, by fome

* Dehoc ritu, vid. Kercher China Uluftrata, Martini Hift.
Sinenf. Le CoMpte, Careri, Du Halde, k al.

(P) We are told, howevw, their attire, and prepared thcm-

th^t the emperor would not fol- fclves, according to the ulagc of

low what he mtfcalled the Chi- the Tartarsi to accompany her

11^ fuperftition of caufing nsw intotheother world, by faaifict-

. « eatcs to be broke open, but or- ing their lives before her corpfe,

dered the corpfe to be carried which that monarch would not

through the public ones of the fuifcr them to do. He likewife

palace. He ftiewed the fame abolifhed another cufhmt, till

contempt JFor fome of the an- then in ufe among thent, of

tient culloms of his own nation, burning rich furniture, and even

particularly with rcfpedl to four the dgmeftics of great mca,

young ladies who ha^ waited with their bodies on the funeral

en his mother, and had tsdcen pile (56).

(56) rU. Du Ilalde] & al. uhifu^.

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C. I. Ithe Hiftory of China. 267

of their learned doftors, wifli proper direftions to parents and
fchoolmafters how to bring them up in the moft effe^ual man-
ner in the love of virtue, and averfion to vice, which, they
fay, ought to be the chief oUeft of all their care; and, next
to that, to train them up to kannng, if capable of it, or tor
induftry in fome other calling ; in doiqg which, thofe doftcMTS
advife the ufe of mild and gentle means, preferably to {harp
and fevere ones,:confidering that youth is averfc to conftraint;
and eafily difcouraged by roughnefs. Inftruftions and repri-
maiKls, they fay, flxould come like vernal winds and rains,
wWch gently promote the groV^th of plants ; and not lik«
hafty (bowers or ftorms, which root them up, or wafli them-
away. They have likewife old ftory-books^ fome in profe,
others in verfe, but in a Angular ftyle, fit for children, and
written in commendation of virtue, obedience to parents, ho-
ncfty, induftry, ifc. The education of the boys, as well as Wfots
of the girls, is intrufted to the wife, till the former are fit to havt tU
be fent to fchool, and the latter come to be married : but all ^^' ^f
this, however, under the eye and direftion of the father, ''^^.-
who commonly referves to himfelf the power of ufing fcve- '"'*'/
rity, when other milder exhortations and encouragements-^^''***
prove inefFeftual ; and, after the father's death, the eldeft
fon takes the authority over as many of the family as ^re
ftfll unmarried. And as, among thofe of the middle and
lower rank, there will happen now-and-then fome wrang*
lings and quarrels, through the indulgence or indolence
of the matter of the family, the magiftrates are obliged to .
look carefully to the good order and oeconomy of it ; and,
in cafe of negieft, are themfelves liable to be puniftied, as
well as the offenders within-doors (Q^).

The Chinefe are generally very grave, formal, and cere- Ceremonies
monious, vn\S\ each other, as well as towards ftrangers. Their ufedy -and
falutation to an equal is by laying one hand to the breaft, manner of
and bowing the head; to a luperior, or more venerable per-y^*^*''"i^*
fon, they Jay both hands to the breaft, and bow the whole
body as low as they can ; and, to a mandarin, they fall down
on their knees, and touch the ground with their forehead. In
laluting a fuperior either in his own houfe, or in any other

( Q^) Thus we arc told of a the quarrel, made a report of it

mandarin, who, going throagh to the emperor, who ordered the

aflreet, heard a mother-in-law fon and daughter-in-law to be

crying out, and curfing her fon chaftifed, his father to lofe his

and daughter-in-law ; and, hav- head, and the magiflrate his

ing inquired into the occaiion of place (57).

^ f 57; Cartri^ & ai^

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26t The Hijhry of <:hiaz. BJ.

place, the pcrfon bends one knee to him, and continues in
tljat pofture till he takes him up by the hand, which is com-
monly done immediately. But it is unufual and uncivil to
falute a maglftrate in public, unlefs one be fummoned before,
or have fome particular application to make to, him. The
reft, it feems, muft only ftand with their arms acrofs, and
their eyes fixed to the ground; for it is an affront to look
In their them ip. the face. In their vifits they ufe a great deal of cere-
n^ijus. mony in their geftures, though they are very laconic in dieir
compliments. They are no lefs curious in feating their vifiters
HumBle according to their feveral ranks ; and in the flyle in which
fiyhin they receive the honour of the vifit, never fpeaking in the
/peaking to firft perfon, I or me, but Your fervant ; an4, to a perfon of
'^^''"A/^- diftinftion, Your humble, poor, or unworthy flave ; and, in-
^^'*' 'ftead of You to the perfon they fpeak to, they fay My lord;
as. Let my lord permit his hunible fervant to, &c. ; Let my
lord accept of fuch a thing from hisferimnty or poor flave. If
a prefent be the product of his own native place or province
and the country be ever fo celebrated for it, as fome of them
are for their manufaftures, others for tlieir fruits, <i;c, the
ftyle muft ftill run in the fame ftrain with relation to that ; as.
Let my lord permit his fervant to offer him fuch a thing, ivhicb
his poor city or province affords : but if the prefent con^p from
the country of the perfon to whom it is prqfentqd, then ft
muft be, for which ^ your noble city, or province, is fo juflly
Maffers. f^^^^^* The fame humble 'ftyle is obferved between the fcho-
lars and thdr mafters, to whom they never ufe the words I or
you, but Your fervant, or Your Scholar, did fo, or read fo ;
and, Our mafter or doflor lays or ordered, i;c. ^. Now, tho*
this way of fpeaking may appear to fome of our readers ex^ra* |
Sfillin ufe v^^^^> ^^^ ^^^^ grimace, yet, to thofe who are ever fo little
amefn^ the verfcd in that of the antient eaftern languages, it will appear
eaftern na- quite natural and uniform with them, and to be the very
ti(ms\ lame as is ftill in ufe amongft moft of the eaftern nations at
this time ; fo that it would be not only uncouth and abfurd,
but to a great* degree uncivil and anronting, to exprefs one's
etndfomeofiAi in any other. Nay, the fame n\ethod of fpeaking is fHllie
the Euro- fome degree preferved by the politer part among feveral European
peans. nations, particularly the Spaniards and Germans. To which
we may add, that it is the very ftyle of the antient patriarchs,
'and of all the Hebrews before the qaptivity of Baiylon, and
even fmce, till they came to corrupt it by adopting the idioms
of the Greeks and Romans ; and how much and juftly that
(lyie is admired by all the learned for its humility and fimpli-

H Martini, Le Compte, Du Kalde, & al. fup. dtat.

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C. i: 7he Hifiory of China:

city, we have formerly fliewa in the ^ntient hiftory of the
Jnvs K

The Chineje are no lefs formal in their vifits, whether be-
tween inferiors and ftiperiors, difciples and mafters, which are
indifpcnfabi« at particular feafons, or between relations and
friends (R) ; and as tea is the common liquor the Chinefe treat

their

^ See Univ. Hift. vol. iii. p. 207, & feq.

269

(R) It is among them a flated
rule not to viHt any perfon with-
out fending a Tye-tfi, or vifiting
bill, by tlS porter, to the per-
fon. This Tye-tfe is commonly
a (beet of red paper, flighdy em-
bellifhed with flowers of gold,
and folded op like a /kreen ; on
one of whofe folds is written
the peifon*s name, with fome
refpedful addition, according to
the perfon to be vifitcd. They
write, for inftance, The tender
and Jincere friend of your lordjhipf
and the perpetual difciple of your
doQrine^ prefents himfelf in that •
quality to pay his duty and bis bo-
mage to you down to the ground.
If the viuted be a famihar ac-
quaintance, the ftyle abates
fomewhat of that humble fbrain,
and a white' paper will ferve 5
aa|l the fame fort mufl be fent
in if the perfon is in mourning

(58).

Ifthcviiit be made from a
perfon of diftindion to another,
' and the latter have not time or
inclination to receive it, he fends
him a civil meilage by a f(f rvant,
fignifying, that he need not give
himfelf the trouble to alight ;
and then it is efteemed as a real
Ti£t, and is accordingly repaid,
either on the next, or in few days
after. If the vifit be received,
the vifiter is permitted to pafs
through the two firfl courts, and
as far as the hall, where the vi-

iited comes to receive him. Here
the formalizes begin, which are
to be fnited to the rank of both
perfons, and as they are fet
down in the Chinefe ceremomaly
where one finds the number of
bpws that mull be made, the
titles to be given, the mutual
genuflexions, the feveral turns
to be made either to the right
or left (for the place of honour
is diflferent in different places),
the fllent geflures by which the
mailer of the houfe invites hi»
vifiter at the hall-door, and fays
only the words Tfn^ tfin^ Go in,
go in ; to which the other is to
anfwer, Pu-can^ I dare not; the
falutation which the former
makes to the chaii on which the
latter is to be feated, which he
mull alfo du:ft with a blow or
two of his long flieeve, or with
the flcirt of his garment.

As foon as the parties are
feated, the vifiter, in a moll
grave and faccind manner, is to
qeclare the occafion of his com-
ing ; to which the other, after a
certain i < mber of bows, gives
an anfwer. Care muft be taken
to fit upright in the chair, and
not loll on either fide, or lean
againft the back. The feet
muft be placed exadly even, the
legs upright, and the hands muft .
be laid on each knee. The eye
muft not be permhted to ftarc
about, but be fixed towards the

(sS;. Du Halde, ubi Jup, p, 296.

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The Hifiory of Cbina*^ Kh^

their vifitcrs with> they are no lefs ceremonious and aice iiv
themaanffof prefo«tt»g, reocmng, and returning, the cup ;j
every di(h that is thus drank being attended ^th the Kame'
bowng aai criogipg, compliments and thanks, even though;
the cup i» coaunonly tendered by a fervant. The fame ard
obfeirvad wboa the vifited treats his vifiter with a pipe of to-
bacco ; thofe that are ufed in the^ reception and difmifCoa
wx>uld appear ftill more troublefome and irkfome to our Eturth
feanSy there Xxkog (b much formality ufed on both fides at
every door they go in or out at, at their fitting and rifing, as
If the ceremoni^ pafled with us between fome great ambaf*
fador and the firfl: minifter of flat?&: and yet the Chine/e will
by OP means difpeofe with them, unlefs it be on ordinary
vifits between femiliar friends or near relations, and even in
tbde we Atoutd think them rather too punAilious ; but in
formal vifits, efpecially among thjs great, the ieafl omilfioa '
op either fide would be looked upon and refented as an affiont'
to the other ; and on this account they make it a part of
tbeiir educatioa aod ftudy ; and theore are books printed amoi^
them, which fettle all thdi points of civility in fo clear and
eafy mf^ OKler» according to every rank, diat none can weO be
Ignorant of them. As for flrangers, though the fame exaft-
^Srfs be not abfolutely required from them, yet the nearer tbey

git>und. Afier a very ihortcon-
verfation, a fcrvant cOmes, and
bringa as many diihes of tea as
there are perfons ; which mull
be taken, drank oat^ and re-
tamed, with the flaced formality
of bowing and cringing. The
converfktion being over, the vi-
fitcr or vifiters, and vifited, have '
again a ntumber of bows and ce«
remoni^s to interchange, till the
former come to their chairs,
wImm they are renewed, till
each pcpfoR is got into his ; and
tkeik a few more mutu^ bows
pais, till the portershave got the
chair on their ibonl^rs, and
then a general adieu concludes
the ceremony.

Thofe that pafs between the
fuperiors and lAferior^ of qua-

(5<) Du BaUe, vbi fuf, f. 296.

Iity, as between a maadario, t
kolaw, or a prince olFthehlood,
are ftill more clogged wi^ ptutc-
tilios and formalities, aad auch
more (Ull thpCe which areob-
ferved between a foreign am-
bailadc^ and the imperial mmr
fters : but we have dwek loog
enough on that fabjedt (58).
Qnly one thing we muft not for-
get to ohferve, that the Cbiaefi,
like other ea^era nations, are
fo far from uncovering their
heads in token of refped, ihatit
is looked upon a3 an affront for
any to ftand bareheaded before
their betters ; and it was on diis
account tbat the miffioaarief
were difpenfed b^ the popedom
uncovering the head in their
churches (59).

come

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G* i; fbe Hifiory of C\mu 271

ttome up ta it, the better they will be received. Evert the Amhaffk-
foreign ambaffadors are allowed forty days before they appear dmuught
in public ; durii^g which they procure matters of ceremonies h maftms
to infhna them in all the forn^ities belonging to their <:ha- ^ ctrtmt'
ra<St:er \ and if they fhould chance to mifs in any of them, for *'^*
want pf having beqn rightly inftrufted, the mafter is liable to
be feverely pun}(hed for his negleft"*, by the tribunal of
rites, tjefore whom*tJiey are obliged to perform and go thro*
every part of that tediou$ exercife, not once nor twice, but
tijl the members of that court pronounce them peifeft in
every one of them.

Even thofe of thjc middle, or even lower rauk, tie them- Recepthn
fclves to fuch formalities as we fhould think not only ufelefs, ofjiraw
but ridiculous and troublefome. Thus, for inffence, when a ^f^^^ .
perfon hath been viiiting, or entertained at a houfe, and \^Y^fi^^
ready to mount his horfe, in order to go home, the very cere- ^^^
mony of parting will take up n^ar half ^n hour. The mafter '
of the hoiife comes out tb fce him on horfeback ; whilft he,
on his iide, protefts that he will rather fee the worid turned
upiide down, than mount before him ; at length, with much
intreating and proteftations on both fides, the mafter retires
out of fight till his gueft is mounted, and then appears again,'
and wifhes him* well home. This produces a frefh volley of
compliments on both fides ; the one will not go into his doors
till he is got quite out of light ; and the other vpws he wiil
not move one ftep till he hath feen him in his houfe. He
complies :^gain to his gueft, and fteps in ; and, as foon as
the other hath move4 a few paces, comes out, and halloos a
frefti adieu after him, which he muft in civility tack about to
return with frefli bows and cringes ; and, if the peffon live atv
a good diftance from him, he will not let him go very for be-
fore he fends a fe^vant after him, to wifh him a good journey,
with new compliments, and wifhes of feeing him again foon.
This latter kind, of civilities are moft in vogue among the among tht
mercantile part. Who are always moft obfecjuious and obHging mrcantilg
to thofe they get moft by, ' of can beft cheat or over-reach ". Z^'"'-

The Chincfe vary very much in their ftiape, air, and com- Their *vu^
plexion ; and it is hardly poflible to be otherwife in a country riws
of fuch vaft extent, ^nd different climates 5 fo that it is notJ^^P^*»
difficult to diftinguifh a Ibuthern from a northern one, whp ^^^^\ j
live thirty or more degrees afunder^ the latter being as fair ^'^'^'
and fmooth as any Europeans/ and the former brown and
fwarthy like the Tangierines and Moroccos of Africa\ and,

" Martini, Nieuhoff, Careri, I.i C^mptb, Dv Haldb,
k al. . n Id. ibid. ' '

with

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lyi The Hifiory of China.' B. L

with rcfpcft to thefc, it muft be farther obferved, that though
they gciierally are inclined to the brown and fun-burnt com-
plexions, yet there arc degrees of it ; not only as they draw
nearer to the fouthern verge of the empire, but as they are,
by their rank or occupation, more or lefs expofed to the (corch-
ing. beams of a vertical fun : for, even in thofc hot and fultry
climates, one fliall fee *among the gentrjr, efpecially among
the female fex, who feldom fUr out, perfons of a good com-
plexion, and not much inferior in cleamefs of fldn to thofe
who live in the more noithem ones j though the generality of
the reft be pretty deeply tanned, efpedally thofe wha travel
much by land or water, or work at the kilns, and other la-
bours that expofe them to the fun ; and who, during the hot
months, have hardly any covering on their bodies, but a thin
pair of breeches, like the waiters at our bagnios, or the guides
at the bath ^
Cerfuient Thb men are no admirers of a fine flender (hape, but afleA
^^es. rather a fat kind of corpulency, rather fquat than tall. Their
faces are mofUy broad, their eyes and hair black, beards thin
and long, their nofes (hort and flat. If a man be of a middle
iize, or fomewhat above it, have a large forehead, little eyes
and mouth, flat nofe and long ears, a long beard, fat brawny
limbs, prominent belly, and a big voice, he is looked upon as
a Complete handfome man, and fo far fit to be made a manda-
fr^men rin or magiffa^te. The women are commonly of a middle
Jiiuier. fize, genteelly fhaped, (lender and (halt, but have ^no tafte
for a Snail waift, and a protuberance of the breafts and hips,
but rather ftudy to carry an uniformity of bulk from the neck
downwards. They have generally handfome faces; thdr
Tale com- nofes are fhort, their eyes black, fmall, well-cut, and in all
flexions^ likelihood would have a vivid complexion, did they not deem
it a fign of boldnefs, and fbive to conceal it by rubbing thdr
faces with a white kind of powder or paint, to make them
look of a pale and languid, or, as they efteem it, a modefl,
bafhfui hue, though at the expenceof their fldn, which k in
time much impaired and wrinkled by it p.
Small feet* But theif greateft beauty conCfts in the fmall nefs of their
feet, though this is likewife to the great disfigurement of their
legs, which become thereby fwoUen and large, and all of a
Ttry in- bignefs from top to bottom. Neither is that the only damage
€Qm)enient they receive from ttiis artful piece of beauty, which is impofed
t9 tbcm. upoa them in their infancy, by binding them fo clofe from the
time they are bom, as to flint their further growth ; for they

® Vid. Martini, Le Compte, Careri, Dv Halde, & al.
fop. citat. P lid. tbid.

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C 1. Th ISJfery ^ Chmz. 273

plainly appear to feel no finall cqnftraint from it, by the (iow^
nefs and uneafinefs of their gait, and their liablenefs to trip;
(o that they may be faid rather to waddle than walk, and that
only upion their hed ; for their (hoes are made fo, that the
fole never touches the ground ; which is in fome mcafure the
fiime as walking on ftilts, and mull be as painful to them as
it is di^reeable to ftrangers. Yet fuch is the power of edu-
cation aAd cuftom, that they not only readily fubmit to thofe
faoonveniencies, but contribute to them by the conftant care-
they take of fwathing and pinching, and ftriving to make
them ftill lefs, merely for the pride they take in (hewing them,
as they walk, to thofe few dome(Kcs and acquaintance who
are admitted into their apartment : for we hive already ob- fTomen
ferved, that they are fddom permitted to ftir out of it, or to cU/ely
be (een in it by any but female fervants ; and the apartments ^ept.
wherein they are immured are generally in the moft retired
part of the houfe ; but yet, fuch is the common vanity of
thdr fex, that they will fpend feveral hours in the morning
in dre(fing and adorning themfclves.

What might be the rife of this odd cu^ftom can only be TJbeir
gueited at, the Chinefe themfelves pretending to be ignorant y«w///?f/,
of it, unlefs it were to keep that fex in fubjeclion. But it is 'wbencg*
more likely to have been introduced to keep them more clofely
confined at home, that, if their modefty could not allay their
incUiKition of gadding abroad, the pain and uneafinefs of go-
ing might the more eafily reconcile them to their confine-
ment

Their drefs is very decent, comely, and agreeable to the Thar
fingular modefty 0/ their looks. Their head-drefs ufually dn/s »w-
confifts in feveral curls of the hair interfperfed with here and </^/.
there tufts of gold and filver flowers, or fine feathers, on each
iide, which fdl down beautifully to their (boulders- The
red is made up behind 10 a kind of roll, and faftened by a
bodkin. In the northern provinces they wear a gawfe, or
thin filk, over their hair ; and in cold weather they wrap up
their heads in a kind of cornet, or hood. The young ladies Head or-
of quality commonly wear a kind of croWn made of pafte- nammt.
board, and covered with fome fine filk, the fore-part of which
rifes in a point above the forehead, ^nd is covered with dia-
monds, pearls, and other rich ornaments.. The top ctf the
head is adorned With natural or artificial flowers, intermbced
with bodkins with jewek at the end ; but tliofc who are
advanced in years feldom wear any thmg but a psece- gf fuper-
fine fdk wound feveral times about their heads (S).

(S) Some of the ladies will with the figure of a. i^o^-wj6tfi!J't

adorn their heads, we are told, a fabulous bird, formerly mcn-

MoD. Hist. Vol.. VIII. S tioncd.

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174

Vifis.

Long

Drtfsdf
the nuH.

rkf Hiftory of Omz. B.L

Their bodies are covered with a fine vcft, loi^ enoi^ to
reach to the ground^ and tied about the middle with a ^dle.
The elderly womea chufe theirs of black, or deep purple ;
but the young ones, of red, blue, or green, according to
their fancy. Their hands are always concealed within dieir
wide long flceves, which would trail on the ground, if they
did not uke care to hold them up ; and whatever b offered
to them, is taken with their hands wrapped up in them.
They never fliew their necks or breafts, but conc^ both, ci-
ther by the clofenefs of then- veft, or by fome very (hort cloak,
which is wrapped about the neck and flioulders. Ova: the veft
they wear a loofe gown with very wide fleeves, which would
likewife drag to the ground, if not held up : fo that, upon
the whole, their drefe is not only very dec^t, but the bell
contrived to conceal their bodies in the modefteft manner.
, That of the men k no lefs fuited to the gravity and mo-
defty they feem to affeft (T). Their heads are covered with

akiod

tioned (60), and made either of
copper, or filvergili, as they can
am^rd it Its wings are gently
fpread over the fore-part of
their head-drcTs, and embrace
the upper part of the temples. Its
long fpreading tail makes a fort
of p^ame on the top of the head ;
the body is placed over the fore-
head, the neck and beak hangine
down upon the nofe. The neck
being joiiled to the body by a
fecret hinge, the head eafily
plays up and down, and vibrates
al every motion of the head, the
bird being fixed on it by the
feet, which are fattened in the
hair. Some of the firfl quality
ladies will wear an ornament
made of feveral of thefc birds,
which, interwoven together, fur-
round their heads in die form of
a crown (6 1 j.

(T) They pretend to foch a
high degree of modefty, as to
condemn our European drefsj as
expoiingtoomuchtJie lineaments

(60) Stt before. A. Z2X,
Cmpte^ & al.

of the body ; whereas they ftrivc
to conceal even their arms, legs,
and thighs, by their long gowns,
wide breeches and fleeves, vA
ill-fhaped ftockens, or boots.
They likewife feemed much of-
fended at many of onr pitoci,
as immodeft, and even tbofe
which we ihould rank aaoodl
the moil modeft ; as where m
drsLjpcry is fo nicely difpoCed by
the fkilfuhardft, as to difcover
the true fhape of each limb or
part.

But, for all their fpedous pre-
tences, all this modefty is com'
monly fet af4e at home, witk
rcfpeft to the mensdrefs, during
the hot months ; for then they
feldom wear any thing aboot
them but a thin pair of breeches,
whether matters or fervants;
and in mott cities, efjjccially in
the fouthem parts, their carmen,
and other labouring people, and
more efpecially their watermen*
work naked all the hot weatben

(60 ^i> HaUe, ufifkp. /. i%u U

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C. I. ^bi Hifton «/ China, %ys

a Idnd <^ cap, which hardly reaches down to their ears ; and
their feces are fcreened from the fun by a fan, which they
always ca^ry with them. They (have their heads all over,
except one lock behind, which they either leave to hang down,
or make up into a roll, and tuck up under their caps or hats ;
thefe are commonly made in the form of a bell. Thofc they O^s^
wear in fummer arc of fine mat, lined with fattin, ajid ad-
orned on the outfide with a tuft of red filk, or hair, hanginff
down to the rim, which either covers it all over, or elS
waves in the wind by its exceffive lightnefs, and appears
tcry beautifal at a diftance. The top of the hat hath a large
button, faftened to it, of amber, cryftal, or fome other ihining
material, nefitly wrought and poli&ed. The emperor, princes
of the blood, mandarins, literati, priefts, bonzas, i;c. have
their hats differently Ihaped and ornamented, according to
their refpeftive ranks ; all which, as well as their different
forts of dreffes, it were fuperfluous to defcribe. As for the
poor people, they go with their heads quite bare, or at befl
nave only a flight fmall cap, not unlike the crown of one erf
our hats, but not half fo deep.

The men's vefb arc long enough to reach to the ground, ^ifis.
and fo wide as to fold over the breaft ; and are faflened on the
left fide by four or five buttons of gold, filver, or bafer metal,
as they can beft afford it. The flecves are wide, and long
cnou^ to come down to the fingers ends ; and the fafh, or
girdle, that ties the garment to the body, is commonly of filk,
curioufly wrought, and hangs down $o the knees. They go
with their necks bare in- fummer ; but cover them in cold
weather either with a fattin cape fewed to the veil, or with a
tippet of fable, or other (kin, four or five fingers broad.
Over their veft they wear a fhort loofe coat or gown of blue^ Coats.
green, or fome other colour, with flecves that come down no
farther than the bending of the arm. When they receive
vifits, they throw a third loofe raiment over the other two,
and each of the three are of ^ different colour. Under them Shirts and
both men and women wear a kind of fhirt, or rather waifl- drapers of
coat, of white taffety, which wraps over the breafl, and is ooth fixes.
tied or laced on the right fide, and with narrow fleeves.
Both fexes likewife wear drawers of the fame fine filk : but,

oratmoflhave only a napkin brought thence in as indecent

tied round their middle.. And, and vile attitudes as any that are

as to piftures and ftatucs, it is done in Italy } and fome of thefe

plain they have Jong fmce abated as exaaiy imitated as their im-

muchof their boaSed modcfty, perfeft fkill in painting would

fince wc fee. many of them permit them to do.

S a ia

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^y6 the Hifiory of KMxiZ. B.l

in winter, the fliirt is of linen, and the breeches are wider,
like trowiirs, and reach iovm below the calf of the leg ; and
thefe laft are made of coarfe (attin quilted with cotton or raw
Shoes and filk. The legs are covered with a kind oi boot at the fame
fiochtns. quilted filk, about half an inch thick ; and the ftjot is made
to go into a flipper. Thefe are commonly of coarfe blue or
purple fattin, flowered with white, with a very thick folp
ftitched with packthread, and covered over with a white
coarfe kind of a ftiagreen filk or cloth, without any heel, and
with the foot turning up. They wear hanging at their girdles
a pouch, in which they carry their pipe, which Js <rf brafs,
their tobacco, handkerchief, and the two fticks they eat with.
When they travel in bad weather, their caps, upper coats, and
fefts, are crufted over with a fort of oil, which turns green
when dry, and defends thein from the rain. In winter the
quality wear rich furs, and the inferior fort lamb and other
Ikins, or quilted cotton. Every mandarin hath upon his
dothes fome emblem of his dignity, embroidered before and
behind; That of the civil magifl:rates is ufually a bird ; and
thjt of the military mandarins, and officers, either a dragon,
lion, tyger, or fome fierce creature. All thefe wear alfo
broad fwords hanging on their left fide "J, with the pcnnt for-
wards.

The womens flioes, the longefl: of which among the la-
dies are not much above half a fpan long, are likewife of /ilk
. finely embroidered, commonly by themfelves, and with a
round heel about an inch high, and of equal bignefs from
top to bottom^. Their fVockens feem (as far we can gadier
from their piftures, and there is hardly any poffibility of
coming at a nearer examination of the premifes) to be a kind
of appendage to their drawef-s, if not of a piece with them,
and to hang loofe about their legs, down below the ankles,
where they are gathered up with fome ribbon, below whidi
liang about the feet fome four ,or five inches in breadth of
the fame filk, like a kind of furbelow, or ruffle ofaftirt-
fieeve, in order, as may be fuppofed, to hide rfie protuberant
deformity of the leg ; and thus much may ferve for the pre*
Forced to fent drefs of both fexes. It will not be amifs, however, to
charge obferve under this head, that this which we have been de-
their old fcribing above is not the original drefs of the Ch'mefe, which
dr els for had been, according to their account, th€ only one that had
thii. ht^xi worn by .them fron} the foundation of their monarchy

to their conqueft by the Tartars ; but rather that which the
conqueror forced them, not without great difficulty, to ex-

* Martini, Le Compte, Du Haldb, & al. fup. citat.

chaags

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C I. 7^ Hiftory of China. 877

raaoge for their antient one, in order to enure them the more
eifeftually to the yoke, by abolifhing all diftinftion of dre&
bct'A^een his Tartarian fubjefts and them, % as will be further
feen in the fcquel.

We have already mentioned their luxury in their feftivab, Their M$t
in which they indulge themfdves in all the variety they cKnanddain"
afford. In their common diet they are lefs profufe and^^V'.
nice; and not only eat of all manner of flefh, filh, and fowl,
?w we do, but even cats, dogs, rats, ferpents, graihoppers, and
other vermin. Horfe-flefh, however, is one of the dainties
the moft efteemed ; and> next to it, that of dogs ; but of
all of them they eat very fparingly, and commonly boiled
with a good deal of rice, or fome pot-herbs, and made in-
to broths* or foops, after the manner of the French and Spa^
niards ; but, like them, they live moftly upon rice, pulfc,
niillet;, herbs, roots, and other garden-ftufF, and variety
rf fruits in their feafon. The fk(h, fowl, or fifh, whether
boiled, roafted, or broiled, is commonly brought to the
lablc ready-feafoned, and carved into finaH bits ; To that nei-
ther fait, pepper, or other condiments, are feen upon it,
any more than knives, forks, fpoons, or napkins ; they ufing
only two fmall fticks to feed themfelves with, as hath been
latdy hinted, without touching the meat with their hands.
They corampnly ufe high chairs and tables at their meals, fab/es.
contrary to all other eauern nations, who fit crofs-legged on
the ground, and either ufe no taUle but the floor, or at moft
have them about a foot high from it. At their entertainments
every gueft hath a neat little japan table fet before him, on
which are ferved the feveral difhes defigned for him, either in
bowls of the fame japanned ftuff, or of china, or coarfer
earth, according to the circumftances of the perfon who
gives it.

The moft delicious food of all, with which the rich enter- ^tags ^V
tain their guefts, are, the flags pizzles, birds nefts, and bears ^f^' ^"^
daws, of which the reader may fee ah account in the mar- birds-nefis.,
gin (U), Upon the whole, their cooks are furprifingly expert

^ See Palafox Conqueft of China, & al. fapracitat.

(U) The fonnfer of them they gravy of a kid, well-feafoned

dry in the fun in fummer, and with fpices ; and this they efteem

roll them in pepper and nut- as one of their fineft dilhes.
meg; and, when they are to be The birds-nefts are fuch as

dreSed, they foak them in rice- are commonly found on the fides

water, to make them foft, and of the rocks along the coalls of

afi^wards boil them in the Java^CocbinibinafTong-king^iiC.

^ S 3 where

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278 3^ Hijiory of China. B. I.

in the variety of dilhes they .make of one fort of fle(h, fifh,

fowl, pulfc, grain, ifc. and the variety of colours, taftc, and

flavour, they glvfe them ; and the mandarins are no lefe fond

of thofe, not only which are the moft nourifliing to the body,

but which are the moft apt tcr create an. appetite to venery,

and a (aitable vigour for procreation' ; on which account they

eat moft <rf their difhes very hot .with fpice. Thdr bread is

commonly made of rice ; and, though they have plenty of

wheat in feveral provinces, yet they feldom make any but a

fort of flat cakes, of a tolerable tafte, and thefe are fome-

times mixed with particular herbs apt to create an appetite ;

Cqrn- . but they ufe little art in grinding thor corn or rice, that bc-

tnifls, ing commonly done over a flat ftone placed horizontally, by

rolling a ftone cylinder over it, which, by its weight, forces

the grain out of its feveral hulks. This muft be done at &•

veral times, in order to bring k to its purity and whiteoefi.

The firft throws off* its outward (kin, which is as coarfe as

that of our barley ; the next is of a reddifh hue, and is taken

oft* in the fame manner, and after a fecond foaking ; and fo

the third and fourth, which are of a finer and paler cdour

and texture ; after which, you have the rice in its pcrfeftion:

but the poor people content themfelves with ftripping it of its

firft, or almoftof its fecond coat. The cakes or loaves they

make of it are commonly baked either in.a kind of BaJneo Ma-

* Martini, Le Compte, Nieuhoff, Dy Haldb, &a]*

where they are built by birds, quitted their nefb, the neigh-

which, in their plumage, refem- bouring people arc very eager

ble our fwallows, and are fnp- to get them down ; and fome*

pofed to make them with little time$ load whole barges with

£fhes they catch at fea, and fo them, and fell them ^t a good

fa,flen tp the rock by fome vif- price. Thefe ncftsrefemblcthc

cons juice which diilils from rind of a large candied dtroo,

their back^. They have (>een in (hape as well as in iize, and,

alfp obferved to take fome of mixed with other meats, give

the fcum that floats on the fur- them an agreeable reliih.
face of the fea, and to cement The bears paws, efpedally

ihe parts of their nefts, as fwal- the hindmoft ones, which are

lows do theirs wit:h mud. This eHeemed by far the fineft, tie

patter, though white and foft dripped of their fkin, and dried

^hilfl it is tre(h, contrafis a wi^h fpice, and (b pneferved for

tranfparcnt (olidity, and green- ufci, much in the fanfi^ way V

|(h kind of hue^ when dried. As the flag's pizzle (62].
foop as the young on^s have

(6*) pf ^h, vtfU I^artfni, Le QmPte, Niahf, Pa HaUf, f ^^ ff

9S^h •••■■• . • 1 ■ f

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C i; X^e Hifiory of China. 279

rif, or elfe in a vdfel which contains the fire in the centre,
and cafb fo great a heat, as to bake them in lefs than a quarter
of an hour.

Their ufual liquor at their meals is tea, which they drink Commm
hot. The common rule is, contrary to oilrs, to eat cold, and «'^*^»
to drink hot; fet the weather be ever fo fultr)', or them-
felves ever fo thirfty, they will patiently ftay till they can get
it made boiling hot, before they will drink it. Wine, we Made
have formerly obferved ', they ao not make of grapes, tha' ivina 5
dicy have plenty of them, efpccially in the fouthern provinces^
aad erf" an excellent kind. This drcumftance is commonly
urged to prove, that Noah, the firft planter of the vine, could
not be the founder of the Chinefe nation ; whereas a more pro-
bable one could hardly be brought for his being fo, and for his
forbidding the ufe of the juice of the vine, on account of the
dilafter which happened to him on his drinking too plentifully
rfit : but we Ihall have occafion to difcufs that curious
point in a more proper place. In the mean time, though the fnadt of ,
Qnnefe have been all along very ftrift in their forbearance from '•'^^> ^*^»*
the juice of the grape, till their late conqueft by the Tartars, ^^'
4ey had, from time immemorial, fubftituted to it other li«
quors, equally ftrong, intoxicating, and pernicious, both
taewed and diftilled, either from rice, wheat, and other grain,
orexprefled from feveral kinds of fruits, or made of the liquor
which diftils from the palm, and other fnch trees, when
tapped at a proper feafon ; all which they have always in-
duced themfelves in the free ufe of, eipecially the two for-
mer ; which encourages fuch a vaft coniumption of thofe twot,
kinds of grain, that it is juftly looked upon as the chie^ieaufe
of thofe dreadful dearths and famines which fo frequen^ h^p*^
pen in the empire. There are indeed fome fevere laws againft The vaft
the brewing and diftilling rf corn and rice, beyond a ftatcd confuTnp^
quandty in every diftrift, which, if duly executed, would tion of
cfeftually prevent their immoderate and deftruftive confump- ^^^!" '
tkm ; but tKe mandarms, and thofe under them, bribed partly '^'"Mat.
by the diftillers, and induced partly by their fondnefs for thofe '
liquors, readily wink atit, and fuffer that complicated abufe
to fpread ftill farther its pernicious cffefts (W}.

THoaja

t Sec Univ. Hift. v6l. xx. p. 113, & (A).

(W) This enormoas confum- fare of their daily bread, evca
ption of com a^^ rfce by brew- in time of plenty, and ftarycs fa
ersand diallers, which deprives many monads to death in tipna
the Uboturi^g fort Ui fonve m,ea- of fcarcity, i$ attended with fe-%

S ^ veral

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2 So

Diftilhd
liquors*

The Hifiory of China. B. I;

Those liquors, which are made of rice in particular, are
in the greateft vogue, and are faid to grow ftroi^er by age,
and to keep good above 20 years. Thefe are in great cfteem
among the grandees, efpeciallv thofe which come from fome par-
ticular parts of the empire \ mch as that which is made '2ixVu'Ji'

vcral other deftru6live cffeAs,
which chiefly afFe6l the rich and
Wealthy, and m fome fort doa-
\Ay retaliates upon them the mif-
fortunes which tbey occa£on
among the poor.

We are told by a confiderabl^
, eyc-witnefs, that the Chinefe
have contracted (how long is not
eafy to guefs) fuch a peraidous
foDdnefs for thofe liquors which
ai'e diftilled from rice, and other
grain, that from the higheft
mandarins down to the wealthy
merchants and tradefmen, they
feldom fail of-indulgine them-
fqlvcs in a large dofe of it, juft
before they go to bed, by way
ol opiate ; and, what is dill
worfe, that few of them drink it
before they have previoufly fet
at on fire, and'burnt it fo long
ad to make it as warm as they
can poffibly get it down; by
whicii means their throat, o^
cef(;^agns, becomes in time fo
con traded, that they can fal-
low nothing either liquid or fo-
lid, but pine and die for want
of nourifhment ; a misfortune
which OUT author afTures as f
frequently happens amongft
them. Ano^he^ difafter which
thefe private night dofes often
occafion, is, that the pcrfons
\^hQ take them being generally
fatigued with the bufinefs of the
day, and the chambers in- which
they fleep built very low, and
l^e furniture very light, and.

eafily inflammable, the blaze of
the fpirituous liquor is apt t9
get up to the cieling, or taka
hold of the cartains,^ and fet tlw
whole place on fire before they
are aware of it ; the flame of
which foon communicates itfdf
to the reft of the houfe, and
thence frequently to a great part
of the city ; fo xhzx fome hunr
dreds, and fometimesthoiiiands,
of houfes, are reduced to a(heS|
before it can be quenched *.

As for the rice of which their
wine is made, though it bedif-
ferent from that which is com-
monly eaten, and of a coarfcr
nature, it is neverthel«fs in gre^t
requeft, on account of the hquoV
drawn from it^

This is done by fevcral wayi^
every country or city having its
own peculiar method ; but the
mod common is, by foaking the
rice \ii good fofc and frefh water
(or, where that cannot be got,
by correfling it with fome other
ingredients), about ao or 30
days, and afterwards boiling it
till it be diffolved ; upon which
it will appear covered with a
li^ht froth, Hke that of our new
Wines, occafioned by the fer-
ment of the liquor beneath it
This laft they pour off dear into
veftels well glazed ; and of the
lees that remain, they draw off
a fpirit not unlike our brandy,
or rather ftronger, and more ca-
fily fetonfirel63).

, + De bcff •vid. Farenin. in J^ettr,

f. 303.

h'd. />. 8 1 , fi3* J^. vid, ^ w/./«j>» citJU

edijtcwt. voK 3txiv. p* 65 82, & fif'

(63) BtiyaUi,r^.U

hycHt

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C.t: me Hiftopy of CUnz. 281

fysn, in the province of Kyang-nan, and owes its qccellcncc
to the goodnefs of the water ; and that of the city of Shati-
king, which is efteemed ftUl mucji wholefpmer, and is moftly
pfed at court. Some other ftrong liquors they likewife make
by diftillation, fuch as we have hinted at in the laft note ; and
fome others, which the reader may find in the next (X).

T^HE only two liquors, which we find mentioned by our Hock-
fe^en, as moft to thejr tafte (for, as to tea, they ufually leave ^^^ ^
that fort of beverage to the natives), are what they ftyle th^ Sam-wu*.
Hack'Jhue and Sam-Jbue. The former of thefe is of a deep-
brown colour, but very clear and ftrong, faid to be brewed
from wheat, and taftes more like mum than beer. The other
is faid to be diftilled from rice, and is either of a pale or red-
difh hue, and is by feveiral travellers called wine. But nei-
ther of thefe, for aught appeaft, are ufed any-where but on
die coafts and fea-port towns, no mention being made of any
fuch being drank in the inland parts. ^

CHIN Ay as we have already hinted in the geography of Fine roads
it, is for the.moft part the finefl: country in the world for for travel-
travelling ; the roads being of a fpadous breadth, that is, Ung and
between 20 and 30 yards wide, and reaching from one end commerce.
pf the empire to the other ; the mountainous parts being ei-
ther levelled, lowered, or cut through^ or having large gal-
leries along their fteep declivity, built of timber, dreadful
indeed toftrangers to go over * ; but fo familiar to the natives,
that they ride over them without any fear ; and others, laftly,
having jflrong and ftately bridges, built from one mountain
tQ another, lome of. which ve have elfewhere defcribed. To

♦ Vid. int. al. pg^. 78. ^

(X) They diftil, wt zxt tald, 0d (64) ; and we may condade

a ftiongfortof fpifit frommut- this head with obferving, that

ton-fiefh, which the kte empe- intoxicating liquors are com-

jTOr Kang-ln drank fome^es ; monly ufed by the Chinefe and

b«t this is drank by few except Tartars, though not in fuch

^e Tartar s, on accdunt of its quantities, and deftruftivc va-

ftrong and difagreeable tafte, riety, as they arc among us •

and intoxicating qudlky. and much Icfs by thofe oi the

Some other liquors are made female fex, who feldom talle any
ia dHFerent provinces, both by thing ftronger than tea, unlefs
brewing and diftillation, which in fome particular difeafes, in
It were ntedleis to particularize, which they are indulged with
We have mentioned one fort of fome fort of cordia1s,made fo ra-
the latter, with which his Excel- ther by fpiccs and warm drugs,
lency Mr. Ixbrands Ides, ambaf- than by any brewed or diftilled
ijldor from Mit/covy, was treat- liquors (65).

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' th^fc,

tSz the Hiftory of China. B. I.

ttiefe if we add the furprifiag contiguity of their dtics and
towns, efpecially along the high roads ; fo that one is no
fooner got out of one, but one comes within fight, if not
into the very fuburbs, of dnothep ; the great number of
their navigable rivers, and the infinite multitude of their
(ianals for water-carriage, and continual bridges over them for
thofe who ride, or travel on foot ; the wooden towers about
30 feet high, and at the diftance of a mile and half from
each other, upon which are written, in large charafters, the
names of the towns to which the roads lead, and their di-
ftances from each other, as exaftly meafured at the public
charge ; the forts, or redoubts of earth, caft up at proper
diftances, and guarded either by the foldiery or milida^ to
keep as much as poflible the roads clear from robbers, to
forward the difpatches fent bj^ the government, and to exa-
mine with utmoft care every traveller that goes by (Y) ; and,
laftly, the vaft crouds of people that frequent, or rather
croud, thofe roads ; it muft be granted, that no country on
the whole globe hath made better and more efieftual provi^
l}on for the eafe and IJpcurity of travelling and commerce, as
well as for the delight of all that are concerned in either.
Way of Their way of travelling is various, according to the dif-

traveiling^ ferent provinces, and the various bufineffes of people. In
general they ufe horfes, mules, camels, and, in fame coun-
tries, buffaloes; and the poorer fortafles, either for riding or

(Y) Thefe forts, which are taken to keep the roads fafc and

fituate on eminences, and feen at free, and the trafiick from one

a great diftance, by the imperial part of the empire to the other

flag fet up on the top, are gar- eafy and uninterrupted : and

rifoned by a certain number ei- hence it is that there are fo few

ther of the militia, or of regular robberies committed anywhere,

troops, under fomc proper offi- except in the woody and raoun^

cers ; and thefc are not only to tainous parts, where they go in

prevent any robberies being largQ gangs, notwithftanding the

committed on the highway, by great mmtitudes 'of beccflitotts

patrolin^ about the length of people that fwarm every- where

their limits, or any pther difor- (66), and the rich booties that

4ers happening, from the vaft are always to be met with. on

multitudes qf travellers and car- the roads : but this laft may be

ridges, but to (lop and examine one main reafon of it, they be-

every Oine |ha^ goes armed, ex- ipg fo continually thronged widi

cept they produce a pafs and travellers, that it would be very

licence for it ^ fo that the utmoft difficult to meet with an oppO(>

^^re and cau(icin is ^yery -where tunity ,of robbing ihem (67).

r66) See htfnre^ p. 12. & 131,§r tf/(^. (^l) M^g*iliaffi.MMmv,Cwrk

carriage;

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C. I. The Hifiory of China. 283

carriage but in the Inland parts they employ ticket-porters Goods car^
to canyltheir goods from city to city, which they do by rudhy
flings, two to a burden ; or, if too heavy for two, they will ''Vi##-
join two more ; and thefe carry it with two poles on their t^^*^**
ihonlders, with fuch furprifing quicknefs, that moft of them
will travd with their load at the rate of five miles an hour. '
TTiefe are numerous in every city ; and have a matter over
them, who is anfwerable for them.; and who, being applied
to by the merchants, diftributes their feveral loads among
them : he gives them at the fame time a ticket, which they
muft deliver up, with the goods, to the proper perfons, at
thdr journey's end, and bring another from them to him.
Thefe are chiefly employed for the carriage of goods which may
be damaged by being conveyed in waggons or barges, or«
where thefe cannot be had; and fometimes for expedition,
they ridding double the ground that any waggons can do.

In travelling, the richer fort have their coaches and cha* Coaeha
riots, tho' we are not told of what kind thefe laft are ; and andiba*
may be only calafhes, or chaifes with two wheels, fuch as are ^^^'^
in ufe among the Tartars ; and litters for the fick, carried
cither by lully fellows, or, which is more common, by mules
or camels. The Tartars here ufually ride on horfeback, in
towns, as well as on the roads, and are generally good horfe-
men; their faddles are much like thole in ufe among the
Turks I and, like them, they ride very fhort, and with their
knees almoft as high as the top of the^feddle ; fo that, upon
any rencounter either with an enemy or robber^ they raifc
themfelves quite upright upon their ftirrups, to give the
greater force to the intended blow. The quality, both Chin fhe rich
nefe and Tartars^ chufe to travel in the night all the fummer, travel bj
not only for the conveniency of the coolnefs, but in feveral nights
parts to be free from the tygers, and other wild beafts, which
they keep off by lighted torches, and other artificial fires, they
carry with them ; and which are fo contrived, that neither
wmd nor rain can pi^t them out, but will rather make them
bum the fiercer. But when they travel with a great retinue,
and well armed, as the mandarins comnjpnly do, that precau-
tion becomes needkfs;

These, as hatH been formerly obferved 7, have their inns
at proper diftances, for their reception and conveniency, and
kept at the charge of the government. But it is far other- Badimi$.
wife wirii other travellers ; ft^r thpugh the common inns be in
great plenty in all the high roj^dis, yet they meet but with
V^ftfhed accommodations Ia them, unlefs^ they bring them

7 S^c before, p. I?,

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tfS4 ^^ Hifiory ef China. B. \.

along i^dth them (YY) ; and this is one of the two inain ia-
Roatls *oii' conveniencies of travelUng in China : the other is, tBe prpdi-
rj dufy, g^OHs dflftinfefs of the roads, which, though kept in the beft
• * . order imaginable, yet in dry weather, efpeciaUy when the
wind blows hard, fuch clouds of dull are railed, as quite darken
the fky, and ftifle the travellers. Nor is this to be wondered
at, codfidering the vaft and conftant crouds of people, horfes.
Waggons, he, which are continually paffing backwards and
forwards ; fo that they are obliged, at thofe dry feafonsj to
go with their faces covered with a thin veil, and wittglaffes
before their eyes, to prevent being ftifled or blinded by the
clouds of light duft^ through which they muft make their
way. In other refpefts, a man cannot wifh for a better coun-
try to travel in, cither for fpeed, fafety, convenieoce, or de»
light *.

- But what adds ftill more to the pleafurc of it, is the vaft
and almoft conftant variety of curious objcfts, with which the
eye is delightfully entertained almoft all the way ; and this
naturally brings us to the two laft things with which we were
^o conclude this feftion, v/z, the natural and artificial rari-

^ Vid. Navaretta, Martini, Kerchbr, & al. fup citat.

{YY ) The generality of thofe traveller can get a bit of meat
public irins, except here and or fifh to eat, or any tolerable
there one upon the great roads, liquor to drink, excepting in
* are wretchedly built, an^H worfe fome places, where one meets
furnilhed. They are common- with wild fowl or fi(h very chekp ;
ly of mud, without pavement or but even there you muft take ap
boards; and thofe who do not perhaps with their way of drcf-
bring their bedding with them, fmg it, which may prove as dif-
muft take up with a matt, and agreeable. The inns in the
lie in their own clothes: but great cities are fome what better,
the poorer fort of travellers are being built with brick, 2xA
fo uied to this way of accommo- large and handfome, and com-
dation, that they will lie quite monly afford better provifions
naked on them, wrapped about and coriveniencies. In the north-
only with a (ingle coverlid lined ern provinces one meets with
with linen. The greateft part what they call^«^/, which are
of their inns are fo ill co^^ered, large alcoves of brick, ba}ltth<i
riiat one may fee the light thro' wb^le length of tl^e roam, with
tlie thatcli and rafters, and per- lloves underneath, and matti
haps .feel the rain or fnow thro' made of reeds on the top,
^bem. whereon a man may lay his bed

Their provirionsarenot much if he hath Qne(6S).
better ; and it is a chance if a

^68) Mi'-oVlan^ Martini, Careri^ Nieub^ff, Q ^^ /«/• f'^*'« '^'^' &^

ties

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C- I. fif fiipry tf China. 285

ties of the country. Of thic firft fort we have already mcn-
fiofied fcfveral, as they came in coiirfe, either in the geography,
or natural hiftory.

TitosE of the moft^remarkable kind, not yet taken notice Natural
#f, arc, 1. Their volcanos, many of which are not inferior, rarities.
•ither in the height of the mountains out of which they ilTue, ^oUanos.
Ac dreadfulnefs of thdr flanks and fmoak, and the torrents of
fclphur, and other minerals, which they vomit up, to thofe
famous ones of Italy we have formerly fpoken of ^, or thofe in
Americay of which an account will be given in its proper
^ace. 2. The great number of catarafts and cafcades, of an CataraBt.
extraordinary height and breadth, and no lefs dreadful and
bud, particularly that near the city of H&ai-gan, or Noay* '
min-gham, in the province of Kyang-nan, which falls into the
canal of that city, near the river Noay, with fuch violence,
that it Is with great labour and coft that they prevent its
dreadful effefts ^.

There are many fuch citarafts in other rivers, particu- Remarka"
larly in the Whang-ho, or Tellow River ^ formerly mentioned, r/wr/,
and fo called from its extraordinary rapidity, and the vaft
quantity of mud it fweeps along with it. Le Compte tells us
of another, which is always red like blood, probably from
much the fame reafon ; and of a third, in the province of
Se-chwen, which hath a furprifihg luftre in thfe night feafon,
occafioned by the vaft number of precious flones that glitter
dirough its waves, and for which the natives give it t^ie name
of the Pearl River. We read of a fourth near Fo-ming, which
turns blue in harvefl, at which time the inhabitants on each
fide are ufed to dye that colour ; and of a fifth, near Pan-
gau, whofe waters are too light to bear up any timber ; of a
fixth, near Ching-tyen, aflSrmed to be Iweet-fcented ; of a
feventh in the province of Fo-kyefi, whofe waters are of a
grecnifli hue, and are faid to turn iron into copper. We omit
mentioning feveral others, remarkably for fome medicinal or.
other virtues, which we have no room to dwell upon ; but
the moft furprifmg of all is, that which rifes yearly on the
1 8th day of the eighth month, with fuch a prodigious high .
tide, before the city of Hang-chew, that multitudes of peo-
ple flock thither frpm all parts to behold that furprifing phas-
nomenon, which neither theirs, nor any of our philofophers,
could ever yet account for. We might add fome others,
which are no lefs famed iov their gold fund, particularly one
which on that account is flyled the Golden River f .

* See before, Univ. Hift. vol. vi. p. 452. vii. 656. k al. pnf'l
^ Martini Atlas Sinen. t Id. ibid. Kercher, Le CoMPrt,
&al.

*c They

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28$ I'he Htftory df China. B. L

They have likewUe extraordinary fprings and fountains,
fome of which ebb and flow ; others rife, fome hot and fome
cold, at a fmall diflance from each other. NUukof tocntiotis
a ftrahge one near the city of Jung-chan, which iffucs inta
two branches out of a ftone cut into the refemblance of a
man's nofe, one of the noftrik of which throws out , hot,
' and the other cold water. Some others, fiill more furpriiing,
the reader may fee in the margin (Z), for which we have not
quite fo good an authority. They likcwife fbound with mi-
mineral neral and medidnal fprings, dther for drinking or bathing ; and
ffringst fome of them fo intenfely hot, that the people can boil thdr
viftuals in a kind of Balneo Maria in them, in a very little
and other- time. Some other forts of water are noted for petrifying
luatersj every thing that is thrown into them, particularly thofe of i
firmge Jake, or river, m the ifland of Hay-nan^ which will petrify
Ukes^ &c. £fiies, lobfters, isc. and fpoken erf in a former feftion^.
Other lakes are faid to turn copper into, or at leaft give it the
refemblance of, iron. Some others which will bring on Aorms
of ram and thunder, upon the flinging a ftooe, or any heavy
thing, into them ; pai:ticularly a f^med one faid to be in the
bowels of a prodigious high mountain, full of deep and
dreadful caverns, and into which if a ftone be caft, it will
g^ve a loud roaring report, like a great clap of thunder, and
raife a thick mift, which in a little time wiU diflblve itfelf
into water again. Thefe, and many more. of the like na-
ture, which fome of our miffionaries have in all probability
taken from the Chineje books, not altogether to be relied on,

* Kercher, Martini. Vid. &Du Halde, vol. i. p. W^*

(Z) Of this nature is thst mention is that in the city of

which the Chine/e tell you is to Kyng-cheng^ in the province of

b^ fecn at Kan-ton, and is Shen-Ji, which is no lefs furpn-

looked upon by them as mira- . fing, it being about five feet ia

culous ; and, if what they fay of depth, and the water on the top

at be true, is litde lefs than fuch, cold ; but at the bottom fo hot,

it being affirmed to caft out of that it fcalds any thing that

the fame opening hot and cold reaches it (69). Thefe, and

water,which afterwards feparate many other fuch, being rather

from each other. Much of the taken from the Chineje booki,

fame wonderful nature is that in than attellcd by any EutoUom

the province of ^ang-fi, one half eyc-witneflcs, fhall fuffice for a

of whofe waters run clear, and fample of the natives fondncls

the other muddy ; and, if mixed for fuch kind ef prctemataraJ

together, will feparate again im- rarities,
mediately. The lall we ihall

(65) KtHhir Chini llhjir. Martini Atlai Sincnf, ^ V.

4 bicaa/e

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Ci. the Hiftory of C\i\^z. lij

bccaufe not confirmed by more modern experienced authors,
we fcave to the choice of our readers either to believe, or not,
but which, if true, would aifbrd no {mail delight to a curious
traveller to take a view of in his way.

We omit here their many rich mines of gold, filver, quick- Metals^
filver, copper, iron, and other metals and minerals, and of mineraUt
a great variety of precious and other curious ftones (among and f ««r-
which fome mention the albeftos, or iucombufHble (lone, fo **'*'/.
femed among the antients, and as abfurdly exploded by fome
of the moderns, as the produft of fome of their mines) ;
their various quarries of porphyry and marble, fome of them
fo beaudfuliy vdned with figures of men, horfes, trees, ci- ^

ties, mount^ns, isc. as if done with a pencil ; and many
others of the mineral and vegetable kind, befides fome among
Ae quadruped and volatile fort ^^ But there is one fort of
fifli among them, which, for its furprifmg beauty and nature,
may be reckoned one ot" the greateft rarities belonging to the
watry element, which defcrves a particular notice, and with
which we ihall dofe this head.

This beautiful creature, which, firom its colour, the6*A/- 7he goldm
nefe ftyle Kin-yu, or Golden fjb, is commonly about the length andfiiver
of one's finger, and proportionably thick. The male is oizfP*
beautiful red from the head to above half way of his body ; ^^«>
and the' remaining part, together with the tail, is fpangled *^f ^ ^
with golden^ fpots exceeding our fineft gilding. The female ^^'"(f'
is white ; the tail, and fome parts of die body, having the
perfeft refemblance of filver. The tail of neither kind is
fiuooth or flat, like that of other fifti ; but forms a fort of
tuft, thick and long, which adds much to the beauty and
fine fhape of that little creature. They commonly fwim on
the furface of the water ; and fhew fuch a furprifing agility
in their motion, that it gives an exquifite brightnefs and va-
riety to it : and it is on that account that they are fo admired
by the richer fort, that they keep them, in all their pleafure-
houfes, in little ponds made for the purpofe, or elfe in bafons
more deep than wide, and adorn the courts, and other parts
of their houfes, with them, where they afford a fingular di-
verfion by their play, they being exceeding . tame and aftive, Tamefiefi,
and, as one would imagine, knew their matters, and thofe
that feed them, by the readinejTs with which they come up at
their appi'oach. The misfortune is, that they are of fo ten- Tender
dcr a nature, that the leaft inclcpiency of weather is apt to »^^''^-
injure them ; and the extremity oflneat or cold, ftrong fmelis,

loudnoifes, efpecially of thunder, or the report of cannon, will

^ Of thefe, fe© before, p. 80. 219. & alib. pafT.

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Shelter.

food*

Fertility.
Spanvn
bow pre'
Jerved.

the Hift^ty 9f Ct&nz. B. L

go near to deftroy them (A). Thafi?, therefore, ^«ha bare the
'care of them, always provide the© with a fhelterat the bottom
of their litde poad, which is commonly made with an esfcrtben
pan full of holes, and turned upfide down, into which they
retreat when the fun, weather, or any thing elfe, difcommodes
them. Care is alfo taten to fliift mdr water three or four
times a week ; and in fuch a maoQer, as that the vefiel may be
always kept full ; and to throw fome fort of weeds on the
forface of it, to fhade them from the fun.

Their common food is the litde imperceptible worms that
are bred in the water, or the little earthy particles which are
mixed with it ; but the owners will now-and then throw fomc
litde bits of pafle, or, what is ftiH more agreeable to them,
fome wafers, which, being foaked in the water, are greedily
fwallowed down by, and is the propereft food for, thofc
litde creatures. They breed exceedingly faft in hot countries,
provided their fpawn be^carefoUy ikimmed off the furfeoe of
the water^ where it fwims (which they would otherwife de-
vour), and be put into particular vd&ls, to be hatched by
the fun. The-vefTel muu likewife be flidtcred from wind,

^( A}This is the account which
Father Le Compte gives of them ;
to which Du Halde adds, that
thcbcft way of prefwrving them
in the winter is, to give them
ao food all that time ; and that
they will live three or four
months, that is, while the cold
weather lads, under the ice,
without any other f^iftenance
than what the water underneath
affords them, even in the large
open ponds. As- for thofe that
are taken into the houfes, and
kept in china veflcls clofely cover-
ed, it is certain they live without
anyodicrfood; and yet when the
fpring CQmes on, at which time
they are again removed into
their ufual bafons, they will
move and fwim with as much
agility and brifkneft as they did
the year before. T-he nobility
and richer fort are fo fond of
them all over theJcingdom, that

they make it ope of their diitf
pleafures to feed them ) and
will give three or four crowns
apiece for thofe that are the
raoft beautifully coloured and
fhaped ; there being perfons
evcry-where who make It their
chief bnfincfs to breed, and fell
them to them. As for thofc
which are bred up in large
ponds, they become fomewbat
larger and hardier ; and ixt on-
ly preferved there for th»ir
fpawn, which^ when hatched ja
the manner above-mentioned,
raifes them to that beauty, and
variety of colours, which inak€
them fit for thofe of the better
rank. The way they have to
call thofc which breed in ponds
to the top of the water, is by
the noife of a clapper, wbick
the perfons who fted them coft'
monly ufe for that end (70 J.

(-0) Vu Halde, voL I />. 15. Gf 3T6, ef/rf, Vid, & Li &mpte, Uttf 4-

rain,

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C. I. . Tkt Hifiory of China. 4S9

rain, and cold, till they are hatched : at which time the Colour.,
yoang fiy appear firft of a black colour, which fome of them
ftill retain ; but the greateft part change by degrees to red or
white, to gold or filver, according to their kind, which dif-
playsitfelf firft at the tail, and thence fpreads itfelf more or
kfs towards the middle of their body ; and, when grown to
in inch in length, may be fafcly removed into their native re-
fervoirs, there to be admired as a wonder of nature *.

'Their artificial rarities are various and numerous, and Artificial
much more frequent, and entertaining to travellers. We fliall rarititu
fingle out fome of the moft curious and remarkable amongft
thOT ; fuch as, i . Their famed long wall, which is the firft
and nobleft ftrufture of all, and offers itfelf to a ftranger at
the very firft len trance into that empire by land ; 2. Variety
of artificial mountains, bridges, and caufeways ; 3. Some of
their ftately temples ; 4. Coloffian ftatues ; 5. Their high
and fumptuous towers in fcveral of their great cities ; 6. Their
ftately triumphal arches ; 7. Some of their large bells, efpe-
cially thofe of Pe-king and Karrg-ton, which excel all the
reft*

We begin with their celebrated wall, which is juftly efteem- Tie great
ed the moft ftupeqdous work of ^hat, or any other kind, that nval/,
the wprld can boaft of; it being in Jength, according to Ma* Length.
gaillarCs computation, 405 leagues, exclufive of its wind-
ings; and, by Le Compter 500 French leagues, or near 1500
mUes, wth the windings ; and fortified all the way, at proper
diftances, with ftrong kigh towers, to the number of 3000
(B), which, before the conqueft of China, ufed to be guarded

• Li Co^ptb, Du Haldb, & aL

(B) That is, according to ber of thcfc towers according to
fome, at every two bow-ftiot ; the extent of the wall 5 whereas
but more abf^rdly, according to they might ftand at much great*
others, every mile or two miles ; er diftance in other parts that
ferin nehher cafe could they wcfc more difficult of accefs ;
amount to 3000 ; fo that, if the for they have committed much
Wall was 1 500 miles, and thefe the fame error, with rcfpeA t^
towers equidiftant from each the ftrength, materials, height,
edier, there could be but half a and thic&iefs, of the wall it-
mile fpace between each of felf, judging it to be every^-
them. where tte fame as they faw it ia

The troth is, fome have mag- the neighbouring parts of Pe-

nifiedthat work at a ftrarigc li-hz, yv here it is built of ftone

rate; and, from their nearnefs and brick ftrongly cemented,

to each other in fome parrs, and v^ry high, ftout, and folid ;

kavc perhaps inferrtrd the num- whereas thofe? wlio have fince

Mcfo. Hist. Vol. Vlll. T takca

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^90 ne Hifiorj of Oxixau 6.1.

Jntiimi by a million of foldiers : but, fince then, they only keep garri-

garnfoaj. fons in thofe places which ^ moft eafy of zccefs, viz. at Fwen-

fuy Tay-ton^-fUf Ning-kia^ Ta-lin, Siang-chnvy Sian-ning^ and

So^he^ } befides which, the mountains within the wall are

reckoned fujfficient to defend China againft the Tartars ^ : how-

cver, as it was originally intended to cover the three northern

provinces of Pe-che4iy Shan-fiy and Shen-Jiy from any attack

Exiiwi. ttom that quarter, it begins at the latter of them, which lies

on the north- weft of China^ in about 38 degrees of latitude^

and is carried on, over mountains and vallics, rivers and deep

marfhes, firft to the north-eaft, as far as the 4 2d degree of

latitude, then fouth-eafterly to the 39th, and terminates at

the fVhang'hay, or Te/low Sea, at the 40th degree, where

(lands the famous gate called Shang-hay-quan, and from which

it diodes the province of Pe-che-li within from that of Lyau.-

tong without ; ajid thence, weftward, the other two prcv-

^^J^ mces from Tartary. But though the diftance from one end

mtiuSf^s. of |jji3 ^all to the other be hardly above 700 or 800 miles,

in a direct line from weft to eaft, yet, if we take in alfo the

various windings north and fouth, and the many afcents and

defcents over the high hills and dales which are between,

we can hardly allow lefs than twice that number to the whole

kngthof the walls.

tywiom This ftupendous fabrfc was built, according to fome, by

Am//. the emperor Chi-ho-hani'ti ; and, according to others, by Shi'

whang'ti, or, as others call him, Shing-Jbi-whang, 21 5 years

before Chrift ^ ; and is built here ^d there on fuch

' Sec Hiftoric, Obfervations on Tartary, ap. Da Halde, vol.ii.
p. 263. < lid. ibid. vid. & Martini, Klrcher, Nieu-

HOFF, ic al. fup. ciut. ^ Dv Halve, vol. i. p. 20. 172.

262. k alib. Lk Comptk, letter 3. U al.

taken a more accurate view of earth, or is rather a kind of
it (7 1 ) , afliire us, that it runs at mud rampart, not only^ very de-
moft but about 600 miles in that fedtivo in many places, info*
manner, that is, from the much that they were obliged to
Whang'b99 or Teliovj Sta, to the build, at every four leagues di-
Droirince of Sham-fi, where it . ilance, ftrong forts on the in-
hath feveral other faces beiides, fide, to defend them, ^t the far
which form double, and fome* greater part of the towers be-
times treble, inclofures for the longing to it were of earth;
fecurityof themoftconfiderable thole that were of brick or
pafies ; but, from the entrance done being but few in compa-
Into that province, to its very rifon of them,
end in the weft, it is all built of

i%i) rU. OhftrniMt. Hifiirk. w TMrtarj, ^, Dm iUUf, W. ii. p. *6%.

rocltf

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C. I. T$e Hijf^ of ChinZi 19 1

rocks and mountains^ as feem altogether inacceilible ; and In
other parts over wide and rapid rivers, and fuch marfhcs and
fandy hoUofWS, as one would judge incapable of admitting a
fufficient foundation to lupport fuch a prodigious weight.
The heieht of it varies according to the ground ; but is no- Height:
where lefs than 20, nor higher than, 30 feet ; and the breadth
about 1 5 feet, or wide enough for five or fix people to ride
abreaft (C), and extraordinarily well paved al^the way. It
is continued fi*om one end to the other without any interrup-
tion, except at the entrance of the U^hang-ho into the Chinefe
empire, and near the city of Se-ckwen^ in the province of Pe^
cbe-li^ where, inftead of it, the country is guarded by high
and inac^reifible mountdns ; but is continuous every-where
elfe : and though other rivers flow likewife from Tartary into Ri<virs
the Chinefe territories, and fome of them run in and out di run under
them more than once, they all run under ftately high arches ''^«
made in the walls ; and fo ftrongly built^ that their current,
though rapid, hath not hitherto caufed the leaft breach or
detriment in them. The fame may be faid of the wall it- ^trtngthl
fclf, and its ftout high towers, fo far as both are built with
brick and (tone, though both have lain expofed ta all winds
and weathers almoft 2000 years : but as to the weftern part
of it, which, as we ftiewed in a former note (B), is built of
earth, it is gone to decay in many places, and hath been fe-
vcral times repaired by the government. The former, how-
ever, is only cafed on the outfide with brick or ftone, and
the fpace between them filled with fome ftrong morter, fand,

was employed by the emperor and in the plains, that is, four

to make the maps of the em- fathoms, or twenty-foor feet,

pire, and had been often on according to fome ; and thirtjr

the top of it ; thbugh IJbrands feet, according to others ; which

Ides^ and others, make it wide difagreement itfdf would be

enough for eight horfemen to fafficient to convince us of the

ride abread upon ijt; fo that c6ntraiy,didnotthereafonofthe

when Le Compte tells us it is thing, and the known oeconomy

but four, or at molt five, feet in of the Chinefe nation, perfuade

thickncfs (72), it is plain it us that they would hardly have

muft be fome error of the print- beftowed equal coH and labour

er, orof histranflator, and that every-where alike, merely for'

he muft. have meant at leaft the fake of obferving an uni-

yards, if not toifes, which are formity in the work ; for that

equivalent to two of our yards. would rather expofe their folly

Some tell us, that its height than wifdom, for which they fo

is every-where alike, whether highly value themfelves* ,
on the top of the hijgheft moun-

(jz;. Lt Cmps, letter 3. ' •

T 2 «tt4

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2^1 The Hifiory of China. B. I.

and other rnbbifli; but fo ftrongly cemented, as to be of
equal hardnefs with the reft.
^hejirft The bulwark, at which this noble wall begins, at the eaft
bulwark ^j^j js a large pile of ftone raifed in the fea, upon a founda-
fnun^ed tn ^^^ j^y ^^ ^ number of ftiips funk into it by a ftupendous
thefea. -weight of iron, and huge ftones with which they were laden,
in order to fecure the fuperftrudture from finking. The work
is well tcrradeil and cafed with brick and ftone ; and the ar-
chiteft was obliged, under pain of death, to cement them fo
ftrongly together, that a nail ihould not be driven between them ;
which cement runs through the whole work. This buhvark
taflern ftands in near the fame latitude with Ve-kingy and at a fmall
gate. diftance wefl^vard from it is to be feen.the firft gate called

Shang'hay -quango of an extraordinary height -id ftrength.
The other gates are built much in the fame manner ; and
every one or them is defended by a ftoift fort built on the
Qhinefe fide. Upon the whole, it is a ftupendous work ; and,
confidering the height of fome of the mountains on which it
runs, and the marlhy, dry, fandy, and barren grounds, on
which other parts are built, one cannot but admire how it
could be carried on to that height and thicknefs, and fuch t
raft length, confidering that in many places the bricks, ftones^
5aorter, and all other neceflaries for the work, ifauft have
bepn brought thither from a great .diftance, and with incre-
All fintjh' dible. coft and labour : and what adds ftill more to the won-
ed in Jive ^g^, if we may believe their records, is, that the whole was
v^rj. ^niftied in five years^ time*. They add, that the emferor
obliged every third man out of each province of his emp';:e,
who was of an age fit for the werk, to help to complete it ;
fo that he lived. to fee his dominions fenced on every fide, and
fevered in fome meafure from the reft of the world by tht
flrongeft barriers ; viz, on the north by this new and extra*
ordinary rampart ; on the weft by high and inacceflible moon-
tains, and vaft fahdy deferts j and by the wide ocean on the
fouth and eaft.
Artificial The next fort of artificial curiofities of China^ that we read
motmtains, of, is their mountains fabricated into various ftiapes of men,
'whether horfes, birdfi, i;c, which, if really, fuch, inuft be works of
regityjucb. \j^t^q^{q labour as well as time ; and being, to all appearance,
'defigned merely to pleafe the fight,- and to fet the fpeftators a
gazing, Ciin ferye no other end than expofing the ill taftc of
"the Chiiicfe, forbeftowing fo much of either upon fuch fan«
Jtaftic ^^nd' unnatural oddities. But this feems to us too oppo-

« DwHalde, vol. 1. p. 20. 172. 262, & alib. Le Compte,
letter 3. &c al. fup. citac.

i -; , * fit*

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C. r. The Hiftory of China. 2^3

iite to their natural prudence and oeconomy, to be eafify cre-
"dited ; and though we are told, that their notion of them,
efpecially among the fuperftitious vulgar, is, that they are the
M'ork of demons, and the refult of a deep infight into ma-
gic ; which feems to intimate, as if they bore fo near a refem-
blance to thofe creatures, as could hardly be given to them
by human art; yet, till we have better authority thatt'We
have of their doing fo, we ihall look upon them rather as the
cffeft of chance, affifled by a ftrong fancy, to fupply what is
wanting to complete the pretended refemblance. However
that be , we think ourfelves obliged to give our readers one
inftance at leaft of them, that we may not be blamed for
omitting what other authors have fpoken of with fo much admi-
ration, and that fhall be one of the moft remarkable of alt the
reft ; viz. the famed mountain of the five horfes heads ; and
fo called from its five fummits, which are faid, at a diftance,
to bear a near refemblance to them. It mu ft be owned, that
none of them pretend to have gone near enough to kn6w whe-
ther that feeming likenefs was wrought by dint of labour of
the chiflel and mallet, nor whether it appeared the fame at any
point of fight, or only at that which they vie\ved them from :
fo that the only wonder feems to be in the number of heads ;
for, as to other mountains that are faid to bear a refemblance
of a bird, horfe, dog, or any other fmgle animal, thofe who
have but travelled over the Jlps or Pyrenees, will find enough
of fuch cragged rocks on the tops of thofe mountains, which
a warm imagination will eafily conceive to bear a near refem-
blance to thofe, or a variety of other creatures ; and where,
did fuperftition and prieftcraft reign fo much as they do iri
China, the people might be made to believe them to have been
the work of demons, or of fome famous conjurers.

Not but there are other mountains m China, fabricated in Others of a
fiich a manner as muft appear the work of art, and to have liferent
required inimenfe labour ; at leaft we read of fome that are A^'*'^^-
perforated quite through in many places, and fecm rather a ^"''^'
parcel of irregular rocks, or fmall mountains, cafl: up at ran-
dom one upon another, and have on the top either a temple,
monaftery, or fome other curious building ; of others that
are filled with large fpacious caverns ; a third fort that have
roads cut through them of a confiderable length ; fome clofe
on the top, and others cut open quite up to it. There is Noble
one, in particular, in the province of Fo-kyen, and near the ea^fe<ivajs
city of Hing'-wha-fii, or, as others call it, Hingoa, which is ^«^ thro
cut between two mountains, of a confiderable height, ici ^^*^'
aiccly paved the length of twelve miles, and fluded on each

T 3 fida .

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254 ^^ Hiftory of China. B. I.

fide by trees planted at proper diftances all the way ^ ; but
indeed moft of the roads round that city are paved in the
fame manner with fquare ftones, and planted with fhady
trees, the towfis and villages about it ftanding fo thick, that
they feem to be but one continued town^ ; and it muft be
owned, that the Chinefe are not wanting in any coft or labour
to make their caufeways vand roads as eafy anS pleafant for
^ travellers as they pofliWy can " ; and this makes them build
fo many fine ftately bridges, not only over their rivers and
canals, but even from one mountain to another, which is a
third fort of their artificial rarities.
Bridget. We have already defcribed feveral of them in th^ geogra*
phic part ; but, as it would be endlefe to fpeak even of the
moft curious of them throughout the country; (for the other
fort are without number), we ftiall content ourfelves with de-
fcribing two or three of the moft celebrated, to give our
readers an idea of the excellent tafte of the nation in thefe kinds
J ftately of work alfo. That called Lu-ko-kyau, feven or eight miles
cne near weftward of Peeking, was one of the fineft that ever was feen,
Peking, before ^^xx. of it was broken down by a land-flood. It was
built all of white marble, curioufly wrought and polifticd.
It had feventy pillars on each fide, divided by cartridges of
fine, marble beautifully carved with flowers, foliages, birds,
beafts, and variety of other ornaments. On each fide of the
entrance on the bridge, at the eaft end, ftood two lions, of an
extraordinary fize, on two curious pedeftals likewife of mar-
ble, with feveral other fmaller lions in different attitudes ;
fome climbing on the backs of the great ones, others leaping
off, others crawling between their legs.
Toufl ' At the other end of the bridge' flood likewife two other

others, like curious pedeftals, on which were carved two children with the
each other^ fanje fldll, and all the reft of the work was anfwerable to it °.
ofagreaty^^hitt Gerbillon mentions two more of the fame kind, of fine
length ««« marble, and exaftly like, each other in their fabricature, oma-
^^^(y* ments, 6c, ; one on one fide of the city of Cha-hoy 50 ffs
from Pe-kingy and the other on the other fide of that place ;
their length was 60 geometric paces, and their breadth be-
tween fix and feven, and the pavement and parapets were of
huge blocks of the fame ftone ©. This fort of bridges is the
moft common in the empire, and of which we may fay that the
Chinefe fpare neither for length, breadth, beauty, nor IbeDgthi

^ Kercher, Martini, La Martiniere, & al. fop. dtat.
' lid. ibid. « See before, t>. 78. » Du Haldb,

vol. i. p. 288. • Travels mtowefternTartary,ap.cimd.

vol. ii. p. 274.

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C.I. The Hiftory of OxiTiz. 295.

in the boildit^ of them ; fome of them cooflfting of upwards
of 100 lofty arches, and are above 160 fathom in length, as
is that of the city of Fu-ehevt^ or, as others caH it, Ox-u^ ca-
pital of the province of Fo-kyen^ which is built acrofs the bay,
all of fine white ftone P (D).

They have a fecond fort, which are built upon barges, Jficond
fome of which are of a very great length. One of thefe, in/^t hmU
particular, built over the river Kyang^ at the place where thc^ h9au.
Kan falls into it, confifts of 1 30 barges ftrongly chained to
one another, yet fo as to be parted, and to open a way in
any part of it, to let the veflels pafs which continually fail
up and down the river. There are great numbers of this fort
likewife all over the flat oountries, they being much more
convenient in thofe parts where the trafficic is diicfly carried
on by water.

P Du Halixe, Jk al. fup. dtat.

(D) There is one ftill more
ftnpendous at the city of Swen-
ihiw'fuf which is built over the
point of an arm of the fea,
which otheryirife mufl b6 croiTed
in a bark, and ver^ often not
without danger. It is 2^20 Chi-
ntfe feet in length, and 20 in
breadth, and is fupported bv
2$ 2 huge piers, 126 on each
iide. All the flones of it are
of a greyiih colour, and of the
fame length and thicknefs, as
well thofe which crofs fiom pier
to pier, as thofe which are laid
acrofs, and join them to each
other (73). The greateft won-
der is, how they could cut or
place ftones, of fuch enormous
weight as thefe are, high enough
for large veflels to pafs under-
neath;

As for the more common fort
of bridges, their way of build-
ing them is more eafily under-
ftood, and appears to be this :
As foon as they had Eniflied thp
fides of the arch next to the

land, or, if of more arches than
one, the piers that ftand be-
tween them, they proceeded to
lay on the ftones, which are
commonly not above four or
fi^e feet long, and half a foot
broad, alternately upright and
crofs -wife, fo that .the key
flones lay always horizontally*
The top of the arch is ufually no
thicker than that of thefe ftones $
and becaufe the bridges, efpe-
cially thofe which have but one
arch, are fometimes 40 or 50
feet between the [Hers, andcon-
fequently much higher than the
caufeway^ the afcent on both
fides is by eafy flat fteps, not
above three inches thick, which
makes it foinewhat inconvenient
for horfes and carriages to go
up and down them (74) ; and
might be eafil/ obidated, b/
m wng the afcent and defcent
more even ; but, in other re-
fpeds, they are generally well
contriv/sd.

(1%) ^* ^•^i «^»M /• '7t

(74) J^d* h ^7*

Thbus

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%^ Tbf Hijt^ry ^f China, R !•

J third THfiftfi h (till a third fort, more furprifing than the two
/art, from fermer, which ar$ built fome syvev rivers, and others over a
mountain yaUey, and join two mountains together. Of this fort, W€
to ^oun' 5^<i of 0nc which confifts of but one intire arch, whidi is
^** reckoned 40Q cubits lone;, and 500 in height, and is, by

travellers, ftylcd PQns voJans, or the flying bridge "*, " That
which was formerly built over leveral high hills, on the road
to Hang'chong'f^, in the province of Skfi/?, is ftill more ftii«<
pendous. We are told, that 100,000 men were employed in
K, to level fome of the hills, and to build arches fr(Mn moun-
tain to mountain, fupporting them with pillars, of a monftrous
height and thickriefs, where the intervening valley proved too
wide. There are feveral of, thefe bridges that form part of
the road abovt-mentioned ; and fome of them of fuch height,
that one cannot look downwards without terror ; for which
reafon, they are ^ well railed on c?ach fide, for the f<?curity
of paflengers ^ And thus much 'may luffice for this third fort
of artificial rarities %
friumfhah . The ne%t kind of curiofity that Entertains the travellers, ia
arcbet* daeir b^utiful triumphal arches, which ^re to be feen, in
great numbers, pot only in all their cities, but on the moun-
tains and eminences along the roads. Thefe were originally
erefted in memory of their heroes, whether princes, generals,

!>hilofoj)hers, or minifters of ftate, who had fignalized them-
elffes for fome great aftions, or fome eminent fervices, donQ
to the public. The. number of thofe that have been erected
t;o fuch heroes is computed to amount to above 1 100, amongft
*> which, there are near 200 of exquifite beauty and grandeur.
Some There is befides, a fmall number of others, no lefs noble and
ire£led tcr beautiful, erefted to feveral of their illuftrious women, whof<^
nffomisn. wifdom and virtue have intitled them to the fame glorious mo?
imments, as well as to a place in the Chinefe hiftory, and in
Ae works of their mofl: famous poets (E).

These monumental ftrudlures confift moftly of one, or, ^
moft, three ^ches, the middle of which i$ lofty and fpaciouSj

, 9 Kerchir, Maktini, &11I. » Du Halde^ & al. fup,
citat. ' • lid. ibid.

(E) The male worthies re- whether virgins, wives, orwi-

Iqcrdcd in their hiftorv, including dews, who arc recorded for

thofe who hav? been lamed for their chaftity, piety, or any

their virtuef and piety, ms WcH other eminent virtues, either on

as for valoar, learning, l^c. thofe monumental arches, or in

amount to about 3636 ; and the Chinefe annals, to iJbottt

the number of the females, 208^ (75).'

(75) ^f Comfti,^Vit HM^ Murtint't & eh

•

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C. i. The Hijhry ef CMna. tj/

and the other two on each fide of it are of a ftnaller fize and
beauty. Some of , them are of wood, except the marble pe-
deftal ; others are of (lone, and others' partly ftone, and partly
wood. Some of them arc wrought with exquifite fkill,
cfpeciaUy thofe of th? oldeft {landing ; while moil: of thofe of
a more modern date are fo clumfy, and ill-defigned, as to de-
ferve fcarcely any attention (F). Their height is commonly
between twenty and twenty-five feet, few above; the whole T'/^ftV
variegated with figures of men, antics, birds, bcafts, ire, in ma^e^
various attitudes," feftoons, and other ornaments, indifferently height^
carved ; the relievo's of fome of which are fo bold, that they ^^'
feem to be feparatcd from the work. Upon the whole, though
they are but (lightly built, yet, when placed to advantage, as
in a narrow ftreet, where tWo ftreets crofs each other, or
in the center of a fquare, and if in the country, at a due
diftance from the road,, and a right jioint of fi^ht, afford no
difagreeabl^ delight to the beholders ^

To thefe, we might add their burying-places, and the Sefukhrt^
noble buildings reared on thofe of great men, which; at a Monu-
ments^

< Le Compte, Martini, Kercher, & s^l. fup. cita(. Vide
k 'Dv HAtDE, vol. L p. 17, ic 2881.

(F) The ornamental part of fince their late conqueft, feeing

thofe antient arches is fo ^uri- that few of thofe antient monu-

oufly wrought, the feftoons and- ments are of much more than -

flowers fo neatly cut, and the 300 years ftanding (76).

lurds and other animals carved However, it muft be owned,

in fuch lively attitudes, that Fa- that, excepting the beautiful

ther Le Compte looked upon neatnefs of the carving above«

them as Chinefe lyafter-pieccs mentioned," their bell architec*

of that kind ; and indeed they ture, of any kind, comes valUy-

appear fo wonderfully detached ihort of ours, both as to tt^

from each other, as if they were proportion and difpoiition of

only joined to, or run into, each the parts. Thev have neither

Other, by fmall cordons,* and cbmices nor ' chapiters ; and

without the leail confufion ; that which bears fome kind oi

which fufficiently {hews the fuf likenefs to our frizes, is of

pcrior fkill of their antient ^fuch a height, that it rather

workmen ; whereas in thofe of fiiocks the eye of thofe who are

later date, the fcuJpture is fpa- unaccnftomed to it } though ic

ring, looks coarfe, heavy, ^ and is ^o much th^ more agreeable*

wiuiottt any piercing, or va- to the Chinefe tafte, as it affords

liety, to enliven it. Which is more fpacc for the ornament^

a plain indication of their ge« which adorn the infcriptions en^

nius having been, in a great graven on them {774, •
meafurc, cramped and debafed, '

\l^ U Compit, Dh HBldt;^ Htttini, ^ 4J. (77) Dn HaUk, uH fuf^

f. 17. 6f »«7.

diftanc^

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298 The Hijory of China. B. I.

(fiftance, appear like towns, being moflly built on (bme con-
fpicnous eminences along the road, and yield a very pleafanc
profpeft ; but of thefe we have already fpoken, on another
occaiion ".
9^tely But, of all their artificial curiofities, their fine ftatdy

tiwers. towers are the moft delightful to ftrangers, though built in a
ftile peculiar to this country, and unlike any thing of that
kind among us. Thefe are mofUy to be met witli in their
great cities, and are every-where built much in the fame form ;
10 that the defcribipg on^ or two of the moft beautiful, will
^be famed fuffice to give our readers an idea of the reft (G). There arc
$nt at two of thefe without the walls of Nan-king, the moft bcauti-
Nan- ful of which, ftyled the porcelain tower, becaufe it is lined
**"8* all over the infide with china tiles, delightfully painted, is the
moft admired by all travellers, for its height, fymmetry, and
variety pf carving, gilding, and other otnaments. It is of aa
oftagonal form, nine ftories, or 200 feet, high, and forty
feet m diameter ; fo that every fide is fifteen feet in length.
%The whole is built on a large bafis of brick, ftrongly ce-
mented, which forms a ftately perron, or flight of nine or
ten fteps, likewife of an of^onal figure, by which you af-
cend to the firft ftory ; and this perron is furrounded with a
/// height, baluftrade of unpoliftied marble on the outfide. The firft
mfceMt^hc. ftory, or, as it is called, the hall, is tjie higheft of all, but
- bath no wmdows, nor any light but what comes in at three
fpacious gates, which open into it. The wall is &id to be

" See before, p. 264. U feq.

(G) Thefe (lately ftruaures, eight and nine feet high, and

which, we are told, are to be the lowermoft about twelve,

jntt with at every metropolis But, as they are alfo built for

of a province, and in fome other ftrength, as well as fliew, feme

of their cities, fome within, and of them having ftood confider-

Others without, the walls, are ably above three centuries, diere

chiefly defigned as ornaments, is a prodigious deal of timber,

they being feen at a great di- aswell'as work, in them; which

fiance by travellers, and, from yet, as Le C$mfti rightly ob^

their top galleries, affording a ferves, rather oetrays the ig-

beautiftii profpedl of all the~ norance of the Chtnefit arclu-

country round. Their height teds, who have not yet dif-

js commonly from feven to covered that lovely fimplicity,

sine, though, Du Halde aftures wherein the ftrength and beaoty

BSr there are fome twelve and of our jE«r(>^f4iv buildings con-

• thirteen, fiories high, every fift{78).

ftory being commonly between

(73) Du Bfildi, ikiftp, p. 2X9. L$ Cmfie^ biter z* Minim, ^ si

about

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C I. ^be Hijlory of China. 299

about twelve feet thick, and eight and a half high, and cafed
with porcelain, but of the coarfer fort, and nqt a litde da-
maged by duft and rain. From this, you afcend to the fe-
cond, and thence to all the other ftories, which ace all of
equal height, by a narrow, and very inconvenient, ftaircafe,
the fteps of which are ten inches high, and very narrow.
Every ftory hath eight large windows, one at every front.
They all leflen, as they mount one over the other, fo as to
form, in the whole, a kind of cone, or fugar-loaf ; and be-
tween each of them is a penthoufe, or fhed, which projefts
feme yards from the wall all around, and leflens in the lame
proportion the higher they go, Thefe divide the ftories from
each other without, as the timber and the floorings do with-
in : and each room is adorned with paintings, and other or-
naments, after the Chinefe ftile, both on the fides, and on
the cieling, whilft -the outfide is embelliihed with variety
of work in bafs-felievo, niches, and imagery, in the fame
tafte (H) ; all which make an ^e#ible kind of inlaid work,
very beautiful at a diftance, though both that and the paint-
ing and g^ldiilgs, are fomewhat impaired by the wind and
rain. But the moft beautiful part of the whole fabric h a Cupola imi
kind of cupola, which arifcs thirty feet higher than the up- *5?-^-
permoft ftory, and is fupported by a thick maft, fixed at the
bottom of the floor of the eighth ftory. This piece feems to
be inclofed in a large iron-hoop, all the way, and which
winds round it like a fpiral line, or fcrew, at the diftance of
feveral feet ; fo that the whole looks like a hollow kind of
cone, pierced through, and rifing in the air, and fupporting
on the top a golden ball, of an extraordinary bignefs. Such
is the ftrufture of that famed tower, which, whether of brick,
marble, or whatever other material, is looked upon, by Le
ComptCj and other authors, as the beft contrived, moft folid,
and magnificent work in all the eaft "".

NIEUHOFF adds two circumftances concerning it ; viz. When^ani
that the ball, or pine-apple, on the top, is reported by the ^ nuhom^

^ Lb Compte, letter 3. Martini, Nieuhoff, Kercheh.
&al. mult.

(Hj^Ty^utfide appears to be it feems, furprifinglv (kilful in

of frnx fort of wrought marble, ftamping all forts of figures on

or ^l&ed ftone, ^ilt over ; but their bricks ; the earth of which

texkwite rather imagines it to being much finer, and bettier

jbe of Drick, fo cail in proper tempered, than ours, is much

Inoulds, in the manner of our fitter to take any impreflioa

plaiftcr-WQrk ; the Chinefi being, from the mould (79).

{^) U Compter uhififrg.

igiit.

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300 The Hijfory ttf CKink. B.I.

Chinefe to be of mafly gold ; and the other, that the tower
hath ftood 700 years ; and was ereftcd by the Tartars^ as a
monument of their having made themfelves mailers of the
Chinefe empire ; whereas Le Compte affirms it to have been, in
his time, of no more than 300 years ftanding, and to .have
been built, together with the temple of gratitude, by the
Emperor Yong-lo \ to which Du Halde feems to fubfcribe '.
Belhhang' MosT of thcfe forts of towers have, either in the upper-
ing on the .moft penthoufe, or gallery, and others in every one of them,
angles and at every angle, fmall b^lls, hanging at fome diftance, by
Viitbout, chains, or wires, which ^re eafily moved by every blaft d"
wind, and make an uncommon fort of tinkling ; which is,
never thclefs, agreeable enough to the Chinefe X.'S&t, Of this
nature is that we have clfewhere defcribcd, which ftands near
a ftately temple built on a Veiy high mountain y. But the
greateft delight which thefe kinds or ftruftures afford, is from
the vaft charming profpeft one hath from their upper ftories,
or galleries, of all the co^intry round about, which is com-
monly befpangled wi<h great variety of houfes of pleafure,
orchards, gardens, fepulchral monuments, and fuch agree-
able objefts, far and near.
ttaiely Their temples are no lefs ftately and curious. They have a

umples^ prodigious number of them, both in their cities and towns, and
in the country at a great diftance from them. The moft cele-
^«/7/ 1» /&- brated of Nvhich are mof)ly built in barren mountains*, to
iitary which, however, ,the induftry of the natives hath given bcan-
flaces. ties which were denied them by nature ; fuch as, canals, cut
at a great expence, to convey the water from the adjacent
heights, into proper refervoirs, for the ufe of the bonzas, and
their votaries ; gardens and groves for their ufe and diverfion,
and deep grottos cut into the rock, to ftielter them from the
exceffive heat ; all which do not a little contribute to render
thofe folitudes delightful, Thefe flruftures, ^hich, whether
large or {mall, are built much ^er the fame manner, conlift
partly of fine porticos, j^aved with large fquare poliftied ftenes,
and partly of halls and pavilions, which are reared on the
corners of the courts, and have a communication with each
other, by galjeriesi adorned vdth ftatues either of ftone or
Their htzk. The roofs of thefe buildings ftilne with beantifid j^)an-
fainted ned tiles, of green or yellow, and are embelliftied at the comers
roofs^ Sec, with dragons of the fame colour, which projeft a great way
forward. The reft of thofe buildings are built of timber, and
moft of them have fome fuch high tow^ as thofe wc have

* Lb Compte, ubi fupra. Du HaldEi vol. i. p. 28^,
y See before, p. 25. ^ft^v and »o^(H).

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C I. the Htfisry of CHna. 3«r

beea fpeaking of iQ the laft paragraph. We read of feme of
thefe tearples that are of a prodigioas length and breadth,
and have ilatues m them of a Colof&an magnitude (I)> to
which the bonzas, who have their apartments rounc^ about,
offer their wine, rice, tod other provifions, which are brought
thither by their ftupid votari«, whenever they come to confult
them about their temporal af^rs. The reader may fee what hath
been (aid, in a former feftion, of the various impofitions of
tbofe religious charlatans on the fuperfUtbus and in&tuated
vulgar *.

Most of their dties have fome large bells fet up in their Their largi
high towers, by which they gife notice of the difierent hells ;
watches (rf the night ; and thofe which have no bells do it *^'^ ^»
by large drums. The. firft watch is notified t^ a fingle
ftroke, which is repeated at certain (hort diftanccs of time,
U Cmj^tt fays, every moment, till the fecond watch begins,
which they notify by two ftrokes ; the third by three, and fo
on. Some of their bells are of a monftrous bignefs and wdght ;
but the largeft of all are thofe of Nan-king and Pe-king. Le ^

Compte t^ls us of feven they have in the latter of thofe cities, ^
that wdgh 1 20,000 pounds, which is near five times the 'weighty
weight of that of Erford in Saxony, which, Kercher fays,
weighs but 25,400 pound?, and is, by him, fuppofed to be
Aelargeft in Europe \ though he ought, at leaft, to have ex-

* See before, p. 112. & feq. and notes.

(I) Nreuhoff mtmons One of of the firft rank; and thofe of

Aofe temples, in the province the inferior fort a*e almoft with-

of?f-fi&f./f, which is 165 fedt but number, efpecially if we

higb, and large in proportion, join to them thole that are bailc

in which ft anas the ftatue of a not to their gods, but to their

virgin 1064 feet high. The great men, of which they rcc-

CMiiefe fuperilition makes them kon above 700, which are very

generally more profufe in thefe grand, ana fome even mag-

kiods of ftru^lures than in any nificent, beiides the triumphal

thing elfe : they build them, arches and fepulchral monu-'

for the moft "part, very lofty ments, already fpoken of. But,

tndfpacioQs, and embellifh them as ^is latter fort of temples «

with great variety of idols, be- were chiefly built by the an-

forewhichltang an infinite num- tient nobility, in honour of

her of lamps burning with coftly their families and anceflon, and

perfumes. The reft are alfo em- thofe illnftrious families have

embcUiihed with all the other iincc dwindled away, great

ornaments of painting, carving, numbers of thofe fine flradlures

g,.&^f. They reckon no have like wife gone into decay

toan 480 of thofe drudures and ruin (80].
{80} MkrHitif Kercbtr, teCofffn, & gh

oepted

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302 ^be Hijhryof Omz. B.I.

cepted that monftrous one of the dty of Mofcow^ whofc
height is faid to be nineteen feet, diameter twenty-three, com-
pafs fixty-nine, thicknefs two, and weight 366,000 pounds,
and of "which we (ball have occafion to ipeal^ in a more pro-
per place. Thofe fcven of Pe-king'we s^t nowipeaking <rf,
are twelve feet high, befides the ear by which they hai^,
which is three £b^ more, thirteen in diameter, and fcMrty in
circumference. But, if we may believe Father Le Compte,
all the Chinefe bells are vaftly inferior to ours in found, their
clappers being made of a hard wood, which they call iron-
wood, of which we have elfewhere fpoken » ; their metal
is moreover very coarfe; 'and ftdl of knots, and Acir
mndill Ihape ill-contrived, they beii^ almoft as wide at the top as
Jbape and they are at the bottom, and their thicknefs gradually leflen-
fouttd, ing from '•the bottom upwards. So that, upon the whole,
they are mere unwieldy mafles of metal, without mufical
tone, or any thing worth notice, but their huge, dull, heavy
found, and monftrous weight ^ (K).

The

• See before, p. 190. & p.
TiNi^ Le Compte, k al. ^

226.

^ Magaillan, Mak-

(K) Thofe who have read
Father Magaillan\ account of
that which is in the imperial
palace of Pe-king, who affirms,
that its found is fo clear, de-
lightful, and harmonious, that
it feems rather to proceed from
fome muiical inilrumqat, will,
doubtlefs, be furprifed at what
we have faid above of all their
belh in general, on the autho-
thority of other miffionaries,
who pretend to have had as
good an ear as he : and, it is
not improbable, that what Le
Compte objedls as one of their
defcdls, %;/«:. their wooden dap-
pers, might be the main caufe
of that fweetnefs and harmony
which his brother Jefuit ad-
mired i becaufe, the more thefe
abkte of the loudnefs of the
found, the more they are found
to add, in proportion, to the

harmonious fweetnefs ; it hai^g
pretty near the fame tSeEi upon
the bell, or rather the ear, as
its being rung at a diftaoce.

Le^Comptt adds, Uiat thofe he
faw were almoU in the form of
a cylinder, except that they
fwelled about the middle, where
the circumference was equal to
the bottom ; and that the lowjcr
brim was fix inches and a half
thick, but the, top only two,
which he could as eaiUy mea-
fure ; becaufe they had fome
holes bored through that part
to increafe, as he fuppofed, their
found (81). . So that, upon die
whole, nothing can be more
different than the Clnueft and
European way of bell-foundins,
whether theirs or oars be al-
lowed ^o exceed the others io
fweetnefs and harmony.

(Sx) U Compte^ uhijup* Utter p ^djlu^

Bat,

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C i; Tbe Hifiory of Chioa. 303

The laft artificial curiofity we ftiall mention, and dofe Fire-
this fcftion with, is their furpriling fire-works, in which wflrii^
they may be juftly faid to exceed ail other nations. We have
already taken notice, that this was the chief ufe they made
of gunpowder, which they had among them many centuries
before it was found out in Europe ; and that they were wont to
exhibit thefe fire-works at their foiemn feflivals, and other

End occafions, and in a great variety of figures and repre-
tanons. What increafes the wonder, is, that they give all
that imagery not only its true form and fliape, but natural
colour. Thus Magaillan relates, that he faw one of them,
with tio fmall delight and furprize, which reprefented a idnc- »

arbour, that burned without confuming, the root, branches,
leaves, and grapes, of which, burned, but by flow degrees,
and all in their true fhapc and colour ^ ; the grapes were red,-
the leaves green, and the ftem and branches fo curioufly imi-
tated nature, as to have deceived any fpeflator. And, fince the
late peace hath occafioned fo great a variety of them in feveral
parts of Europe y^ our readers will not, perhaps, be difpleafed,
if we give them a (hort defcriptlon of one, which the late
Emperor Kang-hi caufed to be played off, for the diverfioQ of
his court, from the account of thofe mifEonaries who be- ^
longed to his train, and were prefent at it.

* Magaillav, Martini, Le Compte, & al.

But, after all, we much que- heard at a much greater diilance

ftion whether their boring holes than one made of ever fo hard

on the top of theirs be not done wood, is what every one will

with the lame defign that t|iey readily erant ; but which of the

prefer wooden to iron clappers, two will give the mod melodi*

n)i%, to fweeten ' and ennoble ous and agreeable found, at a;

the found, rather than increafe nearer approach, wefhall readily

its lottdnefs ; and whether their leave to the reader to conjedlure*

ca(ting them fb much thicker All that needs be added on this

at the bottom than at the top head, is, that the Cbinefe have

do not very much contribute a cuftom of giving .pardeular

to that foiemn melodioafnefs names to thofc large bells, not,

of their tone, which Father indeed, that of he or fhe faints,

Magaillan {6 much admired, as thofe of the church of Rome

but which his brother Jefuit do, but of a more trivial im«

mjudidoufly mifcalled a dull port : thus, of the feven above-

lieaVy noi/e, becaufe it did not mentioned at Fe-king^ one is

anfwer to the loudnefs of thofe called the Hanger^ anothei; the

of the fame fize, which he had flyer y a thurd the Eater ^ a fourth

heard in Europe, That a metal the Sleeper, ^and fo pn (82).
hammer, or clapper, ^will be

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304 f*^ ti^oty of China. B. L

A nohk It began by fetting fire to half a ddzen qrllnders, : which
mu pitted were planted in the earth, and fpouted flames into the air,
^Jf ^' and, at the height of twelve feet, fell down again, in a kind
mmi. of pjden or firey rain. This was followed by a fort of bomb*
cart, fuppot^ted by two ftakes, or pillars, from whence pro-
ceeded a ft>ower of fire, intermixed with many knthoms,
which had fentences written on them« in large charaders, of
the colour of burning fulphnr,^ and half a dozen of branched
tandkfticks, in form of pillars, confifting of feveral, rings of
light, one above another, which caft a whitifli or filver-co-
loured flame, and, in a moment, turned night into day. At
length the emperor, with his own hand, fet fire to the whole
machine, which, in an inflant, appeared all in a blaze, and,
being eighty feet long, and forty in breadth, difplayed a very
great variety of objcfts, and other curious fcenes. The flame
having foon after cau^t hold cf feveral poles and paper
figures, placed on all fides, a prodigious quantity of fquibs
flew up into the ahr, and a miildtude <rf branches and lant-
horns, fuch as we have elfewhere defcribcd, were lighted all
over the place. The flicw lafted abcxit half an hour longer;
and, from timetotime^ there appeared*, in one part or other,
fkmes of a bluifti or violet colour, in the form rf bnnches of
grapes hanging on a vine-arbour ; which, joined to the bright-
nefs of the lights, that (hone like fo many blazing ftars, yielded
a mofl delightful profped to the fpeAators **. 1

^ ^ s E c T. vn.

Of fame remarkaUe Difiafis which reign among At
Chinefc, and their Manner of curing them y Mr
hoafted Skill in Pulfes^ Phlebotomy^ Cuppings Cat-
Urijingy Inoculating^ and treating the Small-pox \
and Method of EictraHing of the Camphiri from tht
Tree of that Name.

Dtfeafes^ T[T wepe an endlefs tafk to go through the bare mention of

end their **• the various difeafes, which muft be fuppofed to reign in

mtthodof fo vaft and extenfive an empire, and through -fuch a great

turing^ difierence of climates and countries, or of then: methods of

curing them, which differ more or lefs in every province, and

ftlmoft in every prccinft, notwithflanding the vaft multitudes of

bocjcs which have been pnbllfhed among them upon that ample

febjcft. We hare already had occafion to hint what wretched

phyficians and furgeons the gena-ality of then- praftHxtioner?

' Dv H^^di; yoL ii« .p. 292. & feq.

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A^i. fi€ Hi/hry of CKma. 305

of cither of thofc ufeful branches arc, for want of better fldll
in anatomy and natural hiftory '. They might, indeed, hxvt founded
made a much grater progrefs in both, fince the coming of the; chiefly
Europeans among them, if they could have overcome thdr ^P^ •**
natural reluftance to every kind of foreign learning, as •^ell-^'^*^'**^
as their extreme averfion to the difle^Ung of human bodies,
for the fake, as they flyle them, of a few paultry difcoveries
in the animal oeconomy, which may be more furely and co*
pioufly attained by experience and obfervadon, by a thoroush
knowlege and underflanding of, and due attention to, the pul&y
and other fymptoms and prognoftics leading to them ; in all
which branches, they pretend a knowlege hx exceeding that
of s^ll nations of the world.

Ik this perfuafion, they are contented to go on inthcir old Prefer '
beaten traft ; and how much foevcr our theory may exceed gentle me^
theirs, it will be well if their praftice, uppn examination, didnesand
doth not prove more fafe and agreeable than ours, whilft they*'^''^^*^^*
draw the main part of their medicinal afliftance from the long
experienced virtues of the vegetable kind, from, gende purga-
tives, emollients, alteratives, and other ialubribus remedies,
calculated to ftrengthen, rather than fatigue and weaken, the
fbmach, to aiBil and invigorate nature, rather than to ftorm
and endanger it : and, it muft be owned, that they have
fome very expert practitioners in this excellent way, as well
as the greateft plenty and variety of medicinal plants and
roots, exaftly fuited for that purpofe, rf any nation in the
world. They are, indeed, feldom, if ever, troubled with Why free
rheumatifms, gout, ftone and gravel, and other chronic dif-y^m ehret"
tafes, which feem to require a ftronger re^men ; and this is »'^ ^f'
pardy owing to their confknt ufe of thofe noble diluters and ^^^^
purifiers of ^ blood, their green and bohea tea, and pardy
to their frequent chewing of ghin-feng, rhubarb, and other
phyfical roots ^, But, were they fo, we much queftion whe-
ther they would not ftill prefer their gende, though flow,
.method of curing theip, to thofe 0/ aquicker, butmore violent
mature. The misfortune is, that their very beft and moft T'l^/r/i^
^approved phyfical books do. commonly clog every receipt and ficaicom^
.remedy with fuch mixtures of roots, leaves, feeds, gums. He. pfffi^^*
jprefcribe fo many rules and, puoftilio's, in the choice, weight, ^ ^i

5uantity, and preparation, of them, as make the P^o^^^tu^'
ifficult and tedious ; fo that the far greater part of thdr'^'^*
very praftitioners; are quite difcouraged from following of
them, though the whole ftrefs o£ then: fiicccfs, according to

■ See before, p. 194, & feq, ^ Vide Li Comtts, Da

.Halds, Sc al. fup. cicat.

^ Mod^Hist; Vol. VIII, U thdt

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^o6 The Hifiory tf Chkia. B. f.

tiielr antfaorSy feems to depend npon a fcmpnlous obfervation
of every rule, und minute circumftance, and chufe rather at
til hazards to follow their own experience ; which they may
the more &fely do, as thetr medicines are all of die gentle
kind.
Pretended, NEXT to the knowIq;e, and due mixture and preparation,
Jkiilin of xhax materia medico^ they Ukewife challenge a fuperior
f^fi'* (kill m the puUc above all other nadons ; and pretend to judge
exa^y of die kind and degree of every difeafe, what part of
the body, cither inward or oiitward, is afidfted, whether it
be curable, or no; and, if the latter, ho'ttr many days, weeks,
Various OT ycars, the padent may linger under k. They make a
firttof pardcular difference between thepulfeof a m^n, atidof-a
thm. voman ; between that of perfons of tall or flibft ftature.
corpulent or lean ; between that of youth, imddle, and old
$^ ; between that of one feafon of the year and another,
^)edally fpring and autumn, fummer and ^nter. Th^ vsh
fietv of puUes they diftiugoiifh by fundry odd names, as- wd
as thofe wfakh are caofed by the natuiie di the diftemper ; -tiiftt
is, not by the obvious ones of quick and ^xs^^ weak and
Anong, and die like, but bf fuch candng ones, if our author^
have righdy tranflated, as ar^ only underftood by diemfelves.
. Thus they ftile one fort ^t fuperficial^ another the JHJirig^
they&ur, xhttremubuSf the roUing^ the /catfered, the le^
ingf Jwimnungy ehuUient^ and many others of tbe like (enfe
emd man- «ad import. They do not content ihemfidves with api^jinfi
mr^ffiel* their fingers to the wrift, without diftinftfon of rirfrt and
i»gtb$nu igft;^ between which theyfuppofe another material difference,
but move them from one pArt of the body to another, ac^
cording as they find them more or lefs affected with the diC>
cafe : if it be the heart or liver, they feel the wrift of the
left ; if the flomach or reins, that of the right. They dwdl
•a cottfiderahle time upon it, and at different dmes, in order
to difcover, as near as poffible, every irr^ularity in the pul-
tons, bdbre they venture to give their judgm^t, or adml-
. ' ' mfter any medidne to the patient''.

Itukifir They likewife pretend to fix the right number of dales
j}^^ . Ae puUc ought to beat, between every refpiration, in a per*
^ff^^^ fon that is in full health, v/z* four, or, at nioft, five duHJI;
ibin^. jf above that, they infi;r fome diforder to be in the bo^,
greater or lefs, according to the number of beats ; if fix, \
jdenoles jonly ibme flight indifpofidon'i if feven or eight, tfa^

^' Du Halde, vol: ii. p. 184, & fcq, Le Comptb, Nav4*

J^LaTT^i & ^- f«P- citac.

jjadge

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C. t. Tbi Hifiory 9f Ci&m. I67.

judge the diftemper proportionaUy dangerous ; and, if above
that numbery mortal.

Thet obfervc a multitude of other formal ceremonies^
imd punflilious niceties, both in the difcovering the root»
ifeaty and dq^ree, of a diilemper, as well as exa<^ a great
nomber of others from their patients^ which it would be
tedious to mendon ; efpecially a& there i? fo much reafon to
queftioQ their fo much boaAcd Ikill In botany and pulfe, apd
whetlncr the tenth part of their theory or practice be really
foondedy as they pretend, upon reafon and experience ^ ; efpe- Mrohfy
dally when we coinfider, that the bads of both Is laid chiefly w ^afito/
oa a thorough knowlege in affarologv; and that, according ^^^>/ib*
to diem, there is no part of the body, .no fpecies of the ve-^*^*
getable^ mineral, or animal kind, but what are under the
influeiKe of fome plaiiet, fign, or conftellation, whofenatur^
▼irtaes, jjdaces, periodical times, and other fuch whunfi^I
drcumfiances, muft be diligently confulted, before any vege*
table can be gathered, or any medicine applied with any. fuc<-
cds: Infomuch that thdr almanac-makers were obliged to Times fir
msLck out the iMX>per day$ and times for blieeding, purging, BUedingp
fweatii^ ire* as well as for plandng, fowing, reaping, jour- f^^g^
neying, and other fuch fuperftidous fooleries, till that care was ^^; ^^^*
tamed over by the emperor JT^wg-W to fome of the learned Je- '^'* *^'^^
(iiitSy who, on that very account, declined the talk (A), till ^^■""•^»

that

* Da Haldb, vol. li. p. 1B4.
iral. fup. citat.

LS COMPTB, Navarbtta^

(A) Theyexciifedtbemfclves,.
we are told, to the emperor,
ftQm having any hand in thefe
almanacs, though much better
qualified for it than the Chi-
nefti not Only on account of thcT
ridiculoufnefs of the afholdgical
roles and obferTacions of |^od
and bad, lucky and ualucky
days, which were always care-
ffllly inierted in them, bat like-
wife becaufe fuch kind of fuper-
ftitions, which were incontiltent
with their religion, might be
impn^d to them. To this the
emperor replied, That is not
what I de^ of you, and you
Audi be excufed from that part ;
aeidief do- 1 give any more cre-
dit to diofe lidiculotts wh^m^es.

than yoa: I require nothing of
you but what regards the kalea»
dar, and hath relation to aftror
nomy.

After fuch a declaration, they
Had n6thiQg taiore to obje6(f,
and were obliged to comply %
but as tkey forefaw, that the
Chinefe would not be contented
with f«ch maimed produdtionb
from the obfervatory, and that
the pretended defed would be
fupplied from other hands, they
took particular care to pr6teft
agaii^, and condemn, foch fu-
perditious foolerie&i b^cauf&h^*
man a6Uons could in no refpe^
xlepend on the infioetice of the
ftars, but only on the wHdtom
by which tkcfv were condiid-

U 1 ed.

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30 S 'The Hijiory of China. B. I.

that monarch had confented to their leaving all the aftrolo-

gical trafli out of them * ; which yet doth not hinder others

from ftilj fupplying that fuppofed defeft,

Circula- We have formerly obferved, that the circulation of die

tion of thi bipod was known to them long before the coming of the Eu*

blood ropeans among them ^. Their old phyfical bocrits make frc-

known. (^tnt mention of it, thongh without pretending to account

how it is performed ; ncverthelefs they are very fparing of

thcufe of phlebotomy, unlefs in cafes of abfolute neceffity ;

and even, then they take care to make but a very little orifice,

and. let but a very fihall quantity of blood at a time, feldom

Way -of above the value of half a poninger. Thofe who have no

hUtding. lancets, will make their incifion with any other jfharp tool,

or even with a brpken piece of china. They apply n6 tandag'?

pr Knen over it, but only fprinkle the orifice with a few

grains of fait. They.ufe, in fome particular cafes, another

\vay of bleeding, which may be called acupunfture, or prick-

^ ing feveral holes on the part affeftcdwith a large needle: but,

' ais this curious invention was brought to them from JapaH^

* we (hall defer the farther defcription of it till we come to

/ ' * {peak of that ejnpirp, ^where that operation is performed in

much greater perfeftion,
CarfMcaA.. ',. The Chinefe in;geaeral attribute the greater parts of th«r
colics, aches, and other diftempers, to the malignity of fore
ftagnated and corrupted winds which breed in the body, atd
yi(bii?b they encka^jour, to draw away by topical application,
fuch as the acupunftion lafl mentioned, cupping, or, if thofc
fail, by cauterifing the part affected. TherS is one diftemper
very common and dangerous among the lower clafs of people,
bccaTioned, as is fuppofed, by the badnefs of their diet ;
which at firft feizes the ftomach and bowels, and caufes into-
lerable gripings ajad vomitings, and other inward pains and
Convulfions; and, if aot timely removed, throws the patient
Cauttrife- .iato a profound letl^u-gy, or atrophy. In this cafe, their
ingtn the ^xMjunon method is, fio apply a red-hot iron bullet near enough
Mhorn j^ j^ f^;^ ^ jjjg fgg^ j^ j.^.f^ ^ \m.tx. If the patient

^^ ^^^' becomes fenfible of the- pain, they withdraw the bullet, and
he commonly recoter* foon after ; but if he continues fenfe-
iefs, they apply it dofer and dbfer, jtill the flefh is burnt tvp
to the very bone.

^ Du Ha-lde, vol.ii. p. 133, & al. <^ See bcfoit,

f.ic)4, &feq.

^. "" . '

^- /Which precaution the em- well as the manner in which
perw h^ly . commended, as theyexprcfled themfelves (i).
V : ..... /i; Du Amide, 'mli^ ^. 133. £1^/. ft6>,

Tfli

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C I . The Hijfofy of ' Chi na. ' 309

The nfe of clyftcrs might prove of excellent ufe to them- Amerfiun
in feveral of their colicky ailments, but that was wholly ud- *• cljfiirs^
known to them. The Portuguefe of Macao tried to intro-
duce it among them, but without fuccefs ; the fhinefe being,
oa the one lund, too averfe to all European novelties to ad-
mit of it, and, on the other, affWHng too great a degree of
modefty to give it any better name than that of the barba^
rim retnedy, which is that which it goes by all over their
country.

There is hardly any nation in the world, among which Difiemfen
one naay fee a greater number of purblind and quite blind •/ the eya
fijlks, or a greater variety of diftempers of the eyes. This is/reque^tt.
commonly attributed to the quantity of rice confumed among
them at their daily meals. Whether that graiUi which In
other refpefts is fo friendly and nourifliing to the body, have
any fnch pernicious cSe£k upon that curious and moft valua-
ble part of it, or whether it be not rather owing to fome
other caufe hitherto unknown, and particularly to their drink-
ing fo much of it dUlilled and burnt, which may probably
affeft the eyes, as much as it is found to do the throat and
fwrallow g, we will not pretend to determine.

Among the great variety of diforders in the eyes, we (hall AJingular
fingle out a very extraordinary one, which is very little, if inftana of
at all, known in Europe^ but is very common all over China ; ^ j.^J^*
the natives g^ve it the name of Ki-mung-yen, which, in their ^'y . ^*
language, implies, according to our author •*, a darkncfs in ^ ^^^*
the eyes, like that which is natural to fowl and poultry, by
which they pretend to explain the caufe, but doth by no means
come up to it, this laft being only a heavinefs of the cyefids,
occafioned by the abfence of the fun's rays ; whereas the dif-
. temper we arc fpeaking of, and which EtmuUerus calls NySfa'
lopia'i, doth not confift iii a bare dimnefs of fight morniqg
and evening, but in an almoft total darknefs during the whole
night, not to be removed by any artificial light, whilft the
pticnt ejyoys a perfeft fight all the reft of the day, Jn the
ai^t, the flame of a wax-candle, brought near him, appears
lite a large and dim globe of fire, without enabling him to
difcover any other objeA dther near or diftant : in the day-
time he fees every thing as dHtinftly as thofe who enjoy a
perfeft fight. We flxall not trotible our readers with the va-
rious conjeftures of the learned concerning this periodical
focceffionof light and darkqefs, but only fubjoin thie method
of cure wWch the Chuuje dodlord vf^ik& ufe of, and which,
'",.-.» ♦

• Scetbifwe, p^ zSo^fubmit. c* J>fi«tft^coi»L»« in Let. edff.
fpLxxiv. p. 130, & ftq, i Vid. & Dift. Art. k Scicnt. in voc.

U 3 from »

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310 ^te IBfiory 0f Chiiwu B. L

fircm theiaftaaces whidi our author gives asi appears to us ta

))e eflfeAual; the receipt of which is as follotirs :

Ji9n» Take thfe gall of a black-headed ewe or wether* cut it

ovvA {rom the liver* not with an iroa, but a iharp bamboe knife ;

ftrip it of its nerves* pellicles, and filaments* and fprinkk

It over with falt-petre ; wrap up the whole drfe in a leaf of

t^enubar^ and ftew it oyer a flow fire in a propordonaUc

qus^ntity of wat^r : let the patient keep ftirring it all the time*

holding a flieet fprcad over his head, to keep in the fleam

Irom evaporating* but that it may be all recdved by him at

the nofe and eyes ; which will caufe the latter to run* and bf

that means diuiiarae the morbific matter, and qpm^te die ^

cure. Some advi(e the drinking of the Uqucnr in which the

^all is dewed ; and others pretend chat the patient will be

' cured without it, and even tbons^ the ewe or wether's head

were of any other colour than Uack, bur all agree that the

fumigation is the chief caufe of the cure ^.

The reader may fee in the author laft quoted* and in Du

JJalie^ feveral curious extraAs out of the Chinefe phyfical and

• botanic books ^ for which we have not room in a. work of

this extenfive natnre, and which, at the beft* would prove

Jnocuh" agpreeable but to few of our readers ; We (hall therefore con*

tion afthe tent ourfelves with fclefting two of the moft curious and re-

(mUji^x. markable ones out of them ; vi«. th^ir method of inoculating,

or, according to their own more fignificant term, Tchung-teou

(B), q{ /owing thefmall-pox\ and the defcription of the fit-

moos

> Deutrbcollis, ubifup, ' Hift. of China, volii.

p. 183* $c feq. 212, & feq. ic alib. pafT.

(B) The verb Tchung, we arc culating, may likewife be in aH

told, properly fignifies to (bw, prpbabilicy (aken fromtheirine-

an4 te9Uf Of teoo, is the name thod of commumcatine it,whkh

they eive to tbe fmall-pox, and is not by inJefHon of the poi. as

>to a miall eadne pea they have ours is, but by bkwinf toe

among them r io that it is pro^ fmall quantity of the pow^ of

, bable this name might at ^rft be a dried puftute into the aoMb

pven to that diibmpjur on ac^ of the padents. The M hbt

count of the likcnefs df the of it, it isf«ppofed» wstsfcea

paftules It raifes on the Ikin to from the violent itdbiag iadtit

the coh>ar and figure of that part, which was obferved to be

fmall pcdfe, there being Ho ^f- the foremnner of that difieopcr

ference either in the writing ot in children; from which they

, pronoancmg of that word. - rightly inferred, that the place

The teAi fowing, which they where the firft feeds or (ymp*

ifeia&ea4^ grafting aadriilo* «mu of it appealed a^^be

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e. 1. The Hift$ry tf Omz. 311

viOQs caxnpbire-tree, the method of exuaAii^and pniifyiofl
its gum^ together with the various virtues they attribute both
to that, and to the wood Jtfelf.

That the Chinefe had the art of inoculating the fmaU-pox» Known In
in order to prevent the di'eadful havock which that diftcmper China,
made among them, long enough before we knew any thing W/r«i«*
of it in Europe^ or in dl probability the Armeniam at Can^ ^O' ^^
ftantinople^ from whom we firft received it, is eiddent from ^
their J)hyfical books which treat of that diftcmper, and of tkwi '"'*
propereft methods of communicating and curii^ it, and vin-
dicate and recommend it as a moft (afe and beneficial difco*
very. » •

This lafl circumftance, joined to the great vogue which, k
hath gained throughout the empirej^ may be looked upcxi ^
a fb-ong prefumption that the Chinefe were the firft authors
of it (C), it being quite contrary to the maxims and practice

the propereft place for fowing
them in other peribns, and the
moftlikelv to convey it with
cafe and ipecd into the reft of
the body (3).

(C) $ome of our Eng^/^vm^
ters,wlio received the Srft news
of this Bf w method from Cm-
ftimtsMopUf and other parts of
the Othman empire, where it
was pra£ii(ed only by a few Ar-
mnnans about the 1 7th century,
have imagined that they had
brought it from fome of the
coumriei adjacent to the Caf-
fioM fea; which conjecture, if
^nie, mi^ht incline one to be-
lieve, that the (Mneft mi^
likewife receive it from thofe
parts by the means of the fame
Armenian caravans which have
traiicked into that empire a
confiderable number of years :
bac'if we take in the account
^R^lick the Qnnik themfehres
^veof it, it will oe much more
ynlable that both the Amu^
ffMw^aod thole coondiea thro*

which they travelled, had it ori-
ginally from them.

But it is kardly credible that
thofe tartaric nations about th^
Cajpian fhould have the leaft no*
tion of £0 vatoable a fecret, who
knew not fo much as how to
fence againft that diftemper, and
were wont, upon the£rft ap[>eas-
ance of it, to^ flee from it ai
from the moft dreadful pefti-
lence, abandoning their neareft
relations, when once infected
with it. Add to this, that if the
difcovery of it had been brought
by the caravans of thofe parts
into theC^iir^ empire, the pro*
vince of ^^#i^-/» which is con-
tiguous to it, muft have had it
before that of iQMm^-««», which
is iituate on the fouth-weft of
it, and is that where the Cbine/e
affure us the author of the difco-
very then lived ; fo that, every
thing duly weighed, we may
venture to agree wiA that au-
thor (4) in giving the credit of
that uieful difcovery to theC^«
liquation.

Cl) DtmntUhkin Imrtt MiMHt\ vU, xi. p, 306, & ftf. (i) U. iM*

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3t? i}>e Hiftory of China. B,I,

of that polidc nation to admit, at leaft with fuch xcal and
readincfs, any new arts or inventions, how promifmg and
ufefui foever, much lefs fo uncertain and dangerous a one as
this muft appear at firft, which comes to them by the hands
By nuhom^ of ftrangers. Accordingly their books tell us, that the fijft
tfWwi&^Tf.iJifcovercr of this new. method flouriftied in the province of
Kyang-nan, near the frontiers of Kyang-Ji; and that it began
to grow in vogue about the latter end of the dynafty of Mwg,
or about 120 or 130 years ago.
Its great But that which gave it the greatcft reputation and autho-
/uccs/i in nty, was the great ferwcs it did afterwards in Tartary, about
Tartary. the year 1724, whither the emperor fent fome of the moft
expert proficients to cxercife it upon the children 6f his Tar-
tarian fubjefts, kxnotkg whom the fmall-pox was looked upon
as the worft of all peftilential difeafes ; infomuch that when-
ever any of them, whether qld or young, were attacked with
it, cvery-body, even his n^areft relations, fled from him, and
left him to take his chance, either to die of it, or, which
feldom happened, to overcome It by the help of a Ilrong con-
ftitution. '

Prtcoura. ANOTHER motive which induced that excellent monarch
'gtd By the ^ ^ake this precaution, was the dreadful havock which it
emferor. made among not only his pandees, and other officers, who
brought from thence the ufual tributes and presents to him,
but likewife among the merchants who came thither to traf-
fick, as foon as they arrived at Pe-king^ which is feldom
free from that diftemper ; fo that few of them efcaped being
feized with, and mbft of them of being killed by, it.

Those phyficians, according to his orders, foon went and
difperfed themfelves into feveral parts of Tartary ; where
they, by their prudent care and management, had fuch fur-
prifmg fuccefs, that they returned fome years after laden wirfi
the moft valuable conunodities of that country, and became
immenfely rich, and in high efteem at that .prince's court,
who, we may be confident, did not fail of encoutaging fo
ufefui and beneficial a difcovery. But it is time now to give
our readers an account of their method of proceeding in it»
as it was, not without great difficulty and fecrefy, communi-
cated to our auti^or by fome of thofe phyficians then attend-
ing the court™ (D). ,

Pro-

" DentrecoIles, ubi fup. vol. xx. p. 315, & feq;

(D) There were three of account of his Qiethod; the £rf
thofe phyficians who were pre- of whom, though the. moft con-
vailed upon to g^ve him each an cife, hath given as explicit and
t fatisfadory

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C.I. Tie Hfjiory of CKma. 313

Provide yourfelf with a good quantity ^of the dried fcales Their me-
which fall of! the bread or back of a young healthy child, be- fhoJ of
twccn one and feven years old, efpecially if he be gone thro* /'•<?f^^^*«X
the fmall-pox in thirteen day?, and the puftules appear to '" ^^•
have been full and clear ; preferve thofe fcales in a china
vcflel clofely flopped with wax, by which means they will
keep good a whole year ; whereas leaving them expofed to
the leaft air would fpoil them in a fev/ days : let the child,
on whom you defign to inoculate the fmall-pox, be at leaft
a year old, and in full health, and his body be rightly and 1
duly prepared by proper medicines. If the fcales you have Convffflk
for ufc be fmall, take four of them ; if large, only two % difettfe Sy
and put between them about a grain of muik, and wrap up thenoflrils^
Ac whole in fome fine cotton, in the form of a tent, which
you fliall thruft into the left noflril, if it be a boy j and in
the right, if a girl ; taking previous care that the future of
the child's cranium be well clofed, and that the bod^ be nOt
inclined to a loofenefs, or any ailment which is contrary to the
operation. If after all thefc cautions, the puftules do not
appear in three days after the fever hath begun to ftiew itfelf,
ften 00c may fafely promife one's felf ^hat dght or nine in
ten will go through it with fafety, and do well after it ; but
if they put forth on the fecond day after the fever, it is z
queftion whether one half of them, and, if oh the firft day^
whether any of them, will outlive it. .

Thus far the firft phyficians ; from whofe account, though
fliort, one may ftill fee what wile precautions they take ia
every ftep of their progrefs. As to the mixture of the muflc Mujk/whj
with the fcales which are put into the nofe, it may perhaps added t»
appear to us a trifling nicety ; and fojne authors t«U us, that thefcaUs.
they ufe no other ceremony than that of blowing the pow»-
dered fcales into the child's noftril through a funnel <Mr comet :
but this can be at beft but a ftovenly way, and ufed only

fatisfaflory one as oar readers of them unknown, and of little

wodd care to read. The other or no ufe to us in the like cafes ;

two differing in no eiTencial part for thefe reafons, and to avoid

of the procefs, but having only necdlcfs repetitions', we fhalb

added fome further minute di- only add fuch material direc*

re^ons and receipts towards tions oat of the two laft, as the

preparing the patients, and pro* firit had omitted in his ; and re-

jnoting the procefs of the ope- fcr thofe of our readers, i^dio

ration; but which confill on- are defirous to be more fully

I7 of feme compofitions , of acquainted with the Chinefe piau

plants, and other drugs, moii £lic«, to theaathor ]^mfelf,(5)^

.1 ' ^

^ (5) Dentrecollti, uii fiff, /. 320— 361*

among

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314 The mfUry of Chi|^ R Ir*

among the poor vulgar ; for, befides its carrying fiich a great
force with it, as may caufe the nofe to run, and difchar^
the morbiferous powder, if we confider that the ufc of thofe
high perfumes is in great vogue amongft theqi, and enters
into a great number of their phyfical compofiticHis^ k is not
without mature deliberation that they^ apply the mu(k in this
prefent cafe, not only as it b a ftrengthener of the brdn, hearty
fend ftomach, and confequently a promoter of the intended
fecretions ; but as it may, by its balfamic quality, corrcft the
acrimony of the fermentative virus, as well as the naufeouf-
nefs of die efflu^a which arife from the morbific fcales.
AiM>S(r- Yjjg other two doftors are fomewhat diiFufe and intricate,
'^ '**' efpecially the laft, which might be defigncdly done, dther to
^^^y^ difplay his (kill and accuracy, or more prolxibly to perplex a
^r$ctfi. procefs which he rcluftantly communicated to a ftranger,
* and to prevent his reaping any advantage from it. However,
as ndther of them differs from the firft in any of the mate-
rial poiifts above-mentioned, we fhall readily fubjoin what-
ever we nject with in the two latter, that may fervc as a
fupplement or improvement of the former. And,
Profir First, As to the proper time for performing the opera-

ifmifirtt, ^^^ ^^ exclude 6ttreme hot or cdd weather, when the
animal fpirits are either difperfed and exhaufted^ or elfe too
clogged and flagnatea ; and recommend the fpring and aa-
fumn as the fittcft feafon, when they are free, and in full vi-
gour. Upon the farne account they commonly chafe ferenc
and clear before rainy and foul weather ; for we muft remaor
ber, that it is not fubjeft to fuch fudden changes in tboje
countries as it is with us.
f he fcales s Seconi^lt, With refpeft to the (cales to be ufed in th^
whence n> fowing of the diftemper, they prefer thofe that come off Ac
ie taken, ^ack or ftomach before thofe of any other part of the body,
ttpGCtiSHLj the forehead and feet : and as thofe that are receodj
gathered arc apt to convey too great an acrimony into dw
blood, they ulually correft that defeft by holding them fonac
laxnt in a thin gawfe over the fteam of hot water, in wiwi
have been infufed fome flices of liquorice and fcorfonera root J
but thofe fcales which have been kept above a month haveaD
need of this correAive, and may be fafely ufed urithoot it.
ThefatienP THIRDLY, Wkh regard to the treadng of the patient,
htf*w to be they preferibe the £une regimen which is commonif ufed io
j; treated. .^ namral finall-poX; only the laft of the above receipts

I * :adds the admitiifli^ff to die decumbent about two or thiee

^ feales puhrerifed in hM a pint of the broth ca3kd<3unmat «>

be dnmk on the fecond day after the inf€nioa«

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$^i

C I. Th BJicrj of CMm.

If the jpoftules do not appear oa the fourth or fifth day,
dieinorbinc tents muft be taken out» and recourfe be had to
the dofe prefcribed to be taken before the infertion, by way of
preparative^ the compofiuon of which the reader will find in
the mai^g^ (£) ; and which> the third phyfician afiures us^
vnll as ^^ually prcferve die patient from ever having the
diflenper, as if the moculation had had its due efleA; efpe»
dally if the fame be repeated on the fourth^ fifth, eighth^
and ninth, moons after his decumbiture.

This, by what our author could learn, is all the purgative
they ufe by way of prepariM their patients, if the gcntlcnefs
of its operation may admit of that name. Emetics, bleeding,
and other more fivcing remedies, they carefully avoid, left
they (hould debilitate rather than af&A nature, and obflruft
the iecretion and excretion ; inftead of which, when they find Ofium g^
the fever to continue, ai^ no puftules appear, fome of them '^'^ '^
mix a finall quantity of opium with their other medicines, ^^ '^
which helps to reunite the fpirits, and aflifls them in throwing -^^*^*^**
out the morbific virus. Thus hi their method of fowing or
inoculating the fmaU-pox, which, whether more eafy and fafb
than that of conveying the morbiferous pus by indfion or

(£) Take of red, green, and
Uack peas, and fliced liquorice,
of each one ounce J let them all
te finely poonded and fifted,
and put into the hollow of a
piece of pilled basaboe,- leave*
mg the knot at the two ends;
and let them be ^pped very
cloTe with two pieces of fir-
wood, covered ail over with
wax. Sofpend the faid ftick, in
the winter, in the foil of a
A£M-ra»f ,or houfe-of-office, du-
fing the fpace of a month or
two. When tidcen oat, cleanfe
die ontfide thoroughly, and dry
^ powder in the (hade : and
add to every oance of it three
Mafst or three Yenth parts of an
ounce, of ^hc flower Moeitfiy a
kind of ^Id apricot, which
blows only m winter, and bears
IK) ftoit, wdl dried by a fire,
tnd powdered. The doie is
&om one half to a whole Mafs^

or from half an ounce to an
ounce, in proportion to the
child's age ; the whole diluted
in a deco&on of the ftalks of a
^#-ii04,orkind of oblong wild
ffpard, which are &id to have a
dittretic, carminative, and re*
frelhingqaaUcy.

Some Chitufi books give us.
however, a more cleanly, fhort*
and eafy way, of preparine this
medicine^ by boiling all the
above-mentioned ingredients in
an earthen veiTel, till the whole
becomes of a moderate thick*
nefs, and giving it in a double '
quantity ; but whether or no it
will have the fame virtue, we
will not wairant j only our mif-
fionary afiiircs us, that the red

C expel all peccant mattqps
i the heart, the bkck frcNn
the reins, and the grem fi:oai
theftoniach(6)^

(^J 'Otwtlrtcau, wkifwf. f. ^3d| ^fip

punfture,

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'3 1 6 • Tie Hijiory of China. B. L

Jjunfturc, as Is praftifed by the Greeks in Turky, and by our
iir^eons in England^ we will not take upon us to determine ;
much lefs whether it ought to have die preference before the
neir no- natural one. If our reader fhould be defirous to know wliat
iion of the account the Chinefe books give of the latter, we can only tell
natural them, that they feem unanimoufly to agree, that every child
fox. brings the morbific poifon v/ixh him from the womb ; bat

whether it receives it from the father or mother, they are not
agreed ; neither can they give any tolerable account why or
how it difplays itfelf in fuch various fhapes, produces fuch
different cfFefts, and at fuch different and diftant periods of
life ">.
fhe cam- The laft thing we propofed to mention, under this head
fhfri'tru of phyfic, was the famed camphire-tree, their method of ex-
defcribed, trafting and purifying its gum, and the Virtues they afcribc to
it,, as well as to the wood which bsars it. This noble tree, fo
famed for its largenefs and prodigious height, is called by the
Cfnnefe Tchang, and the camphire Which is extrafted from It
Tchang-nao, The account we have of it, and of the Chinefe
way of extrafting and fublimating its excellent gum being
taken from an old Chinefe book, which the emperor Kang-hi
caijfed to be reprinted, with the obfervations of fome of the
.mofl learned and curious virtuofos and literati of the empire,
carries its own authority with it,, and confutes feveral erro-
neous notions we l^i^ of that procefs here in Europe (F) ; for
which reafon wc hope our readers will not be difpleafed to
.have a more clear iatKl authentic account o£ it than they have
hitherto met with, as it hath been communicated to thefe
£«r(?jj^^i« parts by the fame ingenious miffionary, from whom
we had the curious* procefs of the Chinefh inoculadon, men-
*tioned in the preceding article f i
Its vajt . The tree itfejf is of fuch a monftrous fize, that fome of
height W them rife to above 300 feet ; its thickijeft is proportionable to
thicknefs.

« DBNTRBCOLLESy ubi iiip. f Idcjn, ubi fup. vol. xxiv.

p, 406, & feij. .

(F) Amengft th^fe we may inci(ion{7),andt)iatitisbroogbt

reckon that of the famous Mr. crude from thence by theD«/d;

Ltmerjy who aiBrmed the cam- all which is plainly confuted by

phire to diftil from the trunk the more curious accoonc given

and the larger branches of the us by the Clnmfi book abore:

.tree;:aadt^tof £/4ii^/i?ir, and mentioned, as the reader will

others after him, who p^fien^ fee by what follqws.

Ihat it ic drawn from the tree by ^ ^

I
li) Piffipt,^(t,,9f'fSfi4nt'Jniv9c^Cdmik9u

-■ '^ ■ ' ».

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C. I. 7le Hilary of Cbint. 51 7

it, info^uch that 20 men can hardly embrace its tnTnk. The
branches fpread a conliderable way ; and the wcx)d, which is
very hard and durable, is of Angular ufe for the conftruftipn
of large (hips, aS well as for other more curious pieces of
joinery, by reafon of the beauty and gloflinefs of its furface,
and the great variety of its veins. Their texture is fo tena-
cious and clofe, that it is very common to fee many of them
above 300 years old. ^ ^

They neither yield their fine gum by diftiUadon nor by f be gum
incifion ; an operation fo eafy, and well known among the h(yw ex* ^
Chinefcy that, if it could be got by that way, they would rea- traded,
dily adopt, as they do with regard to the fir and other re-
fmous trees, preferably to that tedious and difiicult one which
they are obliged to take to extraft it fix>m this ; and which is
as follows ; They take fome of the neweft branches, and faw
them acrofs in thin flips of aboui an inch in thicknefs 5 and
thefe they chop again into fmall fguare bits, and' foak them
three days and thite nights in well-water^ by which time they
are fuJflBciently macerated to be fet a boiling on a moderate
fire. They fUr them all the while, with a &: flick, till they
have yielded their gummy juice, which is eafdy known by
its flicking like a white jelly to the fir-flick : they then flrain pereoktedp
the whole, taking fpecial care that none of the faeces, or other
filth, be intermixed with it ; and pour it gently into an earth*
en vefTel well varniflied, in which they let it fland and cool a
whole qight, and on the morrow is found the camphire coa-
gulatec^ into a mafs or cake.

This mafs is afterward purified or fuhlimated in the fol- purifad^
lowing manner : They take a bafon or flattiftx ve(rel-..of red ^«^y«*&"
coppery and put into it a layer of the pulverifed earth of ^•^^^^^
fome old mud wall, and over that one of the mafs ; they add
a fecond, third, and fourth, layer of each, and cover the
whole, firfl with a frefh layer of the leaves of the plant Po^
or penny-royal, and this with another copper bafon of the
fame bignefs, turned upfide-down upon the firfl; and fo
flrongly cemented together, that none of the effluvia can eva-^
porate through the joining, which, would otherwife mar not .
the procefs. The firfl bafon being thus filled, and clofely . ^

covered, is fet on a moderate fire, which mufl be neither too
fierce nor too flack, and care be taken that the cement be the *
cracked by the heat, or any accident ; and, after having been
a fufficient time on the coals, which is moflly gained by expe-
rience, it is taken off, and left to cool'; and, upon parting
the two bafons, the camphire will be found incruflated ana
fublimat^, flickmg on the top and fides of the uppermofl
one* If the fame experiment be repeated in the fame manner '

twice

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jiS Tbe iiift9ry of O&cau HI

fht •firo' twice or three times, each operation will yidd a frefli qmn-
tionre* tity of the fame odoriferous gum. Thefe muft likewife be
/r«tf«/ put between two earthen veifels, well dofed together with
cement, or with wet paper, to ftop all evaporations ; and be
fet upcm a moderate fire, in order to make it fit for nfe ;
and, when taken ofT and cooled, the camphire will be foand
in its utmoft perfection, and ready for all ufes.
IThetherk ' Jt is not unlikely, omtinues our Jefuit, that Iboie expert
m^ not It Suropean chemift/ who could procure a quantity of thofe re-
ikm in a Cent branches, might find out a more eafy and expeditions
fwVi/r way of extrafttog this valuable gum from it% and fublimate-
^^* ing it to the fame d^ee of perteftion ; and yet it b no le(s
plain, that the Chlnefe are neither ignorant of, nor averfe to,
a (horter way, fedng they can fublimatc even mercory be-
tween two well luted common crucibles ; fo that they moft be
fuppdfed to have fome crounds for keeping up to this more
laborious procefs, in order to have it in its true purity and
perfeAion ; though, from the notion of Lemtry^ and odiers,
of its bdng brought crude and foul from thence into Holland^
one may e^dv conclude, that they do by it as they do by
their tea, ana other commodities ; and dther extraft it in a.
more flovenly way, or adulterate it with (bme heterogeneoas
mixture ; the cakes of it, which are brought from thence by
the Dutch^ or perhaps rather by the Batavian natives, who
commonly trade thither, appearing as if they were caft in tha
nd of a porridge-pot. However, it is plain they make ftifE-
dent quantities of the purer fort for thdr own ufe, fince it
bears no higher a price at Pe-king than about 2d. fer ouncey
and is fUll cheaper in the difbnt provinces, from whoice they
Tte dnUe foch it. There is moreover a double advantage in extn^ng
4uhjaH' It in the tedious manner above-mentioned ; the one is, that
iages of it may be done at all feafons of the year, whereas there conld
ibis long be but one feafon for doing it by iodfion 5 the otiier, that
^^* the lopping oflP the branches dotii not hurt the tree like the

wounding of it ^.

FirtMis of The virtues the Chinefe book above-mentioned attributes to

the cam- the camphire are various. It is of an add and warm nature,

f^*'^' and in no adfc prejudicial or hurtful; it helps to* carry offthe

phlegm and flime from the ftomach and bowels ; it purifies

the olood from filth, and reftifies the cfiforders which are

caufed by cold and dampnefs ; it eafes the moft violent colics,

iand cotera morbus^ loathings and flatnlcncies in the ftomach ;

it cures the itch, fcabs, and other curicuiar ailments ; fixes

■ DiKTaECOLLEs, ubi fop. p. 422, & fcq^ * Id. ibid.

p. 4«4,

I looft

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C. u fU Hijhry of China. . 319

bofe teeth, aAd cleanfes rottea ones ; and is an excellent pre-.
fenradve, as well as an effeftual remedy, againft bodily ver-
mm. Th& wood of it is likewife affirmed to have all the Of$be
wtnesof the gum, though in a much inferior degree, the de- «uW.
coflion of it bring fuccefsfully ufed againft all the abovc-
mendoncd diforders; and* if taken in a lacge quantity, workg
as a gentle emedc, and cleanfes the ftomach and bowels itom
peccant humours. Laftly, and to name no morje, ftiocg^
the fofes of which are made of this wood, cure the
feet from exceffive fWeating, and are a great ftrengthener o^
them. And thus much may fuffice for the virtues of this
tree, and its excellent guifi \ though the Chinefe^ it muft b«
owned, is univcrfafly allowed to be greatly inferior to that
wiiich comc^ from the ifland of Borneo p.

To condude this article, one may fafely fay, that thq
whtfle Ml of the'Cffine/e praftki^oners in phyfic, among
whom the Lamas are reckoned fome of the beft, confifts
chiefly in the knowl€;ge of a .certain- Atimber of plants and
drugs, and the pofieffion of fome Approved receipts, trai^*
mitied as aa ini^i^ritance from fat^i^lr to fon> ;and ^referved
vith die utmoft fecrecy in their famjiied ; and which, if mif {
appBed through inadvertency or ignorance, w;hich is often
iec^ atwl fail of the promifcd 'feitcefs, thofe pretendeis
are w^ at a lofe far fome fpecious cxcufe, by tliix>wing the
Wame either on die weather, the irregularity of the patients,
or the careleflhei& c£ th<^ who.ftttend them : whereas the C$mptat
i^^mx Kang^hi had been fo wdl eiHiwiced, that moft oitreatifeof
thdr mifcarrtages were ow^ng to thcSi' ^ant of (kill in ana- anatony
toay, that he ordered one <rf the beft European treatifes on ^^nfl^^
thatfabjeftto hctmnflated into th&Tartarian language, and i^f^!^-^
adorned with idl the variety rf cuts that were neceffary for i!L^"
iocha worlc, Irhidi were thofe of the famed BartoUnus : all ^^*
which was executed with the utmoft care, under the dir^ion
of Fatker Parrerdtt, and highly admired at court, when
thcworit was comfdeted, that prince, rccolleiting that he
had fi^en, among ciber o£ his rarities, a ftatue about three
&^ high, caft in copper, on which were, as he imagined, all the
ydns aod arteries delineated in their ^r<^per places, he ordered
it to be bit>ught orut, and compared with thofe of the treatife.
To thdr great furprize, they found thofe lines all parallel to
caA xjthor, and almoft all of the fame length, without any
thekaft ref<miblanoeather to veins or arteries, or anfwering
' to their true fituation and number* The ftatue having at
length been examined by two of the experteft phyficians bcr

' DtKiNtscoLLf s, ubi'fup, p. 42S, k fe^^

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jio The Uifiory of China. . B. 1.

longing to the ,palace, they foon found that thofe Hues were

tl^ced on the figure with no other view than to point ou^ the

places that were proper to let blood at, by the operation

lately mentioned, called acupunfture, or by the help ^<x)arfe

^he empe- needles, m cafes of rheumatifm, gout, fciatica, ire. Upon

rorsjudg' Which the emperor told them, that he remembered that there

mentontbehzA been a difleftion of a human body under the forgoing

difeSHon dynafty of Ming, which was the firfl:, if not the only one,

rfcrim- that had ever been made in China : Though, added he, IJbould

■^*^* not be againft' their beifig often repeated on the bodies of crimi-

ftalSf for the fake of the advantages that may be rec^pedfrom

if, provided it were ddne privately, and only in the prefenu

tf phyficians and furgeons ; /> being hut juft . that thofi

ttfretches, who have done fo 'much mi/(:hfef to the public in

their life-time, Jhoiild be doomed'to make fome.ufefid amenJffor

' it dfter^heir death 'i. -But the difficulty -'is,- how to induce

the Chihefe to think in the |aqie juft rpaooer. . .

, • , ., ^ *.'■''' ■■'' .; ' ; '• 'r • .
\ , SECT. VIII.;. ,

yOfjh Origin^ Jnh^uity^ oftd CbrmdUg^y Hffik
Q)xmt{t Nation. /

Origin and \l7E We already, in fome of the for^oii% feftJons*, had
antiquity . occafion to inform our readers, ^t, with regard to
o/'/;5r^ Chi- the account we gave of the origin, antiquity, and fim peo-
neff ^ piling, of the Chinefe natioQ, we contented (»irfelves widi fol-
lowing the moft received opinion, which fuppofes them, as
well as the Tartars, -ta be defcendcd from Magog,, Meflltei,
- \/ . . and Tubal ^ ; and accordingly laid, before our readers afcrics
of the moft material arg^^ments which have hitherto been
> urged againft the hypotheiis of the late leatmed Shuckfori, of
Noah being the fame . with the Chinefe Fo-hi, die founder ti j
that monarchy \ Thefe we endeavoured to fet in the ftrongeft
light,, not fo much as our real opinion, as with a vi^w oi
eK<:iting thereby fome of. Our ingenious dorrefpoiKknt^, ^^hoto
we know to be on the contrary fide of the qneftidn, to cOffi*
municate their thoughts to us on that- curious and fo mttdi
controverted fubjeft, in hopes. of receiving fome fiutber 1^?
from their difcoveries, which might cither corroborate **«-
JIfr.Shuk- plode the general opinion of the learned. Our hopes have
ford'i ar-^O^ heen fruftrated ; and«we dare flatter ourfelves, that'th*
ffumfnt many judicious hints w^c have fince recdyed fix>m a certlia

• ^ Parr^esin. ubi fup. voi. xvii. p. ^86, &:feq. * Seebcr

fore, p. ICO. Sc Antient Hift. vol. xx, p. 109, 8c feq. * l^^^
200, Sc feq. ^ Connexion, part 4, p. 99, fc f^q. .

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C.I. The Hifiiry tf Clanz. 321

quarter have now enabled us to refume the argument In fa-
vour of Dr. Shuckford's fyftem, not only in a manner almoft
intirely new> but backed with fuch fre(h and authentic proofs
as will, we doubt not, appear to every unbiailed reader more
than equivalent to any thing that hath hitherto been ob-
jected againA it, and on that account jufily to deferve a place
m a work like this ; that, by a fair comparuon between them,
every one may be enabled to embrace that fide of the que-
ffioa which appears to him to carry the greater weight. And
this we judge the. more incumbent upon us, as the greater
part of the authorities we (hall produce are fuch as have not
hidierto appeared in public, at 1^ in the clear light in which
they will be found in the following pages, and which we' are
not without hopes jnay afibrd matter for greater improvement
among fuch as are beft verfed in thofe remote andquities : for I^s J^JIem
though we readily own, that the ingenious Dr. Skuck/orcts clogf^
hypothefis, on the foot he hath propofed it, and fix)m the ^ ^^
mcdiod he hath undertaken to prove it, appears (Hll closed ^Jp^^^
with fuch (eeming infurmountable difficulties, as might eafily
deteraune a hafty reader to (rejeA it in the lump (for which
reafon we (hall follow it no ferther than we can plain the
way before it) ; yet if thofe feeming difficulties can be clearly hu nvtkt
removed, and fuch new proofs be broujght, as will make it ap- «rr jw#
pear not only extremely probable and rational, but (which is ««^ /« ^
the mofl important, though difficult, point to carry) cafily '^■•w^
reconciled with, and by fome authendc &61 fhewn to be qtdte
cooMent with, our Hebrew, as well as with the antient Chi*
ne/e chronology ; it is to be hoped that the mutual evidence
yMch jthefe two will be found to refleA on each other will
eaiily oatwdgh all that can be urged againft it, dther on ac*
ocNuit of the newnefs or fingularity of it : and much more
ib, if, by their mutual help and agreement, we (hall be en-
dded to fix the Chine/e chronology, from the very foundation -
of its monarchy, upon a furer bafis than hath been hitherto
attempted, or thought upon. But as this laft is the moft im*
portant point of all, and fitted to precede Immediately the
hifbry of the Chinefe monarchs, we fliall defer it till then ;
wfailft we now go on with the other topics, by which we
intend to fhew the great probability of Noah bdng the fame
with Fo'biy and the founder of the Chinefe monardhy.

This hypothefis (for we will not yet venture to call it by Arguments
affax>nger name) hath been in a great meafure already Qon-ffti^pro'
firmed by various learned pens, by a much greater number ^^^!y ^
of arguments than our defigned brevity will permit us to in- p ^»^
fift on ; for which reafon we Ihall confine purfclres to fuch only ^^.' ^^
as either carry the grcateft weight, or as have not yet been urged ^ f
Mod. Hist. Vol. VIU. X in^ '

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nations*

J22 ^^ tiiftory of China. B. I.

in favour of it by any author." Wc begin with the former ;

which arc as foUow :

Affinity of I. The affinity and analogy of the names ci Noah and

their Fo-hi ; together with other particulars of their hillory, too

nsmis» trite and well known to need a longer detail here, as fome rf

the moft material will come in more properly in the fequel.
WWe CO' 2, NOAH and Fo-hi being contemporary ; a point which
•^aU hath been partly proved by Dr. Shuc^ord''^ but will be more

fully fo under our lad head.
Other re- 3. SEVERAL remarkable particulars which Chinefe hlftory
tnarkahle records of Fo-hi^ and do in a great meafurc agree with thofe
€o-in€i' which Mofei hath related of Noah^ are another ftrongpre-
^'■^* fumption of their being the lame pcrfon (A).
CppoJUion 4. A POURtH argument is the vaft and almoft unhrcrfcl
between oppofition which is found between the Chinefe^ and all other
theChi' the defcendants (rf lNoah\ particularly with r^;ard to their
^^^^ fnd religion, laws, government, learning, arts, cuftoms, 6f. and
It;!!!^ more efpedally Sill with refpeft to their language ^ ; from all
whjthit is'juftly concluded, that they muft have been a dif-
ferent people from thofe who were difperfed foon after the
building of the tower of Babel^ among, whom there ffiU re-
mained a fufficient conformity in all the above-mentioned r^

^ Conneftiony p^ i. p. loz. ^ Bayer Gramm. Sinic. |

ic Mufic. SiiMC. Kercher Chin. lUuftr. Le Compte, Mar-
tini, & al. plur. Web Primitive Language, ShtUckford,
&c.

(A) Thus Fo^hi is affirmed nomenon. 3. Fo-bi is faid to

by the Chinefe to have iia4 tio have carefully bred up feven

father; and iVi^^^^, all whofe forts of creatures, which he ufed

anceftors perifhed by the flood, to facnfice to the fapreme Spirit

being the firft patriarch of the of heaven and earth. iW is |

poftdiluvian world, ftands there affirmed by Mofes to have taken

as if he had no father, no men- into the ark of every cleaa

tion being made of any in the beaft, and foWl of the air, by

Chinefe annals. 2 . Fo-hfs mo- fevens, and to have offered diera

ther is faid to have been im- up a burnt-offering unto the

pregnated by the rainbow ; a Lord (2). LafWy, The Chinfft

conceit mofi probably arifing dcriVe the name of Fo-hi from

from its being given by God as his oblations {%); and Mefis \

a pledge to ^^^ and his poile- gives Noah his name on account

rity (i) J and agreeable enough of the grant which God made

to the imperfed notion which to him in confequence of his

the Chinefe retained of that phac- offering (4) . .

(t^ G^ef.'ix,!^. (2) UU, v\u'%, (3) Ste Murtwif le Ccmpe,

Du Haide, & at. (4) GeneJ, vui. 20, & fef. 5« alfo Antunt tiif- «/• •

.5 ■ fpefti I

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' C i; STfe Hijiory of China.' 323

fpefts to help one to trace them to their common ori^nal :
for if all the difficulties that are raifed againft the pofTibility '
of Noai's leading a colony into China^ and founding a mon-
archy there *, long before his death, can be efFeftually re-
moved, as we hope they will in the fequel, what can he more Noah^-
rationally inferred from this furpriling difference between xhtparates
Chinefe and all other nations, than that the good old patriarch, htm/elf
finding his authority too fmall to deter the greateft part oi\i\& f^om his
dcfcendants, grown by that tune too numerous and untrafta- ^^'^-Sj
ble to be deterred from their deteftable defign of fortifying ^ ^*°®^-
themfelves againfl the power of Heaven (B), .wifely feparated
faimfelf irom them ;~^and, taking as many with him as ab*
horred that impious confpiracy, led them far enough eaftwards
to be out of the danger of being involved in the punifhment
which he had caufe to fear would quickly fall on thofe re-
bellious mifcreants 5 till, by flow and gradual migrations, he
at length reached fome of the northern px>vinces of China.
This fuppofition, which we fhall endeavour to back in the Rgafons
fequel with much ffaronger proofs, will then eafdy ^iCQoxiSLt ivhy the
not only for the vaft difference between the Chinefe and the refl Chinefe
rf the world, but likewife for the Angular contempt they ^fferfrom
have ever had for all other nations ; their interdifting all com- ^J^/^^r
merce and intercourfe with them; their {hutting up the en-'
trance into thdr dominions againft all ftfangers, unlefs by
way of ambaffy ; and then: forbidding their natives to go into
fordgn countries, without the emperor's permiffion, left their
rdigionf, laws, and cuftoms, fhould become corrupted by
ftfch intermixtures. Now, if the impious confpiracy above-
mentioned be allowed a fufficient caufe for Noah's feparating
himfelf and finall colony from the refl of his rebellious off-

« Sec Anticnt HiHory, vol. xx. p. lit, & feq.

(B) It muft be obferved, that whole tenor of the Mofaic ac-

fome commentators and bold count, particularly from his in-

critics have given themfelves troducing the Divine Providence

fome pains, not only to palliate, as exprefly defcending from hea-

but even to commend that a£>ioa ven to view and blaft their en»-

as a very laudable one, and as in- terprifc, that it muft have been

tending no more than the build- of a more malignant nature, and

ing a kind of metropolis, which calculated to defend themfelves

might be as the centre of their againft a fecdnd deluge. But

future empire, and a citadel of this we ihall find a propter

which might be (bong enough occafion to fpeak more fully in

for its defence (5), It plainly the fiequel.
appears, however, from thfe

(S) Vlie Tojht, Piircr, Li Chre, & dl, in Gcmf. xl

X 2 fpring.

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324 The HiJIory of Omz. B.l.

fpring (and a more radopal and laudable one cannot well be
imagined) ; then it will be no longer a wonder that the rdigioo,
laws, government, ire. which he eft^lUhed in his new moa-
archy, which were, without all doubt, the fame -which he
received from the antediluvian patriarchs, fhould be in all re-
fpedls fo oppofite to thofe of a mutinous crew, whom the
Divine Providence had thrown into a ftate of confiifion and
anarchy; and, being difperfed over different parts ctf'thc
world, and fplit into various governments, rather fought how
to enlarge their dominions by fraud and forcey than how to
fettle the old patriaithal religion and government among them ;
for this plainly appears to have been the cafe of all the moQ*
archies which were formed after the general difperfion at Babd^
whilft the empire of China alone, by thdr dofe adherence to,
and improvements on, the old patriarchal maxims of rdi^
and government,, lived in plenty and fecurity, promoted all
' the ufeful arts and fcicnces, and rather ftrove to cultivate
' thdr own territories to the beft. advantage, than to enlarge

them at the expence of their own peace and happinefs. M
to the difference of their language, it muft of OMirfe be ex-
pelled to have been ftiU greater, if we fuppofe Noah and his
colony to have feparated themfelves frwn the reft befiore the
And mofily confiifion at Babel. Accordingly we find fo litde affinity bc-
in their tweeu the Chinefe and thofe tongues that were formed juft bfr
language, f^^^ ^^ difperfion, that it is juftly, and on all accounts, al-
lowed to carry the marks of an uculoubted priority to them ;
io that nothing can be more extravagant tlu^ to fearch out for
any of the roots of the latter out of the former, fedng the
more it differs from all the reft, efpecially as it bears fucfa
vifible marks of i* primitive one, the fairer it bid$ for bciif
that of Noah, and of the antediluvian world.

5. For, if this prodigious difference between the Chinefi

f and all other nations be fuch a flrong argument of their bring

originally a diftinA people from them, as hath been fbllj

proved by the generality of Chinefe writers, and other learned

Re/jfms ^ pens ; and if no properer time or occafion can be probably

/<>rNoahV affigned for this fcparation, than the confpiracy above-men-

feparattng ^^^^^^ ^t the tower of Bahel ^, what other part can we rea-

fromhi f^^^^^Y f^PPofe ^^e good old patriarch to have afted on fncb

defcend' ^ junfture, than firft to ufe all his rhetoric and authority to

ants. diffuade ^nd deter them from it ; and, when he found it to

prove ineffeftual, to abandon thofe wretches to their deftiny,

and fave himfeif, and his fmail number of adherents, from it,

by leading them into fome<rf' the remoteft dimates from thofe

f See Gen. xu 3, & feq.

5 cnrftd

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C. r; Tbe Hiftory of Chinar 32^

curied plains, and fetding them in fome more peaceful abode,
where they might quietly enjoy the fruits of their piety, and
the benefit of his farther inftruftions ? This will at once fuf-
ficiently account for the vaft difference above-mentioned be-
tween his own colony and the reft of his offspring, that is,
for the primidve fimplicity and purity preferved in the for-
mer, and the exceflive depravity of the latter ; and likewif<>
for Mofes's furprifing filence concierning the remainder of the
good old patriarch's life, whofe name is not fo much as men-
tioned by Mofes^ in the fequel of his hiftory, except where
he acquaints us with the year in which he died ; which feems
plainly to imply, that he wholly withdrew himfelf from the
reft of hisdefcendants : for, had he continued ftill among any
of them after the general difperfion, is it credible that the in-
fpired hiftorian would have let him fink fo foon into utter ,
oUimn, whilft he is fo parricular in his account of the mi-
gration^ and fetdements of his three fons, and their numerous
defccndants ? But there may be ftill affigned a more powerful
reafim why Mofes concealed this remarkable particular from
the Jewtjb nation, if not rathdr for God's concealing it from
him ; VIZ. to prevent any intercourfe between thofe two na^
tions, which might in time not only degenerate into a fuper-
ftitious veneration for the fepulchre of that patriarch (for this
feems to be the very motive why the Divine Providence took
fuch care to have that of the Jewifb lawgiver altogether un-
known) t ; but much more ftill to prevent their contrafting
fuch a fondnefs and admiration for the purity and fimplicity
of the Chinefe worftiip, as might infpire them with fome ftrong
and invincible diflike againft the great number of rites and
ceremonies which he, for very wife ends, was going to impofe
upon them.

yi. Another proof that China muft have been peopled China '
by fome fuch early colony as we arc (peaking of, is, that \t peopled *vi^
plainly appears to have been not only inhabited, but very O' *^^h*
populous, much fooner tl^an it can be fuppofed toliave been
by any other rf Noah's defcendants after the general difper-
fion: had any of thefe, whether Tubals Mejbech^, or any
other, been the firft peoplers of the Chinefe empire, as they
are allowed to have been of the north-eaftern parts .of -Tiir-
tary^ confidering the 4engdi and difficulty of the way, and
the flownfefs of their migrations, which were chiefly occa-
fioned through want of room in proportion to their gradual
multiplying, not only the kingdoms mbft contiguous to Shi^

t See Deuter. xxxiv. 6. See alfo Ant. Hift. vol. Ui. p. 444,

X 3* vaar^

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3^6 rbe Hipry, of CKiM. B.I.

• naarr as Babylon, Perjia, &c. but a great number of cpun-
tries to the eaftward of it, muft be fuppofed to havefw^med
''with inhabitants before they could have reached, or at leaft
before they could have tolerably peopled, any of the Chinefe
> provinces; for this plainly appears to have been the cafe of
^ ' . the north-eaftern7ar/^ry, which we have formerly fhewn was
thinly peopled even fo late as the time of Madyes's expeditioa
Their early '^^o JJia *. But that this was not by any means that of CMna,
- mrmies and Other eaftern trafts," may be eafily inferred from that no-
azains ble refiftance which they made againft the prodigious armies
Winus. of Ifinus and Semiramis : for though we fhould, as we juiUy
may, fupgofe the accounts of it to have been greatly exagge^
rated by antient hifloriansS;'^et, as we have no rcafon to
think theni more fo on one fide than on the other, we may
ftill fafely conclude both the invaders and invaded to have
been upon a par ; and that the latter were ftrong and nume-
rous enough to repel the forces of the former, whether or no
they were really fo many as they luve been reprefented. No-
thing, therefore, can fo fully account for thofc remote eaft-
ern parts being fo ^vell inhabited and populous at fuch early
timfes, as the fuppofition of fome fuch colony, whether under
Noah, or any other chief, feparating themfelves from the reft,
cither before or about the time of the difperfion, and march-
ing ftill direftly eaftward, till they fettled themfelves there ia
about a century oir two afier.

How much more than probable fuch a fuppofition is, will
be made to appjar more fully ftill under feveral of the fubfeqoent
Double ad' heads : at prefent we ftiall content ourfclves with obferving
vantages y^hat double advantage fuch a colony, how fmall focver in
ttnftr all j^ gj.ft beginning (C), muft have had over all the other people
thereji. '^ ° " ^^f

♦ See before, Ant. Hill. lib. xx. p. 5, Sc fcij. no, k fcq,
8 D. SicuL. 1. ii. Justin, Li.

(C) By that expreffion the given, yet the Chinefe recordi
reader may obferve, .that we give him a numerous iffue ; ia
'! parpofely avoid entering into a which they agree with the
Ij tpo nice difquifition, whether P/^i^//j-jB<?r^«j, who makes them
I". iimb had any Tons after the to amount to thirty, whom hci
flood ; and, if he had, whether ftyles Jitanes, a word which im-
|: they only, or any number of his plies no more than eaftcrUngs,
1] other de.ccndants, accompanied or people fetded in the eatoa
i( him eaftward. parts of the world ; it being de-
li As to the firft, though Mofes rived, as we have formerly
; makes no mention of any, pro- fhewn, from the old Cdtit ff,
bably for the reafon. alr<;ady and tan, which, in that Ian-

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C !• ^be Hijhry of Chinar gay

pf the difperfion, with regard to its growth, in fiumber^
ftrength, and opulence ; for, as they were united into one
body, and under one head, thdu: ftrength, and capacity of
promoting the welfare of the whole, xvas greater in propor-
tion than that of the reft of mankind, who were foon fplit
mto fo many governments, as muft of courfe greatly diminifli
their power. 2. They lived in peace and plenty, in a rich
and fruitfiil country, and under an excellent climate and*
government ; and fo could [nropagate and multiply much
^fter than thofe, who, befides their being kfs happily fitu-
ated, were ever warring- againft and depopulating one an-
other.

VII. From what hath been hitherto faid of Noah's fepa- ^^ ^if"
rating himfelf from the reft of his defendants, either a little ^^^'^ ^^^*'
before, or foon after, the confufion of Babel, the reader may \^ ^^ >.
etfily conclude, of how ditde import the much difputed point, „J^l^rgf
whether the Ararat of Armenia, or that of India, be that on quenci in
which the ark refted,'is to our prefent argument. The latter, this cafi.
which is that of Dr. Shuckford, makes indeed that patriarch's
migration into China much eafier and fljorter ; but the former,
^^ch is the moft commonly received, is far enough from
making it appear fo imprafticable and abfurd as is pretended
by thofe on the oppofite fide : for, if he and his defcendant^
could travel from the Armenian Ararat to the plain of Shi-
naar in about 70 years (D), by which time they were grown

gnage, fignifies the houfe of from Shinaar to China, were

Src 1 1 a very pi'oper and figni- more than folHcient to enable

/iqant expreflion for the iun,* hinv to bring ^hither a numerous

from whence that of Titanoi, and powerful ^colony enough to *

or 7V/fl«^/, was' commonly given found his new empire upon;

to thofe people who were i^ated confjdering the then great in-

neareft to the fun-rifihg, creafe of mankind, their longc-

As to the fecond point, we vity, health,, vigour, and other

think it highly probable, "that advantages they tnjoyed above

not only Noah's poftdiluvian the reft of the difperfed tribes,

fons, but a much greater num- from whom they fcparated them -

bcr of his other dcicendants, felvcs.

chofe to follow him into the (D) The difperfion is faid by

faft, rather than join in the Mofis to have happened about

impious defign of their bre- the looth year of the flood, out

thren: but let the number of of which »umber lefs than thirty .

his followers have been ever fo cannot bt fuppofed to. have,,

finall, yet the 200 years, which, been taken up in hatching, ri-

We (hall fhew in the fequel, he pcning, and executing, the im-

iad they took up in travelling pious deiign that occafioncd it,

t See before. Ant, Hift. wi. vi. p, 6.

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32< fbe Wftcfj of Qunar B. I;

Uttmerom and ftubborn enough to form that con^iraqr» ^i^iere
can be the impoifibility, or even unlikelihood, of their reach-
ing to the frontiers of China in a much lefs dme than the
250 years which he lived after the difperiion ? Add to this,
that as, in his firft migration from Ararat to Shinaary it doth
not appear that he had any other inducement for it but the
diange of pafture and climate, fo his joumies might be made
as imiirely as he pleafed ; whereas in his fecond, from Shi*
naar to Chinas he hafted away from a crew of determinate
rebels, bent on their own ruin, from whom he could not
part, too ibon, ncH' gQ too bcc^ to avoid (haringin .thdr punifh-
Armeni* ment- However, though we feem thus far to give up the
an Ararat p^int in favour of the Armenian Ararat ^ we are fo far from
Vf^f looking upon the main argument infifted upon in proof of
Senna^ it, viz. the fons of Sennacherib fleeing thither for reftige, to
cheribV ^ ^^ ^^ concluiive on that fide, that we think it might with
murdertrs niuch more reafon be urged on the other 5 and that the vi-
tofiee ta^ cinity of Armenia to Ajfyria^ if it was not then fubjeft, or at
kaft tributary to it, would never have permitted two fuch
facrilegious parricides to flee thither for fandluary, or to
raife forces for their own faf^ty j efpecially if we confidcr
that, in their flight from Nineveh thither, they muft be
forced to crofs over too canfiderable a part of the Affyriaft
empire, and be in continual danger of being feized : where-
as by fleering their courfe towards the north-eaft, or towards
the other Ararat^ they could be much fooner out of thofc
, dominions, and be in greater fafety when got to thdr joar-
Th argu- ney's end. We beg leave here likewife to add, that the argu-
«»<«' ment urged by Dr. Shuckford in fiivojir of the Indian Ararat^
i^^f . ftoax Mo/es*s expreflion of the builders of Babefs tower com-
/^ **^^ ing tanpo from the caft ^ b fer enough from bring fetif-
7hm%e f'^^^^^y anfwered by the oppofitc fide*; and that the indue-
eajt not ^^^ ^^ ^^^ *^^ ^^^ doubtful parallels, allowed to be irregu-
fujidently ^i ungrammatical, and ungeographical, and which is the
an/'wired, only one in the whole Old Teftament in which the pardcle D
appears to bear a different fenfe, is not a fufficient authority
to detennine in anjr other cafe that is free frbm,thofe defefts.

^ Gcnef. xi. w. * See AnticntHift. vol. xx. p. 116.

the procuring the proper mate- latefl they can be fuppofed to

rials, and the rearing of their have com* to the plain of Shi-

ftupendous edifice to fome con- naar muft be about the 70di

flderable height ; fo that the year after the flood (6).

(6) Cenef, xL X, &ftq. See affo UJb$r^a Aanah Mtbett ytMK

% . ifl

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Cir ^ fSfi^ry of Omz. 329

In' the parallel infifted upon, the geographT of the place
plainly fliews, that, in the words Mtkeddeniy the particle mem
cannot figmfy, as it cvery-where properly doth, /rwn, but
rather' ^^, or towards (£) ; bat, in the other cafe, the point
from which thofe builders fet out, whether from the eaftera
or wcftcm Ararat^ bring the matter in difputc, muft be de-
termined by fome better proof than that ; and the learned
Mr. Ba/nagtW3s fo far from being fattsfied, that, in thislafl
cafe, the words Mikeddem might be taken to fignify towards
tie eqft, notvdthftanding die parallel aboye-mentioned, that,
to aydd- ^ving them fuch an unnatural and ungrammatical
ienfe, he haslnade thofe builders to fetch a wide compafs
about, from Armenia to Mefopotamiay m order to bring them
from the eaft into the plam of Shinaar. The truth is, that
thofe learned pens, who have declared in £ivour of the Ar-
mman Ararat ^ have endeavoured to overwhelm theif anta-
gooifts with a confiifed heap of teftimonies from antient au-
thors, geographers, lexicographers, hiftorians, (be, Hebrew^
Cbaldee, Arab, Greeks and Latin, which have lived a vaft;
number of centuries one after the other, and all of them at
fome thoufand years after the flood ; to fay nothing of the
pretended antient' arts, relics, common tradition, medals, and
other fuch precarious arguments, as if their number could be
of any decifive authority in a point of that remote antiquity,
and make up. in bulk what is wanting in evidence ; altho' the
grcateft part of them have been fince fo efieftaally confuted,

(E) This we fay upon the have gone to Baal-Jehuda^ to

fappofitionthat the if<p^r^<i«; word fetch the ark from thence» the

wasori^naliy fo written \ where- grammar requires icitohave been

as, from the well known fitua- originally written ^7^33, Bt*

don of the places, one would haalt, inftead of >7y30» M-

be apter to lappofe it to be an hehale^ that is, the particle 3

error of the tranfcriber, who inftead of D> or to inftead •f

nuftook a 3 for a 0, and wrote from.

Idiktidim^ from the eaft, inftead If we (hould be afked wh/

•f Biktddem, into or towards the the fame error may not have

eaft s fuch oversights not being crept in both, as well as in one

unfrequentin the books of the of the texts ? we can only fay.

Old Teftament. This plainly that we ftiall be ready to ac-

appears from the inftances men- knowlege the poftibility of it,

tioned by Bafnage{\) out of the when the one can be proved as

book of Kings (2), / compared ungrammatical and ungeogra-

with the parallel text in the phical as the other ; neither of
CbromcUs (3) ; and that in the* which can befaid of that Which

former, where Da^uid is faid to we are now upon.

(3)1'
that

(1) Atttif^Ju^if, ttm. ii #. 1. § t$. (%) Kingi Vu 2» (3) 1 CSrm^
ziii. $9

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^a ^ Bifiery of Chma; B. I.

that'thcre \% juft reaibo to \^oader they ifaould ajipear afirdli
in print f. ' .

So that, for aay. thii^ that hath hitherto been urged on
cither fide, though we rcadUy own that ^istJrmeman Ararat
^ is commonly meant by the iacred hiftorians in moft places
\ybere that word occurs, yet the /iK//an may fHil be that on
which the ark refled, if ttesy are not indeed (mly parts of one
and the/ame continued ridge, reaching quke haok Armema
to India*
7be diffi' '.VIII. Neither need we here be much deterred at the in-
r»///w /«/V furmonntable difficulties which are thrown in Noatr% way to
in their China^ whether he fet out from Shinaar^ Armenia^ or India.
'^^ ^f , Thofe pretended impenetrable forefts, long and inlurmounta*
grounded, y^ ridges <rf mountains, and vaft fandy defarts, which lie
now between them, are mere illufions, which could have no
being fo foon after the deluge, to whatever caufe they migkt
Noforeftsf owe it afterwards s for, i • With regard to thofe monftroos
forefts, the whole globe muft be fuppofed to have been too
well peopled at the time of the flood to hive any room for fuch
wild plantations ; or, if any fuch there had been, they moA
have been all pulled up by the roots by the violence of the
tnaccejjihle wj^ves which covered the whole furface of the earth. 2. As to
Vi9tinuin5, the long and high ridges of mountains which lay in the way,
what infurmountable difficulties can we imagine there could
be in going over them, if we righdy confider the condition
they muft have been in inunediately after the flood, and da*
ring fome centuries beyond, that is, with their vallies filled
ana choaked up with a thick incruftated mud, which every-
where fubfided after the waters were dried up ? Can we call a
gradual declivity on both fides, covered with a pleafant con-
tinued verdure, an infurmountable difficulty ? for this is all
that can be fuppofed thofe mountains could then prefent, to
obftruft thofe travellers journey, till the rains and the rivers,
which fprang from the tops, had gradually wafhed away all
that mud and earth ; which could hardly be done tiU foDOfc
centuries after. * '

nwfandy The fame may be faid, jdly, of thofe now unpaflabk
defarts y fo defarts, whofe fands muft, by their own weight, have fub*
foon after fided under fuch a thick cruft of the fame mud and earth, as
the flood, nothing but a vaft length of time could wafh away, or fink
through them. If luch, then, was the furface of the earth
for a much longer number of years than were fufficient for
Noah and his colony to have reached the Chinefe territories,

t SeeAnt. Hift. vol. xx. p. 113, &ftq^ Ba^snac, Antiqoit.
Jodnc vol. \u c. 2. J 20, & feq.

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C.i. TbeHifiury «/ China. 33^

thou^ they had fet out even from Jtmenia; or for his'de-
Icendants to have inarched from' the Ba6lrian hills to the
plains of Shinaar^ as Or. Shuckford fuppofes ; is it not a
mere ilhrfion to lay fach pretended infurmountable obftru6Hon9
in i\\m way, as were not in being till fome centuries after,
and then reprefent fuch journies as abfurd, monfh-ous, and
againft the nature of things ? But, '

IX, There was ftill an edier and fpeedier way for Noah Noah
and his colony to have reached China, namely, by water. He ^ghtget
c»>uld not fo foon have forgot the ftrufture of the ark, which '^ China
hadpreferved him in a more perilous navigation; fo that, h*^^*^*
upon his meeting, in. his way from either place, cither with
the Indus f Ganges, or any other large river, which he coiild
not but conclude muft difembogue itfelf into fome fea, or
large refervmr, he had nothing to do but to fit out a fufficient
number of veflels for himfelf and company, and fail down
it, and thence fteer his courfe as nearly as he could eaftward,
till fome milder climate than thofe fultry ones he had left be-
hind, or theprofpeft of fome pleafant and fertile coafts, in-
vited him to the fhore. He might alfo proceed farther into
the country, either by land, or by the help of fome of thofe
noble rivers with which Chhia abounds, till he met with a
fcttlement to his liking ; the farther from his other defcend-
ants the better, and* more out of danger of their difturbing
his new colony. What would almoft determine us to conclude
that this was the way which, that patriarch took to come into
that country, is, that the Chinefey and their defcendants, are
the only people in all the known world, who, in the fabri-
cature of their trading veflels, have kept ftriftly up to the
oi^nal modeled the ark, as will be fliewn more fully under
a mbfequent article, gut if the Chinefe tradition be rather
followed, which tells us, that Fo-hi firft fettled in fome of
the northern provinces, which- are at a great diftance from the
iea-coafts, it will be more probable that he came thither all
the way by land, unJefs we will fuppofe that he firft landed
00 fome of the fouthern coafts ; and, either for conveniency
or fafety, removed farther northward, till the vaft high moun-^
tains which divide that.part of Chma from Tartary, appeared
to him a fufficient barrier to fecure him,, on that, from any
iuvafion or difturbance from the other fide.

As none of the fuppofitions above-mentiot^ed can appear Honv bf.
^erwife than rational and feafible (efpedally if we can, as ^^m to
We doubt not to do, remove all the other objeftionS urged A/'' fi
againft Noah's being really cotemporary with Fo-hi, and con- ^'i^t.
•fiquently more probably the fame with' him), the only diffi-
culty remaining with r^fp^fl tQ the poli^t in hand will be, how
, , ' that

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332 Tie Hifisry of Chmz. B.I.

that patriarch, who muft of courfc be fuppofed to hare bcea
but very little acquainted with the nature, form, and fuper-
fides, of the poftdilttvian world, particularly with refpeft to
its difierent zones, climates, foil, dir, ^r. came to Aeer his
coorfe fo happily and judidonfly, as to hit upon one of the
pleafanteft and moft fertile fpots in the whole world. To
this it may be anfwered, that he might acquire a great part of
of that knowlcge, by obferving, as he travelled eaftward, how
parched and ^ren every foil, and how fultry the d&nate,
the nearer he approached to the fun, and vice verfa ; fo that
i^^could Qqt be long at ^ lofs how to make the beft choice.
And as to the extraordinary fertility of the countiy, we have
already fhewn^ in the geography of it, that it is more owng
to the ingenuity and indefatigable induftry of the inhabitants,
than to the mere natural fecundity of its foil or climate. As
to the other part of the difficulty, it being raifed on a wrong
fuppofition, that the antediluviaas had but a very imperfiaft
knowlege of what we call the fpherc, or gl^, we (hall now,
in the
1[ht mtte- Tenth place, make it evidently appear, that whatever not
dHwvians only the antient Egyptians, Chaldeans^ Babylonians^ &c, but
majien of ^^^^ jjj^ Chine/e, knew of aftronomy, was, for the moft part,
aflr94omy. jf ^^^ wholly, derived from them. This being a curious point,
which hath not hitherto been fufficiently dezted up, we fliall
beg our reader's patience^ if we dwell a little longer upon it,
than we have on the former ; efpecially, as the furjMi/ing har-
mony and uniformity which reign through the fundamentals
of their feveral fyftems, will afford us a fiarther, and, as we
think, a very convincing proof of -the Chinefe having received
their own from no other, but the immediate hand of the patri-
arch Noahi after his fettling himfelf with them in that country.
Conm^ it To , make this clear, we beg leave to obferve, that the
aiike to all whole bafis of what the antient nations above-named compre-
tke pofidi' bended, under the notion of aftronomy, was every-Mirhere the
Iwfians. fome, not only with regard to fuch points as were demon-
Arable from obfervation and deductions, but likewifo to^nany
more, which were altogether arbitrary, and, which is (fill
more furprifing, with refpeft to a much greater number of
fuch as were imaginary, doubtful, and groupdlefs, or ab-
folutely ridiculous and falfe. We fhall, for the fake of fuch
of /Our readers as are not fo well acquamted with thefe ab-
.ftrufe matters, fubjoin an inftance or two of each fcMrt, in .the
fubfequent note (E), by which they will eafily perceive, how

early

(E) Among thofe of the firft, reckon the divifion of the hea-
•r demonHraDle, fort, we may venintazones) and other drdcs,

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C I . ^e Hijtory of China.

early the fuperftitious and ridiculous notions of aftrology ia-
termixed themfdvcs with the more ufeful and noble difco-
veries in aftronomy, amoifg all thofe antient nations, how fe-
parate and diAant foever from each other.

Neither

3i3

the dcclenfion of the ecliptic,
the difiance of the poles from
the equator, the coorfcf of the
ftto, moon, and other planets,
(5f . ; of the fecond, or merely
arbitrary, fort, were the divi-
fion of the ecliptic into twelve
figns (whence came the twelve
JDO&ths of the folar year, which
we have formerly (hewn, from
Mffis'z account of the deluge,
were in ufe as well before as
fince that time), that of the
iignsioto degrees, and that of
the red of the heavens into con-
fielladons, and others of the
like nature. Among thofe of
the third, or imaginary, uncer-
tain, or erroneous, kind (which
areftill more numerous and va-
rious, as fuperdition and falfe-
hood commonly propagate far-
ther and f after than truth), we
jnay reckon the whole tribe of
fuperititions rules, which make
op the aftrological art i fuch as
dividing the ecliptic into four
triplicities, anfwerable to the
four elements, and allowing
^eefigns to each of them ; as,
T, Jl, and j^, to the fire;
y, /K, and yr, to the earth 5
1« :£b, and ss?, to the air ; and
and die remaining three to the
water. The aligning to each
planet a different nature and
influence, as hot, cold, moiA,
dry, malevolent, or benevolent,
as alfo certain houfes, or figns,
in which their influence is more
more or Icfs ftrong and power-
ful; thus, ^ , which is allowed
the mod malignant of all, hath
hb night and day -houfes, and

is reckoned ftrongefl, in XT and
t^, is exalted in ^, detriment -
ed in ^ and £1, which are op-
pofite to, or half a circle of 300
degrees diftant from, his two
houfes above-mentioned, and
hath his fall in T » oppofite to
the place of his exaltation ; % p
which is allowed the moft be-
nevolent of all the feven, hath
his two houfes in f and X, is
exalted in S, detrimented in
n and ttKf and hath his fall in
Vfi and fo of the reft; only
with this difference, that the
fun and moon have but one
fign, or houfe, allotted to each
of them, whereas the other five
planets have each of them two.
3dly, Of the fame uncertain or
fabulous kinds are the diftbrent
influences of thefe planets, ac-
cording to their afpefts to, that
is, their diilances from, each
other; thus, a fextile, or di-
ftance of two figns, or fixty de-
grees, is reckoned 'good\; a
iquare, or three figns, bad ; a
trine, or four figns, beft ; and
an oppofition, or fix figns, worft
of all. From thefe various con-
figurations of the planets, and
the nature of the figns they
chance to be in, and from nam-
berlefs other rules of their art»
equally uncertain, not to fay
imaginary and fabulous, they
pretend that all fublunary af«
fairs are fo intirely governed,
that not only the conception,
birth, life, death, Ijfc. of every
living creature, the produdlion,
growth, perfedion, and virtues,
of all vegetables, minerals, ifc.
but

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334 The Hijofy of CbkiSL. B. I.

How it Neither were the former confined to a mere fpeculatiye
tame to be theory, or embraced only by a few crazy enthufiafb, but taught
intermixed hy the mod learned, encouraged by the moft powerfial, men
nuitb ]\ every kingdom, and confultcd by great and finally in the
afrologi' moft important emergencies. Now there are but tWo ways
€mlfigures. ^q account for this general conformity, both in theory and

{)ra£tice, as well in points of an arbitrary, uncertain, and fal-
acious, as in thofe of a more certain and demonftrable, na-
ture ; viz* dther by fuppofing, with feveral learned men, that
Jda^ was created with a perfeft knowlege of the nature,
courfcs, and influence, / of the heavenly bodies, and tranf-
mitted it to his pofterity, by whom it was, in proccfs of time,
corrupted with an intermbcture of the aftrological and fuper-
ftitious notions mentioned in the laift note ; or elfe, that his
defcendants acquired it, by the help of thofe frequent obfer-
vations, which their longevity, ferener atmofphere, and other
advantages, they then enjoyed, enabled them to make, till,
in procefs of time, their degeneracy, and natural propenfity
of prying into futurity, funk them into all the aftrological fu-
perftitions we have been fpcaking,of.
Bothjlvw^ Let the reader then fuppofewhich of the two cafes he will,
idfr^m the he muft be ftill forced to conclude, that the aftronomical fciences,
M to the as well as the aftrological fuperftitions built upoti it, muft have
new immediately flowed from the old into the new world : for,

nmrld. had thofe two fyftems been the produft of the poftdiluvian
world, they muft have been both completed, dther before
the general difperfion, or fince. The former is altogether
incompatible with their condition fo foon after the deluge,
that is with the fmallnefs of their number, the fhortnefs of
the time, their frequent migrations, and the few opportuni-
ties they had of maikiog fo many exadl obfervations on the hea-
venly bodies, under fuch difadvantages.

Neither can it poffibly be fuppofed to have been done
after the difperfion ; for then^ inftead of that furprifii^ con-
formity, which we obferve to have rdgned among all their
fyftems, as well of aftrolc^ as aftronomy, we fhould have
met with nothing but the wideft difierence between them ; at
leaft, this muft have been the cafe among nations fo vafUy

but the rife and fall, good or and foretold by that pretended

or ill fate, of empires and coun- art, in which the aftrologers of

xx\t% , good and bad feafons, all nations followed almoft the

wars, peftilence, drought, fa- very fame rules ; and, from all

iDine, and, in a word, all the which, we cannot but of courfe

good and evil which happen in conclude, that they muft all

this world, is inrircly owing to have received them from the

iheni, and may be forefeen, fclf-fame hands,

diflant

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C I. Tbe tii/ory of China. 335

diftant from each other, with regard to the arbitrary points,
and all the imaginary and groundkfs parts of their feveral
aftrological fyftems, whatever agreement there might be in
thofe more demonftrable ones of their aftrotiomy. And as
for the Chinefe^ as they were the moft diftant from, as well
as leaft converfant with, the reft, they muft, of courfe, have
diflfered more widely from them all ; whereas, by all that we
can judge from .their antient writings, either in the aftrono-
mical or aftrological way, they plainly appear to agree ndth
them in all the fundamental rules of both, whether of
theory or praftice. From all which, we may fiairly conclude. The Chi-
that they, as well as the reft of the eaftem nations, muft nefc r^-
have received them fit)m Noah and his three fons, fome time cei^ved
before either he feparated himfelf from them, to go eaftward, theirs from
or they were difperfed from one another. But how incon- Noah.
Cftent this is with the contrary fuppofition, of China not being
peopled till fome Jong ferics of years, or rather ages, after the
flooNd, let the reader judge.

How the aftrological came fo foon to intermix itfelf with TheJIo^v
the aftronomical part, we fliall endeavour to account for in ^ndfmall
the fequci ; but, with relation to the latter. We beg leave to P^^grefs of
add, that nothing can more plainly evince their having re- ^J^^onomj
ceived it from the antediluvians, than the litlle progrefs and ^'^ '^^
improvements they made in it afterwards: for, can it be-^^
imagined, that the few men who were then in the world, by
the mere ftrength of their genius, and by the help of the few
occafional obfcrvations they made within the ftiort fpace,
which elapfed from the flood to the general difperfion, could
be able to compile fo exaft and excellent a fyftem of the
heavenly bodies, and yet not be able, in a much greater num-
ber of ages, to raife it to any higher j)erfeftion ? And yet
nothing more clearly demonftrates this, than the great ig-
norance we find aU thofe nations in, tiU we come to the time
of the Greeks ^d Romans , . concerning the caufe, and methods
erf calculating, of eclipfes, and the jejune hypothefis of epi-
cycles, by which they pretended to folve the fwift and flow,
the ftationary and retrograde, courfes, which they obfervcd
the inferior planets to move in; which epicycles, however
ftrange and irregular, did yet pafs current among all the old
aftronomers, till within thefe two centuries, when the Coper^
nican fyftem opened their eyes to a more fatisfaftory folution
of that,^ and other puzzling phenomena, of the Ptolemak*

The reafon of this xiniverfal negleft of aftronomy, appears The cliff
plainly to be their fondnef's for aftrology ; and that their f^«/^^/>.^
learned only ftudied Jthe former, for the fake of diving ileepei*, or,
at feaft, of being thought fo to do, into the pretended m yfteries

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33^ Tbi Hifhry of Omz^ B. I

of the latter ; and, as this was the moft encouraged, and
fought after by the great ones, and, of cotirie, the moft gain-
ful to the profeflbrs, it is no wonder they (hould n^left the
other, though the more noble and ufeful, for the fake of
7bihoafted xbsx. The Cbine/e, equally wrapped up with the famefn*
fiill$ftbe perftition, are the only andent nation that pretends to have
Chineie oiade any confideraWe improrcments in it, and to have found
uncertain, q^^ the art of calculating eclipfes, from the eariieft times;
and yet we have fufficiendy fhewn, in a former feftion, that
Conjtftid all this boailed {kill codified rath^ in a diligent and curious
rat her in obfervation, and recording of thefe, and other heavenly
tMemjtng phaenonaena, than in , foretelling them. In the former, no
than in nation was more careful and exaft.; but that their Ikill fdl
ealculati' ^afUy ihort with refpeft to the latter, plainly appears frooi their
'**• being wholly ignorant of the above-mentioned irregularity of

the motion of the inferior planets ; inibmuch, that they never
took any notice of it, much Ids did they ever attenapt to ac-
count for it, either by the fuppofition of epicycles, or by any
other way, till the whole matter was traravelled to them by
the European fniflionaries ^.

Thb fum and fubftance of what hath been faid, trader this
tenth head, is briefly this :

I. That the cxaft harmony which we have obferved to

reign between the aflronomy and afh-ology of the Cbinefe^

tnd that of the Egyptians, Chaldeans, and other antieot and

far diftant nations, from them, not only in demcmflrable, but

in arbitrary, uncertain, imaginary, and erroneous^ points, is

tn evident preof of its bdng derived to them all from Nook,

and hi$ three fons, as it was to thefe from the antedilavi»ii

world.

Jntedilu* 2. That all (his great variety, both of true afhonomical

wians bad knowlege, and pf aftrological fuperflition, could neither be

fimefirt of ^rektvti by mere ftrength of memory, nor conveyed by bare

'wraing* oral tradition (F), but plainly fuppofes thofc antediluvians to

have

« See Father Gaubil's Remarks in Du Haldc, Engl
partii. p. 129. '

(F) It is, indeed, hardly to
be fuppofed, that they could
prcferve, much lefs convey, the
ideas of fuch a great number of
circles, lines, k^fc, as compofe
the celeftial fphcre, together
with the figns of th: zodiac, and

' all the otherconftellations, with'
out fomc fuch method as we arc
fpeaking of; efpedally, if wc
take in the names, nature, mag-
nitude, fituation, diftancc, tf^t
of thofe fixed ftars that compofe
cachconftcllation. Withrefpcft

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C. I. The Hiftory af China. 337

have had fome better helps, whether by painting, delineating,
engraving, cutting in wood, ftone, or metal, or by fome other
way, near equivalent to our writing or printing. The age
of ' the w6rld, and the longevity, vigour, and other ad^
vantages mankind then enjoyed, will not permit us to doubt
of their being capable of making fome fuch inponfiderable
difcovery, for pref^rving and communicating their knowlege ;
and the plainnefs and iimplicity of the original Chinefe cha-
rafters ", which they boaft to have received from their
founder, makes it highly probable, that "the art of writing
was at leaft brought to that low pitch about the time of the
deluge. If fo, then it will as probaby follow, thkt Noah, The beft
who had lived to fee the greateft improvements made either records
in that, or any other branch of learning, fpent fome time in ^^^^/
that long 100 years warning, which God had given him of ^^^^*^*
the approaching deluge, in collecting and fecuring the beft of
thefe monuments, for his own and his pofterity*s ufe and
infiruAion, and efteemed; them as the moft valuable relics of
the old world.

Accordingly, we are told, by Jofephus ♦, that Seth firft
began to reduce aftronomy into a regular fyftem, which was
gradually improved by his defcendants, down tp the time of
the deluge ; which they might the more eafily do, confidering
then: extraordinary longevity, paftoral life, ferene (ky, and
other advantages, already named. Noah, who was 'heir to
all their difcoveries, and, without doubt, added many coa-

" See them defcribed in Ant. Hift. vol. xx. p. xn^ * Jp-
8BPHUS Antiq. 1. i. c. 3. & feq.

to thefe laft, we are told (6), atmofphere, or whether, fince

that fome antient Cbimfe maps the flood, by any other inilrti-

exhibit a number of them 1 ments unknown to us, is not in

which, though not vifible to our power to divine. We are

the naked eye, are yet found in indeed told, by Diod* Sku/ui,

their proper places (allowing on the authority of Hecateus,

for their progreiiive motion), that the antient druids nude

by the help of a good telefcope, ule of fome fuch ioftruments ,

an inftrument which doth not by which they could draw the

appear to have been known in moon fo near, that they could

Cbina before the coming of the perceive feas, mountains, ifc.

European miifionaries thither, in it. But if the C^/x^ had ever

But whether thefo ftars were any of that kind, they have

difcovered by the antediluvians, fince quite loft all remembrance

•who, probably, enjoyed a bet- of them (7). ''

ter fight, and, doubtleis, a clearer

(6) Fide Father Kfpf^w ap» Du Ila/de, E»gi v4, ii. p, 230. (7) Father

trJ'Ailap. tund» ih\d, p. 129.

MoD^JlisT. VoL.Vni. Y fiderable

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j3l S'^^ Hiftpry of China. a I

fidenble ones of his own, all which he took ctrc to commu-
fUctte to his three fons, is, on that account, rightly foppofed
|o be the Jtlas of the heathen writers. His defcendants (b
&r isutated his example, as to be able to make ibme very
confiderable obfervations on the planetary fyftcm; particu-
larly, that relnarkablc one which is recorded by thdfe two cc-
lebnited idb-onomers of antiquity, Jdrqftus Cyzicenus and
Z>w. Ni$,polittSy to hare happened in the planet fVitc/j, in the
feign of Ogygts^ when that luminous planet was obferved to
lui\«e i^ccivwi a very great change in its courfe, magoitHde,
colour, figure, ifc. This Angular {^lenomeaon is Hkawife
mmtioaed by Ct^/hr^ and from him by Varro^ and from them
by 8t. Jugufiin f. It is true, none of the afore-mentioned
authors €dl us in which of the Ogyges's iieigas it happeoed;
but it is commonly fuppofed to have been that who is fur-
named Prifcusy and is reckoned to be the fame with the Pa-
triarch Noah ; and that this wonderful chaise was occafiooed
by the vktnicy of that planet to the earth, at the time of the
general deluge t; which is highly probable, confidering, that
the Is Aeardl of aU the feven to the earth, except tbeoHX)fl ;
and thalt, during the ten months in which the waters pre-
vailed on theglebe*s furface, (he came at lead: three times to her
«pog^e, or greateft nearnefs to it ; fo that it can hardly bc&p-
•pofed, but that (be muft have received fome very coofideraNe
<hai^e, or knpreffion, from the vaft atmofphere of ffciid tbit
then furrounded it on all fides, and much more fo ftill, asoften
as (he came in conjunftion with the moon. Which being granted,
doth plainly fhew, not only how foon after the flood they be-
gan to make fuch curious obfervations on the planetary fyflem,
but likewife that they mull have received the theory of them
much earlier, viz. from the antediluvians, otherwife they
could never have taiken notice of this furprifing change, info
inany particulars as are above-mentiotied. Origen accordingly
tells us, that there had been found in Arabia Felix fcvaJ
Bmnufcr&pt copies, moftly treating of aftronomy, which •were
«niverfally allowed to have been tranfmitted to the newworid
l)y Noah ; and Tertttllian, who had feen, and read, fome of
-them, laflbres os, that they were written on that fubjcft;
tiiough, as we may probably fuppofe, not without fome hi-
termixture of the then reigning aftrological ftuff, foifted ifl
T)y the tranfcribers of them.

^ Hence thofe who kept clofe to, and were moft converfimt
with, that patriarch, mull, of courfe, have received a doribk

t AuGusTiN. Civit. Dei, 1. 21. c. 8, J Sec Buw«t'«

Theory, Warren's Gcologia, k al.

adra&tagc

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C. I. Tie Hift^ry of Cbipa; ^^^

^dvant^ by it, above thofe that difpcrfcd themfelves from

him; for, in the firft place, though it be rcafouable to fup-

pofe, that he imparred his Juiowlege to them all aUke, y^t

the latter being forced, after the difperfion, to fufpead th»t

fiady whilft they weat in fearch of new fettlcmeats, aod fdpn

after that in the purfuit of their frequent wars againft each

other, that fcience muJd have fuffered no finall decay; where- The great

as the former, whom we ftyle Noah's caftcyna colony, had not ^antage

only the conftant ufc of his valuable records, but Ukcwife ^^ f^^^

the beoefit of his expofitions and lefturqj, both during tKeir 'Jf^^'*^^ ,

per^rination, and after their fettlement in China ; fo that i^^^j^^^^'

is no wonder that they fliould make fo much earlier f progrefs

ii^it than the reft of the world : and accordingly the Chinefe

anngls^ tell us that Fo-hi laid the firft foundation of that, ai^d

other arts and Iciences, and that his four or five immediate

fucceflbrs (O) brought them gradually to the perfeftion they

vere raifed to afterwards % till the arrival of the Europeans

sunong them*

But, 2dly, there was ftill a much greatw advantage which
4ey reaped from the leflbns and example of the good old
patriarch above all his other defcendants, namely, that it pre-
ferved them from falling into the horrid idolatries which tho
reft gradually funk into ; for though, like all other ancient
nations, the Chinefe afcribed fome particular influences to the
heavenly bodies, to which all fublunary things were \\x fome
ffleafure fubjeft (H) ; yet neither they, nor their defcendant$,
ever d^enerated fo far as to worfhip them, till after ieveral,

<»n-
c

• See their feveral xeigns in Martini, Dv .Halpb, and

others.

(G) Thefe five laft we (h^ll ftances,£jrf. circiunfcribed with-

prove in the fequel on the aii- in certain limits or lines, fo as to

thority of our Hehre^ chrono- reprefent in fome meafure the

^^Vf*t to have been cotemporary creatures whofe names they

with Abraham^ I/aac, Jacohy bear, can, at bed, be fuppofcJ,

Amram^ Levi, and Mo/es, when thus arbitrarily joined in-

(H) What is ftill more fur- toonefignor figure, to acquire
prifing is, that ihey, as well as a new virtue, in the fame man-
all the other antient inations, ner as a certain quantity of me-
ihould fo unanimoufly agree in dicinal drugs of various natures
afcribing fuch particular influ- do, when jumbled together in
cnces to the very conftellatious, one compound : and yet we find
which, being no other than a this unaccountable influence not
colkvies of fixed ftars of differ- only acknowleged by all the
€at natures, magnitudes, di- antient aftronomers, but even

y a taken

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th Hijiory of China. B. I.

centuries, that is, till 64 years after Chrift, when the accurfed
herefy of Fo was accidentally brought thither from Itidia^ and
with it an inundation of the mbft abominable idolatries, bat
which are neverthelefs held in the greateft abhorrence to this
very time by all their philofophers, literati, and better fort of
people.

From what hath been obferved under the laft article, one
may be enabled to make a probable conjecture at the nature
of the epidemical fin which occafioned the deftruftion of the
old, and the fo fpeedy difperfion of the new, race of man-
land. The former, we have fhewn, were infefted with the
abfurd notion of the heavenly bodies having a confiderablc
influence over all fublunary events : from this they might gra-
diftdly degenerate into that' of their being the only direftors

taken particular notice of in the
book oijob(%)^ where the Al-
mighty being introduced, by the
inipired writer, as making ex-
prefs mention of their virtues,
would incline a ferious perfon
to think that notion betcer foun-
ded, than the almoft inHnice di-
ilance of thofe bodies feems to
admit of.

The words of our veriion,
though ihort of the energy of
the original, run thus : Canfi
thou bind (prevent, or reftrain)
thefijoeet injiutnce ^/i&f Pleiades,
or let loofe the bands of Orion ?
Canjithou bring forth Mazzaroth
in hisfeafoni or guide Ar£lurus,
njcith his fans f Knffvoefi thou the
ordnances of hea^veny or ho^w to
appoitit them their dominion o<ver
the earth ? How far our ver-
iion hath hit the right names of
^thefe conftellations, is out of
our province to inquire ; the
reader may confult the com-
mentators about it, and more
particularly the curious difTerta-
tion publifhed by the learned
Mr, toft er^ q{ Oxford, on that
fubjed. It is enough for us
that the Hehrenv words Chezid,
Mazzaroth, Hay, &c. are agreed

to fignify fomc certain conftclla-
tions; and that the terms of
binding, loofing, bfc. imply
fome kind of peculiar virtue or
influence belonging to them, hy
the appointment of their all-
wife Creator. And thus far all
nations might agree in eeneral ;
but that they ihould all be fo
unanimous in afligning to each
its proper influence, can hardly
be otherwife accounted for, than
by fuppofmg that they all re-
ceived the fame theory from one
perfon, that is, from Noah, In
which cafe it will be equally
difficult to conceive how the
Chine/e, the moft remote froni»
and unacquainted with, the reft
of the world, ftiould retain (o
great a (hare of it in common
with them, if not led and fetded
there under him. Had their
country been peopled by the
fame latter colonies that peopled
north -eaft Tartary, they would
have been quite as ignorant of
aftronomy and other fciences as
they, inftead of cultivating and
improving, as they did, from
the beginning of their mon-
archy.

(8) C16. xxxviii. 31, &Jrf,

and

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C. I. The Hiftory of China. 341

sukI goreriKM-s of this lower world, and confequcntly the only
objefts of thdr worfhip ; than which notion, nothing could
be more qapable of finking them into that univ^al corrup-
tion and degeneracy, ii; which the deluge overtook them p.
We muH, however, here except the righteous line of Sethy Preftmfed
among whom alone the true religion, that is, the belief d[ from Jink-
aa over-rujing Providence, was ftill preferved ; the laft of '^g ^^^^
wiiom were Noah and his fons, who were on that account ^^°*^**y-
referved to repienifti the new world with a more hopeful
progeny. However, it but too plainly appears, that thefe ^-^^ ^^y«'
three laft were not all perfeftly cured, by that fevere pumfh- t^P*^^
ment, from the antediluvian contagion, fince it fo quickly ''*''. ^^'^
raged afrefh, and infefted the greateft part of this new ofF- ^^ ^^
fpring in lefs than feventy years after the flood : for what ^^a ^
€i{Q, could they mean by buUdinc fuch a monftrous high tower,
but to fecure themfelves againft a fecond deluge ? and what
ihould put fuch a wild and impiou9 notion into their heads,
but a firm perfuafion, agreeable to the antediluvian belief
above-mentioned, that, as the firft was caufed by the power
and influence of the ftars and planets in fome certain configu-
ration, fo the fame might again, or would moft likely, hap-
pen whenever thefe heavenly bodies came to meet' again in
the fame pofitionf , It is true, they had an exprefe promifc
and affurance to the contrary from God himfelf ^ ; and no
donbt the good old patriarch took care to urge that, and all
other proper topics, to deter them frdm that wicked enter-
prife ; but the cataffarophe fhews how little regard they paid
to either, or. even to the punifhment that foclofely followed
their rebellion, feeing they had not been long difperfed from
one another, before we find tliem all alike immerfed in the old
idolatry, and the worfhipping of the fun, moon, and ftars, and
all the' hofts of heaven, whilft even the bare notion of an
over-ruling Pro^dence feems to have been quite extinguifhed
among them.-

XL This confideration affords us another probable argu- ^^^ C^*-
ment of Noah being the Chlneje Fo-hi^ and planting his colony ^^"^^^
there ; namely, the juft and conftant idea which that nation "^^^^
hath religiouAy preferved, not only during a long feries of /^p^/*
ages, but doth ftill to this day amoag their philofophers and ^^^ce^
better fort of people, of a divine over-;*uling Power, who
direAs and governs all things, knows the fecrets of all hearts,
and to whcMn all men are accountable for their thoughts,
words, and aftions % Had China been peopled by Tuhal^

9 Vid, Genef. vL c. t Sec Jqs^phus Ant. lib. i.

f^ 5. ^ Geneu ix. 8 — 13. *" See their Sl\u-king,

Cpb' F VCiv^'j Morals, and other phih>fophic^l wQCks,

y 3 MeJbt€K

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342 ^^ Hijiory of China, ' B. L

pie^ich^ or any Qthet rtmote defccndatits , from Nbah^ vfe
flibiild hive found them, like all the reft, iminerfcd iti idola-
try, and WOffhipping the whble ftariy and phuetary tribe,
uader the ftames of Baal, Aftdrte^ 3iiho77i, Chemojb, I>ag<m,
and fiich-like, without the leafl notion of a fuperior power
over-rUlldg therfi. Even thf very heads of the line of Shem
wei-c (6 taiktfed with the fame idolatrous infeftion, that it
was the very reafon why God called Abraham from among
them, when he riiade choice of him to be the reftorer of his
And other trUe religion atid worfhip': whereas the Chincfe appear to
fartsofthe have retained, from the earlieft times of their monarchy, the
anttent re- fublimeft Ideas of, and deepeft regard to, the divine- and
liftion and over-ruling Lord of heaven, not only from their Shn-king^
nfjorJBtp, ^jj J other canonical books, but from the conftant and tegular
factifices which they offered up to him at all proper fcafons,
atid the folemn manner'in which it was performed ; infomuch
that no perfon, however gi^eat, wife, or good, w^s deemed
worthy to perform the prieftly funftion, but the emperor him-
felf, as we have elfewhere (hewn f.

To this we may add another equally antient and laudable
cii/Vom o? theirs in all public calamiticsi ftich as civil wars,
. peftUence, famine, great droughts, <bc. of applying them-
ftlves In the humblefl: manner to the Supreme Being alone for
itUef \ and returning their mofl: folemn thanks to him alone,
ti foott a5 they had ojjtained it (i). H^w oppofite-tras this

« Sec Genef. xiii. & feq. Joih. xxiv. 2. t Sec before

' if^S?- See alf6 vol. v. p. 32, & alib. paff.

(T) Wte Jnd atcordingly, in and jullice could aot be other-

^e Chincfe annals, many frngn- wife ap]>eare<i, he would let the

br inftances of their pious an- efFe£ks thereof fall upon then

tient monarchs, who, in all fuch alone ; and that their lives

public calamities, went at the might be accepted by him, as a

head of a numerous court, all propitiatory facrifice for the reft

drefled, as'well as themfelves, of the 6atk)ft. The blcffing,

in the meaneft garb, and Other otice obtarncA, Wa^ celebrated

fiarks of the ddspeft humility with public aAd ft^tfmii thanks;

nd repentatice, to intreat the te >hich thofe princes addel

Lord 6f heaven to divert his vaft donatives,* and triba im*

i'tiftjodgments from them; and munities, to the podrer ibrtdf

leite the gobd nK>narch9, ad- their fabjeds, efpedaUv to fuck

dreeing themfelves to that Su- pfovmces as had beta tne gr^*

f' remc Being in the moft hum- eft fuffercrs. We fhall havcoc-

fe and pathetic terms, eameftly cafion, In the fequd of this

%efi)ught him, that, if his anger Kftory, to give fome remtrkt^

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C I. The Hipry of China. 343 *

to the praftice of all other nations, who, upon all fiich occa-
fions, ufed to celebrate folemn feftivals to their fklfe ddties,
carry their images about in folemn proceffions, and afcribed
the glory of all their bleffings and deliverances to them !

It muft be owned, indeed, that the Chine/e were infefted, TMr a/-
like all the reft of Noah*$ pofterity, with the fuperftitious troUjiy did
contagion of the ftarry influence over all fublunary bodies, notexcludt
and from the earlieft times dire^ed moft of their aftronomical ** f*'^'"'
obfervations to that end : but there was ftiU this difference ^^f^J'i^^^
between them, that whereas the other nations believed thofe *^^^*^^*
heavenly bodies to be free and powerful agents, and applied
to them as to the fole direfters of all fublunary events, the
Chinefe looked upon them only as necefl^ry agents, whofe • -
power and influence were imprefled upon them by an almighty
hand, who had ftill the fupreme rule and government over
them, and, as fuch, addrefled themfelves to him in all great
emergencies, without the leaft regard to any of the ftarry
ttibe, which they believed to be no other than inftruments in
his over-ruling hands ^ But how they came to judge and
diftinguifh fo' juftly of both,^above all other nations, will b^
difficult to account for, unkfs we afcribe-it to the flngular
care which their good old patriarch muft be fuppdfed to Have
taken to forewarn them againflf that dangerous error, which
he fo well knew bad been the main caufe of the deftruftionof
the old world, and of the fatal degeneracy of the new, and
the chief motive of his withdrawing hinfelf fo far from
thorn (K).

Xin. This

* See their Shu-king, and other canonical books.

ble nftanees of this fingular Supreme Being, fo much of the
piety, in which thofe monarchs, aftrological fuperflition, and did
ashi^.priefls of the whole na- not rather endeavour to extir*
tion, feem to have a€ted fo very pate all the remains of that old
conformably to the office of die antediluviao leavea \ it may be
fecriftcacare, both before and anfwered, either that the notion
binder die J^aujh law, that we of the influence of the flars on
could mot forbear taking parti* this lower world might not ap*
cular notice of it. pear to him fo falfe, abfurd, and
^) If it ftrould be alked, ill-grounded, as it is now corn-
how io wife and good a man as monly judged *,noria any other
hecoitld^ufo' this favourite CO* way dangerous, than as it ex«
^y to imepmix ^U with foch cloded the belief of an over-
bblime and )aft notions of the roliog Providence, which laft

* Sa hi/ore, ntit (H}> m Jtk XXxviiL %l. Jtn^* ^r, lo, Cf tiUb, paff, ^

7 4 ho

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344

tient reli-
gion, fhi-
tofopby,
&c. ^wor-
th of
Noab.

Bome ex'
cellent doC'
trims of
tbe^QYii-
nefe.

the Hiftory of China. B. h

XII. This laft confidcration naturally leads us to a new
and no Icfs probable argument in favour of our hypothcfis ;
namely, Wie excellency of the religion, laws, government,
policy, morality, philofophy, isc of the Chinefey above alt
other antient nations, even thofe which are allowed the moft
learned and polite ; and confequently ^very way worthy of fa
divine a patriarch and lawgiver. This is indeed a pcnnt we
could with pleafure dwell longer upon, had it not been al-
ready fo learnedly difplayed by much better penSj, that it is
now univerfally allowed by all fides ; but, on that account,
we fli^ll content ourfelves w?th r?f(?rring our readers to the
ftiort flcetch we have formerly given of them ", and (hall only
add here a remark or two from the whole, which will ftill
ferther confirm it.

First, then, it is well worth obferving, that, among the
. f ublime ideas which their canonical books give us of the Deity,
beyond what is to be met with in the theology of other an-
tient nations, it mentions, in particular, the care which the
Divine Prp^ddence takes to forewarn mankind by figns, pro-
digies, and other awakening methods, of th^ impending judg-
ments which are going'to mil ujron them, in order to excite
them tp avert the divine vengeance by all proper afts of re-
repentance * \ which es^^cUent qotion, taken in its full extent,

" See Ant. Hift. vql. i. p. 261, & feq. vol. :cx. p. 124, &
feq. ^ Spe their Shu-king, and other canonical book$.

he doubtlefs was careful to pre-
vent both by his leflbns and ex-
ample; or elfe it may be rea-
fonably enough fuppofed, that
fome of the feeds of that fuper-
Hitious notion might be pri-
vately prefcrvcd by fome of his
people, and fuffered to fpread
itfcif by degrees amongit the
reft, unknown to him, or per-
haps, more likely, againft.all
his endeavours to fupprefs it ;
fo. bewitching was that belief,
and ftlil is among the greateft
part of the world.

Wc have dweh fomewhat the
longer on this fubjeft of the
aftionomy and aftrology of the
^ntients, as it is a point which
hath been but flightly, if at all,
confxdered, either with refpeft

to the inventcrs of it (the ho-
nour of it being generally given
to the Eiyptians^ Chaldeans ^ Ba'
byldttians, Sec, and by few, if
any, to the antediluvians) ; or,
Secondly, with regard to the
Cbinefe, fo far as they have ex-
celled all otlier antient nations
in cultivating and improving it ;
nor, lauly, with refped to the
proofs which might be,and which
we hope we have, aftually
drawn from its univerfal con-
formity , of Noah being the Cfe-
nefe Fohi j which we therefore
flatter ourfelves will be a faffi-
cientexcufe for the extraordi-
nary length of this article ; we
fhall endeavour to be more foe*
ciocl in thofe that follow.

caQ

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C !• ^J^e Hifiory of China. 345

can hardly be fuppofed to have flowed from any other fourcc
than from the threatnings, warnings, and dreadful omens,
which the good old patriarch had been a mournful witnefs to,
4aring more than a whole century before the flood : for, tho*
other heathenifh nations not only looked upon all fuch dire
prodigies, but even upon every uncommon phaenomenon, to
be the forerunners of fome public calamities, yet it doth not
appear that they looked upon the former as direfted by the
divine goodnefs to forewarn mankind againft the danger of the
latter : much lefs did they entertain any notion of repentance
being the only effeftual means to avoid it ; chufing rather to
have recourfe to fuch horrid rites and Sacrifices, as %ere ^
mare likely to haften than avert the impending judgment.

Secondly, We find that they had, among their moft va- PropbecUs .
Juable records, fome fignal prophecies of theMeffiah's being ?/*^^^^^'»-
to appear in human flefti in fome of the weftern parts of the^^^^^^'
world ; and which were fo plainly underftood, fo firmly be- ^^^Jr^''^
Jieved, and fo religioufly preferved, that their great philofo-.^' ^/^^^
fher Confucius^ who lived near 500 years before our Saviour, *^^y/^^
could point out the very year of their cycle, or fexagenary, fgj^i„^
in which he was to be born. And we are farther afTured, ^"^^
that in that very year, which was that in which the world's
Redeemer was born, the then reigning emperor Ngai (which
name fignifies viftorious) exchanged it for that of Ping^
peacrfuty or pacific ^ ; from which we may reafonably infer,
that they muft have Ukewife had fome clear notion of the cha-
rafter, and peaceable reign, of that divine perfon ; and it
^as from a firm perfuafion of this prophecy that the philofo-
pher above-mentioned ufed to comfort himfelf with th«
thoughts that the Holy -one, as he ftyled him, was to come
from, or to appear in, the weft *. But how the Chinefe, of
all the defcendants pf Noah^ came to preferve fuch lively
traces of the promifed Mefliah, when aU the reft, and even
the family of Shem^ of whom he was to be born, hardly
retained any notion, till he was more clearly revved, to Abra^
ham and his poflsrity, can no otherwife be accounted for, than
by fuppofing that Noah left fonfe authentic records of it
among them, and that Confucius had been fufiidently conver-
Iknt with them as to be able to find out the year in which he
•was to be born, and the j^rt of the world where he was to
make his appearance. If it be aflc^d, how even iVfoaA could
ib exaftly know the time of his birth, whilft the latter Jevjs^
yAio had much cl^er revelationa concerning it, and we may

7 ^ARTiifi Hift. Simc. lib. iv. p. 149. x. p. i^t * Ibid.
Vid* & K^RCHERj Li ComptBi Du Halqk> & al.

' ^d4

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34^ ne Hijhij of Chma. B. I.

Whence add the Chriftians too, are at foch variance about it ? The an-
ihey had fwcr is eafy, there being a conftant tradition in Noah'^ family,
this lafi. as -well brforc as after the flood, that Chrift was to be bora
either at the very clofe of the fourth, or the entrance of the
' fifth, millenary (L) ; fo that the difficulty among the Chrif-
tians and Jevjs^ about fettling that remsuicable poriod, pro-
ceeds merely from the ditference of their chronologies with
• rcfpeft to the age of the world, of which we have given an
ample fpecimen at the beginning of our antient hiftory f.
fhe anti' If, therefore, the Chinefe could fo exaftly point out that re-
/^Chi- markable epocha, and Ex the end of the fourth millenary {o
ncfcr^o- rightly, all that can be inferred from it is, that they have pre-
nohgy ferved their records more carefully, and in greater purity, at
/^wf to '^^ ^^^^ ^^^ creation to the birth of Chrift, than any other .
h more ^^^^^° ^^ know of, whatever corruption they may have been
pun. fufFered fince to undergo, either to make them tally more exaftly
with the feptuagint chronology, or to give the Chinefe nation
a greater antiquity : for it is hardly to be foppofed they could
have any other rule to fix that epocha by, but the tt-adition
in that patriarch's family, of Chrift appearing in our flefh at
the end of the fourth millenary ; and fince, as it plainly ap-
pears that he was bom exaftly at that year, according to
our Hebrew chronology ; and that, in the very fame year, the
then reigning monarch did, out of regard to his charafter,
, exchange his name of viftorious into that of pacific ; we can-
not but look upon this as a ftrong prefumption that Chinefe
chronology would be found more exaft, and agreeable to our
Hebrewy if it had not been lengthened and disfigured, to
anfwer fome of the finifter ^nds above-mentioned. This is
not, however, the only proof we have to oflEer on that head,

t See before. Ant. Hift. vol. i. p. 142, & (eq.

(L) This tradition, which is law, aooo under the law, and

affirmed by the Jenvs to be as 2000 under the Kfeffii^, after

antient as the promife made to which was to follow hit glo-

Adum after the hX\ (9), is ftoon* rious and uaiverfid eeign of

d«d on i\» creation being imifli- 1000 years, ftyled by them tiif

Mii in fix days, and God refting great fabbath, and by the Chn-

on the feventh ; from wiuch» ttians the millemuum, of which

computing; a day for athoufand we have given an acconpt inth^

years (10), ^hey concluded that antient hiftory of the Jev$

i?he worfd would laft 7000 (11).
9rears, that is, 2000 before the

(9) Gene/, ill. tj. (r©) Sti ii. Feter d dSf. «»/. i» (ll) ^

^»', Slifi, laL lilt ^. 39* '

though

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C I. The tHJiory of CKini. 347

though the propercft place in which it could be mentioned.
The remainder, which we hope will be allowed of much
greater weight and authority, will be better rcfervcd foi a
fubfeqncnt article ; in which we (hall difplay fach farther har-
mony between the Chinefe and Hebrew chronology, from fomc
anthendc fafts recorded in both, as will at once make them
refleft a mutual and furprifmg evidence on each other, dif-
cover the fallacy of the pretended Chinefe antiquity, and of
its boafted agreement with the feptuagint, and enable us to
fix the beginning of their monarchy upon a more rational and
authentic foundation than any hitherto extant.

But, bpfore we difmifs the topic of their excellent reli- Their reli'
gion, laws, ifc. we beg leave to obferve how inconfiftent the gion a
fappofition of its having been foimded by fome of the more fSS^^jf,
remote dcfcendants of Noah muft appear, to any unbiafled Noah ^^-
reader, vdth that purity of their antient worftiip and doc- ^-^ \ "'*
trine, which difplayed itfdf fo wonderfully from the earlicft ''*'''*' ^*
times, whilft all other nations were funk into the loweft
kind of idolatry, the moft unnatural and inhuman rites, and
fcarcely retained the leaft awe or notion of a fupreme and .
over-ruling power. If Noah muft not be allowed to have
gone into China^ but to have fettled any-where elfe amongft
his other defcendants,' how comes it that neither the excel-
lency of his doftrine as a preacher of righteoufnefs, nor his
authority as their common parent, could preferve them from
the general corruption and d^eneracy in theory and praftice ?
And how can a fiew late ftragglers, who, by gradual and long-
contmued migrations, fcarched for new fetdements, be fup-
pofed to have been the only ones who preferved their faith
and manners fo Ipng incorrupt, and lived in a manner the '
moft agreeable to all the precepts and example that fuch an
holy patriarch could have given them, had they been under *
his immediate care and government • ? Is it not more rational
to think that they received their religion, laws, philofophy, *
morality, learning, and way of life, from him; and that it
was their deep regard to his authority that inifluenced this
people to obferve them with that conftant tenacioufnefs, which
Hb&y have ever fince maintained ? whilft^all his other defcend-
Mts (the Egyptians, Babylonians, Chaldeans, Celtes, Scythi'
0tns, 8rc. down to the Creeks and Romans), chufmg rather to
be guided by what they called the light, though noo crfteii

^ Dehoc, vi^. Triot.and Chr. e%ped, ap. 8in. lib. i. Smed*
Kelig. Smar. p. i. c. 18. Niiuhofp ArobafT. partii. Purch*
Pilgrim, lib. iv. &.ali^. ; KsRCHCitSia. Ilkft Mxrtini, ts
pHCfTB^ DuHalob, ^aoallan, & al. fup. cicat

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348

Thir an-
tient cha'
raSersan
§therargu
mint of
Noah be-
ing their
founder*

The Hiftory of China. B, I.

mor« truly the corrupt appetites, of nature, than by hb
excellent maxims and authority^ gradually funk into the moft
extravagant follies, monftrous impieties, and inhuman rites
and fuperflitions, as every reader may fee by the account we
have formerly given of the religion and cuftoms of thofe an-
tient nations, in each of their refpeftive hiftories : but it is
time now to pafs on to fome other arguments.

XIII. The Chinefe records afcribe the invention of their
antient charafters, of which we have formerly given an ac-
count *, to Fo'hi^ and his immediate fucceflbrs ; and we have

* lately obferved, that the antediluvians could not but be pof-
fefled of fome fuch way of preferving and imparting their
knowl^e, of which Noah^ apprifed as he was fo long before
of the approaching deluge, and of his being defigned to re-
people the new world, muft be fuppofed to have made the
beft colleftion. But as thofe charafters, wliatever they were,
could not prove fufficient to anfwer all the variety of ideas
which he had acquired by the different fcenes which the new
world continually offered to his obfervation after the flood, he
muft of courfe be under a necelBty of inventing fome ne;v
ones anfwerable to them. And hence probably proceeded
both the primitive fimilitude, and the accidental difference,
between thofe of the antient Chinefe and Egyptians^ the two
moft diftant nations, not only in point of fituation, but like-
wife with rclpeft to their religion, learning, ifc. whilft the
defcendants ot Shem and Japbet feem to have wholly neglefted
that ufeful art ; at leaft it doth not appear that they had it
among them till the ufe of lettei's was divinely revealed to
Mofes. However, as to thofe antient charafters, or hierogly-
phics, there can be no doubt but that the vaft alterations
which were made on the new world muft have required a
frefh fupply of them ; and who could be fitter for fuch a
taflc than Noah^ who was fo well acquainted with the old
ones ? on which account he might eafily enough be flyled the
inventer of the whole; and it cannot be denied that thofe
afcribed to Fo-hi bear the undoubted marks of a primitive and
ori^nal one.

If, upon the v/hole, therefore, Fo-hi and Noah can be

^ (hewed to be coeval, the invention of tliofe charaflers will
ftill add to the probability of their being the fame perfoo,
only under two diiferent names ; and at the fame time account
for the lingular and even religious regard which the Chinefe
f^ve ever p^d to that way of writing, fince^ in that cafe, they

^ See An^ HifL vplapc. f 153^ &fc^.

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C. I. The Hijhry of Cliini. 349

could not but look oa the author of it ks a perfon dhinely
infpired.

XI V. And hence may alfo have proceeded that furprifing Their reU-^
zeal, and tenacious fondneis, they have -always retained, ^'<^^y^"'-
above all other nations, not only for thdr religion, laws, di- *?^/*^ f^
faphne, ifc. but likewife for their antient cuftoms relating to "^
education, behaviour, drefs^ eadng, drinking, converfation, ^^^^""^^
ceremony, ceconomy, and the like : for it is plain that they ^^j^j^ ^,
look upon all the maxims and rules concerning every one of f^,

them to be plainly either expreiTed or implied in their canoni-
cal books, which they efteem to be of divine authority ; in-
fomuch that their monarchs thought themfelves indifpenfably
bound to obferve them; and thofe are moft celebrated in
their annals, who paid the greateft regard to them. And
under thiis head may we not juftly infift upon that fingular
and extraordinary refpe£i which we have elfewhere obferved
^ is paid by the whole nation, from the higheft to the loweA
' rank, by children to their parents ? This is indeed one of the
dudes the moft ftrenuoufly infifted upon in their canonical
and other philofophical writii^; and the unparalleled in-
ftances we have formerly given of its ftrift obfervance, fully
(hew to what a height they have carried it above all other
people we know or read of : but, whether in this, or in all
other refpefts above-mentioned, how can it be fuppofed that
a lefs audiority than that d the good old patriarch, joined to
a deejdy-rooted confdoufnefs of the efficacy of parental bkflF-
ing or curfinff, fuch as they had feen a remarkable inftance
of in the cafe of one of his three fons, could have ever in- ,

forced fuch a religious and indelible fandlion on all his infti-
tutes, and infpired a whole nadon with fo lafting a r^ard to
them, as even to defpife and hate all the reft of the world for
not obierving them ?

XV. TriE fame may be ui^ed with relation to thdr agri- ^^^^
ailture, the invention of which they afcribe to the fame F#- H^^^
hiy as Mofes doth to the patriarch Noah foon after the^ flood *». ^j^J^"^ ,
From the words, indeed, of the facrcd hiftorian (^^Noah^^^^^^
began to he an ku/bandmariy ar^ as the original imports, b^an

his firft eflays in huft>andry) we may reafonably infer, that the
antediluvians were not much verfed in it ; and therefore his
^ft atteo^pts feem to have been only of the rude and common
kind, as plandng, fowing, ifc: but, by that time he had
travelled through fo many different climates, and variety of
foils, in his flow and gradual migrations towards the eaft,
he might become (b perfeft a mafter of it, as to be able to

* Gen. jx. 20.

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350 - ^e Hijhry pf China. B. I

leare hts defirendants fucfa ufeful ruies and obfenratipo^ as

might juAly intitle him to the honour of being the layentcr

of it.

No'ivbire ^ ^^ ^^ manner die Chinefe records tell us, that Fo-hi

mure tn- left fome fiich excellent direftbns to his fnccefibrs, for the

couraged encouragement and improvement of it ; and that they proved

mndim- fach diligent and ftrenuous obfervers of them, that tb^ ea-

fro'vtit, afl;ed fundry laws, and caufed divers treatifes to be writtes,

far the promoting and endearing it to all their fubjefb. And

ihe reader may judge, by the deicription we have given of

that whole country in a former feftion, to what a degree of

* perfeAion their genius and inde&tigable induftry have boot
xaifed it ; infomuch that no nation under the fun ever cnlti-
tdted it to better advantage, or gave greater encouragement

Tbeir mo- to it, than this. We fhall only add, that even their gteateft

ttarcbs ob- HKMjarchs are not exempted by their laws from putting their

^^^y, hands to the plough ; but, over and above the many imnum-

extreme tt. ^^^ ^^ other favours, they are under a neceffity of grant-

^ iog to the hufbandmen, in times of drought, £unine, and tbe

fike^ are obliged, at fome particular feafons of the year, and

more eipecially foon after thdr acceffion to the throne, to

£veft thcBsfelves of the imperial grandeur, and, in the home-

Jieft rural garb, to perform fome of the loweft exerdies in

itgricukure, as we have eUewhere fhewn c : fb that, upon the

whfile, as no nation ever more dofely followed die Aeps of

iChe £rft poftdiluvian patriarch than this, it can hardly be

fuppofed that a lefs authority than his could have eofonred ib

iftridand long an obfervation of thofe laws which are there

• enabled in favour of that mofl ufeftd arf*.

Tbe for' !XVX. THE^ubjeft of agriculture naturally leads us to ac-

biddingtbe pthfir argument on this head ; viz. that the Chinefe are the

ttfeofnuine only people that we know of, before Mohammed's time, that

^^_ cviar itttjerdifted the ufe of wme, or ever fo leligioufly abfbiined

m^ffiauM. fxpsx it, from the eailieft date of tfadr monardiy down al-

moft to their late conqueft by the Tartars *• This fingula-

ffityhath imfeed been urged by the oppofite fide as an argn-

iment that Noah never fet his foot in the Chitufe territories ;

imcethis branch of hufbandry is there wanting, ^ich that

patriarch is recorded to have made one of his firft eflays ^

but how juftly or judlcioully, let the reader judge. Noah,

irfiilft yet widi his foos, planted a vineyard ; and being tt

thftt thne, as is moft likely, quite unacquaimed with the

^ Soebefoi"^ p. 27, ^'fiec Ka*CKM, Mai-

TINT, Le Compte, & 9L fijpra citat. * lidem ibid.

' Genef. ix. 20.

flrange

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C. I. .^ie Hffiery 4/ China. 351

firange efFefts of its juice, drank fo plentifuUf of it, that it
thiiew him into a deep £bep, in wliich he lay ^vilh his body
(o expofed, that two of his fons were put to no fmall diffi-
culty to cover him with a truly filial decency ; whilft his third
had* mofl dreadful curfe pronounced on him ^nd his poflerity, *
for expofing him 5. If, therefore, there had not been one
Angle vine growing in the whdc Chin^/e empire, could a htt-
^er reaibn be given or imagined, why the good old patrianch
would not fufieTffuch a dangerous plant to be propagatecl
within his dominions, than the dilafler which befel hiAi by
-it, let it have been of what nature it would f . C(»dd he
-exprefs his difpleafure at it in a ftronger manner, than by the
<bteiEi%s he bcftowed on the two former, and the curfe he
vented againfl the latter ? or could any thing be a fboi^er
aaotive for his interdiftiag the ufe of that dangerous liquor
to his defcendants, though Mof(^s hath not taken any n«tioe
jof it ? And indeed to what purpofe would it haitre faeon for
him to have meniioncd it, when he fo well knew that all the
reft of the world, Ws own Mndred not excepted, fhewcd ib
little regard for it, and die CUmfi alone were the only j)eo|ib
that paid a due and Skn& ohedienee to it ? But, what Aill
'more redounds to their honour, and confirms our bj^K^thefis,
Is, that vines ape as much cultivated among them as inanqr
other nation, whatever be pietended to the contrary by the
oppofiti? fide, .and afford as great a variety of the fineft grapes
(M), which they conlent themfelves with eating^elthqr xipe or
-dried, and only abftain from the juice of them.

XVII. The Chinefe are the only people that we know of fy^ Chi-
in the whole world, excepting the ^^oni?/^( who have taken nefei;^
it from them), who, in the ftrufture and dimenfions dF their yJ/r madt

t Sec Ant. Hift. vol. i. p. 268, (L). « Genef. ubi (up.

vcrf. 2.5, & feq.

(M) We are told accordingly refide. Since, therefore, thov

by Mar tint J SmedoyNiiuhoff^ and Chinefe allow themfclves the ufe

others, that the provinces of of other exhilarating and into •

Sban-fi ^ndi Shen-Ji are famed xicating liquors, which are nei-

for the beauty and fweetnefs of ther fo palatable, nor fo ealily

their grapes ; and thofe arc more made, it will be hard to account

particularly celebrated which for their abftaining from fuch

,£rowin the neighboufhood of fine wines, as they might exprefs

the city of Pyngyimg, where out of theirnoble grapes, if it

Tauy their eighth emperor, and be not done upon fome fuch

great promoter of agriculture, religious account as we have

who was a great lover of thenu been ipeaking of.

did, on that account, chufe to

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552, 3'be Hiftory of Chinal. B. I-

Sifter the trading and other vdfels of burden, have rctahied the original
modA of model of the ark. i . They allow them fix breadths to their
• NoahV length, which Mofes tells ns was exafUy the proportion of
ark^ ano- j^ooh's ark ** ; whereas other nations allow theirs only three
ther argu' breadths, except only in fome fmall canoes. 2. They build
^^^& them flat at the head, ftern, and bottom ; wh^eas all other
^^. ^^^^y nations have them fharp. 3. They commonly g^ve them
Fo-bi. ^i^:ice& tiers, or ftories, one over the other, and each oi them
parted by long galleries reaching almoft from end to end, aud
fttbdividal into fmaller apartments of different fizes ; fbme
for flowage of merchandizes, provifions. Ar. and others for
lodgings for paflengers, and thofe that belong to the vcffil ;
all which is likewife exaftly acc(M:ding to the fhrufture of the
ark, and quite different from all other nations. This cannot
but be allowed to be very lingular ; and, though we will not
enter int6 a needlefs contefl, about which of the two methods
be moft preferable, or befl contrived, either for fafcty, expe-
dition, or for carrying the greateft burdens ; but readily own,
-that' the latter is an improvement of the former ; yet wUl it
then be (till mare, hard to concdve how the Chinefe, who are
in no way inferior to any other nation in ingenuity, and have
moreover been inured to the maritime trade from the earlieft
ages of thdr monarchy, came to g^ve all aloi^ the preference
to their old way of building, unleft we fuppofe it to b6 out
of a Angular refpeft they ever paid to the divine model above-
mentioned, and to tjie venerable builder of it (N).

- xvin. !•

^ Genef. chap, vi verf. 14, & fcq.

. (N) In fpeaking of that for- inftitutor ; but which is fo oft*

priilng flru^ure, we know not fuitable and unworthy of the

whether we may not add ano- folemnity and grandeur with

Aer Chinefe cuftom, which feems which it is kept, that the wifcr

very probably to have tak^n its fort juftly look upon it as ridi-

rife from it ; «i;/«, their famed culous, though they cannot fob-

feftival of lights or lanthoms, of ftitutc a»better to it.

which we have taken notice in May we not therefore mort

a former fe£^ion t> as having reafonably conjedure it tohave

been obferved throughout the been inftituted, from the very

whole empire from time imme- beginning of that monarch/i in

morial, and with the greateft memory of the many lampi

pomp and folemnity. We have with which the good patriarcli

there (hewn what a lame and was obliged to enlighten hit

uncertain account fome of their gloomy habitation, daring the

writers give of its origin and twelve melancholy months of

f See before, . /. 25^, fif /r^, ST (D),

hli

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C I. Tbt mjh^ <f China. 353

X¥!H. To all the topics lately urged from the extraordi- Their reli'
imry r^ard they paid to every thing wiiich they thought to be gtousre* ^
derived to thcni from their worthy founder, we may add the g^f'^^^o
facped antiquity and authority which their philofophers and *^^'^ V^ .
literati have dways attributed to their Shu-king, and other ^^"^'"^^'^
CEBonicd books, as weQ as to their other antient records, X/«^«.-
^t dl other nations. Of this we need no greater proof than, f„fjttf^
!*, Tie m^y comments which have been written on them, ,>.
and the high encomiums they have beftowed on their authors,
^rtwrn they «fteemed as men infpired by heaven, and endowed
iwib t divine charaifter and authority. 2. The great veneration
that 18 paid by the learned to. their commentators and expofi-
tors, fadi as M^ncius, Confucius, and others. And, 3dly,
Acj^nerous ufe they have always made of thofe books and
comments, for the good and inftruftion of the people ; and
that moft juflly too, fince there is nothing to be found in
them but wliat plainly leads their readers to their original
fwint^n the great Fo-hi, and his immediate fucce/Tors, without
the uf^al parade of any fuch obfcure, remote, and incredible,
antiquity as we meet with in thofe of the Egyptians, Chal-
demSf and other antient nations : neither did they contain
any thmg but what was coiiducive to make men wifer and
tetter, m proportion to their being converfaht with them. It fhegene*
is tftnefore.Tio wonder if, inflead of fecreting them from rouj ufe
pttSicnew, and locking them up as the great arcana- of their ^^y ^^^
rdigton and government, as was done every- where elfe, they ^'^^*-
cfteemedit their duty and glory to publHh and explain them
to all who had capacity or inclination to dive into them ;
rightly judging, that that was the moft efFeclual way to pre-
teve to thofe antient writings the veneration they fo juftly
Merved ; anl to prevent at the fame time their being abufed
and corrupted by defigning men, as thofe commonly are moft

* De his, vid. Hbrodot. Manetho, Sanchoniath, &aL

Ws confinement in k? And may with them, his fird facrifices to

notthoife (hews, wkich we ob- God, and the like j the remcm-

^d .arc exhibited in fomc of brance of all which, by length

*hofe lasge lanthorns by pup- oi time, became obliterated, as

pcts,and othermachinery, have well as the reafon of the inftitu-

neen originally dcftgned to re- tion of that pompous feftival :

prefent lome of the fcene^ of but thefe conjeilures we fji^mit

^dreadful tranfaAion, fuch to the reader, only as being at leaft

ts his conveying all the living more probable than any which

creatarcs into the ark, feeding have been hitherto offered coi»-

^ttn there, his coming out cerning it.

* *

Mod. Hist. Vol. VIIL ' Z liable

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354

chief ob'
jeSiions a
galnflthofe
nurittngs
cleared
7he pK£' '
Undid fa-
buhufnefs
not afuffi-
cient argu-
ment '
agatnft
their ge-
nuinenefs.

^be Hijlorj of China. ^ B, 1. :

liable to.be> which arepurpofely kept from public fight, and |
can only be admired by the ignorant.

XIX. To what hath been urged' under the laft head, fomc
feemingly confiderable objections have been ftarted, which we
(hall now endeavour to clear up under this.

I. It is pretended, that there are many falfe and fabulous
things inferted in the fix or feven firft reigns, which quite de- i
ftroy their authority ; and tliat the length which is allowed |
to them in their annals is very much difputed, naydifcredited,
by the moft judicious Writers, and 6ven by thofe of that na-
tion. To the firft of thefe it may be eafily anfwered, that
there hath been fcarcely any antient people under the fun
that have not had fomething in their origin, and firft bc^-
nings, which hath the air and appearance of fable, bu^whicb
would carry a quite different afpeft, were we better acquainted
with their mythology, antiquities, idiom, characters, and !
other the like particulars ; fo that all this pretended feries of I
fables may, for aught that appears to the contrary, be intirely
owing to miftake and ignorance, and that in no cafe more \
probably than with relation to the Chinefe, whofe original j
character, language, i;c, were underftood by fo few of their |
learned, and fo liable to be mifunderftood. And as to the I
length of the firft reigns above-mentioned, though they arc
allowed to be much queftioned, or even difcredited, by the
partifans of the feptuagint chronology, or even by feme of the .
Chmefe Writers, out of an affeCtation of a greater antiquity ;
yet if we can prove, from good authority, that thofe which ;
have intervened between Fo-hi^nd Tau do as exaftly tally, as |
iany thing of that nature can do, with the coeval generations j
recorded by Mofes between Noah and Jojhua, whom we fhall j
likewife prove to have been cotemporary with Fo-hi and Tau, i
according to our Hebrew chronology, it is to be hoped that i
this will be looked upon not only ^s a fufficicnt anfwer to the |
objection above-nientioned, but likewife as no fmall confirma- i
tion of the Cbincfc annals, fo far as relates to the length of
thofe reigns ; efpecially as nothing material hath been hitherto
urged againft it, except its difagreement with the feptuagint,
/and C'^'w^ chronology ; according to which, that of aU the
fi'.bfequent dynafties and monarchies is calculated and deter-
mine-], or rather hath been ftretched out and lengthened at
plenfure, as will be more clearly -feen in the fequel. |

' '^Mb^f'EVER, 'bating that one point, in which, to reconcile !
two chronologies together, they, have been forced to fpin out
the period between the reign of Yau and the birth of Chriil,
by near 900 years above what our Hebrew makes it, there
can hardly bt any queftion, but in all other refpcCls the hiftory

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fe u Tie Hifion of China; \g^

is as exaA, Mthful, and well tompUed, as. any extant ; and
more particularly fo with relation to the ferifes pf dynafties,
the names, fucceflionSy and exploits, of eacfi royal family, and ^
refpeftive reign, as Dti Halde hath lately fhewn^^ ; and if, in
this laft xefpeA, it be confefled to be le(s Copipus and particu-
lar than thofe of fome other nations, it will alfo bie found
kfs fabulous, and confequently more to be depended upon,
than they, as W€ fliall fliew in the fequel.

But to this two things are objeAed, which feem to carry* ATo^* the
fome weight ; viz* that their great Cor^iicius^ who is faid tq/cardty o/\
have lived about 500 years before our Saviour, cqmplainedA^J* ««^
much of the great fcarcity of materids^ then to be found io- other rna-
wards compifiig fuch a hiftory as might be worthy to be ^'^^^"*
tranfimtted to pofterity ; infomuch that he was forced to con-
tent himfelf with thefe few obfervations on fdme extraordinary
phsaomena, and fuch other common events as he could find
upon record, inftead of the illuftrious atchievements with
which he wpuld much rather have chofen to have embel-i
lUhed the reigns of thofe antient monarchs, had any fuch been
tranfinitted down to his time. Well, be it fo ; can the ileri-
lityof thofe old records deftroy the credit of thofe fafts
which they take particular UQtice of ? Is it not rather a mark
of their faithfulnefs, that they tran&ait nothing to us that
might be liable to be queflioned ? The characters and ex-
ploits of thofe antient monarchs might have been, as too com*
monly is the cafe, gready exaggerated in their favour 5 "svhere*
^ fuch uncommon phaenomena as ace there recorded^ and
could be obferved by the whole nation, and more (afely fdiei
^pon, were things which they juftly thought more worthy to ^
be tranfinitted to pofterity. We fhaU have occafion, tinder our
Bext head, to inftance in one or two particulars, which will
ftfficicndy fhevv how curious, exaft, andjuft, they were in
obferving and recording fuch kinds of remarkable events^
vhiift they appeared to have been quite negligent of .others,
which we (hould judge more weighty and proper for a national
hiftory.

But, adly, the univerfal deftruftion which Shi^whang-ti All the an-
€aufed to be made of all the Chinefe books and writings which *^^»t re-
Klatcd to hiftory, or any other fcience, except law and phyfic, ^°^^J^^''
H hereotyefted againft the credit of all their antient records; ^L y .
^dfrom this general havock, which happened, according to ^^^l,y^
Aeir chronology, about 213 years before the birth of Chrift, shi. ^
%iaferthat little elfe could be recovered but fome fcraps and whang-ti,
fragments, which were fo liable to be mangled and corrupted
tjthecoUeftors, that no credit can be fafdy given to, or dc-

* See Engl. edit. vofl. i. p. 136, & fcq^. «

Z -a pehdcncc

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35^ ^9 fiifi(ffy «f Chifiju B. !•

pet^enee hAdti{y6Q, th^n; ibfomuch, diat thefe hypercrkks
much qtreftbn >(vbether any of thoTe editions of dian, wlikh
Wert fiftce pttUilhdd, baar ally refiMti^^
though the Chm&f^ atmrii lyflTor^ us, that V'u-4h ^ "^ft^ ^sA
txcmeot fuecdibf tsf the tyrsmt ftfeove«iiieiitiODdd» caalbd tfaon
to be €Tcry*iirtief e fought for, and witten uncw, Mdthitt BttI*
more than feveuty^ree ytMffS after, imd to be tav^i in ^ tfatt
That dt' academies of the empire '• To t^hich it fimy theltsfoie b«
ftruBkn juflly anfvered, that it is- abfwd to fuppofe that ftich an
amli net ufiiverfal deAruftion of book« fo higMy efteoned, coaM evor
h ««/vfr- j^^ch through etery pt6tt <3f fo cXttittfitfe to empire, let the
^'* tyrant's authority hate beett ever fo great, or his e<fi€l «v«r

fo fevcrely executed.

THfc Shu-king, and other canonical books, as well as th*
ll^itSttgs of Mencins, Coffudus^ and other gr^t ph&^^i«rs,
trene Md in too great efteem, to be fuppofed to have been
thus tamely given up to the flames, in e^ery piwiBGe, and
by every owner of them. It b much «Aore ftafonable to
think, from the ihoft fjp«ce of time it took up to have At
grcateft part of them re-poblifticd, and *lperf(wi, that a good
humber of cfiipia were pieferved ititire, either in fottie of At
remotdl provinces, or, at leaft, in fome of thofe petty king-
doms, which were only tributary to, <» independent on, Mm»
Much more unfikely is it, that the many other Idngdooia
\Vithout the limits of die empire, fome of which were vet^
cbnfidertdrfe, and among whom thofe venemWe wridii^ were
held ih eijual ^jftcem, ihould all tfens bafely jofe ki to exe-
crable a deiign. SM^whang-fi's whrfe rwgn, which laftcd
thirty-three years, could hardly have fuffiotd for the dlfco*
very of ftrch a vaft tiumber of vohimes, fcatttit-d fer and WKff,
^thout, as wdl ^ withhi, his domiifions, much lefe to have
fenced i3iem out xsf their owners Tiands ) how much more fo,
tf we cowfideir that his edift did not come out tiH the latter
J/I thofe ct^ of his reign, as m4H be feen iii the fequel ? Let it tten
books- re- be but fuppofed, that two 0£ three auAenttc copies were
cohered prcferved intire,. either within or without his empire, and
foon after. alFterwards purdiafed by Vwiiy would tliey hot have been
fofRcient not only to have fupplied the empire wJA a Qjeedy
and copious fetof ncW ones, but fikewife to have prevenied
thdr being mutH^ted or tx>rruptcd by the tranfcribers <i
them (N) > Thus

^ See Martini, Dv Halde, at;4 An. Hift. vol.xx. p. 15J.
&feq. &(D).

(N) With refped to the ca- following remarkable ciraim*
ponical Shu'kwgj and its recO- ftance : that an old man, named
lery, their records memion the Om^ofeng, who ,was ftill alive

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C i# Tii Hiftory ef China. . 357

Thus far thca we xxwy fairly cx)ncliKk> that ikAih^ oi The nature
th« two above-^ncntioned objeftions, plaullble as they mdy ff their
appear at firft, can be of weight fuffideut to inv^date the ^^f^'*^^-
authority of thofe canonical and other valuable books, much
le& the credtt of the antient hiflory, which, abating ibme (ew
ieeming^exa^erated encomiums on their founder, and his
three or four next fucoeflbrai contain little elfc than an ac-
count of f<;»ne preternatural 'or remarkable events, which are
recorded to have happened in the fubfpc^^uent reigns ; and
from which we can only infer, that the writers were more
diligoit in obferving, and tranfitiitting, fuch uncommon things,
than curious xx% enrich their hiftories with the exploits, whe-
ther real or ^bulous^ of their antient nionarchs.

Amongst that number, n^ have ventured to rank that Confu'. '
remarkable record concermng Chrift, and the year, and part <^>"s'j >•'•*
erf the world, he was bprn.in : for it can hardly be fuppofcd, ^^^^^^^^
that ConfuctHs had it by immediate infpiration, which he doth ^l^^P ^^
aot appear ever to have pretended to, but to have repeated it "^ '
frequently, as a comfortable promife, handed down to, and
well underftood by, all the learped of his nation, both before
and after him, as may be. plainly inferred, from what we lately •
. obfisrved of the reignicg monarch, at the time of Chrift*^
birth, changii^ his name ; and from what we have formerly
mentioned, dL the Emperor Ming-ti's fruitkfs ambafly mto
India, in fearch of that holy and miraculous perfon *, about
iixty-four years after. If therefore we fupppfe Fq-hi tg hJlVQ

• Sec before, p. 109, & (G). & 345, & feq.

when.fhe fearch was made aAer been recovere4« together with

the loft bopks, did boaft of the writings of Confucius and

Jtiaving that one intirely by Mencius, fo foon as the reign of

heart; upon which he was im- Hiao-kingf Fen-ti's fucccffor,

mediately ordered to pen it and were all p^iblifhed afrelh in,

down, according to the beft of that of Hia-ou, about fcventy-

)ms memory. He did fo ; and, hyt years after the burning of

opon its being afterwards eom- the old ones. We omic fome

pared with the original, newly other frivolous objedlions urged

recovered, they were found to againft the authenticity of thefe

agree in every thing, except in new books, by fome membera

fpme few words, which, never- of the French academy , an^

thelefs, made no difference in which the reader will find fully

the fenf^ (i). We arc told anfwered by the author laft

by the "^famc author, that quoted, in his letter tp thcmoiv .

die five books called iuf/f^ had that fubjed (z).

(i) See tb* Colteff, o/Lettrei edjfijntt & curieuf, vol xxi. ^ izi. (^ U^

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•g8 ne Hiftory of China. B. I,

|)cca poftcrior to Noah, it cannot but appear very probable,
that he received that noble prophecy from him, as a matter
of the higheft importance, and worthy to be tranfmitted, as
it really was, with the greateft care, to all his defcendants,
down even beyond the Chriftian acra. But, if it be proved,
by any authentic faft recorded in the Chinefe annals, and con-
iSrmed by the authority 6f the Old Teftanient, and the ife-
brew chronology^ thftt thofe two wcrecotemporary, and con-
ifequently, from all that hath hitherto been urged, were moft
probably one anil the fame pcrfon, under different names,
then may we reafonably hope, that all this uQited evidence
will appear to every unbiaffed r^der, not only to amount to

Ibmething more than a bare probability of Noat's being the
bunder of the Chinefe monarchy, but likewife to afford us a
much firmer footing for jTettling the beginning of it, than any
that hath hitherto been offered, or thought upon : and that
is wJiat we fhall now^ God willing, endeavour to do, under
the following hc^d, ^itb. which we fliall conclude this fec-»
. tion.
Noah and X'X. Tif E faft on '^hiph we defign to fix the main balls of
Fo-hi ' thp foundation of the Chinefe monarchy, and antient chrono-
frowed^ logy, is that furprifipg one recorded in their annals to have
from an happened fomc time within the reign of Yau^ their feventh
authentic jjibnarch from Fo-hi^ in words to this efTeft, ' that the fun did,
jr^* ^? not go down during the /pace often days"^; and which, com-r
cotTJa/^" P^^^^ ^'^^ *^^^ miraculous one mentioned in the book of
* ' Jofhua n, will, we hope, be made evidently to appear to be,
in all reipefts (excepting the length of its duration, which
will t>e eafily accounted for in the fequel), the very fame, if
it can but be fairly proved from the Ch'\nefey as well as thi
Hebrew chronology, that that monarch, and the Jenjuijb ge-
neral above-named^ were cotemporary, It is true, indeed,
that this fupernatural ev^nt, as it is related in the Chinefe an-
nals of that prince, hath been fingl^d out, by feme of the
oppofite fide, to ridicule the vanity of their obfervations, and
expofe the pretended falfhood of their antient records ^. Ne-
verthelefs, fince the miraculous phsenomenon recorded in the
book of Jofhua, hath been fo fully proved, from the exprefs
word^ of the facred hiftorian, and other corroborating argu-
ments, tp have be?n (pot fuch an uncommon lucr^ mock-
fun, lucid cloud, or aurora borealis, ?is Maimonidcs^ Spinofa^
a:mong the Jews, GrotiuSy te Clerk, and others^ among the
Chriftians, haVe endeavoured to reprefent it, but) a real and

« Martini, Hift. Sinic. fub Taus, " Josh. x. 12. &

feq. Sec Shvckford Connect, vol. i. p. 29, ^ feg. ' ® See
AiJticntHift. vol. xxj p, 151.

fupc^t

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C. I.' The Hiftory vf China. ' ^ Z5B

iupernatural folfUce, obtained by the prayer of the Jewirti
heroP; and which muft of confequence have been equally
obfervable in all thofe eaftern parts, where that luminary had
only pafled their meridian fome few hours. If it can be made
to appear, from the joint teftimony of the two chronologies
above-mentioned, to have happened much about the fame
time, or, which is tantamount to it, that the diftance of time
between Noah and Jojbua is much the fame with that which
the Chine/e records put between Fo-hi and Tatr, we may juftly
hope, that the mutual light and evidence which thofe two
hlAories refleft on each other, will be allowed to carry a much
better authority for our producing that extraordinary phae-
nomenon in favour of our hypothefis, than any thing that
hath been hitherto urged by the oppofite fide can do, to ex- •
plode and ridicule it.

Now, the remarkable phsenomenon recorded by JoffniaThe miruT
happened, according to the Hebrew chroncdogy,. in the yczr'culouj
before Chrift 1451, and of the flood 8917 ; of thefe, NoahMpce in
fived 356 'J ; fo that there elapfed only 547 years between that Jo^uaV
patriarch^ death and JoJhua\ folftice. Within which period, ^f'^^' '^^ •
Mofes reckons feven generations; that is, from Abralmm/^/"^ '^^^
who, according to Archbifhop Ujher^ was born two ^^^^^ conied in
after Noah's death, and Jojhua exclufive ; viz. in the firft y^u'^
year of whofe generalfhip that bleffing was obtained. Thefe reign.
are, i . Abraham ; 2. Ifaac ; 3. Jacob ; 4. Levi ; 5. Kohath ; The length
6. Amram\ and 7. Mofes^ Jqfhua's immediate predeceflbr. t//^^^^-
Juft in the fame manner the Chinefe annals reckon feven reigns f ^'^^ he^
between fo'hi and Taity incluTive ; viz, about the latter end ^^"^
di whofe reign, the fame phaenomenon was obferved in China, j ^
Thefe, with the length of their refpeftiv^ reigns, are fet down •'^ , ?^'

ac follows i

Shtn-nong^ glias Xin-nwig —
Whang'tiy alias Hoang-ti —
ShaU'hau, alias Xao-hau —
ChwenrhyOf alias Chuen-hius
Ti-ko, alias Cous

3-
A'
5'

6, Chi — -^ ^ -r ,^ —

„ . , fzveen Fo-

years, ^l ^«^

Yau, near.

140

100

480

the fame •

P Sec the Ant. Jewilh Hift. vol. iii. p. 46^ •--474. ^ Gen.
i^id. Vid. & SwucKf ORD Coaned, ubi fup.

Z 4 • AncJ

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gfio vie Hi0^ ff CKm. B. I.

And 7. Tlz8» m fome year of whofe rrign, the aao^ift

doth not fay whicbi the fame phaeoom^oa was obfenred ki

Both from All thefe reigns sodded together, amount to 480 years;
the Chi- which period falling fliort <^ the 597 years, which elap^
nefe ^nd from Noah to Jojbua^ by fcventy years, doth naturally lead
Jlebrcw u$ to conclude, that th^ folftice happened in the 67th year c4
€br^ohp that monarch's rei^ ; which bdng but the firft of the admt-
niflration of Jqfhua, brings die number of thefe reigjas, and
of the Mo/mc generations above-mentioned, much vpon an
equality as to number and duration. So that, by this dme,
the reader may <jafily perceive the modves whidv have in*
duced th^ ftidders for the Septuagint, and fuch of the Ckiruffo
writers as were ambiUous to raife die andquity of tbdf na-
tion beyond its true bounds, to complain of the uncertaffity
. and brevity of this period, and to cry down the/ anna^ of it^
^ ^s of no authority : and all that needs to furprife us is, that

they have ndt taken the £une pains to fbretch it, as they liav^
done that from Tau to the birth of Chrift, to the exa6l ftan*
dard rf that chronology. But, it is likely, they never took
notice how exaftly it coincided with that of the Hebrew , and
therefore contented themfelves with condemning it, in th^
whole, as dark, uncertain, and not to be depended upon, if
it was not rather fom^ judicial infatuation, that made them
overlook fo material a point. For nothing can more clearly
V ftiew the impofbire of this new- invented chroncJogy, than
,the fmgular agreement above-obferved oi the antient Chineji
chronology, and our Hebrew one, with rcfpeft tq the num-
ber and length of thofe generations and reigns, and its vafl
difagreementfrom thence downwards to the birth di Chrift.
fhtun- ^^ that as it will, it is flili well for us, that we have the.
queftiou' length of thofe reigns conveyed by one of thofe partHans,
ake au' a,nd who cannot therefore be fufpefted of having altered any
thority of thing in them, but m aft be reafonably fuppofed to have faith-
the for- fully copied them, as he found them in the Chinefe records,
^^^ and as. he himfelf afTures us he did. Neither can it, with any

reafon, be fuppofed, that either he, or any of his fraternity,
would have tranfmitted to us fuch a fupernatural event, as
that we have been ihfifting: upon under this head, unlefs it
had beea thus circumllantiaDy mendon^l in fome of thofe
authentic records they were allowed to confult, fince fuch a^
impoflure could not ferve any other vifible end, except, per-;
haps, that of corroborating die evidence ot Jo/bua*s miracle;
and that could not be done^ but at the cxpencc and overthrow
• of their chronolojgy.

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C I, fie tiifi$ry' of China, jiSi

FaR, i£ the foUUce mentioned in Jojhua^ and in the
Chineje annals, be allowed to be the .fame, it n^uft fallow,
from the lift of thofe reigns we have given above, as well
as firom the authority of the Hebrew chronology, that the
Emperor Taw, in whofe i*cign it happened, muft have aC*
cended the throne Jn the year of the flood 8^30, or 15 19
• years before the birth of Chrift; whereas the Chine fe and'
Sepiuagint chronotogy place the commencement of his reign
in the year 2357, or, acgorcfing to Du Halde^ 2327, before
Chrift ; making it thereby, the one 8'96, and the other 90^
years older than the Hehrew, or indeed than it ever can bQ
proved to be by any other evidence, than the precarious autlp-
rity of the two chronologies above-mentioned, and the pretended
calculation of a feweclipfes to corroborate them ; all which have
been fo fully exploded by this time, and by much better penS|^
that it were necdlefe to fay any more on that fubjeft.

However, the fixing the bafis of the Chineji chronology The reign
on the year of this miraculous fo!flice, and the authority 6(0/ Yza
our Hebrew f will (befides the evidence it bears againft that pro*ved
of the Septuagint) prove of twofold benefit ; viz. Firft, As ^^^ {^*^
\t will bring down the reign of Tau much nearer to the times '^^ '^ .
in which Fouauet^ Mnitrrot, Fovnnond. and other learned mo- * ^

dems, have endeavoured to fix it, and upon a much more '
pnquefBonable authority than hath been hitherto oftred by
any of them. And fccondly, It will, by the help of the table
jof the feven firft emperors above-mentioned, enable us to
trace that iprionarchy oack to its very foundation, and fettle.
,the begining of it upon a furer footing than any hitherto at-
tempted. For if Mah or Fo-hi reigned there 1 1 5 yean,, iand
his fix immediate (uccefTors 4.80, and if the folftice happened
m the fixty-feventh year of Tau's reign, all which m^^ up.
662 years, it will bring back the firft year qf that founder's^
^eign to that of the flood 235, and 21 14 years before the
birth of Chrift ; to all which may be added, that as he is recorded
to have lived 350 years after the flood, if he feparated himfelf,
as it is probable he did, from his rebellious offspring, about •
the time of their defeftion and confpiracy in the plain of
Sbinaar, which happened, as near as can be conje6tured»
about the feventieth or eightieth year after, or a few years -
before the building of the tower of Babel^ it will follow, that
be fpent very near 200 years in his migradon from that place
to the Chinefe territories, and fettling his colony there, before
he became thdr monarch, and laid the foundation of that
empire. So that the whole chronology of Noab^ and his de^
fcendants, from the flood to the year of the folftice, or fixty«
ieventb («f jTo^'a r^, may be ^Jcarly fiated \ as follows :

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S6z The Hifioty of China. B, I.

1. Noahy called by the Chinefe^ Fo-hi^
juftly offended at the impiety of his rebel-
offspring, feparated himfelf from them a
little before the building of the tower of
Bahel\ and, fleering his courfeeaft wards,
at the head of a feleft number of adherents,
after 200 years peregrination, fettled him-
felf, and them, in one of the northern pro-
vinces of China * — - — — — — ^

Here, having fettled his colony, and efta-"
bliftied among them the religion, laws, and
government, and imparted to them all the
branches of learning which he had received
from his antediluvian anccftors **, he died,
in the 1 1 5th year of his reigii, and 950th
of his life % and was fucccded by — — _

2. Shin-nongf alias Xin-nung, who great-'
ly improved thofe arts and fciences left be-
hind by Noah ; and, after ^ reign of 140
years, left th^ crown to ** -r- — ?--

3 . Whang'ti, alias Hoang-th ^^^ inventor
of the Chinefe arithmetic, and other arts.
He reigned 1 00 years, and was fucceeded by

4. ShaU'haUy alias Xao-haUy who reigned
eighty-four years, and left the crown to ^r^

5. Chrwen-hyo^ alias Chuen^hioUy who
reigned fevcnty-eight ypars, and was fuc-
ceeded by — — -r- — — —

6. Ti'koy alias Cous^ who reigned feventy
years, and was fucceeded by* -^ -^ — r

7. Chi, who, after a reign of eight years,
was depofed, and the cro\yn given to his
brother — -y- — — -— — —

8 . TaUy in the fixty-feventh year of whofe'
reign, according to the Hebrew chronology,
happened the miraculous foUlice, mentioned
in the book of Jojbua *, and in the Chinee
annals, though without any year fpecified \

• Compare Genes, xi. y Sc feq. and ^rt. iV. p. 323> & f<q»
*» Ibid. art. VIII. p. 337, & feq. « Conf. Gen. ix. 38. &

Martini, ubifup. 1, i, {whFo-hiy Du HalD€, & al. ** W.
ibid. {\xh Sbin-nong, * Josh. x. 12. '' Martini, &al.

fab Tau. Yid, ^ Shuckfqrj>, p)>ifij(p* Sc v^. iii. p. 63, & Teq.

Thvj

Year of
theflon).

ehriii,

23s

2114

350

i9$>

490

185?

59°

»7S?

674

1 67 J

752

1597

822

1527

830

1519

897'

145*

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C. X. ^e Hijtory of Chba: 363

Thtts far, then, we hope, we have made it fufficiently ap*-
pear, both from the teftimony of the anticnt Chmefe rtcacisi
and from the more unqueftionable authority of the Old Tefta*
ment, and Hebrew chronology, that Noah and Fo-A/, as well
zsTau and Jojhua^ were cotemporary ; fo that, if the length
of the reigns preceding that of Tau, as taken by Martini ojiu
of the Chinefe annals, may be depended upon, which we have
no reafon to doubt of, feeing they fo exactly coincide with the
length and number of the generations which flouriflied within
the fame period, according to the Mofaic account, we (hall
then have the firft year of Tau's reign, and the iiril year of
the foundation of die Chinefe monarchy, fixed upon a furer .
and more authentic bafis than hath been hitherto offered, or
perhaps thought upon, if the joint evidence of thd Chinefe
records, and the authority of the facred hiftorians^ and He-^
brew chronology, may be allowed to be fuch. By this m^n$
the period of Chinefe hiftory, from Tau to the birth of Chrill,
as handed over to us by the advocates for the chrondc^
of the feptu^gint will be cut off (horter by almoft, if not
above, 900 years of its pretended antiquity, and brought
down to an aera not only more conforaiable to Scripture and
reafon, but to all the collateral tcfUmonies which can be
drawn from the hiflory of other antieut nations.

However, as the whole evidence of what hath been urged Some fur*
under this lafl head chiefly depends on the probability of the therfrwfi
miraculous phapnomenon, obferved in China and Palefiin^^ be^'^T ^*^
ing one and tl^e fame, we ihall to the chronological, ^nd^th^enome-^
other proofs already urged, add a corroborative remark oa? ^ ^^^^
two, not unworthy oar readers notice.- The firft is drawn *hejame^
from the very exprefBon ufed by the Chinefe annalift, that the
fun did not go down for ten days^ or, as Martini tranflates it,
fol decern diebus non occidit ^ ; which plainly implies, that that
luminary was then in his declenfion with refpeft to China^ as
it mufl: certainly have been, confidering the weflern fituatio^
of the land of Canaan^ where it flood fliil in its full meri?
dian ^. The fecond 1$ taken from the dread which the Chinefe
hiftorian tells us the whole nation was in of a general conflagra-
tion ; and fundry fuch dreadful difaflers which he really affirms
to have happened in fome of thofe countries which were more
expofed to the vertical rays, and of a nature eafily inflamma-r
ble, fuch as heaths, forefts, iic, ; or by reafon of their concave
figure, as vallies,whofe cavities formed fo manykinds offocufes,
eafily fct on fire by the continuance of thofe perpendicular
j^ys. That the celebrated fablp of Phaeton's {tttkig the

f Ubifupra, fubYau. * Jofli. x. 13.

I m Wprl4

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j54 I'h Hi/lory of Om^ B.L

Some cort' WJrtd on fire had its origin from fbme iixcb extraorfin^
fagraiioHs cofiQ^ratiofi, is hardly to be qndtioiied ; and bov many cf
frobahlj that fort Blight liavc b^ occaiioned by this fnpematund fcl*
€au/ed ky (^^ ^^^ canfed tliofe many barren and fandy de&rts ivliicfa
''• He fcattcrcsd in j4Jia and Jfric^ by confiimii^ all that wu

combuftible by its intenfe heat^ and leaving nothmg behind
The famed but caldned fand and afhes \ And might not tiiat lao^ and
ene of the dreadfiil one which haj^Jencd on tb& Pyrenees, and from which
Pyrenees, they took that namei, be owfa^ to the £une caule ? .It is m*
deed Md by the Spanijb biftorians to have happoied about the
year ci the flood 729 S that is, about 168 years be6xc the
epocha we are upon : bnt that is not fo extracHrdinary an ana^
chronifm for a Spanijb chronologer, at fo remote an epocha^
as to make us doubt of the probability of that dreadful firs
being cau^ by Jojbua'^ folftice ; cfpcdally ¥ we conCder
how nearly that vaft ridge of mountains lay expofed to the
vertical rays of the f\in, and how both the tops and vaUtes
were covered with pines, and other inflammable tinnber and
combuflible matter ; and accordingly the hiflorians above-
mmed tell us, that they continued burning during iqme
weeks ; and that the heat was fo intenfe, that the very m^als
and minerals boiled out of the bowels of the earth ^ If it
be aflced how the land of Canaan, ftiU more expofed to the
vertical fiin, and almoft as mountainous and woody^ could
efcape the like difafter ? it hath been already anfwered, i&
the antient Jewijb hiflory, that it might cafily do fo by the
friendly interpofition of thick heavy clouds, loaded wth rain
and hail,' brought thither by the &me IMvtne Pnmdence
which conduced the whole miraculous tranfeftion ^ ; and ac-
cordingly we read, that fuch vafl fliowers of the latter fl^
upon the Canaanitifh army, as annoyed them more dian the
weapon^ of their enemies ".
fhe dif Tk(ere remains now only that we endeavour, accordh^ ta
ference her our promife, to account for the diflerence between the 6aed
t^eentbe ^^^ Chinefe hiftorian with refpeft to the dura,don of the fol-.
be^C^ ftice in quefHon j the former affirming it to have lafted no
nefe hi/Io- ^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^ natural day, or 7.4 hours, over and above the
rian as 7o ^^"^ ^^^ ^^ elapfed from fun-iifrag to the mid-day, where
its dura- *^ bcgan ; and the latter having lengthened it to 10 whole
4ion, ac^ days. But, firfV, Jit wiU be hp^rc r^dily ^pranted, diat the

counted ' *

for. 4 Vid. AjiisTOT. de Mirabil. Aafcult Dion. SicuL. lib. ri

^ Vaseus Chronic. Garibai, & al. Vid, & Antient Hiftory,
vol. xviji. p, 511. ' Arist. & Sicul.'^c al. fapra citat.

. ? See Jewirti Hift. vol. iii. p. 468, (I). 473, & feq. & (M). » Ih,
Vid. ^ Jolb. X. U*

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gratt conftcrniidoa wkich the Chin^ were la ought make the
tine appear miKtb feogtr tbao it really was, efp^ially as they
had dft»a no other wsay of meafuiiog the day than by the
oocvfe of that Inmsoftry. Tliey might likewiie compute ir$
«}iinition from the grONKfehOjF.fome i^ourite pbats or Bowers,
withoot coofidering th^i.sn ,eKtj:$K¥rdji|Jury 24 hour'« fuo
imight eafiiy accderateit Jnjife^ teofoU proportion of jsl oaxu-
ral day. Biit« wnto'v^idUufi Ch^t, it is lupeU Icqo^a, tha( all
iMtionB m tfaofe remotb times >9iere wonf; to cUvade }Jae day iijito
equal prntioo^ whkh they commoi^i^i^ watches, or by
equhraleoc Barney oopfiAuig, with foaie^ of two j-.with oti^f{9>t
of tihtee^ or more hoiars* It is theN^foFe^tyery probable 4^^
theoriginal records meotiffotd ody tea watch^ $ and that^ io
proce&ixf time (ddier through the carekAhefs of the tran*
nriberSy or die acddenml erafore of a firoke or dot in the
cfaaraAer or hieroglyphic which difti^gui^b^ a watch from
a day; or, which may be as likely as the other two, thrq' a
Aaitmral atfe&atiQii, no le& common to the Cbihefe than to
tlie reft of the worlds of aaagnifying the wonder), thefe 10
"Watches came to fe chained into fo many days. Thus far,
then, any «f thofe three ways wiU natur^y enough account
fot the diilbviice aboVe-^meiltiORed ; but nothiog can do fa
for fuch a Supernatural phamomeiion being thus circnmftan-
tiatly recorded in the Ghmt^e annals, and under a reign io
exa&Iy comcicfing v4th that of Jojhua^ according to the moft
aathentic . Hebrew chroncdogy, nnkfs we will allow it to b^
the fame folftice that is mentkeoed in both records.

By this thne we may flatter ourfelves that the notion of
Noah's (etthng in China^ and foundi^ a monarchy there^ will
appear to every candid reader fo far from abfurd^ mor^rmis^
mdcmatary io the re^on and nature of things ^ as fome wri- . -
ters^have thonghtfit to ftyk it, that it may be fairly allowed
to be confifteat both with that i^d our Scripture account and
chronology, how mudb foever it may clafli againft the feptua^
{pnt, and fome pretended calculations of edipfes of the Chi'
nefe miffionari^, both whfch have been juftly rejcfted by the
moft judicious writers of this century °.

One objeftion, however, we muft endeavour to clear up, Another
before we clofe this fcdion, as it Jias been fb ftrenuoufly urged objeSion
againft our hypothelis ; it is taken from the following wo^ an/wergd.^
of Mofes : Thefe (tliat is, the defcendants of Shem^ Ham, and
Japhet, and their defcendants) are the families cf the fans of
Noah, after their generations, in their nations ; and by theft

® See Maiorot. Couplet, Fourm. Fouquet Costard,
& aL i\x^. citat. & Ant. Hift, vol. Xx/ p. no, & leq. 1 50, & feq.

luere

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^66 Tbt Uifiafy of Oixa. B.I4

were the nations £vided in the earth afttr thefiood^^ Frwn
which it is concluded^ that if the earth, certainly Cbina^ nuift
have been peopled by fome c^ thofe defendants, and not by
Noah himfelf, much lefs by any new offifiring he may have
had fince the deloge, of wli^ NbfuiodtkWA make die kaft
mention. The nHsfortone i», dull Ihofe aides make no
fixttple to take the wordr tbi mtHkf ot the v^boU- earthy ddier
in tbeir moft excenfive, or in a nore refifsdned iignification,
^ beft fates with thdf mrpo(e. Noah n^ght b^et a new
^SapAng after die ftoM, and with it people the empire of
Ctbia ; and that hi no-ways cla(h vdth the words of Mofes
rfx)te-qiioted| Who, by the earthy might intend no more than
thofe ramilies of whofe various iettledoents he was then ^v-
ing an account, without concerning himfelf ferther about
thofe who migrated towards China^ the peopling of which, if
he knew any thing of it, Was quite foreign to his de(ign»
However, the reader may call to mind^ by what hath been
ibrmerly faid on that head, that this obje£ti(xi doth not at all
concern our hypothefis," which only fuppofes No(Uj to have
feparated himfetf from the reft of his ddcendants at the land
of Shinaar, the place of their confpiracy, and to have led
with him as many as he could diflkade from joining with them
in it. Children he probably had after the flood, as hath
been already obferved, but thofe might be but few in compa-
rifon of thofe who followed him into the eaft ; fo th^t Mofes's
^ords, the earth, may be ftill taken here in the largeft fenfe,
without glancing the leaft contradifHon on our hypothcfis,
feeing China will be found to have been as efFeftually peopJed
by the dcfcendants of Shem, Hant, and Japhet^ as any other
part of the globe.
ttow Mo- If it (hould be afked how Mofet came in this cafe to know
fcs ceuld fo exaftly how long Noahlvitdi after the flood, the moft ob-
inoii^ the vious anfwer is, That he might do fo, as he did many other
/w^/^ of particulars relating to the creation, the antediluvian world,
.. !?*^ ^ the deluge, 6fc. by immediate infpiration ; it not being at all
'-^*^* beneath the dignity of that facred hiftorian to take notice^

that, the Divine Providence having determined to fliorten the
life of man, the patriarch Noah was the only one of all the
poftdiluvrans who attained to the longevity of his antedilu''
vi^ anceftors.

However, fettlng afide infpiration, it is not stt all impro-
bable that he might learn that remarkable particular from th^
Midianites, among whom he had lived forty years, and the
daughter of one cf whofe princes, or priefts, he had mar* •

^ Cenef. x. ultt

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C I. The Bipry of China; ^ 367

ried *». Some of thofe fons of Abraham by Keturah,. wto
were font by him into the eaft % might by this time have ad'*
vanced fer enough towards China to have fettled fome com*
mercewith it by the help of thofe great caravans that were
^ then much in vogue in all thofe eaftern parts ; and by that
^ means have been informed of many curious things relating to
that empire, among which none could better defervc their
notice and obfervation thaii the name and extraordinary long
life of its celebrated founder.

We have now quite gone through all the topics we had to
offer in favour of the hypothefis of Noah being the fame with
the Chinefe Fo-hiy and the founder of that noble empire j a^d
hope that by this time we have at leaft raifed it to a greater
d^ee of probability than it hath hitherto attdned, as ;well
as fixed its chronology upon a firmer bafis than any yet at-
tempted ; by which m^ns a way may he farther opened for
greater improvements, and more curious difcoveries. It were
to be wifhed that the fixing the beginning of their monarchy,
and of the reign of Tau, upon fo authentic and unqueflion-
able a faft as the miraculous folilice above-mentioned, and
backing it with the authority of the Hebrew and .antient Chi-
nefe chronology, could prove of ftill farther fervice to us in
reiftifying the remainder of that long period, from the* reign
of Tau to the birth of Chrift. But that, we fear, will hardy ^^e mpof-^
ever be found prafticable, till we can have recourfe to more/^^^/^J' e/"
authentic records, if any fuch be ftill extant, than thofe which '"^^j^?^
have been as yet tranfmitted . to us by the Chinefe miifionaries, ^^^^"J- ^
and on which the length of the dynafties and reigns mani- ^V ^ ^*"
feftly appears to have been defignedly ftretched out beyond all Lo^Yvm
due bounds in favour of the feptuagint, and in order to fiHl to Cbrifii,
up the extravagant excefs of 900 years, which that chrono-
logy allows to this period above our Hebrew one ; fo that,
upon the whole, our readers muft be content to receive the
lift of the (iibfequent reigns from Yau to Chrift on the fame
foot, in point of length, as thofe miflionaries have been pleafed
to tranfmit it to us, and with the difference and difagreement
which are ftill found between their feveral accounts of them.

The Chinefe reckon not their long periods b/centuries, as Chinefe
we and other nations do, but by Kya^fees^ or cycles of fixty 9'^^*^'» ^^^
years; the invention of which is attributed to one of their ^^^^^^jf'^*
great mathematicians 'named Ta-nau, who was one of the . ^^
chief minifters to the celebrated emperor fVf;ang-tis They^'*^^
ftyle thefe cycles Lo-Jbc-wha-kyay that is, the conftruftion 6f

9 Vide Exod. ii. 2J, & feq. A6ls vii. ^o. * Genof.

XXV. 2, & feq.

fixty

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36$ . rh€Hitidry0fC3i»: B. I.

Cxty ^•nrcriions t, or3!tears(0). NeverthcIcfefcweialietiBci
inodenis are of opiobn, that ibis method of axnpvtkig 1^
cydes is of much more fece»t date, though they own k to
tbt firft ^ ^^^ ^ impoflible to aTcertaia the tune or its inveniiQEi : be
<yck Sf- diat «s it win, one of them ri^tiy obferrcs •, that there is
ferentiy feme diflference among the Chtnefe annalifts about Ae cobi-
fixed in tnenccment of ihat computadoa ; fome b^oniog it from ihe
theirs And firft year of Jfhang-tT% reign *, agreeably to a Ckin^ treatife
ether an- unittwi tJtt t3)at fubjeft ; and others at the dg^th year oi it "*
uak. Du ffalde differs ftill more from them, who begias his firft
cjde atthe firtt year jof the ceign of Tau^ bj whidb he hath
retrenched no lefs than five cycles and forty fears from die
t^inrfe dnonology, and introduced therebj a doulde oosfii-
lion into it ; viz. firA, T>y leflening the numhsr of ^^dcs;
and, fecondly, by dating his jirftirom the fiiA ftearof that
monarch's reim, which faUs on the 4 ill: of the fdtth cydc
of tjie other chronolqgers ; but as he j>laialy owas that be
hath taken dl th^t trouble merely to i-econdk his own chro-
nology to that of the feptuag^nt ^^ we feall leave iiim to go en
alone in his new track. In order to avoid leading our readers
into "die like perplexity ; and follow that more plain and
beaten one which Martini^ and his predeceflbrs, have trodden
before; and in die fubtequent chronology^ and lift of 010a'
archs, "begin tjie Chineje cycle at the firft year ©f the empemr
Whtxng'fl, In die like manner w£ fhaJl fct down in the mar-
gin the refpeftive years of the cycle, in whidi any rem^iabJe
tranfaSion happened^ and in the fame orxler as they have done.

t Sec Couplet Pradfat. in Hift. "Sinic. Du Halde fob
Whang-ti, & al. fup. citat. • Fouiuaon7, ubi ftpra,

pi405, &feq. ^ Martini fab Hoang-ti. CoupxET,<k

sL ttbi fup. ■ Miffiona Etrangeres ap. Du Halde Engl edit.

P*,^34»(^)- ** ^^ Halde, ibid. fob Yao, p- 143.

(O) Thefe cycles confift, oa never come together again till

one fide, of ten, and, on the the fexagenary is out (4).
other, of twelve characters, im- fa-nau, the author of it, wai

porting the names of certain one of the chief mimfters of

animals, and ferve both for Whang- ti^ and was s^c^pointed

numbers and figns. The firft by that monarch to 'find ovt

ten are ftyled roots, and the this fexagenary cycle, whilil the

•others branches ; fo -^t every reft had likewife their refpcdliFC

-year is marked with one of each provinces allotted to thcxn, of

ibrt ; and the whole is To c(hi- whrcha fuller account will be gi'

^ived, that the fame two igns venanderthatprince'sreign(0'

(4) De hoe, ntid. NoeV* Olfferv. %iatBtm. & Phyjic, jft. 59. Ma'tim^ uShfif*
fib Hoang-ti, Du Hslde^ & al, (5) Mm tint, Du Had^y£ic,i^id,

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C. i: ■' the HiMy ff aiha: ,. ^ . . y^6^

Wcfhail, however, think ourfelves obliged to difpenfe with
Adding to them the years pf t"he flood ; fince their behig cal-
culated accordingto thefeptuagint, and not our Hebreuj chro- ..
hology, and conrcquently of no authority to us, would ra-
ther introduce a ndw cdnfufibnj' without any poiTible ufe or
benefit. As for thofe whifch follow the Chriftian aera, down to
the end of their Mift'ory, they bdng more confiftent with it,
and to be depended upon, we think thty ought by no means
to be omitted, and ftiall take cait to fet them down regularly \
astheyeomc. ; -■- — ,

;. s fie T. i%.

^the Reigns t>jf ibeChiMkJMdiMrth, fthm the fbiiti-
daiion ofthmFirfi Dynafiy^ iewn to theBirtb ofCbriJi.

HAVING endeavoured, in the.forcgoi^j fe£UoD,..to fix
the foundation of the Cbinefe monarchy upoa % better
and furer foundation than any hitherto eKtapt* ; and givea
an account, in our antient hiftory, of the reigas <rf /b-Ai, and
his eight immediate' fucceilbrs^, down to the b^Jiniung of
their lirft dynafty, we fliall readily excule ourfelv& from re-
peating any thing that hath been laid on that fubjeft, except
;bnly what will be of farther ufe toy^ards the fixipg of that
fo much controverted epocha upon the fame bails ; and, foi^
this, we need only remind our readers, that, as we endeavoured
to trace the foregoing period upwardis, from the pretematund*
foUlice which is recorded In the Chirufe anaals to have hap-
pened fome time in the reign of tau ; but which we endea^
voured to fix, on tlie authority of the Hebrew chronology, t^
the 67th of^at monarch's ; fo We may, with the fame eafc
and cledrrief^fix the latter by the years that elapfed betweeU
the phenomenon above-mentioned, which was before Ghrift
J 45 1 ^, as follows :
Tau reigned in all 90 years (A), and therefore lived
2^3 years after the folflice^ and died Anfio -^ 1409

. ' • Sec p. 362* * Vol. XX. p. 137, & fc<i. ♦ Seethe ^

ehronolo|y of bur Bibles on J(^fli. x.

(A) , Thi3 U aceotding .to - Du Halde^ who hatli intro^

Martini ( I ), whom, for the rca^ da^ a new, or rather cotifuicd

fons above-mentioned, we have th^ oldj order of theC^Vr^chro-^

diofen to Yollow, and who nology, gives Tau i do years

places his death On the ioih rei^ (3), which, if rieht^ will

|re;nrof tbeSch cycle(2, thatis-, oflly bting the foundation of

•Wording to the Chineft chrono- this iirft dynady ten years later.

logy, in the year b€tbre Chrift that is, in the ye;lr before Chrift

MS^. \ HS7' •

( 1 ) Hifl. Sin fuh Tau, (7.) U ih.fuh Xun. (3) Etfil. edttjn/ot, i. f, 14J, ^ fe^,

* Mod. Hist. Vol. VIIL i4 a Hid

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JEIis {licccflbr5Awn reigned 50 years after r<iii (B), and
died Anno ^ — — — — — 1358

The firft dynafty, called Hya, was founded in the
year immediately following the death oiShyny or 1 3 J7

According to this computation, the beginning rf this
dynafty will be found to come ihort of the Chinefe by 09. ki^
than 850 years, according to IXu Haldc^ who places if 4nno
Z207 before Ciirift, and to carry it earlier by 936 years, tkan
l/[on(, FQurmont, who brings it down to the year 441, aad
eonfbquently to be a kind of medium between thofe V^fOsGt-
ttemes, and, as fuch, tft be ii^e\vife mqre agreeable to the ge-
nera} bpinioa of ihe-lesniied,. who think the latter place %h
^^smncb ^oql^W Vk JtmifUmcr do thdn toc^hig^ "it vMI
Hkewife h^^ tUs ti)i^f|t %Avia^^^ ^vc^r tbem bo^ o»: in-
deed any other lutherto attemmeciy that it is found^ Qa ^
man ceitain \)aits, the authbnty of the Hebr^ cl^r^nolqgj;
whereas that t){ the Chittefe h ftretched beyond its due b^u^^
dthp: out of affeftatkm of a Tup^or aniiquity, qv to bjijj^
at up to the Asidard cPthe feptuagint ; an^ the other is as
wucafonably curtailed upon no better ground thsvn (b^cie ua-
certain conjeftures, and ^ few v^gpe aild precarious p^mDiels
drawn from profene hiftory; and all this not imprpbably
firom moreoppoiition to the Jefultical writers, againft whom
ibme late French authors h^vc been fauguine enoiigh to fay,
that thofe fix dynajfties which preceded the Chriftiaa sra
niight be reduced to a n^uch fmaller number of y^jcs/', tbat
is^ that ii^ dynaffies, contajning the reigns of 1 1 1 tnpp^s,
might he comprehended within a ihorter fpace than 441
yeax:s ; for fo many the Chinefe records affirm to have Won|«<l
to thofe fix dynafties, as the reader may fee b30hi^ tabic we
ihall fubjoin of them.

In the mean time, leaving thefe opponents to difpute tbat
point among themfdyes, we may, we hope, f^fely appeal to
every impartial reader, whether our cal^lilations dp noi^ by
this time, appear the mon rational, as weir as the beil found-
ed* AU we 4i9llf2^rther obferve in its favour, from what
Lath been urged in the laft fe£Hon, is, that the period between
Fo'hi aodKii/, whieby we are t6ld, is given up by the Chinefe
hiftoria^$, as well as by the Jefoits, as fabult>us, or, at the
beO, a$ uncertain zjoA isdefenffble, doth, by hb furpriiiDg

* De his, vid. vol- xx. p. i J2, & fcq.
. (B) ^oK\i Martini aj^d Uu and 17 wAthbis woflhycollc^
Haldc allow him a reign of 50 Tu^ whiwn he alfo appointed nil
J ears, that is, 53 by hinlfelf, ivm^^ (4), '

. CM-

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C. I. rhi H^dtyof Chinz. 37]

, cooformilgr to the kqgih of the Uve^ of the poftditumn pa-
tr^ichs mentioned by Mo/es^ and coetanebus with it, bid
fairen for being-tfaemoft genuine and uncorrnpt, and the molt
to be depended upon,, of any that foilpw it, down to the birth
of Qhrtft : fb that whatever alteratiom were afterwards made
intfab^ifif^chnmdogy, or, in other words, whatever num-
ber i>f years have beqn knee added to the duration of the firft
&& d|^ttfiie8| i&^order m Aretch them out to aao/' years, they
muft of o^urfe kate beea foiAed into 4xat period ; whiUl that
which pre^ecied it, froai Tau up^^ards to fot-ii^ being givea
up as unpertlux^ if qoc filbuloua, had the good fertuoe to
efcaqpe tMr akndOdmdnti. But aei it Is impofCbfe to know or
guel% natU ibiBt mort authentic anaals can hi prodiced^
what addidoi^ of years hath been oiade to each or thofe fix
firft dyi|Ei^S| iHerddr toftretich then^ to t^e length we find
them, mf; fo deitto vriltkbe cxpeAedt^atwe fliould attempt
any btbtt^ eiqend^tioit to the foUowifig tables aecorcBn^ to
Du JlaUfy thkn thefiidog the year of ttefirftdynaftyaoDord*
ing ta tb^ calculation we have wifrca above*: ndther ihall w9
attempt to- alter the length of any of their ragns, which
would be nq k6 prefumptuous: tlum impoIEble, whatever
other' l«me4 perfon$ may ventiife to do ; and large feope
they mapfr^ivej to chemfetved in fo dark and femote a pr<5vi^»
of wpiich thc^ of Monf. Fourmmit may ferve for a tafte to
our Heacters ; and whofe nd>le& we (halt fub^oin, oppofite to
thofeof the dffifk/e and >&its, out <^ Du N«tld». As to the
dynaftiet whieh follow the ChtifHim xr7, ^e reader will find
Ids (fifEbilatice abo«t them ; atd both joined together are as
follows (C): • ,

to men^n, in k former vo4ume, meant no more by it dian to dig-

fome. modem, and, for the moft nify thefe their refpedive new

p9^ fior^livttd dj^naftit^ df the dynafiSes by the name or title of

lame name with tlloft atKi#nl ibvie' of the moft confiderable

ones, as Hya^ Han* and which among the antient ones : and

we aM 0oiag to give in tfte foi- accoi dmgly one tiled his owi^ ,

hiinog.Mytho' not founded till die dynaf^ of Ha$f(^)\ ano-

lom tboa&nd years after them, ' ther lus by that pf U^a (^V ^a

thav is, till the total dlHolution and got them inrolled under

of that of Twetiy or Mwig/, in thofe names in- the Chinefe an* •

the year of Chrift iz8o; it wiU nak, tho' they were all oUiged

iiot be. improper, in order to to give place to that of Ming i - - -

prevent au nu^pprebenfioas fo wat, m fad, there have been

irom the lilcencfi oUneir names, no more dynaftics, properly fo .

id apprifc GUI readers,, that the caUed,.than the aa which follow:

A a 2 A Tahk

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372

The Hijpry of Chioa;

B.Ii

jf Table of tbt Twenty-two Chmere DytiaJHeSt or
Imperial Families, that have fofficffed the Throne
juccelftvely.

DynlUa.

U.
UI.
IV.

VI.

vu.
vm.

IX.
X.

XI.

xu.

XIII.

xiv.

XV.
XVI.
XVII.
XVUI.
XIX.
XX.
XXI.
XXII.

Hya • -

Shaag,mlng

Chew

Tfm ' -

Han - '

Hrw'hatt '

Tfm - '
Song

Tjt . ^ ^

Lyang - -
Chin
Swi

Tang - -

Hrw'lyang -

HeW'toHg -
Hrw'tfiH
Ilev/'han

Hrw-chru) -

Song - -
Ywen

Ming - -

Tfmg . -

Begtonlrfg

of CMil

Duttim,

DvntioOf

Pirnifrinia

Dyiwfty.

Mconluir

Ktordiac

dUpaXTTT.

Vcari btf.

teUu

to Four-

Chrifr.

HaUe.

moot.

»7

2207

458

44 1-

»8

1766

644

«i4.

1122

.»73:

874

• 4

24»

4S:

. .42

206

.4»6

425

Albar.

220

265

»55

420

'59

479

a3 •

502-

557

...

618

289

;»»9^

907

92*

»3

936

947

3 .

95»

.9<So

319

320

1280

1268

276

277

1645

• • •

Bef«i,

iof to '
oar by-
pc^hefifc

»3S7

Cyr/f 9.
Chr, 220 J 0

Yuul.

imfiror.

' 72^^ F/rj? D/«4;?y (D), ^tf/2^</ Hya, conning cjf 17
Emper^s^ and 458 2>tfrj.

THIS dyaafty begins, accordiog to the Chvuft aiWUb,
OD the 1 1 th year of the 9th cycle, and with the nign
of the ein(>eror Tu^ funurmed Ta^ oc the Create who, as we

have

(D) The Chtnefe word Chau,
which our writers tranflatei^i}/*-
r^,doth not properly fiCTrifycither
that, or a race, famihr, or fire-
cefiton, accordmg to Mr. four-
monti but rather a <^t|iniio]m'*

ber di yctri ; the wh^e tiipt
which anv race poflbfied tfat
dominion being called the ChM
of fuch a race as Jfya Cbau^ dt
t\\t Cbau of i\it Hya^ that it, the
\«hole ipace duhipg which the

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C. I. 7%e Hiftory of Chiria. . 37^

have fccqi m their antieht hiftory, yas preferred' to the. throne*
by Sbuh^ their ninth monarch from Fo-hiy on accouat of his
great teerit, before any of his own family^; on which ac-
count one of his- fons» attenjpted toraife a revolt againft him,
but without fuccefs, h^ being abandoned by the grandees and
the common people. His lingular merit not only kept him firm 'The erowon
on the throne, but mad^ that, as well as the high-priefthood, madehere^
which h^d been befpre united to the croyirn, to become both f^^'^"!.
hereditary in his family ; fiuce which time it Syas m^de death ^"f^^^y'^
by the law* for any biit the empej-qr to oifer facrifice;

TU-TA was a very juft and mild prince, always open to His nohU
the advice of his minifters ; /and devifed a mofl: extraordinary charaBer.
way of giving all his fubjefts a, free accefs tp his perfon, whe-
ther to obtain juftice or favour from him, or prefer a com- '
plaint againft any of his ofijcers (E) ; ^nd 15 reported to have.

rifen

•f Vid. Univcrf. Hift. vol. xx. p. 149. v

Uja reined ; and fe of the reft relating to the^aws, or religion %

(18). ' ^ the Jeaden table for thofe that

We beg l^ave likewif<0 to re- concern^ the government, or .

mint) tke rea4er, that what the miniftry ; the ftone one was to

Qnnefe annalifls ilyle the ninth, denote a complaint againft the .

isby/)^ Halde ftyled only the injuiUcp of anymagiftrate ; and

^d, he having ftrucic out ,the the iron pne was to exprefs fome

fix preceding ones, frmn the very fevere treatment ; and he is

third emperor Wbang-Hy or, as accordingly reported to have leit

Martim and others write him, his dinner twice', ani his b^th

flew/wj, downtothatof Yau^ rhrec times, in one day, to go

or 2tt«}, where he begins his and red re fs the peopk's griev- ^

own, contrary to s^ll his brothers ances, at the firft found ofthofo '

(rg). ' inftrttmenis(2o).

(E) We are told, that he However, With rel^tron to his

caofed a bell, a dram, and three miAifters Who cam^ to advife'

tables, one of iron, a fecotid of ' him, Martftfi zdds a (lory which /

leaa, and the third of ftone), to is more to the glory of his ehi-'

be faftmed to the gates of his prefs, than his own : fdr, being'

palace, on which was ah order once fo far exafperated at ifie *

^, that all thofe who want- boldnefs of one of them, at to' *

cdto fpeak to him, (hould flrike refolvete cut him off, that amia- *
on the inftroments, or tables, . blc princefs, having timely no-*

according to the nature of their tice of it, came immediately to

Whefs^ The bell was for d- : him, in a more fumptuous drefs,

vil affairs ; the drun> for matters and greater chearfulnefs in her

C'S) F.termnt KefieEl. critiq, furVbifi. dis one. ptupl torn. ii. p. 397. l>«|
W'We Engl, -vol, i. ^. 13 (5, (C). ( f 9) Coftf. Du Hfide fub Tau ,& Tu,

f"* Martini fub Tuat, p. 47. Cottpht, Nx/, & al, fub. end. (aa) Mvlini^

<*!/%^ f^» Halde, ^ al. in r«.

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g74 ?^^ H^ory of China. B. L

rifen often from his table, or left his bath, or other amufe-

ments, to hear die ffricrances of his people. The book Shu*

king mentions fcvcnd of his noble inftruftions to princes, and

JtUe Wine other "wife fayings. , It li^as under his reign that I-tye invented

inventti ^j^e Chinefe wine made of rice, elfewhere defcribed ^ ; which

^•^(^^'^' the emperor no fooncr had tafted, than he foretold the mif*

chiefs which that pemidons liquor would caufe not only to

the empire, but lUoewife to his family ; in both -whidi he

proved but too true a prdphet : though, to prevent either as

much as poffible, he caufed a law t6 be enaAed, exprefly

forbidding Ihe making and drinking of that liquor^ under the

fevcreft penalties. But;, as the art of making it could not be

banifhed wirii its author, it was not long before the liquor

became in vogue, and is fUll one of the greateft delicacies at

the tables of the Chinefe^ as we have elfewhere (hewn ".

His trea- TU-TA was a great matter of aftronomy, aftrology, and

tift OH a- agriculture ; and wrote an eccellent treatife on the Jatter, in

^culture, which he taught his fubjefts how to impmve their own lands,

by manuring, raifing, and levelling ihem, and particularly by

opening a courfe to the waters, to make them flow from the

grounds which had too much, or lay under them, into thofc

that wanted them. He reigned feveriteen years with Shun^

who had raifed hind to the throne, and ten by himfelf) and

Death. died greatly regretted by all his fubjefts ".

II. II. TI'KIy his worthy fon, and inheritor of his virtues^

Tiki. fucceeded him, to the great joy of all his fubjefts ; but found

' See before, p. 279, & 3,50. "* Sec before, p% 379, k fcq.
k (W). » Maetii^i, CovPLST, Noil, Du Hali>£, k al.

IcK>k-s« than ufoal ; and, being the defired efied ; the emperor's

afked the occafion of it, gav^e refentment was fo effediiially

him this noble anfwer : ** Yoa difarmed^ that his ear from that

*' and I have great reafon. to time was equally opened either

*' cOngrataifite each other on to advice or reproof. TiiQ

. ^Vypur having fuch wife and j-eader may fee^ in the authors

^' faithful minifters, who, in- above» quoted, piany other in*

^* fiead of miiguiding you by ftnnc^s of his wifdom and pm*

*', their flatcery, dar« fpeak the dence, but efpecially of his ex"

" itruth without fear, It i^ the traordinary tendernefs and com«

** greaterthappjnefspf aprinct:, paflion,. particularly whenever

^' to have thofe abputhim from he fa^^ any of his.fubjefts drag*

** whom he may learn th«ttu;h, ged to. any fcvere puniibment;

'^ which is bqt tqo, offi^n fup-, which we have no room tore-

prefTed by the very fear of late {21).

offending/* This- fpcech had

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C f. tif€ Hijf^y of K^int. * 375

the b^Inaing of ni^ reign unhapjkily dlAurbed by ooe of his Teartftibi
tributar|r princes, who raifed a ^ar againft him, with a dcfign y^ (y^^
of making himfelf independent, Ti-ki put himfelf at the ^^'
head of his army ; and, by the a^aoce of fix dther Jtribn* ^^f^hr^^
tary princes, fooh quelled thfc. revolt. But his fubjcftsyii ^*97''
did not long enjoy the happinefs they had begon ip taAe un-
der his wife and mild government^ before he jffm foatched
from them in the ninth year of Kis. rdgo $ and w^ fuci:eeded
by his fon. lie left five worthy brothers, 00 whom he had
bellowed as many governmeots in fome of the proviocds of ,
the empire, which his fon railed afterwards, kito princi|)aH-
ti6s, that they might live ia a manner fultable to their birfh ^.

m. TAT'HANG, on his mounting the throne, inflcad of UI.
fdllowing the fleps of his pred^celfors, left the Care of jhe '^^7'
ftate to fome of his favpurites, whilft he gave himfelf up to l^*"^' ,
hunting, to wine and women, and other unworthy pleafures. "t^^
He fpent whole day? in purfuing of wild beafts, and ^ ^^ '
let his numerous train of men, dogs, and horfes, dcftroy ^ef. Cbr»
the plains and harvell of his fubjeifts, for which they made 2188.
load and heavy complaints ; but, finding the|n all tnefie^ual,
they were driven into fuch refentmcnt and defpair, that they
revolted againfl: him, whilft he was ranging the woods aftej^
his fport4 The perfon to whom they applied was a nobteman
named /, or Ts, who had dien the command and the love of
the whole army ; and who, being moved by their cries and
mifery, refolyed to dethrone and banilh him, which he eafily
compafled by the help of the reft of the nobility, who all
unanimoufly joined with him, and fct his youngcft brother
Chmg-kang upon the throne, after he had reigned twenty-
nine years ^ (F).

IV. CHVNG'KANG, though raifed to thcemphe by IV.
univerfal cotifent oi the nobles and people, refufed to take the Chun^ •

kang.

^ Martini^ Couplet, Noel, Du Halde, & al. * lid.
ibid. . '

(F) ^nyhung did bat toe truly obliged to accompany him in ,

verify his grandfather J^/^-z^s his exile ; and Afflr//W adds, that

predidioh of the dreadful mif- the Xu-king, or Shu- king, hath-

chiefs which rice.wine would recorded in deep elegiac verfes

brifigon hisetnBireand family ; thc*dokfal complaints, and fe-

for it was now become fo much -vere reproaches, '\vMdl thefe

in vogue, that if had let in an five macfe to that unhappy prince,

iirandadon of oihcr vices. His a (ketch of \vhrfch he hath given

.mother and five brethren were us at the cndof.hiVreign (ti).

(a») 3ihrtw\ in Tti, fi 56, & fiq>

A a 4 tWci

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376 51&^ f^fi(^ of China. R, 1, y

Tiorrftht titl^ of emperor during his brother's life ; fo that the years

^b cf<Uj wfdch elapied between the depofition and death of the Utter,

59'* arc not rcckone4 tQ the rpign of the former. Thi3 conduft

^ef, Cbr. ^^ univerfally admired,^ tjjouj^h th^t prince was not without

-?' 59* fome f(?ar t|^t /, or rx, ^o{c ppwf r ^nd credit had fo eafily
^throned his brother, might 0119 day m^ ufe of it 'againft
himfelf. To fecure hitnfclf, therefore, againft his intrigues,
iwthotit appearing guilty of ingratitude, he not only fecyned to
place the greateft cqalidfnce in b|m, but proved that he could
not be without the coun{?i of fo wjfeand f^thftil a minifter,
and having him conftantly npar h^s ownpcrfon, /, who made
BO dpubt of fhortly gpttiilg an abfplute afcendant over him,
^nd in^ofling the wiole government into his hands, eafily
gave into the Tnarc ; and refigned th? command oi the army,
as incompatible .with His new poft ; and Chung-kang gave i^'
to CheWf a faithfiil and experienced officer,

/, FINDING himfelf over-reached, and rather fufpcfted
than beloved by that prince; refolved to revenge himfelf by
the total deftruftion of the imperial family ; but, as that
fould not be done whilft fo faithful and able a man as Chew
was at the head of the army, he tried in vain all means either of
rendering him fufpeftcd, or of deftroying him by fome other
way. At length he had recourfe to a new ftratagem ; which
was, to gain the grandees over to him by his profufe gene-
rofity, whilft he artfully ftrove to fecure himfelf of the favoujr
and confidence of his fon and fucf eflbr, till he conld efFeft

Afkmnut his ruin without hazard. In the mean time the exiled Tay-

icltf/i, kang died, and Chung-ka^g took upon him the title of empc-
^-or ; but was foon after taken off by a fudden death, and left
the throne to his fpn Ti-fyang^ after he had held it twent}'-
nine years 'J. It was 5n fomp part of his reign, tho' authors
are not agreed about th^ year, that the fo much famed eclipfe
happened, of which we have had oecafion to fpeak more than
once % and concerning which the Chinefe records affirm, that
Hi and Hoi who prefided over the tribunal of the mathema-
tics, were put to death for having neglefted to foretel and
infert it in the ephemeris of that year (G), whigh \y^ then ^
capital crime. • " ' ^

• ^ '.: -^ , ' V. r/:

% Martini, Cpvpl?t, N(>€l» Dii HALT)f,& al. ^ See
Un. Hift. vo^.xx. p. 109.& 154^. Sec .jklfo before, p. 183, (B).

• ■; • .• 'i i: . ' '

(G) This cclipfip (whith is .bright ftardnthefouth fide of
faid by the Chit^e/e aftrondmcrs th« lucid one at the head of
to have happened in conjundion Scorpio) is affirmed by the mif-
with the conilcllaticp Fa^g^ ^ <lonaries to baVc bce^ verified

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Q. %: tkf Bftory ef China. ' 377

V. ThSTANGi9&3&^ymg^5y focccedcd hisfiithcr; but, V.
Uiftead of fdlowing his wife jnea(urcs,- and guarding himfidf Ti-fyang.
pgainft the intrigue of tb<5 traitcu' /, Kiade him his chief confi. ^^^ro/tbe
dent, and foon after trai^feted ihe.^mmand of the anny fix)m '^^^ ^^^»
thefeithful^^fTU tg him ; a^d, t^y ^^t fetal ftep, put it again m ^ J !;,
his ppwer to ei^ecpte .^s long-^QJefted dcfign ag^inft the 21^. *
imperial family, . His liw poft gained him a vaft number of ^'
creatures, and his Ubera^ty th^ l<we of |he army^ tpfomuch Vstnafin
/jthat the infatuated emperor,* who could now no longer ht ^fio^frd^
blind to hi$ tr^cberous deiigpsi wa$ forced to flee foi refuge
to the courts of ,two of his tributiury princes and relations,
/ tried all the means he could invent to difeulpate himfelf ;
complained to him, by the moft fnbmiifiye letters, of his be*
log falfely tradnced by his enenues ; and begged 6f him to {

return to his own metropolis, a^d h^ Would fpon convince
him that he had not a more faithful en* :^lous fubjeA in his
empire. He went fp far as to accufe feveral of the emperor's
moft faithful friej^ds of fundry crimes, and to have them ei-
ther^banifhed, or ^m tp d^^th, ^nd filled their pofts with his
own creatures,

-He fucceeded fo wpll, that he look^ upon ):im{e\£ 2s Pumfied
already on the throne, when his bafe treachery was ppniihed hyoneef
|n kind by one of his qwn creatures and confidents, whom he ^« ^^^*
had raifed from one pqft to anothm*, and at l^th to the'"''^'-
command of the army. Hari-tfe, |hat was the villain's name,
an artful and ambitious man, faw plainly enough that it
would be eafy for him to mount the throhe himfelf, by cut-
ting off both his fcfenefaftor and fovereignj and, as the Ibl-
diery were intirely d^oted to him, he made no fcruple to or-
der a number of them to aflaffina^ / as he was hunting ;
which was done accordingly ; and afterwards gave out, that ^
it was done by the emperor^s orders, and as gjuft punifliment
for his trcafon. His next ftep was, to fend icxt Kyau^ the
eldeft fon of /, an ^ftive and violent yonth, and to perfuade

by frefli agronomical calcola- f^fp^^ t^^sni to have Aifi^red

tions, and is mach infilled on to ^eati^ not for negledl of fore*

prove the early ikill of the Ci6i- tejling it, but for being carouC-

nefe in that branch of agronomy, ing with fome of the friends of

We (hall not repeat what we the traitor / when it happened,

have faid in a former ft6^on and' probably for raifing fome
againft that vain pretence (i); —fort of predictions from it ii^

bat only obferve farther, that his favour (2).
i«me of the Chinefi hidorians

fi) 5« ^ore^ f. \%z, &feq,. {%) C$nf, Martini, D» ti^de, & al fup^ ., »

5 l^im

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\i3tai\ofe9etfit\A% fiidi^s dafk ; mi^ootii^idi ^bich, he

fufflKhed him witii a body af tfOc^, tftd lAi^SA K!m to

" marck isuoccSiidy ;R tliilMd #f AiM aj^ift ik6 emp^*r6^;

who; notfaaiHdg tiM t^Mifii I feflj^i^ ifttiy, Wfti eifiiy A«

T/&« i:^c- fcatsd. by him. i^ifi^ ttUM dte ««|>€i«f , sl^d dii tW6 t^Bu^

fie;* /♦«>•- taty priactfB, with hfis^^hlii^l ilrf iK*^, to ftdl^ Art

'^'''^''^ <>f tbci crowHy deftroytklibM iAir tiM ^iHi^k kfef^Hill fa^,

cfscspdi^ the cupn^ 5ffeb, beifig theft pftgliaht, efdip^

with orach diAkulty Imo tiM mM«»ifi^u6 piilti. TlnitleQ

and ttrt ifbfper, being turn tfi ^i^RoS <^ ^^ eiij^^, ni*

wiwted thefot* of / f^rWi i cMfidb^l^e ftfflt^, whk* hfe

created hfto a pAoA'pA^ \

Han.tTo JfJiJ^M^SG, aUai Xat^frnflg^ fti^Htdd tk «h^M«, and h<M

i»/Sfi^/ /i&^ k forty ycc^, but was at tefittkrffifdtiBd of it aAd hU Gftby

/^ro«/ 40 Atf toruebdr of the Sftipe^ial &mUy ; fc^ ^ ^uedfii who, li

jrrnr/. *||^ hkmi abovi^ fled lo dl» iftc^ntftlfts, to6k refuge anl^

' Shau- tba flwphefdt, ahd Waa riiert dditirfed of a f<Mi,' whom flfe

A -^^f ' ^ **^*** Shau-kang^ ai^ brotlght 1»M up uriftnO^n to aoy one;

btrtb and ^^ ^^^^ j^ ^^ grown up to years of maturity^ before Han-

ntreat. ^ ^^^ of h J bat beifig H^^tw^tiM liifcfl^ttied, Aat the

d&t^ Witt mal^^ a ftMA: fdif^k ^rf«kr Mm, he retired fitift

thtaoe^ end >»e&t and hifddhlMle^iiS (Ibtnelllc ft the c6firt

of oirt rf the trtbtti^ pfiikfe^j, where he pifled for a ftiep-

Di/covers herdV fco. It Wi* i»t lofig^ kdwevcr, before his extraordi-

bim/elf. nttj ah* and behavkliir ga;re thait piinee reafon to think hin

nmch Mgher born than he pl-eitetided ; and, haying queftioQed

fdak ^riaout it oci^ dfy ifi the Idndeft mantier, was by him io-

fersied of the whdk^ A3^y Of hi» Imth, &mily, and cod*

ceaboem ; itptowli^H be ^ti&iAj enibrd^ed him, and pro-

Ufifed hifli Ms pit3>tefl$Sft and bed mUct^ ; anld, as 2^ eirneA

of i^ gsffi hlA kk^^htdf ki carriage, ^wkh part of his

pdacqKiiity fer ^ ra-iS0i^4 Shdu^ag, Having no>)ir a better

q>pQttx»qity of di4dfi[5^ his parts ^nd ml^rit, eafily coBviaced

him that he was worthy of the throne ; and he, on the other

teirf, Ibft lio tfmd to acquaint all the nobles and mmiftcrs,

who were in the intereft of tKe late emperor, with the difco-*

very, and with the excclletit chara%r of thfe young firince. ,

By that time the tyrant was becotfie fo hateful to all the peo-

D^tdts pie, that they joyfully fi^ed with their lawful prince; who,

th u/uff' haying ra^ifed an army» atta^ked^ and topk Urn prifener, aad

^« ^ put him to a fiiaraefol death.

VI. VI. SHAU'KANG afcended dkHKiVDnc of his anceffort

Shau- vith univerfal acclamations; and, immediately after hisco*

* Vide Martin. Du Haipi, & al. fup. cit^t. fub Ti-fyang.

ronaticrti,

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rooadon, ordered his forces to pitffue thci «9eoi||ptiG9 9f the mtt^ts fh§
late treafon. Kiau Aood in his QWg defe^i;«, l^t^ htis.liidey^''MKv.
army beii^ eafily cut off, he wa$ XfLkfia f^tmt «*4 bchrtad* ^^5^**^
cd, afld as many of the rebels as could be €»yght w«r9 like- *'^qf**^
wife put to death ; by which meaas tho tra^f^UUty of th^ cm* » J ^-i^
pire was again happily reflored, ^ the l^i^ Wuvied. ibck ^-g^ * '
aaticnt vigour. Shau-kanf took aU proper Bmi(uf«9 to f o* .
iym all the abufes which had crept in duriog t^e late ofurpt^
tion ; and had the pleafurc to ict ^ Qrit$;^ it^ily obeyed,
aod hi$ people happy and eafy under his wife government.
His reputatipa drew iet^ amba^ hem focSgix princes,
and his reign proved (^ gloriQua a> pncefi^le* He died in
the twenty-lecond yew Qt hi^ rago> aod was iuccoeded oa
the next year by his foq,

VII. rj'SHV^ alla^ Chm ; in whofii reiga oothiog extra- VIL
ordinary h^ppen<^ eicqept fome few revolts on the iea*coafb» Ti-flia.
which were 4nioft as foon quelled as raifed, The empire in Tearo/thi
every other refpeft eiy oyed a profound peacQ during his reign, " '* CF^^»
wUcb lafted feventeea years. p /' •

Vm. TLlVnAT, alias lloay or' Ho4us, fucceeded his ^^^''^
father ; and ^as in fuch high efteem, and Kis empire in fuch ^^'
a flouriftiing condition, that foreign prjnces (ought his friend- ^^^^*
flupfar and near (H), and feveral oF them put themfelves under T/whay.
his proteftioa- But the loBg peace he eqjoyed made him ^^^'^
become effeminate^ ; and. fuch a flave to his pkafurcs, that he ' ^^ ^^^* ,
fpent the remainder of his reign clofe ftiui up in his palace g^J Qy^^
among his women and eunuchs, without ever <hj5wing him- 2040. * •
felf to the people. All that time his £a.vourites goven^
with ftich an arbitrary fway, tW the fubjeQs haxl no pof&ble
nieans to prefer, as ufual, either requqft or complaint to. him; .
and this oppreffion continued till the end of his reign^ which
had lafled twenty-fix years* when he died, aod was fucceeded
by his fon,

IX. TI-MANGy alias Mangus\ whofe re^ proved much IX.
the lame as the former, except that he was not quite fo im- Ti-manj .
berfed in pleafure, though equally indolent. He is recorded Yearrftbi
for no one remarkable thing, except his removing his court .^'^^O'^*
towards the Te^lava kiver^ and ^ting fome maritime places. ^ / tV,
He reigned eighteen years, and was fucceeded by his fon, , zqia *

(H) Seme qf thofe ambafla.. But that the Japanefe iHand^r^

do» arc faid to have come to were of that number, as fome

Cfcttfby fea, and from feveral of Europeans havfe fuppofed, is by

Ac adjacent iflands, tho' they do no means probaWe, on feverd

not nam^ them j from which it accounts, which we ihall have

^ppeart^ at leaft, that the art of a more proper occaiion to men-

IMvigation was then known, don in their hiflory. »

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•/X/»^ "^ ^ii.Tf^STEf alias Is; who was fo famed for his love of
Tj-fycvv. ^^jttftlce, 'and fingular care ^o preferve his fubje6ls in peace and
^^^^*^"vrealth,'Jthat feveral of the petty fovereigns of the' neighbour- .
i.^rfrM,i|^ nadons became his tributaries, and came in perfofi to pay^

Ji^\h9 ' ^^ homage to him. Ti-fye not only granted thefe'his pro- .

^ * which'they were not a little ambitious erf; and fdmetimes with^
prt^sot^ much more than equivalent to the tribute' tbey paid
Win'* He reigned fi^^teeii year^/ and left His qrown to hb\

Ti pu- which long ipade k is furprifi^\*^e cim^.annals'have not

kyang. found fomcthitig ^^^rA recopdlfagj^^itcept fome h^ions which

Year (ff the rcigned among the princes of the biQod about the fucccffioir,

iztbl^cU, which he however obtained after hfe fethefV death. This

58. fdcncc is attributed to the great trancjuillii?y which his fubje^b

Ptf, Chr. enjoyed during his reign ; but he did not t^ke the fame care

,1980. to fecure the crown to his fon Kong-kia^ whom he Jiad nonu-

nated his fucceflbr ; fo that he was obliged to give way to the

fuperior power of his linclc,

XIT. * XU. TJ;'KrONG,,ot Kmg, who wreft^d it from him;

T}-kyon;g. and, after an ufurpa^in qf twenty-one years, left it to hi^

. fon,

-^in. XIII. TI'KIN, who held it likcwife from the right hen-

Ti-kin. twenty-one years more ; but became fb contemptible to the

people by his debaucheries, that he ^ould not fecure it to his

Ion; fo that, after his death, it was reftpred to Kong-ita^

whom his father had deprived of it.

' XIV. XIV. K0NG'KIj4, Willis Cung-kia, inftead of learning

Jong- wifdom by his forty-two ycar§ of advctfity and misfortunes,

kia. no fooner faw himfelf on the throne, than he abandoned

Tear of the himfelf to his pleaftires, and became one of the lewdeft aod

14/^ fyf/p, inoft effeminate princes that ever reigiued. Nonp but the

-^^Xr worft fycophants and flatterers could get acc^fs to him, or

'^?^" ^^' have any ihare in the government ; by which n^eans he be-:

^' ^*' cajne fo odious to tlie people, aiid fo coQtemptible to his

J/?xA/ff« ' vaflal princes, that they refufed to pj^y him either tribute or

anddti^fh. homage, whjlft his debaucheries and extravagancies had put

' ' * _ it out of his power to oblige them to it. Neither did he take

^ ' one ftep tqward5.it, or youfing hittifelf ffom his effeminate

* indolence ; but^ after a fhameful r^igP pf thjrtjFrQne year^

left the crown to a fqn who inherited all his vices^ as well as

, hi$ throne ". About four years before Ws death was bom the

VMARfiNi, Coui»LET, NoEL, DtJ Halde, &al. * lid,

f^mcd

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{■mdChmg'Ufig, wboaftc(i^a»d$.becainc.tfi^ftmri4«ro^itte .
fecond dynally '*'. , r , XVl

XV. ft-KJUy or Cau.'cgpidi after his father, tho' thcT»'kaa*
throne had begun for fome tiaie to totter in his family ; and, T^aro/th
making his palace the fcene of his moft infamous pleafurep; 'S^^C^*^^
Ihortcaed his days, and left the growQ to. 7i'-A his fon, after d J /^t
ainort reign of eleven years. ,,, » ,.^ -v: i •■ ' y. ig^g^

XVL TLFJ, or Faiy^ is ijQt recorded. eithci^ for any vjr- x\^*
mes or viqes duriag the ninety years of.hifreign> wrfffrxi-fii/
any thing but thehomage Mlrhich was paid,;to lii^ hy th^lA-Tuir^/tl^
, baury prijices on, his ^qceifion to the throne ; and his b^ng 15M ty^cUt
iheunl^ppy parent of Kya^ the mofl wicked of men, aod >'•
thc.Uft of jthp.dynafty.of ^;r^. - . , .^ • : ^'4%-

. XVII. A:r^,. alias AjVo/, though,. fed to. hav« had fowe. .JS^S;^
good qualities, yet proved fuch a monilcr oif wicipdnefs aiyi ^^\
crusty,, that his Hjemory is as. much hated to? this, i^^y as. that f^jf/f^
'ofiV(?r0 was among xxi^^iamans. His emprefi^ ftill motc,^/^^/^^
wickljd and barbarous tha^ he, .had (lich an aj^Qlutc ^cf^nd- 40.
ant pverhiti^, that ibemad^ hhn copmit the moft enormoits iS^^ Cir.
ocdfles .of cruelty' and dclpauc^ery t;o p^caf^her (I). He be- 1818.

• ) >o •••' ' ' :> r^^t i .' V f »>. ^r • . < . . ' - » . *»**hc ^

'■ . . * .-f . ^ • \ '-' '\ > '' ' r , ,. MragM4

' **V,'*r l>vflALWuUiup.'fubKong^J(^ r - .

(tj.TllisW6ijfferofa'wom1^^^ and th^e.^uaged'ilie^

ifioikni^h iipbi^^^Gfm^ lye 'iytife of her inildeft Icttve;^-
Aiidng the pfdateft exidftiotv^ tfione. : !

on the ftiliJQ^s, ta fopply her : ' Anothor, aM, mm fiisndji^
Q&meafurable e]($ravag2^e;iil) |oix9 by farVWitb Whkh fte ttfed
building, farxatqrc, k^c. l^t pro^y , CD, delight ktriCelf (t^i^h ]|im, waji
vailed on him /to hayei a^lar^., .^i ^r private apartment of (h€
fpot of grdund . digged, up in palace, where they. kept a.num«
the form of a lakeratid to be bcr of the fincft young perf6n$
ilied wiA wine ; 3600 men of both fexcs, fetched far and
^^'we fent thithdr bvcfyday; near, and boaght at a val!
^bo were obtigidlD kneel d[^ pHce, to (hew* all manner of
^U fbnrs rottnd ,tfar bordeiii 'of I naked and lewd' pofliireis, and
itj andto.lap tba wine like^* iok play the moll'^ibamefui tridci
many dogs.till they were drunk , with each other. But the moft
after whick they we)re ordered inhuman of all was the butdie^
^ reel to a neighbouring wood, ries.fhe caufed to be made of
where they found oxen, itQu thofeb/avemrniifters who dared
^s, and other beafts, ready tff pcfer a complaint or remon«>
^^tMy and hanging on. the ftrance, or even (hcw a diflike^

(^) Vid, Martini fuh iSetf.

••""•*•' ^ "' ^' , againft

. ;;i''^

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S|2 •• ^[^tfUHB^df China. 1. 1.|

cMieai-IengtAibbdfoustt^&tyibBje^of i^T^^ tbatthey

were on tjic point of dethroning him, when <W '^ hli chief

\ 8linifllfr9» wild hdd (UB biiAt ttuaisik of tat^nefs ^fbr his

* aid r^(fi>eAfbl mikiitM^, tte i^nitaent dtager \v^Hi H^ licea-
timfiieft andtjrh^nny tSLpdkit hior to ; anl^vtui e^j^ca^ for
\ . . it in his prefcncc. His funr c&f t^ aIM^ t^jK^^. erf the
"tisft t fotte of'tfieih Veatufed iv^u to pr^ftp^ sr fe^^ memo-
' I Tidtx^ him, ih which thfeyftttrj^ not 16 npbndd hUii with
. hb mudieft, duckyji and other feindakHis vice^ y 'ipliich fo
' durfpeJratod him, that he refoltcd to ptrt the autharsrf it to
; .^ '4«ath. , ^ .;■;

jCkiQg^ Among them, the great OKng^artg, faNtly i^etitt^Mied, a
tangr^/V^'ffcutary prinw; of the'rtteeof S^^^-f/v a wi&'aiid worthy
t9 t6g' ptffon, having venttii^ tdr jbfe ftis re*ioi^^tit<» td thrift,
<^o«r« ; Was for it eaft hrto prifbil ; Wicte he had hot liiti tong^ t^^)re
he wis bnitthttbUfly cbofen by ^il'tht ftates tb ftlccte^d Mn,
knd ebfiged Wdteclare war ^^iaft the tyrant ^ tii dding^whlcji,
,^-'- "fee h<y»re?a^='te»fc care to ^fem afl ritl^ ta the ctowu. and
16 declare that he onfy took up latms to brings fifni to neifen,
' • Md^ a fenfe of his duty. His army was foon completed, every
* * * prince afliftinc hin\ with troojp ; whilft, Kya found fuch a
general defers among hii fimjeJIE^ that he could raife but
^ handful of men. . Neither fucceeded he b^^in^bi^afipli-
ca^on to the Tor^arj, whom he en^voured t^^w hy the
faiwft pro^n^es; fo greatly wasi h? fihhffa;€^ Ipy^em, that
"^ tbey pl^niy ^o^. hm ^ woulj^^ ttke np^MW ifr Ivvaor
of fo wicked a prince. Kya^ Mtig himftlf thys ift^adoaed
441 ftll/ides^' hMrrccoarfe to dilEiBkila^Qi^ aisd incnaded; dod
tMdy liegged of ^bangrtangl that be Wonld {pitre his fife:
Repns which had fo gifeat an effeff on- that noble prince, th^ he
ifi/n, and not ohly graht^ it to hlni,. burreftorfed Mm th^ crowi^ j and,
retires, quittihgme command of the a)-ftiy, redred tp his own fiitBc
^ate. Tor thi« unexampled" moderation hd wa& gpeatly ad-
KyaV in- wire^ by aU but. the ungrateful Kya^ whq no fogqer faw bipi-
gratitudi. iel£ refettled pQ the throne, thaa lU.remm^ txa his femer |
vices; and, to eonlfikte all,: rmied?- an army,. and auondied
agatnfl him as a;irebel and a^ traitor. Chmg-tang hiad by that

agkinft any of theif detteftahl* had feveraJ good qaaiit!es,which

'^aiaieefc(4J; fey that; upon -the fnt]g^thaVe rtiiade Wm a good

whole, it maV' ht jaffl'y fai«P, -prince, if he had not been fo

that this fii^ dyna^ owcd^ i^ imhappily yoked to, and go-

#attin&dft td a ^ofnanj the tnti. verntd by, that- mooftcr of

pcror being confef'ed to have lewdnefs and cruelty.

(/^) Martini fub Kienog Q «/. »**/«#•

dmc

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tww, pur fefefrtf ifl ft gpo4 poftftw %f:def6flCfi^:>irti mhm

both armies cap^f ^ qngzg^ h^ fews .vfitb plerfiWfw aH the
imperial forces come over to him, and lay tbeip 3xm$ at Us '
foqt^ procl^m^g fej^ iJteir ^Qjp^HMT^ a^ dejiveref. Kya
jj^^d ftow 1^ ojfecF f^Oiurcje b^Jt flight 5 but i»ae p»rft«d^ ^ 4%^«/,
:^g^^ q^i^« §Vil ciitji^ bQuj^wes.off th« G*«we(fe.taq|)im ; exiU, ,
j^id t^e ^4e4 l\is 4ay% ^^r ^ igi^^^imQHa ^mh <<• Awt, !»,</ ^^/^.

tkuM^l^m^ifyy €aiM Shoog (K) ^ cm^frehvidb^
:. . ^iffiftiy^gii EmpfrcUj m Pbt ^aa of 644 j%r^.

L f>gim7'T^^<^' w«. pi!^(dnlmQd «Qp«rar^ with the n,
j^W4S got b«?«itj(J^ bftUi|4^ ThjegRwtpnibfe ^.t;

m^U ffia4%*i»i^ w4wt thwi^-^cy.|!te<»ihepajafa*, rear of ti^

^% ft <kB^^«W ^ f%^«« fent&Wfclwa^m; wad h« wa&ai- |6//^ n-Z/f

•fftgfit ^f .^l p^91^ v^b^ ti^ght bioriWif Hftftt far faim- 32.

j>fytffikt A tFiftft} ^fQgMWii^ ti»* kit 5tfe»bl«d bis miittUkrs\Bf/ Cj^i-.

^?fl 8^%i)4f^ 1^ Kf^ t]il4^ thiM ^S>«^ )iflk ord^ tQ xefign the 1 ;66.

<94>>Kp^ whl<^t hji t§]4 iho^ »osr:Qfiiiee would moi^ worthily.

^^ U^9^ l^iff^i 944ti^ th^t . hfti tkou^t inmjU^ fMfBd>

«p% r^a^^ ia h^vjua^ fa IvippUX' dofo^iei^ his couiitry:

^<pfi[| ^4Pi^f a;ii tbgt; be prrftBTQd the fe«dl JObattc which

^1^ ^9di <»U9ttQ4 t^ hiau tQ. *n etc^ire, of Mfliichihc was

9^ the lawful heir, and did not think himfclf able to govern.

The fequel proved how fincere he wa^, and above all artifice,

In what h^ tbtia fr^dy di^ared to them : for, whca h!s

grasdees cemt to reprefeot to hhn, that he v^as rmfed to it

by the par$icuU/r J^peB\oiiy ivhich^ being touched with the

fkiferies of the f>eof>le^ had made choice t^ him Jhr their deli-

veref (tuA/r^,- they told him* v^ai mantfeftfrom the yn^nir

tnous concurrence, of all' the Jt^tes^ and the utiiverfal jqy. i^fall

f Af JubjeEfs.^ which plainly fbewei^ that they would have n3

fither fovereign hut him) ; Ching-fang^ overcome- byi .theic

prcffing ioftances to ^cept of the goverQtnent^ made nojdchy

» Martini^ Du Halde, &al. fup. citat.

(K) This was the name he the little ftate was called/ nr

gave to the imperial fainily, which he formerly had govern.

Som which the whole dynaftv tdt^ in quality of a king, pr tri

tookr It, it being ^t ^ which butary prince (5).

{5) ndtUtrftia^ fitiju^.^ ^/*7?*tf<»/^«^/«*ClMnfi tans.

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to apply fcimfelf to the bufioefs of it, in fnch ibanner as (honld
fully anfWer, if not exceed^ the high expcAations they had
conceived of him*

He began, accordingly^ with the choice of fcHne faicfafiil
and able minifters ; among whom was I-jin, of* I'yn, a perfon
of known virtue and wifdbm, whom he placed at the head
both df the council and army, by whofe help and adrice, be
loon wrought a reformation through the empire. He repealed
all the cruel laws of his predeceflbr, and enabled oth^, in
lieu of them, full of wifdom and equity. The army, which had
beea formeriy ulH to plunder, was brought under the flrlfteft
difcipline ; fo that order, and tranquility jwere again reftc^ied
•through every province. In his reign were found fome rich
gold minest in the niountaiiis that divide the provinces (^ X|ff3/f
and P^^cheU'9 the benefit of Wbich he fr6dy granted to the
inhdiitant^ without any tax or profit to-hlmfelf. He cmC^
to be engraven on all the veflels whidi were for the ufe of the
. palace, * the moft excdlent ihaxinls of morality, that both
. himfelf and his officers might havd eontiduallybefore their
eyes thofe principles by which they oQght to f<]uare diefr
conduft. In a word> he was fo highly efteemed by all the
neigbbourii^ princes, that msmy of th^m readily became ti1'>-
butaries, and fubmitted theqlfelves to his empire ; and as for
the people, they, filled the^ ah- every-where with their praifei
x>f him, and prayers for him, and jufiiy looked upon him as
thdr greatefl benefaftor," ^as 4 tender father, and the author
of all their happiaefs (L). And when he died> which was ill

thd

* (L) This excellent pdnce criminal, and, liftitig up bh ]

gave a fign^ proof of his fa- . hands to heaven^ entreated the

tkerly tendemefs, in the time Supreme Being to fpare his fub-

t{ an univerial drought, which jeds, and let the whole weight

laded feven years, without one of his wrath fall on him alone.

drop df raiii, and had caufed ^ This prayer he repeated £x

a grievous famine among his times, with the fame ferven<y i

fubjefts ; when attributing that and, at thd end of it, the fcy

calamity t6 His 6wn faults^ he became covered with clouds^

devoted himfelf a vidim for the which poured down a plentiful

welfare of the people. He firft and general rain, and reftored

obferved a rigorous fkft ; then the earth to its ufual fruitfulnefs

laying aiide (he imperial or- and plenty thro* the Whole em-

naments, cut off his hair and pire (6).

nails, both which were then This famine is fnppofed, by

worn very long, he marched fome of the miffionanes, to ht

out barefoot, in the guife of a the fame which is mendoneA

(6) Martini, €c^fiet ^ Du ,H/lid^ & al fup^fimi^M'^^H'^*^

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C I. The Hiftory ^f China. 385

^kc thirteenth year of his reign, the whole empire went into
moQmlngy and every one lamented for him, as for the lofs of
a parent. His eldcft fon Tay-ting dying before him, he left ^
the crbwti to his gp-andfon, named

II. TAT'fCTAy or Tai-kiaw, who, inftead of treading in his II.
grandfether's fteps, began his reign in fuch a manner, as gav^ Tay-kya.
reafon to fear he would foon become defpifed and odious to Tear of the
his fnbjefts. To prevent which, /-/w, the wife and faithful ^-^'^ ^ycle^
nunifter of the fete emperor, after feveral fruitlefs admoni- « f^^^L
dons, thought fit -to make ufe of his authority, which was /' ^^*
ftill very great ; and having in vain reprefented to the young tt^J^^y^
monarch the abufe he made of the power, which heaven had j^I^^^^S
intrufted him with, chiefly for the good of his people, made nfnz.
ufe of a ftratagem, to reclaim him, as needed all his great
r^utation and credit to fupport and juftify him in it.

He caufed a hotrfe to be built near the tomb of the late hWtnoilf
emperor, and (hut up the young monarch in it, that he might Jirafa^em
have time to refleft on his former ill conduft, and form his '« reclaim
future one by the example, and near the afhes, of his excel- ^^
lent grandfather ; and, at the fame time, he declared himfelf
guardian, both of the prince and empire. He kept him there
three whole years, clofely confined; by which time, xht proves fui^
young monarch, now no longer blinded by the fplendor of cefsfuL
his fortune, had made fuch ferious refleftions on his paft ill ^
conduft, and on his want of thofe virtues that were requifite
for the well-governing of fo great an empire, as quite conr
vinced thofe who were about him, that he was now a new
mao, and would fleer a quite oppofite courfe. Whereupon

m Cenefis (7) ; but, bcfides the more fynchronical with that

improbabili^ that fuch cala- which happened in Da'vid^^

mity fhould fpread itfelf fo far time (9) ; for though this laft

over the earth, as to have reach- continued but three years in

ed from Egyft to China ^ the PaleJiine,yttt\itJe'wiJbdio6ior^

Ghinefe famine, according to affirm, that it lafted feven year3

them, falls about the year be- in other parts, which they infer

fore Chrift 1 760, and that of from the words of the Prophet

Egypt in 1 708, according to the Gad to David (10); but we fee

Hebre'w chronology ; and the no reafon to ftippofe, that a

fame will appear mil more an- drought or famine muft be felt

tedated, if the reign of Tau^ through fo vaft ^ tra6t of land, .

their eighth monarch, be brought as lieth between the Mediter-

down To low as the time of ranean and the eaftem or Cbine/e

Jo/jtta, as we have lately hint- fca. v

cd (8), and will appear to be

(7) Cbap. xli. falf, (3) Ste before, p. 361. (9) I Sam. xxi. paff,

{10) C4nfir. cbap, xxiv. 13. (^ i Cbron, »xi. 14. ' ^

Mod. Hist. Vol. VIII, B b /-m

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gU ^ Hi/icry of Omm: B.I.

I'in went himfelf to him, and conducted him out of his con-
finement ; and having placed him on the throne, procl^med
him emperor a fecond time. The people, charmed with his
behaviour, efpecially to that great minifter, whom, inftead of
figns of refentment, he loaded with commendations, and
tokens of the highcft gratitude and confidence, did joyfully
.acknowlege their emperor, and beftowed the highdl enco-
miums on him, and his now greateft favourite and confident.
From that time Tay-kya followed his advice in every thing,
and governed with fuch iingular prudence, that the tributary
princes, who had begun to revolt, ^dly returned to thdr duty ;
and all the orders of the flate were pcrfeftly fubmiiEvc to
Tay-kya'/ him, /whilfl he lived. He reigned thirty-three years, and
ifath. i^^as fucceeded by Wo-tingy another grandfon di Ching-tang.

III. III. WO'TlNGy the worthy grandfon of the founder of
Wo-ting. this dynafty, was, like his predecefFor, intirely governed by
Ttarofthe th^ wife counfels of the faithful I-ln ; and being deprived of
* 7'^ O'^^' him by death, on the eighth year of his reign, honoured his
S f Chr ^^"^^^y ^^^^ ^ fumptuous funeral, worthy of the imperial

1 720 * ^^j^fty> ^^^ ^^^ ^^ eftecm he had for fo valuable a minifkr,
Hislofswas, however, recompenfed by his fon /-/«, who in-
herited all his, father's virtues and great qualities, for which
he was defervedly advanced to the fame honours, and merited
the favour and confidence of feveral of his fucceilbrs. Wo-ting
reigned twenty-nine years, and was fucceeded by his brother
Tay-keng ; concerning whom, hiftory hath left us nothiift
' but the years of their reigns.

IV. IV. TJY-KENG began his reign in the forty-feventh year
/Tay-keng. cycle, and reigned very peaceably t\i'enty-five yeai*s.

V. V. SYAU'KYA, or Sia-kiaw^ his brother, fucceeded him ;
SyaU'kya. and, after a peaceable reign of feventeen years, was fucceeded

by his brother,

VI. VI. rONG'KI, or Jun-glew, a third fon of Vo-ting, but
Xong-ki. jjQ^ jjy ^Yit fame mother. In his reign fome of the tributary

princes, refufing to afCft, according to tuftom, atlheaflcm-
bly which the emperors held from time to time, gave him
fome lineafmefs. He reigned twelve years, and left Ac crown
to his brother Tay-vu,

VII. VII. TAY'VU, upon his acce/Tion to the crown, is re-
Tay-vu. ported to have been terrified by fome accident which happened

Tearofthi'Yj^ the palace ; viz. d, mulberry-tree was covered with leaves

iBtb cyc/f, andvfruit in feven days, and in three more withered and died;

E f^Chr ^"^ ^^^^ wheat, fown in the ground, grew up into full ears

1641. ^^ about the fame time ; which that prince looked upon as

the forerunner of fome revolution. But upon his confulting

/■/«^ the wife fon of /-/«, about it, was anfwered, that vir-

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C. r: fie Hifiory of China; 387

tue was out of the reach of omens ; and that, if he governed
his people well, nothing could endanger his peace and hap|)i-
nefs. Tay-vu made the beft ufe of this wife leflbn, and ap-
plied himfelf fo clofely to the adminiftration of juftice, that
he b^n to give audience early in the morning, and never
ilirred till he had heard all the parties who applied to him.
His affiduity, and love of juftice, made him adored by the
people, and be looked upon as equal to any of his predeceflbrs ;
fo that his orders were all punftually obeyed, and the tribu-
tary princes never abfented diemfelves from the great aflemblies
convoked by him. Among others of his wife laws, there is
one ftill in force to this day, that in every town a certaia
number of old people (hould be maintained out of the public
treafury. He reigned fevetity-five years in peace, and died in
the province of Ho-nan, whither he had removed his court.

Vm. CHONb'TING, or Chung-ting, the fon of Tay- VIII. .
vu, fucceeded him ; but was obliged to remove his court Cheng-
from the proinnce pf Xan-Ji into that of Ho-nan, and after- ting,
wards into that of Pe'che-li, on account of the frequent in- Tearofthg
uhdations of the Whang-ho, or Tellov) River. His reign at ^VbcycU^
firft was peaceable ; but was fince difturbed by fome of the „ i5^V
inhabitants on the fouth fide of the river Yang-tfe-kyangy who ^^f'^r
went in bands, and plundered the neighbouring provinces ; ^ *
againft whom he fent a powerful army, which cut thofe ban-
ditti in pieces, and put an efFeftual flop to their inroads for
the future. By that means ^ peace was again reftored in his
empire j but he did not long enjoy it, before he was fnatched
away by fudden death, after having reigned thirteen years :
and was fucceeded by his brother,

IX. VAT'JINy or Fflrg7», who reigned fifteen years, and was IX.
highly beloved by his fubjefts. In his rdgn arefaid to have Vay-jin,
be^n the wars between the brother and children of the de- Yearoftbg
ceafed emperor, which lafted near 200 years, but hifiory ^^ ^•^^^»
mentions no particulars about them. He was fucceeded by * ?'
his brother,

X. HO'TAN-KTJ, who was again obliged to remove his X.
court to fome higher grounds in the province of Ho-nanyOn ac- Ho-taa«
count of the frequent inundations of xhtTelhw River. There is ^y a*
nothing recorded of him, except that he reigned nine years, Y'earofthi
and left the crown to his worthy fon and fucceflbr. ^- ^^'^»

XL TSU-TE enjoyed a happy and peaceful reign, thro* ^t*
the wife counfels of one of his Ko-laus, or miniflers, called xfu-ye
Xen, whom, ingratitude, he raifed to a pringipality ; an i^o- 2^^aro/he
nour till then never beftowed, except on the fons or nephews 20M cy(Je,
of emperors However, he flill retained him near his perfon, 33.
ihat be might confult him on all emergencies ; nor was he Be/. Chr^

B b 21 fttffei-ed r^^^c.

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388 ^bi Hf/hry of China, B. h

{nSered to gbvem his little ftate in perfoa till after that mon-
arch's death, which happened/m the moeteenth year of his
reiga, when he was fucceededy^s fon,

XII. XII. TSU'SIN, or Zu-zm, againft whom the brethren
Tftt-fin. of the late emperor raifed fuch powerful cabals among the
Yearofthe grandees, that they well-nigh excluded Wm from the fuc-
zoth cycUy ceffion, on pretence that they were of fitter age for govem-

5^ ment than he. Happily for him, the authority <rf" the Ko-lau
Bef. Cbr. j.^^ ^^g ^.jj g^g^^ enough to put an end to the contefl ; but
'^* * it did not deflroy the feeds of ambition which then reigned
among thofe princes, but only fupprefled them for a time.
We fhall fee them ripen in fome of the fubfisqucnt reigns, when
feveral of thofe princes frequently ufurped the crown firom
their nephews. T/u-Jin reigned fixteen years, and was fuc-
ceeded by his brother,

XIII. XIII. yO'KTJ, who wrefled the crown from his nephew
Volcya. Tfu'ting^ who was not in a condition to refift him, and en-
Yearofthe joyed it more quiedy than he deferved. His deiign was, to
2 \Ji cycle, i^^lwc left it to his fon ; but his meafures were difconoerted by

^* .the lawful heir, who afcended the throne immediately after
the death of the ufurper, twenty-five years after he had takoi
it from him.

XIV. XIV, TSU'TING, or Zu-tlng, fo well concealed his rc-
ITa-ting. fentment againfl his uncle all the time he held the crown
Year of the from him, that he even infinuated himfelf into his favour and
2iy? cycle ^ confidence ; and fo wifely concerted his meafures, that, upon

33' his death, he afcended the throne without dc4ng the leaflvio-

Bef,Lhr. \q^^q j-q j^jg {^^^ except excluding bim. He governed with the

^ ^' fame moderation and prudence the whole time erf his rdgn ;

and, at his death, gave a fignal infbince of his impartial love

for his fubjefls, in leaving the choice of a fucceflbr to his mi*

niflers, in cafe they judged that his fon had not virtue and

merit to ^govern them. He died in the thirty-fecond year of

his reign ; and was fucceeded by his nephew Nan-keng^ the

fon of Fo-kyuy who had, for fome jealoufy or mifdemeanour,

been fent into exile.

XV. XV. NJN'KE NG, though chofen by the majority of the

Nan- court-minifters, yet thei^e was ftill a number of thofe of the

kgng. provinces who preferred the fon of the late emperor, and made

Yearofthe 2i powerful party in his favour. The conteft was hot and

22d cycle, b^Qody on both fides ; but Nan-keng^ proving too flrongfor

^' his rival, kept pofFeflion of the crown whilfl he lived, but

was fucceeded by his nephew, the fon pf Tfu-ting^ after he

had reigned twenty-five years.

XVI. XVI. YJNG'KTA had but a fhort and troublefome reign,

Yang kya. the feuds flill reigning between the two pardes, and many

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of the tributary princes having wthdrawn thieir obedience, Tearoftht
and being upon the point of making themfelves independent, 22^ cycle^
which would have endangered the ruin of the monarchy. 3^*
But the emperor died in the feventh year of his reign, and
-his brother Pwang-keng feized on the crown, in prejudice of
hid fon.
• XVII. PWANG-KENG, tteugh an ufurper, foon altered, XVII.
by his wifdom and valour, the whole face oH affairs, and re- J^wang-
ftored the empire from its tottering condition. His application ^^g*
herein was indefetigabk ; he made the great Ching-tang the ^^^J^/^^^
model of his conduft, and revived fundry of his wife and ^ *
falutary laws, which had been in fome meafure abblifhed by 2ef/cbr
the negligence of his predeceflbra ; and made it a conftant J^oi. *
rule not to intruft any of the important pofts, either of the
court or empire, to any but men of the greateft merit for
wifdom and virtue : for though he did not difown^ that his
ambition di reigning had made him feize on the crown in
wrong of his nephew, yet he took fuch care that his example
ihould not influence others to the like treafon, that he feverely
puniflied every aftion that had the leaft tendency to it in
others. This foon brought all the tributary princes again to
their allegiance, and eftablifhed a perfeft tranquillity thro' all
the empire. To prevent its being again difturbed by the
ambition of the brothers, in prejudice to their nephews,
which had for fo many reigns been the caufe of fuch fatal
contcfts and bloodfhed, he enafted a law to fecure the crown
to the latter, though himfelf had no iflue, but was fucceeded
by a brother. He commonly refided in the province of Shan^
Jty and died in the twenty-eighth year of his reign.

XVIII. SrAU'SIN, alias Siao-fm, a ftranger to his bro- XVIII.
ther's application and merit, had like to have endangered the Syau-fin.
empire again by his indolence and love of pleafure, which made ^^^'' °f^^^
him leave die care of the government to his vileft flatterers ; ^3^ ^y^^^*
and his excefles and effeminate' life had well-nigh deflroyed 5'
the peace and good order which his predeceflbr had taken fo

much care to eftablifti in the empire, had not his death put
an end to them. He reigned twenty-one years, and was fuc-
ceeded by his fon,

XIX. SYAU'YE, or Siao^ye. This prince had had fuch XIX.
a noble education, that the grandees, under whom he was ^^^'V^\
brought up, did not doubt but that he would have proved ■^^^Jv^J^
an excellent emperor : but, as foon as he faw himfelf at the ^^ ^^^ ^*
head of fo great an empire, he eafily fc»*got all the wife in- j^^^ qi^^
ftruftions he had imbibed, and followed the pernicious fleps \\ix. *
of his father ; and, though he reigned twenty-one years,

WQuld have been recorded for nothing but Ws vices, had not

B b 3 bo

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39P me Hifi(»y of China. B. L

he given birth to a fon who became, and is ftill efteemed, one

of the greateft monarchs that China ever had.

KX. XX. VU'TING was yet young when he afcended the

Vadng. throne, and committed the care of the government to his

Tear of the prime minifter, whilft he paid the triennial mourning to his

z^d cycle, father, which he did in a houfe near his monument, in which

Br^Ch ^^ ^^* himfelf u^ dofely, and all that time was imploring

J * ''• heaveQ to blefe him with fuch virtues as were fuitable to his

^ ** flation. That time being expired, he returned to his palace ;

and faw foon after, in a dream, a man prefented to him by

heaven to be his prime minifter ; whofe features, fhape, ifc.

were fo ftrongly imprefled on his mind, that he drew an

exa6t portrait of him, and caufed the man to be fought for

Fu-ywe, accordingly. Upon a proper fearch, they found a man who

m obfcure exaftly anfwered the pifture ; an obfcure mafon, named Fu-

ma/on, y^g^ ^ho was then at work at a village ; and brought him

^*^f^ to court. Here they afked him a great variety of queftions

frim mi' concerning government, the virtues proper for a fovereign,

«(A^* ^^ reciprocal duties of princes and their fubjefts, the difierent

charges of the empire, isc. ; to all which he gave fuch juft,

Vhe empt' wife, and excellent anfwcrs, as charmed the whole court. At

^^'•'^ length the emperor addrefled himfelf to him in words to this

/beech to ciFcft : I now plainly fee, Fu-ywe^ that you are the perfoo

htm- whom heaven hath appointed to aflift me with your wife in*

ftruftions, and I wholly commit myfelf to your direftion ;

• henceforth I look upop you as my father and guide ; do you
confider me as your pupil and difdple, and fuch a one as
carncftly afpires after the higheft degrees of wifdom and

• virtue, and will be ever ready to follow your wife counfels.
Look upon me as an unpolifhed glafs, ' to which you are ftill
to give a greater luftre ; as a man in a ftorm at fea, whofe
pilot you are tobej and as a barren foil, on whom you arc
to beftow the beft manure : let me never want your {alutary
admonitions and reproofs ; neither flatter me, nor fpare my
faults ; that fo, by your afliftance, and that of my minifters,
I may acquire the virtues of my grandfather Ching-tang, and
reftore, in thcfe unhappy times, the peace, order, and happi*
nefs, of his government.

TlisaM' Here Fw-ywey proftrating himfelf, as is ufual, before the

/wer to the em^ror, freely reprefented to him how much eafier it was

emferor. to know what was right, than to purfne it ; and to procure

good advice, than to be governed by it ; but added, that

where thofe two go hand in hand, a prince needed not to

doubt of his being well beloved and obeyed by his fubjefts.

Wife in- He gave him accordingly a noble fett of inftruftions, the beft

firuaiorts part of which are ftUl extant i^ the Shu-king ; and Vu-ting

to him* proved

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C. I. ne Hifiory of China. 39t

proved foch a ftrift obferver of them, that he became an ex-
cellent pattern for good princes ; and his reputation, which
ipread itfcif among the moft diftant nations, induced feyeral
to fubmit themfelves to him. He reigned quietlyand happily
fifty-nine years, and was fucceeded bj his fon.

XXI. TSU-KENG had a peaceable but ftiort reign of XXL
feven years, and was fucceeded by his brother. . Xfu-kcng,

XXII. rsU'KYA aftranger to his father's virtues, be- XXII.,
came fo odious to the people by his pride and debauchery, Tfu-kytf.
that he caufed very dangerous commotions in feveral parts of ^^^^^/^^^
the empire, and fuch as feemcd to threaten no lefs than the H^^^^J^*^»
extinftion of this dynafty. He reigned thirty-three or thirty--

four years ; and was fucceeded by his fon,

XXni. LIN'S IN, who proved no lefs a flavc to his lujfts ; XXIII
and, to prevent all interruption of them, forbad his minifters Lin-iin.*
to trouble him with any affairs of the empire, by which he
fliortened his days ; and, after a reign of fix years, left the
crown to his brother,

XXIV. KING 'TING, of whom nothing is recorded, XXIV
bat that he reigned twenty-one years, and died about "nine King. ^
years after the birth of Vu-wang, who became the founder ting.
of the third dynafty.

XXV. VU'TE, his fon, fucceeded him ; and proved worfe, XXV.
and more impious, than any of his predecefTors ; and, hav- Vu-ye.
ing caft from him all fear of heaven, to deal in magical expe- Teamftha
riments, in which he found himfelf likewife difappointed, is 25//-^ cyciei^
fuppofed to have brought down the dreadful vengeance which ^o-
fell on him, by his impieties and blafphemies againfl: it ; and ^^f' ^^^^
was killed by thunder, as he was hunting, in the fourth year * '9o»
of his reign. About this time fome of the eaftern iflands Eajiem
began to be inhabited by colonies fent thither from China, iflands i;a»
among which are reckoned thofe of Japan, of which v^kl^nied.
(hall fpeak more fully in the fcquel.

XXVI. TAX'TING, the fon of Vu-ye, began his reign by XXVI.
declaring war againft a tributary prince, whofe little ftate, Tay-ting.
called Ten, is in the province of Pe-che-Ii ; and Pe-king, the

now metropolis of the empire, was one of the cities belong-
ing to it. He reigned but three years, and left the war to
be finiflied by his fon and fucceflbr.

XXVII. TLYE, upon his acceffion, fent one of his ^c- XXVII.
nerals, named Ki4ie, againft that revolted prince ; whom he Ti-ye. ^
fubdued,* together with his whole ftate, and reduced to tht^^^^°f*^^
condition of a private man. The emperor was fo well pkafed ^'^ ^y"^*
with that conqueft, that he erefted that province into a prin- « ^'^^
cipality, and gave it to his general, and made it hereditary , igj '^*
to his family. Ty-ye reigned thirty-feven years) and had ^ *

B b 4 three

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fons at his death, two by a wife of the fecond (^der, aod the
young^ft by his emprefs ; but as this was then youi^, and of
no promifmg talents, his father was inclined to nominate thp
elder of the other two for his fucceflor ; but was oppofed by
the grandees, as beii^ againft thdr laws. They found after-
wards caufe enough to repent of their choice ; the youi^eft,
named Chew^ proving a cruel tyrant, whereas the eldeft had
all the good qualities requifitefor a fovereign.
XXVITL XXVIII. CHEIV. juftly infamous for his pride, luxury.
Chew. debauchery, cruelty, and tyranny, had married a lady named
Bis cruel Tay^kya^ the moft beautiful, but at the feme time the moft
'^i** Vicked and barbarous, woman in all the empire; by whom
JTa / he was fo intirely governed, that any minifter, who dared
^ aa'^ ^' oppofe, or refufe to conform tp, her capriqpus and tyrannic
"' humour, was immediately driven out of the palace, or per-
Horridex' haps condemned to death. She had moreover perfuaded that
tcutions. infatuated monarch, that he muft never expeft to keep his
fubjefts in a due fubjeftion, unlefs he made himfelf dreaded
by them \ purfuant to which notion, fhc invented a new kind
of to^^ture, of which we have given an account in a formed
feftion t, and took an inhuman delight in feeing the unhappy
objects of her diOikc put to that terrible and excrudatmg
death. Her hufband was no lefs given to cruelty and re-
venge, whenever any thing oppofed his brutifh will (M) : and
theie executions were fo frequent and terrible, that none of
his minifters dared to advife or controul him. The noble
Ven-ivang was the only one who had courage enough to op-
pofe his inhumanities ; but though he was ftill refpefted hy
the tyrant, as well as by the people, for his extraordinary
jnerit, and on that account met with a mildo: treatment, yet
was he fent to prifon by him, as a punifhment for his raih-
. jiefs, as it was called, but in efiefl: to put a ftop to all future

t Sec before, p. 176, not. (L).

(M) One inftancc of this he rage, he flew her with his own

fhewed tpwards a young lady hands ; ^nd, cutting her body

of fingular beauty, who had inro fm all pieces, caufcd it to be

been prefentf d to him by her ferved at her father's table. At

father, in order to infinuatc the fame time another minifter,

himfelf into that vicious mon- juftly ftiocked at that unheard of

arch> favour j but ftie, being barbawty, could not forbear ex*

no lefs virtuous than beautiful, preffing his abhorrence of ittQ

refilled his ^^.ii en with fuch an the tyrant, who caufed him tQ

)icroic courage, t l.at, in a fit of be put to death (11).

ren^onftrancei

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C. I. fie Hifiory of China. 39j

remonftrances from him. Upon the news of his imprifon-
menty the principal fubjefts erf his little ftate affembled them-
fdves \ and found means to regain his liberty, by prefenting
Chew with a moft beautifiil damfcl ; whofe charms fo capti-
vated him, that flie eafily obtained his releafs. Ven-wang Yen-
had all the virtues, learning, and good qualities, that could wangV
• fccommend him to the Chinefe nation ; and the admirable way high rba*
with which he governed his own little territory had gained ra^erM
him fuch reputation, that forty tribiltary princes chofe him
for their fovereign, as the only perfon who could put an ef-
fe^al end to the evils that dien reigned through the em-
pire. But he died foon after, leaving his little principality
and riches to his fecond fon, whom he preferred to his ddeft,
becaufe he refufed to enter into his views of dethroning the
emperor. This prince difcovered, on this occafion, » pecu-
liar greatnefs of foul ; and> without either compbdning, or ftv retire*
faying any thing that might call a difhonour on his father's ment.
memory, retired beyond the river Tang-tfe-kyang, near the
borders of Se-chwen, and ther^ fpunded the two kingdoms
of Tive and ffu.

In the mean time Chew and his wife becoming daily more Inwted u
odious and intolerable by their tyranny and horrid butcheries, tbeero'wn*
the princes and grandees intreated Vu-v^ng to put himfelf 'at
the head of an army, and g^e the tyrant battle, promifing to
aifift him with what forces he wanted. Both he and Chew
made all poffible hafte to raife a powerful aimy, and the for-
mer met the latter with a much more numerous one ; but, as
foon as the fignal was given, the greatcft part of them went
over to Vu'wang* Chew, feeing himfelf thus abandoned,
fled in defpair to his capital ; and, entering into his apartment,
fetfire to it ; and, though all the pains were taken to prevent
its fpreading, it burnt with fuch fury, that half of the palace
was reduced to afties before it could be extinguifhed. This
was the dreadful fate of the pnhappy Chewy in the thirty-
third year of his reign, and with him the fecond dynafty.
The luccefsful Vu-wang entered the palace like a conqueror ;
where the firft objeft that prefented itfelf to him was the cm-
prefs Ta-kycif whom he flew at one blow with his own fword."
He was immediately after acknowleged and proclaimed empe-, Founds a
ror by the princes and grandees, to the great joy of all the neiju dy-
p^ple^ and became the founder of the third dynafly f • nafty*

t S^e the lifts of thcm» p. 7. and 372,

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S94-

Tbe Hifiory of China.'

B.I.

Vu'Tang.
Tearoftbe
zyth cycle,

Si/. Cbr.

1122.

The Third Bynafiy^ called Chew, er Cheva, coniaimng
tbe Reigns of Thirty-five Emperors ^ within tbe Spaa
of Eight hundred and Seventy -five Tears*

jrrU'VANG^ or FaUf began his reign in the i6th year of the
'^ twenty-feventh fexagenary, or twenty-firft, according to
Du Halde's new computation, and before Chrifl 1 1 22 ; and,
after the ufual facrifices offered to heaven, upon his inaugura-
tion, at the metropolis of the province of Shen-Ji, where he had
removed the imperial feat, applied himfelf in the re-eftablUh-
ment of the antient laws and cuftoms which had been in a
great meafure aboliihed, and reftoring the Chinefe government
to its priftine order and tranquillity, by the wifcft and moft
£dutary regulations (N). Thefe gained him fuch great repu-

(N) He began, ift, with an
inquiry into, and redrefling, all
the ads of injuftice which had
been committeidinthe preceding
reign.

2* He fet many perfons of
merit at liberty, who had been
imprifoned.

3. He fent for l^t-fuy the
uncle of the tyrant (who had
narrowly efcaped death, by
feigning himfelf mad, for hav-
ing dared to reprove him) and
confulted him upon all'^mer-
gencies, as he was a great aftro-
nomer, politician, and noble pa-
triot; and the inftrudions he
gave him are ftill extant in the
Shu'kittg, He afterwards re-
warded him with the kingdom
of Korea, which he bellowed
upon him and his pofterity ,with-
oat obliging them to any other
homage than their coming to
court at every new reign, to dc-
fire the new monarches confent
and protection.

4. He rcftored feveral illuf-
'trious families, which had been
in fome meafure degraded from
their nobility, and gave the de-

fcendants of the dd emperor litde
fovereignties, to enable them to
fupport their rank. One prince,
of the family of Sbin-mmg, was
fettled in the province ofSbenfi
another, of the family of Unhang'
tiy was fetded in a territory in
ih2Xoi Ho-naUf called the king-
dom of T/u i to a third, of the
family of Tau, he afligned a dif-
trid in the neighbouriiood of
Peeking, named the kingdom of
Su ; and to a fourth,^who was of
the race of Shun, he gave fome
lands in the province ofHo-nan,
under the tide of the principa-
lity of Chin.

To thefe he added fifteen
other principalities, which he
gave to as many of his own re-
lations ; not forefeeing that fo
many fovereignties, though de-
pendent on the crown, would
prove in time the fource of un-
happy war's. He was no lefs ge-
nerous to his miniders, fome of
whom he raifed to eftates not
much inferior to the foregoing,
and others he raifed to the high*
eil dignities in the empire ( 1 2).

(1%) Martini, Du Halde^ & sl,fitlf,€iiai, inPu-vfang,

tation

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C. ^^ J"*^ Hifiorypf Chba. 395

tation both at home and abroad, that many foreign princes,
who had withdrawn their homage from Chevj^ readily came
to pay their homage and tribute to him, and put themfelves
tinder his proteftion ; and as to his fubjefts, they had fuch
an afie^ion for him, that, upon his being attacked with a
dangerous diftemper in the fecond year of his reign, they ex-
prefled cvery-where the deepell concern for him. Among Chew-
the reft, Chew-kong^ his prime minifter, having caufed facri- kcng ^
fices to be ofiered in the palace for his recovery, lifted up his/r/ bis
hands on a fudden towards heaven, and prayed with a loud liftfinht
voice, that his own life might be accepted in lieu of the em- ^peror'f
peror's ; and that fo dear a bleffing might be preferved to his *'^^ovsrj^
realm, till he had fixed it upon a firm foundation, freely ofiir-
ing his own life at the fame time to fave that of his prince.
His prayer, the hiftory informs us, went not unheard ; the
emperor found himfelf much better by the very next day, and
ia a little time was quite recovered. The whole court and
kingdom greatly applauded the adlion of the prime minifter ;
and Vu-wang was fo affefted with it, that he inferted It with -^'^ gratis
lus own hands in the fecret records which are kept in the pa- *^^ ^
lace in coffers of gold ; and the memory of it proved, iii pro- ^^^*
cefs of time, of Angular benefit to the. empire, as we fliall fee
in the fequel. He reigned only feven years ; but with fuch
fetherly tendernefs, and with fuch indefatigable application to
the public welfare, that he had quite reftored the empire to
its prilUne tranquillity and grandeur ; and was fucceeded by
his fon Ching'wang,

n. CHING-VANC being too young to take upon him XL
the reins of government, his uncle Chew-kong^ then jprime Ghing-
minifter, and a prince of known probity and wifdom, took vang.
upon him the care of the realm, and of his education ; the '^^^^<!f^^^
latter of which he intrufted to the moft proper perfons, whilft ^^ ^^ •
he adminiftered the public affairs with fuch prudence anddif- jj^/;^]^^
intereftednefs, that all the tributary princes readily ack-now- mt-/
leged his merit, and paid him the tribute and homage as to
the faithful guardian of the young monarch.

His Angular uprightnefs did not however free him from His excel-
fufpicion, and from being mifreprefented to him as having lent guar'
fome view of feizing on the crown, by the number of crea* dian re^
tures he promoted ; which obliged him to retire from court, ^^ret.
to the great regret of all who knew his merit and integrity.
The young monarch betrayed at firft a kind of pleafure on
his being freed from his uncle's tuition ; but foon found, by
his experience and ill fuccefs, that he was no-way equal to the
burden ; fo that, to extricate himfelf from thefe difficulties,
he f^t for the f<?cret records mentioned under tihe laft reign,

3 and

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39^ The Hijiery §f Chint. B. I.

and there found it recorded how Chew-kong had freely oflfered
hrecalUd. his own life to heaven, to fave that of his father; Upon which,
quite afhamed at his unjuft fufpicion of him> he went in perfon
to his retreat, and. with tears, intreated hun to refume his for-
mer poll, and affift him with his falutary counfels. Chew-kang^
foftened by his behaviour, confented to his requeft ; and, from
that time, gave him daily frelh proofs of his fidelity to him,
AnAaJfiis and zeal for the public welfare. The young monarch's repu-
fenifrom tation fpread to fuch a degree, by his adhering to the in-
finreignnm- ftruftions of his uncle, that the king of Cochin-China fent hhn
tt9m. ambafladors. With rich prefents, to congratulate him on his
having afubjeft of fo extraordinary xs\sx\x.2i^Chew'kang\ who
were received with the greateft marks of efteem and friend-
ftiip, and fent home loaden with tokens of his generofity (O).
That great miniftcr died, highly admired both at home and
abroad, in the looth year of Ws age, and the 20th of Ching-
van§*s reign ; and that prince, to (hew his gratitude to him,
caufed him to be buried near his own father's tomb, and with
the fame funeral pomp as was ufually performed to emperors.
He outlived him feventeen years, and governed vnth great
THne for- moderation and applaufe ; and, fome time before his death,
^'^' forbad the ufe of wine, at a folemn afTembly of the ftates ;

alleging, that that liquor, being the gift of heaven, ought only
to be ufed at thofe facrifces 'which are offered up to it ; others
'Wife it proves the caufe of almoft all the evils which happen
Upon the earth. He reigned thirty-feven 3^cars, and left the
crown to his fon.
TIL III. KANG'VANGy finding the empire in a profound

Kang- tranquillity, made it his chief ftudy to govern his people
Yf "g- with mildnefs, and to make them happy. It was one of his
Tearofthe favourite maxims, that the joy cf a prince depended on that
6 ^^ ^' '^hich reigned among hisfubje6ls ; and that he ought not to take
Sef' Chr. ^'y pUafure 'when they 'were in difirefs. He took efpecial

1078.

(O) We are told, that, at fcacompafs, whence fome con-
thcir audience ef leave, Chefw- clode that the prime minifler
kong prefented them with an in- was the in venter of it. We
firamcnt^ which on one fide have already (hewn in their an-
pointed to the north, and on the tient hiftory ( 1 3), that that in-
other to the fouth, that they vcntion is afcribed to their third
might better fteer in their way monarch Whang-tt ; but with as
home, than they had done in little probability, there being
coming xo China,. This inibu- great reafon to think that it ia
mcnt was called Chi-nan, which of much later date f.
naine the Chinefe give to the

(13) See Univ, Bf. V9i. xx. f. 190, Qfif, f yid.fu^, f. 100, (B),

delight

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C. I- the Uifiory of China. 397

delight in promotii^ agriculture, the care of which he com-
mitted to one of his minifters,, named Chau-kong ; whilfl him-
felf -would fit under a willow-tree, to decide the difputes that
arofe among the hufbandmen. In his reign, fo great a regard
is faid to have been had to promifes, that prifoners were let
out every morning to till the land, and regularly came back
to their prifon at night, according to their parole. He reigned
twenty-fix years, and was fuccceded by his fon,

IV. CHAU-VANG, alias Chaus, who was fo exceflively fond IV.
of hunting, that he neg^efted every thing elfe ; infomuch that Chau-
the damage which the fubjefts lufFered, by his horfes and V^^^*
dogs, and the vaft train of huntfmen that always attended g f^ /
him^ and often deftroyed their whole crop, was become in- ^ ^^6^^^ ^*
fupponable. No kind of remonftrances had been wanting to ^ef, Chr,
obtain a redrefs; but all proved ineffcftual ; and he, at 1302.
length, became fo odious to them, that, in a kind of defpair,

they refolved to put an end, at once, both to his fports and
to his life, by fuch a ftratagem as fhould not eafily be difco-
vered. They had often obferved, that h&ufed, on his re-
turn from hunting, to crofs a large river wh runs through
the province of Xen-Ji, and to have his targes waiting to
waft him over to the city of Hang-chew ; upon which, they
prepared one that was fo built, as to fall into pieces as foon as
it was got about half way over. The emperor entered it, ^c- Dro*wned'
cording to cuftom, with fome of his grandees ; and had h « A**
fcarce reached the middle of the river, when the planks feU '^^^*
afunder at once, and the veflel and paflengers went down to
the bottom. Thus periflied that unhappy prince, in the
lifty-firil year of his reign (P), and was fucceeded by his fon.

V. MO'VANC^ or Mous^ was a prince of fuch excellent V.
qualides, as foon gained him the love of his fubjefts, and Mo-vang.
made them wink at one remarkable failing he had, viz, an '^earofthe

29/^ cycle^

(P) The Chinefe annals men- not mentioned) ; and fome other ^ ' 7-

tlon feveral portents which fuch ftrange phsenomena'. ^^f- ^^^'

feemed to foretel that men- However, we are told, that JOo*«

arch'^s fatal end ; fuch as, an in this monarches reign was

extraordinary overflow of a born the Indian philofopher Fo^

deep well belonging to the pa- mentioned in a former fedion

lace ; and a much brighter and (14), the founder of the Bonzaic

longer appearance of the moon and idolatrous feft which was

above the horizon, and its dart- afterwards introduced into Chi-

ing a long fiery ray like the tail na^ together with his dodlrineof

of a comet, as far as the iign the foul's tranfmigration, about

Leo (bat the ^moon's place is 65 years after Chrifl (15).

(14) See before, p. lo8, ^ fef* ' (l$) Vid. Noci, Couplet , ,M^r-

tinl^ Du Haide, (^ al.jub Cbau^

extravagant

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'398 ^bi Hiftory of China; B. I.

extravagant fondnefs for hories (Q). His fuccds againft
(bmc of his barbarian fubj6ftsbnthefouthera part, who bad
revolted, and who were defeated by his troops under die
•ommand of his general Kau-fu^ encouraged him to turn his
viAorious arms againft the Tartars. This projeft was in
vain oppofed by his fon-in-law, who reprefented to him the
onreafonable injuftice and ill confequences of it ; for that prince
went on wth it, and advanced with a powerful army againft
them, as far as the borders of Tartary: whilft the Tartar Sy
who were apprifed of his march, retired as far back as the
heart of their country, with their tents and cattle ; fo that
Mo'vang, finding no enemies to fight with, was forced to
come back, after having fatigued and impaired his army with
long and difficult marches ; which made him take up a full
refolution never to undertake any thing of that kind without
his approbation. He reigned fifty-five years, and was fuc-
ceeded by his fon.
VI. VI. KO NC - VANG began his reign with fuch an unheard

Kong- of cruelty, as would have eternally blafted his fiune, if rc-
y?"8- pentance had not made fuch a change in his mind, that he
Tear 9f the j^^^^j^g qjj^ of ^g mildeft and jufteft princes. It had been
^°'i 2^ ^' ^^ cuftom frequently to walk by the fide of a lake in the
Bef' Chr, country of Mye, where at thefe times multitudes of beautiful
^'^. ' maidens ufed to make their appearance. He fingled out three
His cruel' of the moft agreeable to his tafte, and fell in love with them;
ty and re- but they, apprehending the danger, no longer appeared on
morfe. that walk among the reft. Upon which, the enraged mon-
arch, imagining that the country-people had conveyed them
away, to prevent their falling a facrifice to his paflion, ordered
them all to be maflacred. However, the remorfe he felt for
his extefs of paflion, and the juftice and mildnefs of the
remainder of his reign, eafily obliterate4 his crime, and he
has been ranked among fome of thdr beft monarchs ever
fince. He reigned twelve years, and left the crown to his
fon.

(Q^) His great foible was, to and near. However, he took

make a magnificent appearance care to cover thefe frequent and

beforehisfubje^s, and to ramble pompous excurfions with the

from one part of the empire fpecious pretence -of fatherly

to the other with a vaft retinue of tendemefs for his fubje^s, and

men on horfeback, and fpared under the name of viiiting his

no pains nor coft to have the moft diflant provinces (16}.
fineft horfes brought to him far

(16) Vid. Noel^ Couplit, Msrtim, Dm Haidi, fif «/. j!i^ Mm Q Ne-^s^.

VII. rs-

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C. 1? the Hiftory of China. 399

VII. TE'VJNG^ alias /x, did nothing, during a rdign of VII.
twenty -five years, worth being recorded ; and his name hacl Yc-wang;
long ago been buried in oblivion, liad not his follies afibrded '^^^ofihe
matter of ridicule to fome of the fatyrifts of that age, and 3o/^40"<»
rendered him defpicable to pofterity. His want of merit gave ^^'
his brother an opportunity of feizing the crown from his chil-
dren, and placing it on his Own head*

VIII. HTAU-VANG, Tgau-wang, or Hiaus, though an ^VIIL
ufurper, had addrefs enough to keep himfelf on the throne, Hyaa-
and gain the afFeftions of the people. He was, however, fo wang.
extremely fond of fine horfes, that he raifed an obfcure fel- ^<faroftbf
low, named Fi-Jhuy to the dignity of mafter of the horfe, S^^^^^^
merely for his fuperior IkiU in breeding, breaking, and ma- ^ f^chr
naging, them ; and, being one day highly delighted with his q2U "
dextmty in riding, he beftowed on him a principality in the
province of Shen-Ji'y which is the more worth obferving, be-

caufe one of his deifcendants became afterwards the founder
of the next dynafty, and deftroyed the whole family to which
he owed his advancement. He reigned fifteen years, and was
fucceeded by his fon (R).

IX. I'WANGy alias Zr, was a prince of fo little fenie, IX.
addrefs, or capacity, that he hardly knew how to fpeak to I-wang.
his minifters, or give an anfwer to their queftioiis ; and could '^^orofthi
not be prevailed upon either to give audience to foreign am- 3'-^ ^ •
bafladors, or receive the ufual homage of his tributary princes. ** -
He reigned fifteen years, and was fucceeded by his fon.

X . L /- VANG, or L/Vw, proved fuch a proud, cruel, and ex- X.
travagant prince, diathefoon reduced his fubjefts to the loweft Li-vang.'
mifery by his continual exaftions, which he as lavifhly fpent ; Tear of the
infomuch that nothing was heard but complaints and lamenta- 3 V^ O'^^*
tions among the people, and threatening manifeftoes among *^'
the grandees. Thefe only increafing his rage and jealoufy, he ^^ ^rud^
caufed ftria fearch to be made after the authors 6f them 5 and ntsandix\
at the fame time forbad the people, under pain of death, to ^^^*^^^*
converie, or even whifper, to each other ; fo that nothing was ^^^
feen in his metropolis but men fliunning each other, and walk- ^^j?^
ing in mournful filence with their eyes fixed to the ground. At fr^^^^t*
length one of his mofl feithful minifters, named Chau-kdng,

took the liberty to tell him, that he was not placed on the

(R) In his reign there fell mage; it was likewife accom •

fach prodigious large hailftones, panied with fuch unufual and

that they killed both' men and violent cold, that the riverft

-b^aib, and did confiderable da- were frozen by it (17).

(1 7) Ntel, Ceu/fitt, Martini, Dm Haldt, & #/./«* ffiaui,

throne

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400 The Hip<ny of Qiina. B. I.

dirone to make his fubjeds mlierable ; that it was much eafier
to ftop an impetuous torrent, than to reftrain their toogues^
which only increafed the violence of their refentment ; and
that the filence he had impofed upon them feemed to forebode
femething more dreadful and dangerous than the liberty they
had of complaining.
His family This tyrannic edift lafted three full years, when the peo-
mafacrtd. pie, driven at length into defpair, ruihed like a fudden tor-
rent into his palace, and murdered all the imperial family, ex-
cept the tyrant, who had but juft time to efcape their fury by
ffight ; and his youngeft fon, whom the faithful Chau-kong
had fccrctlv conveyed to his own houfe. It was not loi^,
however, before the enraged multitude were apprifed of it,
' who on a fudden befieged the houfe, and with. Hem menaces
Chao-^ demanded the prince of him. Chau-kong, feeing them fo re-
kongV felute that his authority could not refbsun them from fordi^
furfrifing their way in, after a fevere conflifl: between nature and loy-
loyaliy. aky, deUvcred up his fon to them inftead of him, whcHB they
Inhumanly butchered before his face. He tried afterwards all
poffible means to reconcile them to their fugitive prince, and to
re-eflablifh him on the throne ; but never could perfiiade them
Li-vang'i to it, lb that it continued vacant for fome years, whilfi U'
banijhmmtv)ang was forced to live an obfcure and miierable Ufe, after
and death, he bid reigned thirty-eight years, and wandered in exile about
thirteen more.
XI. . XL SWEN'WJNG, or Si-ven, at length fucceeded hii
Swen- father by the intereft of his generous preferver, who was then
wang. at the head of affairs ; and took care to inform the people by
^T y what means the right heir to the crown had been faved from
^ ^^ * the common flaughter, and how worthy he was of the crown
Bef. Chr f^ 'which heaven feemed to have miraculoufly preferved him,
g2-^ ' fo they at length confented to it ; and, as he was flill too
young to govern, Chau-kang^ and another equally worthy bu-
nifter, were appointed his governors ; and thefe two fo faitht
fully acquitted themfelves of their important trufl, that the
young prince, who was no lefs obfervant of their inftruftions,
gave them fufficient proofs of his being every way worthy of
• holding the reins of the empire by that time he came of
age ; infomuch that he is celebrated in hiflory as the reftorer
ef the happy times when the great Tu and Ching-tang filled
the Chine/e throne.
Ricalh One of his firft cares was, to recall all the wife and good

thd fhilo' men and philofophers, who had, during the late rdgn, re-
(ojJn'ru til ed into the mountainous aod defart parts, to be more at
leiUire:ior ftudy, and, by his mildnefs and generofity, to fix
them near his perfoa. By thefe means he became ' fo h^bly

admired

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G. i; Tie Hiftory of China. 401

ddmired for Ws. virtues and mild government, that the tiibu- Reflores
tary princes took a lingular delight to pay him their homage, ^he empire
and to leaFn from him how to rule their refpeftive littje ftates, ^oitsgran-
and all the members of the ftate were by degrees brought to ^*'''
their antient order and fubordination. He likewife quelled
fome of the fouthern nations who are divided from China by
the river Yang-t/e-kyangy and had taken the advantage of the
late troubles to plunder feveral of the Chinefe provinces, and
forced them to lubmit to the laws and cuftoms of the em-
pire. He reigned forty-fix years, and was fucceeded by his
fon.

Xn. YEW-WANG, alias Je^, Jeus, inftead of thofe good XII.
qualities for which his father was fo juftly admired, indulged Yew-
himftlf in feveral vices, which not only rendered him contempt!- wang.
ble, but odious to his fubjefts, and brought on a feries oi^^^^^f^^
great troubles, which ended in his ruin, A fplenetic concubine 32« 0'^^-^>
ixamed Pau-tfe, or Pao-ftia, with whom he was mofl: paflion- ^^'
ately in love, feems to have laid the foundation of all his mif- His fatal
fortunes, for whofe worthlefs fake he put away his emprefs, ^^ve for a
and difinherited his lawful heir, who both weat and took re- <^oncttiinf.
fuge at the court of his uncle, who had a fmall principality
in the province of Shenfi. Many other things that infatu-
ated monarch condefcended to (Jo, to divert her fpleen, which,
though not equally unjuft, were no lefs ridiculous and un-
•worthy of him ; but one, in particular, which coft him his
life and crown.

He was then at war with the weflern Tartars ; and had Method (if
g^ven exprefs orders, that whenever the foldiers faw the fires di'verting
Kghted, they fliould immediately arm themfelves, and attend her^
his perfon ; and, to divert his miftrefs, ordered that fignal,
which ought never to be ufed but in cafe of neceffity, to bo
frequently ufed without any other occafion than* to fet her
a laughing at the hurry flie faw the foldiers in, and the fur-
prife and difiike they ftiewed at being fo often falfely alarmed.
Whilft he entertained her with this odd and dangerous diver-
lion, he had fent pofitive orders to his brother to bring him
back his fon, who had taken fanftuary with him ; and that
prince refufing to obey, unlefs the young prince was declared
lavrful heir to the empire, Yew-wang declared war againft
him ; and he, not being in a condition to oppofe his forces,
vrent and joined the Tartars, and in the night-time attacked
the imperial camp. The fires were immediately lighted, to Cc/s him
give the fignal to the foldiers; but they bad been fo often hhUfeand
deceived by it, that they looked upon it as the old game ht- empire.
gun afrcfti, to give new diverfion to his concubine ; fo that
Mop, Hist. Vol. VIII. C c the

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402 ^^ Hyiorj of China. B. 1.

the Tartars eafdy fgrced the camp, and nude tbooletees
mafters of the field. The emperor loft his life, after he had
reigned eleven years ; and was fucceeded by his fon,
XIII. XIII. PING4VANG, though hdr to the crown, was not
Ping- in a condition to put a ftop to the confufion that then reigned,
wang. nor to the ravages which the Tartars committed whcre-evcr
Year of the ^^^ ^jj^g . jj^^ inftead of defending his own dominions,
lld^cle^ removed his refidence farther off from the province of Sben-fi
to that of Ho-nan ; which plainly appealed to be done more
to fecure his own perfon, than his empire, againft his vlQo-
China in- rious enemy ; and this laid the foundation for new troubles :
^iukd hy for, though the tributary princes joined thdr forces againft
the Tar- the enemy, and actually drove them back, and recovered the
^^^* territories they had made themielves mafters of, yet the lungs
of TJin and JVey^ who were in the confederacy, and had fig-
nalized themielves againft thofe invaders, made no fi^niple to
claim an abfolute pofleiSon of thofe teriitories, by way of
conqueft ; and refided to pay homage to the emperor, under
Se'veral pretence that he had lent them no aSiftance. Their example
ivdfpend' was followed by feveral other tributary princes, particularly
ent king' \^y ^he kings of Tyf, Tfuy and Tfin^ who became the founders.
^T^^T^ of three confiderable kingdoms ; the firft in the fouthern part
faiJht ' ^^^ province of Shatig-tong, the fecond in thofe of Hu-

^ara- 9^^g ^^^ ^y^^g'J^f and the third in that of Sicn-Ji. Tfaefc
mongthcm. three, looking upon themfelves as independent, followed only
the dictates of their ambition ; and, by mutual w^s^ fought
only to enlarge their territories, and plunder thofe of their
neighbours. The emperor tried in vain to interpofe his au-
thority, and to oblige them to live at peace. They defpifed
his orders ; and ftill went on with their wars, which were not
at an end in the time of the great Confucius, whofe hiftory
begins here.

PING'WANG reigned fifty-one years, and was fucceeded

by his brother's fon.

XIY. " XIV. WHAN^V^ANC, alias Von, afcending the throne at

Whan- this difficult jundhue, tried in vain^ at firft by gentle means,

wang. , and afterwards by force of arms, to reduce the ttibutary

^^^''^J^^ princes to their obedience. His army having beea defeat-

llicycUi ed, and himfelf wounded, he was^fbrced to content hiittfclf

^^* with preferving thofe provinces which were ftill fubjeft to

him. He reigned twenty-three years, and was fucceeded by

his fon.

XV. XV. C HWANG-WANG, alias Chuang, was raifedtoAc

Chwang- thrpne, contrary not only to the will of his father, who had

waDg, i^amed Kevi^ the fon of one of his concubines^ for his fuc*

cdlor,
X

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C I. Tie JHjicry tf Cliina. 4*05

ceflTor, but to the good liking oF fevcral of his toinifld-s (SJ. Yearo/tif
Kev) had flill allrong party on his fide;, and with them formed '^^h^cUf
a plot of aflalHnatlQg him ; which, though not difcover^ till ^i^
three years after, was, neverthelcis, difcomfitcd, by the vi-
gilance of the grandee mentioned in the laft note; who
having fent for the chief confpirator, under pretence of con-
fulting him, cattfed him to be privately ftabocd. However,
though his death, and Kevji'% mght, which immediately fol-
lowed, fetured the crown to Chang-^ang^ yet the revolted
princes continued ftill independent from him ; and that of
7^, being chiefly governed by liis prime minillcr, had intercft
enough at the imperial court to engage the majority of the
xninifters to alter the fucceffion in favour of Li-vang, his
near relation^ tfter the emperor's death, which happened
fome years after. Chang-wang deigned fifteen years, and was
accordingly fuccecded by him, in prgudice to that emperor's
nephewy to whom the right belonged.

XVI. I I'VANVy from, a tributary prince, being taifed to XVf .
the imj)erial crown, by the intereft of IVong-kungf the king Li-vang;
of 77?, above-mentioned, did eafily exclude all the relations Tear of ih
of the late emperor from it : for that tributary prince was, by Z¥^ ^U
that time, become Ko powerful, that he had enlarged his ter- 37*
ntprfes, at the coll of his hdghboUrs on both fides, and to
the ho fmall prejudice of the royal authority, which was, in
Ibhie meafure, eclipfed by his ov«p-own power. He at
I6ngth grew to fuch a height, as to affiime to himfelf the title
of ?/z, that is, chief (^ all the other princes^ and was ac-
Icnowl^ed as fuch by the greater part of them. This title,
hQwever, wliich others likcwife aflumed, was at length abo-
lifhed, after it had lafted about 100 years. As to U^vang^
he was forced to be paifive, not daring to difoblige the king

(S) This was done at the imperial authbrity, which was

reprefentation of one of the in too tottering a condition^

grandees, of great authority at and rather want^ to be more

court ; who jtiftly obferVed to ftrongly propped, than to be

them the ill cotiAsquences whkh didangered by fuch a deadl)^

fuch an injaflice to the lawfal ftcck. The reft of the grandees,

heir might bring on the empire and minifters, readily agreed to

at that juD^ure, and which his whoHbme advice ; and that

muft of ncceffity end in a civij faithful minifter kept fuch a

war: to which he added far- watchful eye over the rebel

th^r, that fuch a preference of Keiv, that he difcovered and

the fon of a concabine to the defeated his |»!ot againft tl^e

^wful fon and heir, could not emperor, before it could be put

^11 of giving a fatal blo^^ to the in execution ( i 8) .

(iS) yiiif N$fl, CwfUt, iHartini, Du mide, & al. f h tibujng.

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404 7*^ H^ory of China.' B. I.

of TJi^ to whom he owed the crowri ; and, rf'ter a fhort rdgn
of five years, left it to his fofi.
^XVII. XVII. WHET-WANG, alias Hoey, reigned very peaceably
Whey- the firft fix years ; but was, at length, attacked by the Tizr-
wang. tars, who inhabit. the north part of Shan-fi\ againft whom
Year of the jj^ f^^ ^^ army, under the command of the king of Tfi This
l^h cycle, prince came upon them while they Were befieging the dty of
^^" Tay-tong'ftl, forced their camp, and put them to the rout,
rather by a fuperftitious panic, which had feized them, than
any fuperiority, either of ftrength or ground. However, this
viftory, and the truft which the emperor repofed in him,
gave him fuch an afcendant, that he wanted nothing but the
imperial title ; and his ambition was fuch, that he Would have
made no fcruple to have dethroned him, had he Hot had caufe
to apprehend, that the other princes, who were his equals,
would have oppofed his defign. Whey-wang reigned twenty-
five years, and was fucceeded by his fon.
Xyill. XVIII. STANG'WANG, even from his younger years,
Syang' had entertained no fmall jealoufy of the overgrown power,
' Wang, and unmeafurable ambition, of the king of Tft, but as he knew
Yeurofthe him to be too ftrong for him, refolved to fupprefs him by
55/i^ryr/*, CTaftinefs, rather than by open force. Won-kung gave him
7» foon after a fair opportunity tor it ; for having convoked, by
the afliftance of the prime minifter, all the little fova^eigns
that were dependent on the imperial crown, which none but
the emperor had a right to do, and defigning, by that means,
to make them acknowlege him as fuch, Syang-wang fent im-
mediately his imperial letter to the aflembly, by the hands of
a^ fkilful ambaflador ; who came accordingly, and laid it, as
is ufual on thofe occafions, on a table magnificently adorned;
upon which, all the other princes paid their homage to it, which
is the fame as if the emperor had been there in perfon. Won-
kung was the only one that hefitatpd about, and was on the
point of refufing, had not his prime minifter reminded him
of the danger, and of the jealoufy which his refufal would
create among the other princes. He was therefore obliged to
comply, and to put off his defign to a better opportunity,
but his public, though forced, fubmiilion, had fuch an in-
fluence over the reft, that it confirmed them in their fub-
miilion to the emperor, and helped to reftore the government
to its antient form. -»^

SYANG-WANG had not long enjoyed the fruit of his
ftratagem, wheij his peace was difturbed by his fon Sho-tay,
who, upon fome difguft, left the court, and went to that
of the king of Tft. About the fame time, one of his tri-
butaries openly revolted, in the province of Sben-fi. But

S ^^

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G. I. Tie fSftory of China. 405

the emperor was fcx)n rid of both fears, by the defeat of the
latter, and by the death of the ambitious JVon-kwigy who died
of old-age, and left his kingdom, in a diilrafted condition,
between his five contending fons. Soon after that, having War ivitS^
difmifled his Tartarian enjprefs, whom he had married for poli- the Tar-
tic views, brought on a frefti war from that quarter ; in which tars,
the Tartar invited his fugitive fon Sho-tay to join,' promifing
to get him declared emperor ; which he readily confented to.
The emperor was thereupon forced to fly, and wander about,
begging the affiftance of his tributaries, whilfl his rebellious His fin tmt
fen had entered his capital, and taken the imperial title upon hels.
him. Syang-wang having obtained a fufficient luq:our, di-
vided his army, and, with one part, recovered his metropolis,
and caufed Sho-tay to be put to death, and, with the other, Tut 19
drove the Tartars out of hi5 dominions, and reftored the peace death*
of his empire, which lafted twenty-two years. He died in
the thirty-third year of his reign, and w^s fucceedcd by his
fon.

XIX. KING-WANG, 23l2isHiang, was a prince epdowed XIX,
with all the good qualities that could make his fubjefts happy. King-
who thought they never could fay enough in praife of his mo- wang.
deration aad fatherly tendemefs. But a fudden death fnatched Tear of the
him from them, after a ftiort reign of fix years, to the great 3S^^ 0'"^>
grief of the whole empire^ He was fucceeded by his fon, ^^"

XX. ^ANG-WANG, whofe reign was equally ftiort, XX.
mild, and undifturbed, the fon and fuccellbr pf Won-kung^ Quang-
ii^ the kingdom of Tfiy being become fo odious to his fubjefts, wang.
that he was not in a condition to attempt any thing againft Tear of the
him (T). ^tang-wan^y after a fi^ year$ rei^n, left the crown 35^^ O'^'^*
tp his brother. ^

XXI, TING.

(T) This tyrant, whofe name fVom the king of Tfi; and being

\»2L% Lyn-chungy was become fo admitted into his pr'efence, found

want of application to govern, ceiving petitions from his fub-.

pient, that another prince, his je6ls, and difpenfing juftice

icinfman, took the liberty to re- among them, with fuch affable

prove him for it; at which he greatnefs, as ftruck hiiji at once

was fo enrage^, that he fent with horror at the thoughts of

f(ion after a defperate ruffian to ftaining his hands with - the.

ailaffinate him in his own pa- blood pf fo excellent a prince,

Jace. The fellow came accord- and not daring to return to Lyn-

ii^glyt early in the morning, chung^ without performing his.

pretending to have fome bufi- ' errand, flew himfelf at the door

l^efs of importance vyith him pf the palace (19).

(19) ^<^ Noel^ Coufliit, Murtini, Du Halde, ^ ah Jub ^a»g.

C c 3 ^^

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XXr. XXI. TINC'JFJNG, ppon his mounting the throne^

Tiog- made it his chief care to keep 3nrar at a diftance, and to caufe

v^S- the laws to be pat in execudon. In his reign was bom Lau-

Year9ftht ^y^^^ founder of the E^icurian feft. falfely called the feft of

^^th cy^itf ^^ immortals, and of which we have fpoken, in a formes

^*' feftion •. Tin2'wang reigned' twenty-one years; and b re*

corded chiefly tor the great tranqniUty he preferved the empire

10 during his reign, ne was fuccceded by his fon.

XXII. XXII. KTEN-VANC, alias Kien^ as heir of his virtuet,

^y«"- preferved the empire in its grandeur and tranquility. In his

^*°|- rci^n ftarted up two other odd fefts, which made a great

6becle "^^^ ^* ^*' ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^ conftited, and quelled (U),

' ', F*^ '* He reigned fourteen years, and was fucceeded by his fon,

XXlil. XXIII. LING-yANG is recorded to have been bom

Ling^-' widi hair on his head, and a beard oq his chin ; but is much

vang. more famed for the wifdom and prudence with which he go-

Yearofthi vcmcd his people ; infomuch, that he flill preferved the im-

%btb cycle, perial authority in its full luibe, though moft of the tributary

*7' princes were warring againft one anorfier^ In the elemeoth

/TE^ year <rf his reign, the death of Xeun-Cung, king of (/, occa-

^tweMt ^^^^^^ ^^^ ^^ ^^ ^^^ remarkable contefts, between his two

^tbirT^ fons, that is to be met with in hiftory. The eldeft, to whom

the crown belonged, was very preffing to have his brother

• 5ce before, p. loa, & (E),

Itwillnotbeamifstoobfcrve (U) The two philofophers
further, that wh^n we diftin- who broached them were called
guifli between the empire and Tang and Me ; the former of
the tributary princes depending whom taaght. That all men
on it, the former mud not be 'were to be loved alike, ftrangen
underflood in that vatl extent, as well as kindred ; the other
at it has been fmce ; for, even roaintained« That every man
at this time, it is neither all yet ought to mind himfelf, and his
inhabited, nor much lefs all own affairs, without j:oooern-
fubjeA to one prince. It is ing hirofelf about any bodvelfe*
likely that it contained, at mod, or even the emperor himfelf.
only two or three provinces, In this reign we like wife find,
befides that of Sbenjt^ which the firft mention of the king-
was the fird inhabited, whild dom of £/, and of a fmart war
the remainder was dill either waged by the king of it, and
nncultivated, or, at mod, go- fome neighbouring princes, on
vcrned by princes of their own, account of a beautiful young
who paid neither homage nor damfcl ; which war, being fo-
tribute to the emperors, till f(5- reign to our prefent (ub}c6^» the
V^ffU centuries after. reMerma/readinAZ(2r//jsi(2Q).

(J^) Suh JSew p. i;5, (Sffif.

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C. u ?ife Bytory of Chiht. 407

accept of it, and the younger as flrenuoufly refbfed It. At
length, the elder conftrained him to it, by force, pkcing him ,
on the throne, putting the royal ornaments on him, and fa-
luting him king of U, But thfe ceremony was fcarce over,
before the new king privately abandoned the palace, went
and hid himfelf in a defart ; fo that the elder was obliged to
refume it, whilft his brother kept himfelf concealed, in the
habit and occupation of a ruftic, or plough-boy. About ten Confuciw
years after, or in the twenty-firll year of the fame reign, was iont,
born the fo much celebrated Chinefe philofopher Kong-fi-tfe^
or Confucius ^oivAiOva we have given an account, in a former
feftion t« As for Ling-vang^ he reigned peaceably tweaty-
feven years, and left flie crown to his fon.

XXnr. KENG-VANG, alias AT/n^, is juftly blamed for XXIV*
his indolence and inattention to the affairs of the empire, at Xcng-
a time when the king of U^ charmed with the government of ^^**^S*
his predeceflbrs", wrs on the point of having fubmitted to him ^^^^/if^^
and his laws. So that, inftead of fending his intended am- 37' O'"^
bafly to him, he difpatchcd it to the king of Iw, a prince of ^^'
the family of Chevjy and a ftrift obferver of the laws of this
dynafty. Several other princes thought it alfo high time to
reftore that peace and order in their refpeftive ftates, which
the civil wars among them had almoft deftroyed. The king Nenv re^
of Ching^ in particular, who reigned in the province of Shen-p^ gulations
iliewea them a noble example, who, by the help and advice «^«ff /^*
of his prime minifter, reformed the abufes which had crept into ^^'f^'
his court, revived the antient laws, and made fuch a wife di-^'^*^''*
ftributlon of the lands, as pleafed tx)th rich and poor (X).

KENG'VANG reigned twenty-five years, and was fuc-
ceeded by his fon Meng-vang^ who reigned but a few months. Meng-
©uring which, he had a fon born, on whofe account a deadly ^^."8
conteft arofe between two powerful parties ; that of the court ^^^^^^ ^^

t Sec before, p. 104, & (F).

( X ) His regulations were ftrates fhould have a particular
diaefiy eontsdned under the care of all widows, orphans,
fbttt folio wing* heads ; a//ss. and old men and women who
». That the lands flioald be had no children, and aifill
divided into nine equal parts, them in their necefTities. 4«Thac
whereof one Ihould be bis do- the fon or wife fhould not be
main, and cultivated at the punifhed for the crime of a pa-
public charge. 2. That all rent or huiband ; and fome
peoplb indifferctitly fhould be others of equal wifdom, though
permitted to £(h in lakes, poiidg, of lefs moment.(2i ).
aftd rivers. 3. That the magi-

^^\) Mvrtini, fub Kin^, Du Ua^Jtj Kienfr-vang, Q al, fup* at,

Cc 4 and

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'4o8 The Hiftory of China, B. I.

A^ontefi and miniftcrs declaring for the infant prince; whilfl the gq-
ahout the vernors of the provinces, objefting againft his tender years,
fuccefffott, and the uncertainty of his life, had proclaimed King-vang,
his father's brother. Both parties proceeded to arms ; but
the laft proving the ftronger, and having made themfelves
mafters of the' capital, let him upon the throne, and conHrmc^
him eipperor.
XXV. XXV. KING'KJNG's reign is not recorded for any par-
King- ticular aftion of his ; wbeiice it is fuppofed to have been ^
vang. peaceable one. Confucius y who flouriftied at this time, in the
^''^^'^^ kingdom of Lw, ends that long 200 years war of the tribu-
38/^ cycUy ^j.y princes much about the fame time. During the fame reign,
v' two very illuftrious royal families received theiv finifliing
fboke, and total extinftion ; viz, that of Tfau^ which had
had no lefs than twenty-five kings, within the fpace 636 yearsj
• and, about eight or ten years after, that of Chin^ together with
Its kingdom, after it had continued 645 years, under twenty-
. four princes : the fornier was deftroyed by the king erf" Sqng\
and the latter by that of Tfu. King-vang died In the forty«|
fourth year of his reign, and was fucceeded by his fon. . ^
XXVI; XXVL YJVEN'VJNG proved fo wife and mUd a prince,
Ywen- tbat, had he lived long enough, he would proba^)ly have raife4
vang. the imperial authority to its priftine glory. Of all the tributary
Year of the princes, the king of Su was the only one who ftill refufed to
l^thcycUy j^^j^ ^^ \Am2X homage of coming to the grand aflembly, for
^' which he was profcribed, and declared a rebel \ ^yhich is the
lirft inftance we meet with of that kind of punifhment. Tiuen-
vang was likewife very fuccefsful in war, gained fever4
battles, and fubdued almoll the whole province of Lu. About
the fame timq, the kingdom of t/, which had fubfiAed 650
years, under twenty petty kings, was fubverted by the king
of T^e, Tiven-vang reigned but feven years, and was fuc-
ceeded by his fon.
XXVII. XXVII. Cif/iVC^-r/A^^-r^^-C^ was fomamcdtheCAj/?^,
Ching- on account of his living in celibacy after the death of hi^
ting- vang. emprefs, and ftiewlng an eminent example of continency tQ
Tear of the hjs fubje6ls. He maintained the empire in the fame peace
38/^ cycle, ^^^ grandeur in which he found it. And in his reign the
^^' king of Tfu put a final end' to the principality of 7)&y, which
had flood 676 years, under tweiity-five princes. Ching-iing
reigned twenty-eight years, and left three fons at his death,
all of age, the eldefl of whom, named Nyau^ fucceeded him ;
but was murdered by his brother Suy in the third month of
his reign. Su reigned only five months, and was likewife
aflaffinated by the youngeft, whpinountcd the throne, witt
lOut any oppofition.

'" .: ' • ^ XXVm. KAV^

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C. I. Tke Hiftoty of Chiw. 409

XXVm. KAU'VANG, though he pretended to hav? only XXVIIJ.
punifhed one parricide by another, was yet greatly hated for KaiK
that aftion; infomudi, that feveral tributary princes with- ^^^%'
3rew their allegiance frc^ him. He was, however, a mild '^^^^v^H
and good prince, and gave fome eminent proofs of his pa- ^ a^^ *
ternal love for his fubjefts (Y). He reigned lateen years^ and ^ *
\vas fucceeded by his fon.

' yiXlk, GHEY-LYE'VANG, alias Ghei-he^v, began |ii§ XXIX,
reign about the beginning of the civil wars between the tri- Ghcy-
b^utary princes, which lafted near 300 years, which epocha \% ^^•^^"S*
from thence ftyled, by xhtChinefe, xh^ years af'war^ ox 'warlike o'j/j^
ages, when every petty fovereign ftrove to make himfelfin- ^ T ^^t
dependent, and lord it over his rivals^ and the imperial dig- ^?'
nity brought fo low, that thefe monarchs faw their authority
trampled under foot, the provinces taken from them by de-
grees, whilil they hardly retained the bare name of fovereigns.
The kingdom of Tfin \yas divided between four princes, whq
had conquered it, pne of whom, famed for his battles, had
rormcd the defign of fwallowing up the other three. He was
prevented indded by d^th ; but his fon, equally ambitious
and unquiet, picked a quarrel with the kings of Han and Gay,
and forced them to yield fome territories to him. He next
6*ied to do the fame by the king of Chanj^ another neighbour 5
but was defeated, and flain by him, together with his whole
family, and his head cut off, and made a drinking-cup of. The ^
king of Lu made likewife war againft that of Tfi, took fome
confiderable places from him, and obliged him to fue for a
peace. As for Ghey-lye-yangy we hear nothing of Iiim, but
that he reigned twenty-four years, and left the crown to hi^
fon.

XXX. NGAN'VANG's reign is recorded for nothing but XXX.
for the wars which reigned between the petty king^, particu- Ngan-
larly thofe of TJin and Ghey, in which the latter was the moft ^^^fv
fuccefsfui ; but U-kiy the general, who had gained him feveral J^^^ j
viftories, being envied by his courtiers, withdrew himfelf pri- i^^ *
yately to the former, and turned the fcales againft his old
mafter, and became very great at this fecond court. Being
here likewife envied by the grandees, he refolved to reform
^e government by limiting their authority, and lodging the

(Y) It will not be amifs to this dynafty, which, in due

obfcrvc to our readers, that courfe, is but the twenty- eighth,

Martini, and fome other Chi- fince both feigns not exceeding

ne/e anhalilts, reckon the reigns «ight months, ought rather to

Gt t)ie two ilain princes among be included with &e £ril of tb^

the reft, and fo make this of following one.

Kau'vang xo be the diirtiedi of

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410 The Hijory of China. B. F.

power folcljr ia the kii^. He had already, by his valour
and merit, rendered him to powerful, and Broti^t his king-
dom into fach a flourifhing cooditbn, that lie Was become
formidable to aK his neighbours ; but his miniflers fo highly
rcfented the blow which his brave general had given to their
overgrown fway, that they caufed him to be privately mar-
dercd in his own houfe. Ngartrvang reigned twenty-fix
years, and was fucceeded by^his fon.
jfxxi. XXXL LYE'VANG's reign was not more remarkable than-
\,yc^ his father's, except for die birth of the great philofoplier Meng-
^wnp tfe^ commonly called Mencius, the moft celebrated one, next
TiOKvJiJbexo Confucius, that tvcc China produced. In other refpefts,
%^h c^cUy the imperial authority ftill went on to its decline, infomnch
43' that tlic Idng df Tft was the only one who paid him homage.
The year in which he came to the crown was likewife remark-
able for the exlinftion of ^<tChing dynafty, after it had lafted
432 years, under '23 princes, the laft of whom was fubdoed
and (lain by the king of Han. Lye^vang reigned fcvcn years,
and died without ifliie, and was fucceeded by his brother,
3OCXII. XXXII. BTEN-VANG, though he enjoyed a long reign,
Hycn- yet had little more than the title rf emperor, the princes oot
vang. only refufing him the ufual homage, but threatening him M^th
Tear of the war if he oppofed their defigns. The Chinefe records take no
2^h cycle, tice of the nine celebrated brafen veflels which Tu, the founder
5^* of the firft dynafty, caufed to be made, reprefenting the nine
provinces of the empire ; and which whoever was in pofleffion
<rf, was fure of the empire f . Thefe iceflels are affirmed to
have (haken of themfelves in the reign of Ghey Lye-vang, the
29th monarch of this dynafty, which was then looked upon as
a prefage of the evils which enfued. And now, in this r^
the contending kings began to ftrive who ftiould get the pof-
feflion of them ; but the emperor, to defeat their dtC^i
caufed them to be thrown into a deep lake, from which it
^ was impo/fible to get them out. In his reign we firft hear rf
chariots of war being ufed by the Chinefe. He reigned forty-
eight years, and was fucceeded by his fon.
XXJCIII. XXXni. SHlN'TSlN'WAlJGy alias -X/-r;n, had a'feir
Shin-tiin- Opportunity of recovering the loft dignity of the empire,
vang. had not his (loth and cowardice Wndercd him from making
Ttarofthe the beft advantage of the wars which raged among other
^h cycle, princ^. Not fo did the king of Tfin, who raifed bimfidf by
3^' them to fuch height of power, that he kept the others in
fubjcftion to him ; and had almoft engroflbd the whole im-
perial autkoi'ity, though he had not the title of emperor. He

t Martini, Du Halpb, $c al. fop. citat. Sec before, p. 372,
*^^S- defeated

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C I. Tkt TUficfj of ChiM: 41 r

dfifeatod the coofederale forces of the kings of TJii^ €!batt^
Man^ Gie)n, and !>»; and ^woold have deprived th«n of
thar kingdoms, had not a moce impoFtant concern called hun
eU^wherQ; viz, two iiid^)endent princes in the weftern part
d Sc-chweHy who ^were at "war, aad each imploring his affift*
aoce; The hopes of jokiing two fuch principalities to his
OHTQ kii^domr eafily previukd upon him to engage in the
quarrel; the upflio^ of which w^, that he defeated and killed
Uie 0Be» and ^zedupon his territory ; and obliged the other,,
whom he had aiSifted, to pay him homage, ^nd an. annual;
tribute. Soon after diis, the king of Gi^^ one of the five
coofederates^ put himfelf under his protedKon, and became
tributary to trim ; by which means that prince eould more
eafily enter into, and fiibdue the territories of the other four. ^
All this while the emperor continued an idle fpeftator ; and,
after a fhort rdga of fix years, left the crown to his fcm,

XXXIV. NGAN'VANG, alias Sous, found the imperial XXXIV,
authority reduced to fo low an ebh, that though he wanted ^is*"*-
Pjdther courage nor ^dcnca to aft ^becaoie his di^ty, yet I?'*^-
had not power fufSaent to undertake any thing which might J^y'^^j'
give the leiaft umbrage to his rival the king of TJin. This ^ 4?^
laft, who aimed at no lefs thaa the imperial dignity, pso- ^*
moted underhand the wars between the other princes ; and,
as they all applied to him for help, he readily afllfted them
^vith forces to deftroy one another, and leflen their number
^d ftrength t by which naeans the kingdom of Song^ which,
badfubfifted 381 years, under 32 princes, was def&oyed by
the kings of TJi and Tfu ; and the prindpalhy of Lu^ which
had been governed by 34 fovereigns, was fubdued by the
king of 7)^.

Haying thus far opened the way to die imperial diadem, Detbromd
Chau'Jyang began to difcover his defigns, by coring a public ly the king
iacrifiee to the Lord of heaven, with the fame ceremonies as rf Tfi.
the emperors alone were allowed to ufe : neither was there
any prince powerful or courageous enough to controul him
in it, except the king of Tjff ; but his army was fo fmall, that
ChaU'fyang with eafe defeated him ; immediately after which;
he fent part of his forces to dethrone the emperor. The un^
fortunate monarch, who had but few forces to oppofe himp
was likewife defi^ted at the firft attack, and forced, in order
to fave his life, to fubmit himfelf to the conqueror's mercy,
to own him for his fbvereign, and to yield him the fe\v cities
which remained in his hands. He retired immediately after into
the province of Shan-Ji^ and died there a year after, in the
59th year of his venffi ; upon which, feveral princes huftened,
^Q go aaipay rfjeir homage to Chau-fyang. On the other

hand,

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4M The Hifiory of China. B. I.

hand> there were not warning others who (Kll adhered ta
the family of CheriUj and raifed a grandfon of the brother of
Kau'vang, to the thrpne.
XXXV. XXXV, CHEW'KXUN, immediately upon his acceffion.
Chew- fent to demand what aflifhmc^ he could get, to make head
jyrun. ^ainft the yfurper, and particularly from the kings of Tyf,
Ye^rofthe 7j^^ ^^^ Ghey^ but they w^re too fearful of difobSging the
41/ cycle^ jjg^ ^mpcror to fend him any ; fo that, feeing himfelf aban-
^^ doned, and without hopes of maintaining himfelf on the
thronpj bp ^hofe to relinquifh it, and end his life in a private
ftatc, aftef ^ troublefpm^ rejgn of feven, or, according to
others, nine years. Chau-fyang did not long enjoy his new
dignity, but died ^ven before his rival had abdicated it. His
fon Hyqu-veng'vang died ajfo in the fame year ; but left the
End 0/ th^ crovfti to his fon Chv^ang-Jyangrvang^ who put an end to
^ddynafiy, the third, and became the foijnder of the fourth, dynafty.

Fourth (fy- The Fourth Dynajiy^ calkd Tfm^ or C'm^ conjijling of
^p' only Four Emperors within the Space of Forty-tbr^

Tears.

r. I. f^HWANG-STANG-VANG began his reign with make-
Chwang- ^ ing an inroad into the kingdom of Ghey ; in which he
fyang. -vvas fo faccefsful, and wott fo many battles, that thofe of
Year of the ^^^^ *^^^ ^^^^.^ ^^^^^ ^^^ cj-j-^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^j: being, ftrip-

41/ cycle y pgj likewiic of their dominions, formed a confederacy againft
^^' him ; and, with an army of 200,000 men, gave him a total
overthrow, and obliged him to quit his new conquefts. The
emperor died foon after, in the third year of his reign, and
left the crown to his adopted fon Shi-whang-ti, who is af-
firmed by the Chinefe hiftorians to have been bom twelve
months after his conception ».
II. II. SELWHANG'TI, alias Ching, owed his good for.

Shi- tune, on his coming to the crou-n, to the ambition and jea-

whang'ti. loufy which began to reign among the above-mentioned princes,
Year of the which made them break off a confederacy which might other-
41/ cycle, y^-jfe have defeated all his meafures ; whereas the mutual
55' vars which they waged gave him a fair opportunity of fob-
duing tliem one. after aiK)ther, extirpating all the males of
their families and uibes (Z), re-uniting all thofe principali-
ties

^ Martini, Pu Halde, &al. fop. dtat

(Z) His revenge difplayed it- of 7/f, whom he caufed to be
fclf (Ull iiK>rc igiiijit chc king 'iliut up in a park planted with

sotiiij^

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C; ir ne Hlftdry af CKiha. 41/

ties under him, and reducing them from thenceforth irlto fo
many dependent dates of his empire. To thefe he added ,
foon after fo many other new conquefts, that he divided the
whole into 36 provinces (A) ; and having obferved, in vMit- Builds the
ing his empire, that the. northern ones of Shen-Jif Shan-Jt^ great
and Pe-che-iif were much expofed to the excurfions of the ^ail.
Tartars^ he firft feat a formidable army againft tliefe in--
vaders^ and, having driven them far enough beyond his
frontiers, fet about his projefted fcheme of fecuring them *
for the future by the famed Wall which we have cllcwhere '
defcribed ^. But as neither this ftupendous work, which of His un-
itfelf would have been fufficient to eternize his fame, nor his meafurahle
great fuccefies and conquefts, could fatisfy his ambitious mind, ambition.
ublefs he could obliterate the glorious deeds of all his pre-
deceffors, and ftand as it were alone in the fShinefe annals a
fit objeft of admiration and praifc 5 he publifhed a decree, 'VeJIroys
expreily commanding all his fubjefts, upon pain of death, to all the art'
bum all the records of the kings, and afl the writings of Con- tient re-
fuqiuSy Mencius, &C. which tranfmitted the virtues andaftions <"«"*^'J-
of thofe illuftrious emperors, excepting only fuch as treated
of phyflc and architefture. ^

, This decree, the bafenefs of which he endeavoured to
^ conceal under divers fpecious pretences (B), was executed
• \. : . ' with-

*» See before, p. 289, & feq. Sc not, (B).

nothing but pine-trees ; and al- much thje air of a fable to be
low^d him fuch a fmall pittante, depended upon ; we Ihall there-
as quite drove' him into defpair ; fore poftpone the further difqui-
fo that he refufed it, and ftarved fidon abbut it till we come to
himfelf. On the other hand, fpeak ofS thole ifldiids in the
the king of Han, by a timely fequel.

fubmillion, and furrender of* (B) One of his pretences was,
himfelf, troops, and dominions, that thofe books, though ufeful .
njoc only avoided the fate of the when the empire was divided
reft, but became a great fa- among various fovereigns, in
vourite of that nK>najrch, and order to have the fubje6ls all
ended his days at his court, governed by the fame laws ;
with all the marks of diilindion yet, as it was now under one
that belong to his rank (zz). monarch, the fame fpirit ought
(A) The Chinefe pretend, to govern and animate thft whole.'
that about this time the illands Befides, added he, thofe fciences,^
of Japan and Bengal were dif- to which fuch vaft numbers of
covered and colonied by them, men apply themfelves, (cvyt
The account they give has too rather to encourage iloth and

{zi) nUrt'mi (^ Btt Hjidffvb Ciin^ ,xi, ^ Du Hafde fuhShi-xikif^^'tu

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414 ^be HUhry if Oim. B.I

vhh the tttmoft ftridlaefs by the gdvenHn*s of dife prcyvliktes;
' and many perfcms of virtae and leanung were pot to death
for conceaUng thofe valuable records ; chough it is not im-
probable, that, in fo vaA an empiiey Aune few cojnes m^c
be ftill privately preferved, and ccune to light a^er the deafli
of that tyrannic prince, whofe memory has been odioos to all
pofterity ever fince. But what relates to the recovery of thofe
antient records, we fliall refer our readers to what hath been
already fald on th^t head ^ ; from which it will eafiy appeal,
that the regret which the Chinefe to this ^y e&prds for that
lofs can only relate to fome' of the inferior, but not at ^ to
thofe of the claiEc and canonic kind^.
Jfew re- SHI-WHANG-TI, aftet a war which had lafled near 2j
gulates thi years, fettled fuch a profouikl peace in his empire, that he
fffvem' had Icifure enough to new-model that govenimwit, by abro-
ment. gating and mending ibme laws^ and enafting others, as he
Pro<u\fiQn thought fit : and, as he had feveral children, (bme of Ins
for the miniuers advifed him to eredl new t>rincipa]ilie8 fbr the mdn-
younger tenance of the younger fcrt ; but he, pnt^g tfiem in mind
y^w. of the great troubles they had canfed in faiiier dynaffies,

chofe rather to build them palaces in feveral cities, what
they fhould be .maintained according to that* rank at the em-
peror's charge, but without any au^ority over the peo{Je;
which methoa hath been followed alrqofl ever fince, except
that in the latter reigns they have been obliged to refide in the
metropolis, and to foflow the court. As he could not endure
to be idle, he refolved uppn making a new progrefs AroDgh
the eaftern provinces of the empire, and took his fecond ton
with him ; but he fell fick upon the road, and, finding him-
feif near his end, wrote a' letter to his eldefl fon, whom he

^ Conf. Univ. Hifl. vol. xx. p. i<5, (D) ; and before, p. 35J,
Zc feq. ' Du Hald£ Introd. in AnnaL

idlenefs, to the negle6l of agri- tient laws, as it miSfl fteqnendy

culture, which is the foimtain happen, finCe they mufl neon-

of happinefs to the people. He' farily vary according to thefe-

charged moreover thofe antient veral occafions and emergencies

books, with containing in them for which they were given, thoie

the feeds of rebellion and fedi- learned men took the libef^

tion, and thofe who fludied • rafhly to condemn his condud,

them as men ever ready to pro- and, with their feditious rcflcc-

mote it ; inafmuch as if a wife tions, kindled a fpirit of dif-

prince's commands were not obedience and rebellion (23).
exactly agreeable to thofe an-

(13) Martini Q Du Halde fuh Chiitg-xi, Da Ualdefuh SK vrhafig'ti.

declared

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e. I. ^bi Hifiory of Chilia. 415

declared his fucceflbr. This, tqgtfthcr with the feals of the
empire, he delivered up to his fecoad fon, charging him to
bear them to his brother ; and died foon after, in the thirty- Dnah^
feventh year of his reign.

III. EUL-SHI, alias Ul-xi, inftead of obeying his father's nr.
command, refolved to place the crown upon his own head; Eul-fti.
and having, with fome difficulty, engaged the prime mini- Tearofthg
fter ti'tfe^ then in great authority, to his fide, cafily got the 4*' 9^
fuffrages of the reft by his means. The eldeft fon raifed 8**
fome forces againft him, in order to maintain his right; but,
finding that moft of the provinces had declared for Eul-Jbiy
was forced to fubmit ; and, the ftep he had taken bdng
deemed treafoaable, was ordered to kill himfelf- This perfidy
and parricide met with the reward they defcrvcd ; and that
infatuated prince, taking a Ko-lau for his priitie miniftcr and
confident, who was a private enemy to the whole imperial
family, was by him perfuaded to difcard all his beft friends,
under pretence that they prefumed to condemn his too great
love or pleafure, and filling their places with his own crea-
tures* A general difcontent foon followed thro' the empire, Areso^U.
occafioned by. the exactions of the governors and miniflers;
and one of the generals, who had been fent to quell feme
provinces, proved the very firft who caufed a revolt in favour
of the fon of the elder brother. About this time appeared
the famed Lieu-pang^ who, from a private foldier, was be-
come captain of a company of banditti ; and was a bold, cou-
rageous man, eloquent ^d aftive, and an enemy to the em-
perof s luxury. He had been fainted emperor by a great
phyfiognomift, who, as a pledge of the certainty of his'pre-
diftion, gave him his daughter, one of thegreateft beaiities
in the whole empire, in marriage. It was not long before Lica-
Lieu'pang was applied to by one of the governors for a/Tift- P*."g t^
ance againft the revolted general, who defigned to feize on ^^J. '^
the kingdom of Tfm for himfelf, and was going to befiege ^'^f*^^'
one of the cities of it. The very name of Lieu-pang was
by that time become fo dreaded, that he e^fily made that ge-
neral retire ; but the treacherous governor^ feeing himf^lf rid
of him, ftiut up the gates againft his deliverer. Prefently after Hisfuccefs.
there happened a fedition in the city ; of which Lieu-pang
having got notice by an arrow fhot into the camp, fcaled the
walls, and took it ; and, the governor being killed in the
aftion, the inhabitants declared for. him, and he entered the
place in triumph ; and, from a captain of vagabonds, became •
general of an army, and mafter of a rich b(X)ty, and began
jjow to cherifh the hopes of his advancement to the empire;

Ail

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4itf the H0vry of CKm: t.l.

Al^ ihis while the perfidious Ko-lau kept tne emperor
arowned in pleafure, whulft he purfued his own deflruftive
meafures, and indulged his creatures in all kind of rapine,
which were grown to fuch a hdght, that feveral provinces re-
volted before he had reigned two years, ahd chofe their own
fovereigns, particularly the kingdoms of 7yf> ^^^> €hau^ Ghey^
and Tfuy which had been deftroyed by Shi-whang-ti, rofe up
Miuie ge- anew ; and the king of 7y^, having chofen Lieu-pang for his
fteral. general, fent him with two others, and with each a powerful
Sent army, againft the emperor, with a promife of giving the kingdom

agMnftthe of TJin to any of the three that (hould feize on the metropolis,
emperor, and drive the tyrant out of it. Eul-Jhi fent a powerful army
againft them, which was defeated by otic or them named
Hyang'hya ; and the reft, not being able to obtain a rein-
^beempe- forcement from the Ko-laUy went over to the conqueror. The
ror mur- Ko-laUy fearing this defeftion might difcover his treachery^
deredhy found no furer way of avoiding the due punifhmenjt of it;
his prime than by caufing the unfortunate emperor to be aflafEnated by
mnifier.^ a ruffian, in the twenty-fourth year pf his age, and third of
his reign; ^nd, to concieal his having a hand in it, placed
Ing-iuangy the grand-nephew of the deceafed emperor, on
the throne.
IV. IV. iNG'WANGy alias Ingy had not enjoj'cd the crown

Ing- ^ three days, before he difcovered the Ko4au to be the murderer
^^"g* of the emperor ; but, as hqjdared not aft openly againft fuch
Year of the a powerful minifter, he feigned himfelf to be fick, and feat
^ 0'^/<p, fQj. j^Jqj^ ^jjJ ordered him to be ftabbed as he entered the
^^* apartment ; foon after which, his whole kindred, to the third
generation, underwent the fame fate ; by which the empire
was delivered from a rapacious monfter, and his adherents.
This did not deter Lieu-pang from purfuing his deftgn, and
marching againft him. Ing-wang, on the other hand, raifcd
an army, and ftrengthened it with a good number of veterans
which he drew out of feveral of his garrifons. But Lieu-pang
found means to alienate them, by fending a vaft number of
his troops among them, under the notion of defer ters ; and,
as foon as he found the imperial army ready to revolt in his
Vethroned favour, came fuddenly upon, aud eafily defeated it. The
4fy Lieu- emperor, finding himfelf thus abandoned, threw himfelf at .
^^"^* his feet, and delivered up to him the feals, and other infignia,
of the imperial dignity, after he had reigned only forty-five
days; and Lieu-pqjig entered the city in triumph, which he
delivered up to be plundered by his troops ; but with an ex-
pfefs order, that' they ftiould not ufe any of the inhabitant
ill. After that, he marched ftrait to the palace, where he
found an immenfe treafure ; and caufed himfelf foon after to

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be prod^dsi^d .emperor, and became the foander of a new
dynoJfty.

the F^tbBymfty^ called Hdn^ containing ^g Ef^P^^^i ^'^'^ ^-
• wiibin the Space of 426 Tears. • .. * *^-/?^-

L J lEU'PJNG at firft t^ only the title of kkig of Tjih^ I.

•" the capital of Nvhich he had lately < taken; artd ex- Lieu-
changed his own name for that of Kau-tfu. Bnt he had n pang;
rival who tauf^him much trouble, viz. the general Hyang^fi^^^^^^^
byu^ lately mentioi^d, a man of an haughty and brutifh na- y' .
ture, who^ notwithftanding his pretended 'reconciliation ^^ /^ i^
him, fet the city and imperial palace on fire, committed many «/^^^
dreadful outrages on thfe tombsr and bodies of the dedeafed Bef^Cbr.
kings of Tfm.i arid with his own hand murdered thedethrcmed * 266.
emperor,. tmder pretence that Lieu-pang had ftiewn him ttkJ .
much Tcfpeft. .He: committed many other bloody nwrderd Hyan^
and outrage?,- which, as they rendered him odious^ to all the oppofis
foldiers, fe.they ferved as a foil to fet off the jWfKce, tftodc- him^ and
ration, and cl^ency, of Lieu-pang. - * * commits

HrJNG-HTUTQtolyed next to murder rtie Jdng of T/u] «^«^ ^«'-
to whom he owed his advancemient, and to make a hold p\i(tt *'^i^^'
for the empire ; and marched tow^ds; the city of ffyew-kyang, .
in the province of Kyang-fi^. where that prince then refided \
who, lufpje£)ifig nodiing of Jiis treacherous defign, came out
to meet him,- and was aflaffioated upon the fpot. Lim^fang^
grieved atth^ murder of hi^ noble bene&^bor, ordered th^
moft magni^c^t ipbfequies. to i>e performed to hitil^ i and;
from that time^ because a fwiim enemy to Hy(mg'hyuv'V\i%i6 •

two had many a bloody contefl for the imperial diadem ; tt
one of which iMU-pctfig )KKm% totally defeated hlta, the
Gaitor ikw bimfelf, to a^d falting into his hand». This put '^' *
an end to the war ; and the ftates of the empire, beiAg con-^ Lieti-
voked, declared hieurpang emperor under the naine of' A^- pang de,-* ^
tfu. Pie kept his court at firft in the province ofShen*^, but dared <m*
temoved it afterward^ to that of Ho-nan, where it continued Z^^^.^i
the fpace of ninety-fix years, under twelve emperors* Ho *
seigned twelve years; and, in his laft fickuefs, nonhinated hX^^His.^^tb.
fon Whey-ti his fuccefibr, and appointed him a fet of < mini-^
ilers in whom he might confide,

II. WHET'TIy alias Ho$y\ was U prince Who had/H^any' |L
•gdod qdallties, but they wcfe all unfortunately fwallowed up Whe^-ti.!
pardy by his exceifive love of women, and partly by his tbo Turofthi
great complaifance to his ambitious mother, whom he in-' 4^ ^J^^f
trofted with the fole care of the enipini, and who became 47^^
odious to the whole nation for her cruelties towards thbfe (he ^\^ *

MoD.HxsT.Vot^VIIL Dd did *94-

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4t 8 fVeMtJhry if ^MSSL B. H

<Bd not iike^ ^ad Mrhom ibe coinluonly cftiifedtd be diij^iftMi

by poifon. She went fo far as to attempt to pdfon iKe Idj^

of Tfty who was the emperor's elder brother, and was come

to vUit Urn in his ficknef? ;. b$f was haftnljrji-eWtifibi' Ky

th!e empercH*, who fnatched the cup out of Ms hand. Whey-ti

reigned but feven years, and died opprefled with the many

iaftmities which ha lobfe life had brotight n jx>n himJ iym^

hrWf his quotber, fearing led oi^ of his brodicrs fliDiAd' be

l^t on the throne, gave out that fhe had- a child (whidi Was

a boy ihe had bought of a country-woman), and declared

him emperor» 9pd herfelf his guardian ; and, to avoid bdiig

difcQvered, ca):^the mother to beftrangleo.^

Lyu^hcw. LYU'HSIV, alias Uu-heva{Q), was no longer fuflb^W

Tear of the ^^ xht imperial title than it fuited with tte tyrtftnlc viWs

^td tycj^t^i^ preteiided mother, that is, about eight years ; at the

Bef^Chr ^ ^ which flic caufed him to be murdered, dnd, by thit

187. \ nieans, difcovered the fecret artifice which her alfibidbu had

. * prompted her U>. She had, by that time, raif^ a great ma^

. di her rdiitions, from the loweft rank, to the higbeft d^

. nities in the empire, and fome of them to the fovereignty of

prorinces, for trhidi they were to pay her homage 5 aad all

of them bad behaved fo ijifolently in tbd^ high ftatic^ %ai

the nobles hiid combined together to reduds them to theftr pri-

Death of ^ae obfourity, when that wicked princefs wfts tak6l( iiway

the em- l>y a fudd^ deitb, ^and ddivered the nation b6ttt fii^m tver

frefs. tyraniiyi andiiroin diat of her creatures, who vf^st all diaf'

MCredtbhtoghodt the emfMre. The ftates !i<iift^iateiy pio^

needed to. the e&£tion of a new^ emperor % sttiA t-dlfed P^rh-H^

the. fecond fon of Kaut^tfiii vibso Was ^^ tb^^^dj^ of i

6tta|l ftate, .to that dignity.

HI. ^ lU, VE NrTI proved fo wife ittid virtboui k jrf?tkr6, ffiathc

Vcn-ti q«ipkly necofifcred the fplendor of the lihperiii ^|Wftg an*

€ho/en em- j^Q^reA peace apd wiealth throughout the l-CftHfa: Ms lH%ft-

^^^'ffi: ^^ Wa3>fBch^ thdt he forbad ali tit^fife trf R^afi^afiWtt to

i^Vci! ^ "f^ ^^ P^***^ ^^ *^ weaHn^ of fflfts td^A ^vci

t. 'He likewifc remitted the duty ttpdJi airland 6ite hsX fS

Bef. Chr. tiic other ordinary tajoesr; and ondeifed'Jftl tSi old pis^c In

17*9. ^vcry city to be.maintainisd at his b\ilrft ^pUfecfe. Hfe cfriiWiS

lie copper money, .which ^y^ no-Wherfe tbiMftl *iit ^ Ae

metropolis, to the great difadvantage of ttete^^s, Wj^'

dftUy of thoie who lived at % diMk:d fii^m H, 't6 be ^kj-

(C) It niuft beobferved here^ ihe iftonarcln bel<^^td Btb
that tjbui C6i>r#;^ amudifts neiiAker ilynHfty , btft-aaxHrtfd^ cjxxik
p}«ce&imiiorth6cmpref» among as sDufiupatioii^ftfij^^^.

whcrre

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wliere ftnick ; and prefcribdd the form of it, as we Have elfe-
tirhere defcribed it^:' : - . . , _

^ His next care \(ras, to reftore and encourage agriculture, ffiv ixcel^
which 'had beeft in fome meafiire ruined during the kte w^s^/ent fngn^
afti vouch^ifed; to ttiltivate the earth with hw x)wn hand, by
w^ich he' ajife in fome meafure ennobled that profeffion; ' He •
revived the filk ' mtoufafture in his own' palace, and obliged
iifs eniprdTf and wites to fet an example to other ladies of hi«
lus'reklni. fie was no lefs an encourager of learning ; and
p^rmhted (he bof^Jcs, which had been favedfrom the common
tfeftruftioij^ tpi be' fought out, and made pubKc. in hisi
reigtt 'thi^ nuking of paper wirfi grounded bamboes, and Cfnneje
ink and pencils, fuch as have been in ufe ever fincc, and havj^
been formerly deftrribed t, were found out ; and the Tartars,^
y/ho had taken thd^idvantage bf the late diftraaions to make
feyeral inr6ad5 into the empire, were ftoutly repulfed, and
*l^ea at a great diftance from his frontiers. He became at
l|^th fo famed for his vntdom, virtue, and good govern-
i^ttt, that the moft diftant nations fought his friendihip;
arid feVeral provinces, particularly thofe of ^nan^-tong and
^^^g'fif Voluntarily fubmitted themfelves to his laws, and
paidMn homa|;e and tt-ibutei He died in the forty-fixth ^^^^^•.
y^ of his age, and the twenty-third of his rdgp, and was
fuceei^ded by his fon (D).

ty. K/NG-TI, bJxsls HiaO'kingy was no lefs remarkable ly.
§)r the mildnefs of his reign than. his father; and one of his King-ti.V
,4fft afts was, to mollify the leverity of the punilhments /Jir^/i^/
^^liich'were then infliftcdon certain criminals. However, as A^cyc^^
ia^culture' was To well reftored by this time, he revived the *5^
ta:fcs yrliich his father hadi reduced to one half j alleging, ^'f-^*

« See before, p.217, &(R): ,t Wd. p. 2io;&feq^

ip) The only fault this ex- " take the general A-fii rato

ent prince is accufed of, is, ** your council, and commit

tds having been weak enough "every thing to his care: make . *

to- give credit to an impoftor, ** no doubt of his Joftg- tried fi^

who prefented him with a coftly *' delity ; and, as for his martial

liquor, the drinking of which •*. fkill, I can only afTure yon,

hffaiirped would render him '* that he has i^ot hip equal in

immortal. However, when he ** the whole Chinefe empire.?

found hunfelf dying, he is re- / This advice proved of excellent

corded to have exprefled him- jife to the young prince, who

felf tlius to his fon : "Should might otherwife have loft his

"my death be followed by any life and crownr as w^ flxaU fee

" wait; ^s thereisi>ut too much intkefequel.

V ipafon- ta-ieafi *be.fiiri you

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4?o The H0ory df Chins. B. h

tbait the treafary ought to be pat in a condidon to fuppoct
the expences of the ftatc. An unhappy accidenf, which hap- .
pened'foon after, had like to have been attended with hial
confequeoces to lum : His eldeft fon having, as was then ufual*
' given a feaft to a number of young princes, . amongff. whom
was one who was his great favourite, they carrried their de-
bauch fo high, that it came to a quarrel, in which the em-
pieror*s fon ftabbed his favourite to death; upon which the
father of the deceafed fwore he would be revenged on the
iQiperial fanaily; and engaged fix tributi^ry princes in his'
quarrel, who aflually joined forces with biin. tt was on
this occafion that the emperor feat the general A-fHy men-
tioned in the laft note, with a powerful army againft them,
who had tKe addrefs to draw them into a province where they
could fcarcely get any provifion ; whilft himfelf was well for-
tified in his camp, and had plenty of all things. When the
confederates found that they muft either fight or be famifhed^
they agreed to attack his camp on all fides at once. They
were, however^ ftoutly repidied, and fell into a difQrderly
flight ; but were purlued with fuch terrible flaughter, that
the fix princes were either flain by the imperial foldlen, or
killed themfelves, to avoid /alllrig into their hands*. * King-ti,
reigned feventeen years, and was fucceeded by his fon.
V. V. yU'TIf alias Ni-a-ow, was endowed with lAoft excel-

Vu-ti. lent qualities, but naturally warlike, as his laft name expreflei*
d^^h *^ ' ^^^» ^^ indulge that inclination, fent for all the' wife
Lz * pWlo^ophcrs, to confult >^th them about the conqueft of
fff^(ji^^^,'^ome neighbouring country^ but was gready furprifed to find,
tdb: ' them all againft it, and to prefer peace before themoftjuft war.
His great which fooner or later proves fatal to a ftate. He did how-
modirdx^ e^cr yield to their advice; and gave himfelf wholly to the'
thn. cares of his jgovernmeat, which he only relieved at proper
times by hunting ; but even here, confidering that his parks
took up too much ground, and were a lofs to the people, he
contracted them into a narrower compafs. He made feveral,
wholibme laws and r^uladons ; and ordained, among other
things, that^ when a prince died, his eftate fliould be equally
divided among his children ; and that, when any died without
lawful heirs, their foverdgnties fliould revert to the crown.

He was a great encourager of learning, and of the repub-

lifhidg thofe books that had efcaped the public ruin, which'

he caufed to be taught in the fchools, together with the morals

Foihtefor pf Confuclus and MenciuSf Itis greateft foible was, his fond-

impojlors. nefs fot.fpme impoftors, who promifed him immortality by

the drinking of a certain liquor of their own makiag ; , and

by whom he had been perfuaded to buil4 a palace all of the

/ moft

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C.I. ne Hijlory of ChinsL. ^ 4^1

moft fragrant woods ; and in the midft of it a brafen towci\
; in which he and they fpent much time and pains in preparing
that precious panacea. He was Ukewife inclined to iiften too '
imich to fome pretended magicians, who promifed to perform
' wonders before him (E), and for which he was juftly raillied
by the wifer fort. The Tartars having roufed^his mzrtiBl Co^^A'
genius by fome frefli inroads, he gained four fignal viAories
over them, and drave them beyond the wall. From thence
he carried his fuccefsful arms into the kingdoms of PrgUt
Siatn, Camboya, and Bengal^ and divided his conquefts among
his generals, and other officers, who had helped to fubdue
them *• He built feveral cities there, and gave two of his
generals the title of kings, who, by contrafting in time the
manners and inclinations of the Tartars, became the gr^teft
' enemies to their native country. A little before his death he D0a$Ju
Bdminated one of his fons by a concubine, then but eight
years old, to fiicceed him ; and gave him for a guardian one
of his minifler3> in whom he placed an intire confidence;

. ♦ Sec before, vol. vii. paff.

(E) With relation to the firft pretende4 he would caufe her

fort of thofe impoftors, We ai-e to deifcend by his art 03 often as

told, that one of them having the emperor pleafcd. Theexpe-

fet fome of that liquor before riment was tried, |and that mo-

himina cup, one of his mini- narch afliiled at the conjuring

ilers, who had tried in vain to ceremony ; but, the ixnmortat

' core him of his credulity, took lady proving deaf to the call^i

it up, and drank it ; upon which thie magician was forced to have

the emperor, in a violent paf- recburk to the following ftrata-

iion, threatened to put him to gem : Having caofed a piece of

.ddath; to which he replied, white filk (whereon he had

t with a foitle* Hoin can ycu put written the reafons why the

fne to deaths if this liquor hgtb concubine could not dcfcend ta

made me immprtali and, if it him) to be fwallowed up by a

hath noft how fan fiuh a poor cow, he told the emperor, in ^ •

fheh d6fer<veit? This ai^lwer pretended forprife, and fearful

difarmed his refentment, but tone, that that beaft was preg*

did not cure him of his foible. . n ant with fome ftrange wonder»

As to the miigicians, of whom and defiredthat (he migfit be

he was no le& fohd, ^ne of cut open. It was done accord*?

them having promifed to fhew ingi/, and the piece of filk

him a favourite concubine, found in her maw; but, the

whom he aiErmed tqhavepaflT- hand-writing proving to be that

'ed, after her death, into the . of the conjoroi, he was put ^ * .

world of the moon, where fhe deatli. This ftorv, we are told,.

'enjoyed the effedls of th^ i|n< hathiervedforaiubjedtoCfevQ-

mortalizing ' )lc[uo^| .caufed a . ral ^on^edies (24^.

I6wer tp be buift, into which he * ..^

(^y ^a^^i'i & ^* inHiaouM. Vu HaUt in Vu-ti*

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and, tp prcvcnt^his emprefs ralfing any troubles in favour of
licr foDy condemned her to death on fome pretence or &^F<
ahd 6nly gave her the choice of it. Fu-ti reigned fifty-touf
years, and was fuccecdcd by his fon above-mentioned*

VI. VI, CHjiU'TI, alis^ Hiaorchany though fo very you&,
Chatt-ti. gavethe greateft marks of a moll: excellent dlfpofitioa ; &
'Tearo/ihe \(^as very obfcrving of his Avife guardian's inftru6Hons, ixA
^^ihcy. kf.fio left Kberal to ihofe who faithfully ferved the flate. A

36* : dearth happemng in' his reign, he not only remitted theufuai
' ^6 * *^^^^^ graiiif bot aflifted his indigent fubjefts with corn for

* their fubfiftence. He tiext concluded an . honourable .pe^yce
with the Ti'rf^ri ; but dicdfoqn after, to the great regret of
his people, in the thirteenth year of his reign ; and, leavihg
no ifliie, was fucceeded by his uncle Hyaii-ti, with thp 9011-
fent of the whole nation. However, he, proving a very de-.
bauched prince, without either affcftion for his fubjefts,. or

•f<^rd for his moft faithful counfellors, was foon afte ^eppfed
^by them, ftripped of all enfigris of the imperial digriig; iiid
:fent to die litdc fovereignty whence they had called Mm tq

the empire, after a flicart rdgn of fevcn mqnth^. The ibitcs

chofe in his ftead,

VII. VII. SWEN'TI^ alias Si-ven, the grandfon of the em-
Swen-ti. pcror Vu-^i^ who had boea educated in a pr^n with thc*itt-
Tearofthe pr^fs his mother^ to which flie had been confih^t>n antitt-
j^bnc/e^j^j^ fufpicion of defltoyihg the princes and priifcefl^ of Ac
Bef.Cbr 1^1^^ *y witchcraft. Here, his misfortunes ddabled .hiw.'to

^* ' . learn many excellent IcMbns from her, which made him worthy

• of the empire ; and his Jceeper took fucii particular .ca^e. of
' Kim, that, upon his acceiSon tf> the throne, h^ rewarded him

If is mid ^'^^^ a principality. He w^ n^ild and cbnapaffionate, dify'of

itrvem^ *accefs, and affiduous to the afikirs of ftatc. He rewfedtkc

ment. office of cenfors, which had been fupprefled by his jrfdfcccf-

1da\es . fors \ caufcd ocaft information to be -btoH^Ht l!6"Jiim of tfie

jpnunuboU\i/A^riOJxx of bis miniftersj g^^ frequent kiiffi^ce tq his

Jome r^«-ifiibj6ft8, efpecially to the Widows and orpfeaps;* ahd'^cou-

l^ioni. -rag^d ittol-e particularly memorials b^iig pirefeated ^o him,

'becaufethiey gave him more leifure to examine the cafe thaii

'^'{iy an Audience, He reduced the multitude of laws to a cd'-

'tain 'number of articles ; and abrogated the reft, as tenditlg

'only' to perplex matters, and perpetuate fuits. ' • '

. * ' Ii^ his' reign the Indian princes, Whom his grandfather Md

tijuaded fobdjiied, flioolc off the yoke ; and he was preparing to mardi

from a ' ^Ipdoft them, but was difHraded from it by his minmers, wBo

^war. ' -tmiihitfd him, that the blood of his fubjedls ought to Be

dearier to him than any coriqu^fts ; and that thofe> whorc-

(\ifed the' bleffing of his wife government, were unworthy of

' '^' /'-a .- ?*

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it. Tl^cre happened in his time fome dreadful earthquakes,
which rcat vfhode mountaios afunder, filled up yallics, and
fpread m uijiverfal terror through that whol^ ftiperftitious nar

, tion, which Jooked upon them as forerunners of ^eater evils.

', Some time after a Tartarian king fcnt an ambaffy to Swen-th ^

which was at firft fufp^6):ed cf fome finUler vi^ws ; but upon
disappearing, by tjie rich furs they brought with th^m, and
the- hojoftag^ they came to pay him, that the irOent of their

. xrqming wajs ^nly to promote a inutual commerce, they were
grajsiouay^rfceiyed, and treated as envoys rf an ally, Svjen-H
reaped twenty-five years, aa4 was fucceeded by his fon.

.YHL rWEN-TI, alias luen, is juftly celebrated for his VIII,^
lov« pf learniijg and learned men ; for his tender regard {(xc ^^^n*";

. his {iibje4te'; and, abpve all, for his fingular frugality, w)iich ^!^^?j^'f^

. madclfm difcard a great number (rf fuperfiupus domefti^s, *5'^ Q'"^*

. ^tfciefpea,to furniture, diet, ftaWes, equip^e, i;c. accord- ^^^ ^^^
. ujg to a, favourite nxaxim he feldom loft Xight qS, That he, ^g^
^ho could be CQntent;ed with a little, wpuld want nothing,
JHe yizs however uniiappy in the indifcreet choice he made of ^^£'^
iu$ minifters, whom he raifed chi^y for their politenefs and/'^^^^'J'-
eloquence, without any ptbcr reg^d'to their wifdom or ex- « ,
.penawe;, by which oceans his court w^ filled with faftious J^^jJ?''
fycop^ts, who drew him into all theyr meafures, and gP^i^^
Iy» Jjy d^^ to turn ail the mea of virtue and merit out-^
/of ,>U8 feryice. He was guUty. of another a^d gnoffer pi^e of M^£
' ii^f^(^ witli rcg^d to the troops which guarded the great ^^^^^ 4 f^r
-wail, whp; beheaded the Tarturian princes whom they took ^^5.
^prifoners as they \vere hunting on the mountains ; for, inftead
!^^f punifl^ing their cofnm^nder for his treachery (the fori^r
, peace with; that nation Ml fubfifting), he rewarded him for
it. this had Kke to haye brpught on a new war; the fuc.
Cfiflbr of one of thofe princes being then levying a numerous
army, and makmg a powerful confederacy, againft hkn ; to

, ward off wfeich, he was obliged to give him a prjncefs of the
imperial family in marriage, with a very rich dower. This
llorm was fcarcely over, when he perceived that a it^rQ
idangeixms war was ready to break otit, within the empire,.
among Ae numerous parties formed by the minifters, the
apprdhenfion of which is fuppofed to have haftened his death.

' ^e reined. fixteen years, and died in the forty-third y?ar pf ^f*^ .
'iis-'aj;^, and was fucceeded by his fon.

' '. ix. CHWG'TI, a Have tp wine and women, and to all i^.
other infamous pleafures, was wholly governed by his mo- "^^^f'^j^
ihcr, who conferred the moft^ important pofts. in the empire ^^^jf^^
<k her own relations. He afterwards fell fo paffionately m -f>^ -^
kye witl^ aq a€lrcfe^^l'fe(i Wroed his Iawf\U wife out of his
> ' P d 4 P^^^t

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424 '^ Hiftcry of CKna. B. L

Bef, Chr. palace, to make room for her ; and then declared her emprcfs,

J 2. giving her father a principality, to conceal the meaimefe rf

•herburth. Several of his minifters, having reprcfented to

him the (fifcredit of fuch a ih^tmeful alliance, were all put to

death. Many other brutal crimes he was guilty of ; and

many more he would have committed, had not a fudden death

(F) put an end to his odious reign in the twenty-fixth year of

it. He left no iffue ; but was fucceedcd by his nephew.

X. IS., HYAU'NGAY'TI, alias Ngay, though but eighteen

Hyau* years old, gave great hopes of a mild and happy reign fay Ks

^g^y* .early care in reforming the ftate, difplacing all the wicked

^^^^-^'^^ miiifters of his predeccflbr, and filling th^r places with men

^^^2^ ^' of known virtue ^nd probity. In his reign Tan-gu^ king of

Bff\ Chr, ^!^^ Tartars f came in perfon to pay homage to Wm, and to

1 5, ' confirm the peace which either he or his predeceflbr had made

with th^ emperor Swen-tt, He was received in a magnificent

manner, and a firm peace renewed between the two nations.

Dies the The emperor died the very year after ; which was that, ac-

year in cording to the Chinefe annalifts *, in which the Saviour of the

Kvhieh world was bom ; and was fucceeded by a prince delcended

Chriji'was g-Qj^ Twen-ti, the eighth monarch of this dynafty.

*^'- XI. HTAU-PlNG-ri was but nine years old when he

came to the crown ; and his grandmother imprudendy put

him under the guardianftiip of Vang-mangy whom Ihe mad^

a Ko-lau ; a man of fuch unbounded ambition and artfidnefs,

T ]^ E ' tl^t he made no feruple to commit the moft enormous cruel-:
FIRST ties to'^attain to the imperial dignity. He began with difcard-
y E A R' ing his aflbciates, and other perfons of virtue and merit ; then
OF erefted feveral principalities, which he beftowed on his own
CHRIST creatures 5 and at length caufed fome poifon to be mixed
^T'^y^ with the emperor's fo(^, which in a few days brought him ta
r^Vane- ^- ^^ extremity. AU'this while the traitero.us villain pre-

" ■ 9* a vid. Noel, Couplet, Martini, Du Halde, U ^i. fch

Ngan & (lyau-ngan. See alfo befoee, p. 3^45,.^ fet^.

(F) He is fufpe^ed to hav^ 4own ^ead as he was dreffisff

,been poirpi\ed by theprderspf himf^lf; and, yirltat coii£my3

, "^ ; his wicked mother, who had hi- thi& fufpicioni was, that one of

theTto led him into moft of his her relations, fuppofed to, have

enarmities ; (or he was in p^r- ^dminiflered the draught ^ Wo,

.. fedi health the nieht before, and being like to be tryed for it,

ha^ cut himfelf out a deal of killed himfelf, ^o prevent all br.

bufmefs to be done early next ture ^ifcovery (25).

4ay ; ^but, on the morning, fdl

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C. I.' Tie Hiji&ry of China. 445

tended to be under the dcepeft concern for Him ; offered faqi-
lices for his recovary, filled the air with the bittereft cri^,
and even devoted his o^ life for that cf his prince, by which.
means his treafon went nx^uT^fted ; efpecially as he did, after
his death, place the crown on a young prince defcen^ed from
i^w^w^/i, the feventh emperor of this- dynafty,

XII. ZHU'TSE'ING was then but two years old wh^ XII.
the Ko'lau raifed him to the* throne, which he only fuffered Zhu-tfe--
him to enjoy three years, that is, till he had lufEciently ^^
Ihrengthenei himfelf ; after which, he depofed him, and caufed '^' ^^'
himfelf to be prockimed emperor. $'

VANG'MANG^ having thus feized ohthecroiiirn, gave his Vang-
fiunily the name dbSFfiriy which iignifies Newy as well as a new mang, «« -
face to the empire, by the innovations he made in. it. He ufurper.
flivided it into nin^ provinces ; and- every province |nto dif- -^* ^'
trifts, the government of which he gave to his own crea- ^*
tiires : he lilfcewfe erefted fome principalities, to increafe the
number of his dependents. By th^ and other fuch pre*
fautions, *he thought his authority fo firmly fettled, that nb-
diiiig could wreA it from lum ; when on a fudden he faw the A iUoify
itmpire all in a flame, and feveral armies marching againft 'warraifef
him, fome commanded by the confederate lords, and others .^^''^
by the two brothers Lyew-Jiew and Lyew-ingy of the family , *"*
of Han^ Thefe wars proved long aiid bloody, and attended
length withanalmoft univerfal famine, occafiofnedchieflyby the
. grflifiipppers devouring the iiarvefl ; and this brought on frefh
infurre^ons and robberies, which ended in the death of t(ie
ufurper. His army was defeated, his palaee forced, plun- fftsdnad*^
, dered, and burnt, his throat cut, his body mangled in pieces, «/^'«'» -.
and.his he^d ftudt on a pitchfork, andexpofed to the view
and diverfion of the populace. Thus fell that b^fe tyrant,
^er he had ufurped the crown fourteen years. The vlftp-
rions army, refolving to reftwe \t t^ fome worthy prince of
the royal family, elefted Whay-yang-vang to that dignity,
who was a d?fcen4ant of King-t^ t\\^ fourth monarch of this
dynafty. *

Xin. WHAT'TANO'VANQ, they foou perceived, had XIII;
fleceived their hppes, who proved an efieminate and debauchied Whay-
prince ; which made them refolve to dethrone him, after he y*°g' ,
had reigned two years, and to eleft another in ^^^cad. ^^U. ^
Tl^ pitched at firft upon Wang4angy an hnpoftor, who^^^'
pretended to be the fon of Ae late emperor Ching-ii, the
ninth monarch of this dynafty ; but, he being difcovered and
|>ehcaded, they elefted Lyew-Jytw emperor, who affupied
the title of ^ang-vu-ti, and was descended from the tenth
ibn Qf JfCmgrti, t^c fourth mopar^b of 4i^ dynafty.

5aV. ^UANGn

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• XIV. XIV. ^UjiNG4^U'TI, who ,M h«i but <ui hamAy
Quang- educailionia the cmotry, o^i bidilh^r«dio;the wemts.aid
vu-ti. Mabcmrs of his fcUowr i^ftics, -b«PMM^ Ahwdsry fo fenfihkxf
u^f. C^. j]^jj miferies xrf bb fiibjeffe, that, tc f coved, ^ truly laiU,
^^ affiiUe* ..iUid compaffiooate prmce; aod, opoa Jbos pafbg
through file country where he was .bom, fcntfor fcwratirf
. Yisjoamxpofin^ and lutoktcd.thcm ^ahis table. He was no
i lefs a patron^to kamed ^bqi, wh^m he ia?ilcd ito his omrt,
And raifcd to confideraJ)U «iplpyineiHs. EBs reign, iow-
. ever, was.difturbed wi^fone /powerful and ihibbora fac-
tions^ which took him up near twdve yeiirs in reducing,

• though, in Ays. Sm^ be had agfunft^^tiWm, he uied ^uch
iingular moderatidso, mm»it htm the BiMe a^nired andioved
hy al|. ;He roo^iofed hi$ .CQurc from ^<s»^ to>^^ lad

^xA't«« the Chinffe :jrecQrd6 floci}^ a total cdipfe of the fan, in the

^^fr^ iaft day/bf tfaeieve^.o^ooH of the 46di, or, according^ to Du

tcupfi. MMe, the fortieth^ c]^, which tt^y pretend to have h^-

^ j^Hened {boner than it o^ght to have .done,, according to ik/t\r

^oflcuiations (G). jQ|i4»^9/«)4ied tn.the,£3Cty-firftyearoflds

^ jfige, after he. Jbhadroigood thurty-tkia&years ; and l^teii filos

\ behind, hijn, one of whom fiiocecdbd him.

^^KV. ^^* MING-TI^ famed^for his clcaiency 40id wtfiiom, imd

Miii|»ti. forfftahliili^ngan acad^ny io his own palace^ -for the ^ii^-

Jfi.Ufr^ tion- of princes 4od y^uog noUemen, into which- Ibangers

57* j(vere.iikewire adoutted^ ^ wonld be oftea^pce^t at.d^

'Ceercifes. Be nude t^oice oi a lady ifor liis emfirefs, ^vd^

wa^ atpattecn' of difoetion and modefty, and-never wove siy

^cmbroodei^ dpaths. He ca«fedia-bank. tien leagues- in Je^|th

to be caifed, Xo prevent the Sequent inundations of tktJffhang"

Mi Qv-yiUau) riv^y in which be employed loo^ooo mek.

; '{G\ If this Avonderfiil'eelipfe It i& thova^cne -pvobahle, fkHua

• was the fame which h^pcned t}iat iTcMse '^rroc his^ croptintQ

• at the crucifixign of Clmft (26), the. Qbi^fe, ^l^s, ^r jKlutliie
' the Chinefe annalifts fliQold ra- tcar^flator^pg^ht _;«»ii^k^ ' j^e
'"'ther have faid contrary to, than word, and render it M^^^ys^-

before, their calculation; for Jt . flpa4 of contrary to,. As 10 the

'lidippened inthe full moon, or fupernaturalppe atoor Savioijir's

^4Mhen^ftc was in oppdfition to crucffixion,- we Jhall refer our

,, the fun, arid fo could not caofe reader to what hath. I^een 1^(1

' (.that total ^pk^efs; land. this a of it in a former part o^tiis

"Ti'/w^aftronomercQuldnotbu^ .work 5^27).

'|?nQw to be contrary, tp naturp^

. Y^®;^''--'. xxtil. 45. (;i7) ^ctUMh^^^ifiif^, 1^1^^'.:^ ^3.

' '■ :■.:'. -x^

/ ■

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<:^ I. Tif Si/hry ^ ehiiKi. .417

^T "Was on the fecond ycac'of the fiG^ty'^fe^ndicl^dey i4kl

!. of CJirlft fixty-fotir, that he had that dreiMA we h«¥c «mIi-

'iioned >in a fcM?mpr feftiou \ wWc^i hidnced hifl^'tofead his

,^^^iairadqrs in fearch pf .the Holy One tl;at'ws$ (tith^ iot/f,

^j3Ut who, iniiead of his dodbria^, 4>rought ixome the idol itad

' .larorfliip of Fo, together with the dodlciqe ^f trAtifinigMfitido ;

^ ^d J|ie is ;nuch blaanf d hy th^ Chrn^ ^lAorians^ .for 'homig r

^^dii^itted ,th^ into i^s iioiiumdiis. He. iiiigned dghteto

J^rs^ and was fu^eeded ^yihis fon.

. - . l^yi.S HANG^Xi . enjoyed ^ peaccal^le i^if a 4i thirteen XVI. ^
years^ whij:h was -chiefly owing, to bis wifdom, virtue, 'ajid Shang-tL
tender ripgard for his fubjeas, wh<^fe ifees he leflfened, and -4^- ^^»
to his averiion to l^ury and fop^fluorls eRpet^ce. He Was 75*
pfien recommepdh^ to his nobles the>3economy of ihe an-
\|ients^ and wasbimi^, a perfedl pattern of it. He (tied In
the thirty-fifth year cf his age, 'iuid Was fiKCCfeded hy-Ws

* ion. .

, / J^Vil ^BO-ri was then but ten y^cWs oW, aflad ^nder the XVIL
.guardiauflvpofhi^flipthar; but that.did not Irindcr hU.feme ]^^'^:
.and ppwer from, extending itfelf to very renwjtc bcmmries. ^gg
' he had a wife and valiant geoeral, fiamed Pan^chau^ trho ^
pbCged a great number of fovefei^s t^ pa^ hi|n heojuige^ and
\ fecb his prot^iftion ; and k: affiriafcd «6 have advanced is-fkr
,1^ Judea^ which the Chinefe CvHTaHfin, and to hate ipiat

Such time in fuch lo^g ex^itions. H^tiy ttoough j(aAoufy»
vorced his i&rft empr^s, Who died {boa after <* grief, W
^married tl^e £^«nd-da!aghter ofon^ of hisg^ta^ls, tv^awa^
l^ n^or of her k^ for her rare fldU Mi aStbe Chinefe tesorn-
|ng, and much more {till for her fingular modefly ; infomodi,
ibat when thj: ufualcc&ntdhn^ts aM ))ttfetits xame ' to be
. inade to,h^, on her advancement, (he would tctcept of no-
tiling l^^t.a few pencils, and a fine fort of piq^er, newly in-
vented. Bo'ii was ode <tf the firft who raifcd thfe edauchs of
Jys.couirt to an e^iorbitant height of power, which hath proved
. jfinGe, fo fetal to ;he empire, by advancing them to the highcft
)ppAs of it, He r^gt^ fcy^ptcen years, and was fuctcedod*
■ lyV'his fon

. . ^yULSlk^NC-Tl an infant m the onuUe when his XVni.
tiatber died, lived fcarcely a year ; and was fucceeded by a Shang-ti.
f^i^wUbn of dang-ii, the fuuecnih mdnarch'^ this dy- ^- ^^'••
wiiiy. . '^S-

XIX. :^G^y/ AT-r/being but thirteen years rf age, his tno- XIX.
^^ftfir was^ppointed 'Ms .guardite, and vJf fled ^th the impfc- Ngan-ti.
•«l^d!|gidty, Vhich* ihfe pref<nrea'b?y6nd' th^ term pr'efcribed

f S^e WbfCi, jp. ]Q^ & f<?q.

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4a8 ^be HHiory i>f China. B. I.

. by th« laws, that Ihe might- do the- more g6od'to the people.
His mo' It was then a dmo of great icarcity, and many of them moft
thers ex* havc perifhed, if flic had not timely aflUted then!; She con-
€e/Ien^ defcendcd to vifit the poor, even as far as the prifons, to give
wi»* : them relief. Confidering, in the next place, that an empire
. of fach vaft extent, as" it now was, could not ealily be pre-
. ferved, (he releafed a great number ot conquered nations, and
> fovenogQ princes, from the ufual homage and tribtrte, and
reduced the Chinefe dominions to narrower bounds (H); Her
fon married a lady, who, finding herfelf barren, took another
woman's fon as h^rown, tp fucceed to the crown; and, to
prevent difcovery, fecretly poifoned his mother. Ngan reigned
nineteen years, and was fucceeded by that fon.
XX! XX. SJfUN'TI, the fon of Ngarv-tiy by a concubine,

Shun-ti. Cgnalized the firft years of his reign by feveral viftories over
Jft. Cbr. the. barbarians ; and deprive^ the late emprefs of the fiineral
125. obfequi'es, for having poifoned his mother. He made a law,
•; in the fbiuth year ofhis reign, which excluded men from the

mag^acy, except they were forty years old, or had fomc
extraordinary merit to ivpply the want of ^ge. ^ In the nindi
1 y^ of the cycle, one fl^-mym fdrmed a confiderable army
of vagabonds, who^^undwed the cities and%X)untry, and,
flufhed with fuccefs, tnade a bold pufti for the imperial dig-
nity ; but was defeated, and (lain, before he could accomplim
. . his dedgn. The, emperor died in the nineteenth year of hia
reign> and was (ucceeded by his fon,

XXI. XXI. CHJNC'TI, who afcended the ihrone in the (econd
Chang-ti. year of his age, died before it was-expired^ and was fucceeded

,by . \ '

XXII. XXII. CHE^TI, wbo^ though but^i^ht years old, gave
Che.ti. , fome filial marks of an .excellent difpofitlon ; but the em-

4/>. Chr. pre{s, who was his guardian, had a brother named tya^g-h^
'4+« who, abufing her authmity, paid little or no regard to the
* young emperor ; and did ,onc day behave before him with ftsch
pride and infolence, at a public aflembly, that the prince
cduld not forbear cafting a: threatening look at him, and
whifpering, loud enough to be heard, that is an arrogant
ferfoHf ' This (aying cbft him his life-; and Lyang-ki, jufUy

(H) About this time. was . earthq^iakes 4 efpecially-one, b
taken, and executed, the famed the eighth year of it, which ez-
YyrzXQ Ckant-pi-iUi whp had tended *oyer ^ great jJ4n of the
mfefted the Qmnejff feat five or country^wiipre the ea^th opevtf^
fix years. In fV^i reigi. hap- ^tfelf, 4nd inadc dreadftU d^^
pened likewife fome ^cadnil 'vaftatio)is ('28). ' ^ '

•> {28) DtiHdUe^^^uhl^sn.tu^

fetriflj

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fearing 4iisrefentment» Cfiuie4 kiiiV:to43e:paifaned; ht^ov^\iQ Ppi/oned^
had reigned one whole year. He was AicGceded by his hif^- ~
ther. ^ . ■ . . .- . '.'■-*

XXIIL WHAN-TI ^xcNtdi a weak prince, and a patron ^XIII.
of tlie feft of Lau'kyurii formerly /pok^n- of ^. Under him.^^^";^'*
tic magifhr^cy became venal, and the-§utuchs were hii chief r^"^^'"'
favourites; which made -all the karaed men retire from his ' ^*
palace.^ nor could all his frefli invitations bring them, back.
LyoHgrki, the murderer of the late emperor, and his wife,
wereraifeito the higheft honours, in which he bchayed with .
fuch pride and infolence, that he even ventured into the pa-
lace with his fword by his fide, contrary to the laws, , Hc^
was, however, forgiven, , upon his fubmiflion ; but being be-
come odious to all, and efpecially to the eunuchs,^ who now. \ .
ingrolled the whole power, hishoufe was fo clofely bcfieged
with a troop of them, that, finding no way to efcape thcm^.
he killed his wife and himfelf. In the twenty-eighth year of,
this cycle, there happened fuch a dreadful famine in feveral,
parts of the empire,- tjiat^thefpeopli^ were obliged to feed on
human flefh- The emperor died in the thirty .fixth yefir pf
hbige, and twenty-iirft of his reign. He left no iffue, though;
he had a great many concubines^ and was fucceeded by a priacet
of &e, family of C*aw^-//.

. ixiV. hING'Tl betrayed a ftiU greater fondnefs iox: XXIV;
^uiiitciis, and raifed them to a higher pitch of power, whilfl he . Ling-ti.
ihew^ no lefs an averfion againft thofe who were able to give /4^' ^'^'"•
him better couniel, ,He was, moreover, a prince of unfatiable. * ^9»
avarice, farcafUcalwit, and a four huinorift (I). The. only
good thing recorded, of him, Isf his effing, the wife in-^
i^ftions of the antjent emperors, coatained in the fi,ve claf-/
fical books, to be, engraved on marble tables, and publickly.
expqfed at file entrance of the ^cadeiny^ But tl^e intolerable
inlolence of the evinuchs had rendered him fo odious, great
numliers of , the liottroy. being put to death for endeavouring ,

K See before, p. 117, & fcq.
• • . •. .• » •• r . •-''.'.„ r . . , r ,• /• _^;7

(I) AmAng other! 6f his hu- . dii^erEdii hfc . .took ' delight JriV ♦
moroiis W)iiikfies« hd is fi^id to was in taKng the air tw «is
have eftablifhed a fair in.hii, ganieiis, iA^'chariot'drawji^by
own palace, for felling all forts affes ; whence thofe creatures
9fcnriofities^atidt)d have taken! came to be, preferred 'every- 1
a fingular delight in .feeing his; w><?re $0. hories, in imitation . ' .
«on?ubincs out-bid, wfandcjf of.thecaurt{29). -

ind abufe each other. Answer. .-,..!

(19) i)tf Halii^ fub Lwi-tu

■ 5 "to

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43< tU Ht/l^ of CUM. B. 1

to foppred it| that, is a Ihtle timCy fevcral greftt sirmies ap*
peared Ib the fields who ft]4ed tbeaifdtes ^irifeTcf r^z/x,' and
were commanded by throe brothers, who plundCTed^ fcvcrtl^
provraoed; bot were! at lengjlh <lefeatei\iid (Iain one itis^
ajpotder. Some barbarian m>op9, fo AeycaH aH ftranger^
made Mttwifc fevera! attempts on tfce frontiers ; but 'Srehi
IHcewifc drfcated, as werealfo fome remains of the yelhw
caps, abottt the fifth year of the fpltewmg qfde, by an ei*
pericnced general, who Is reported never to have gone ijktcr a
bed all die ten years that the wars laftedl Efng-ti died thi
year after, in the thirty-fourth of his age, and twenty-feiunli
of his reign, without naming his fucceflbr.
XXV. XXV. RYE N'T I had an elder br6ther, named Pyen-tU
Hycn-d. who mounted the throne after Lmg^iVt dcadi; but, after a
jffi. Ckr. fc\r months reign, refigned it to htm ; and is not thcrefbttf
1 89* uumbered among the other emperors. Hyeti-H was theA btit
young, and his weaknefe and indolence, if not rather fttipi-
ditj, proved the occafibn of perpetual wars, both at home
and abroad. China wiai divided- frft- into three, and Aca'
ii\to four parts, under as many fovereigns. The caftem part
rebe)ied againft Tong-che, genend oJF tfie imperial army, who
had murderea the emperoi* and his brother, bunded the pa^
lac^, gn4 opened the imperial fepulchties, where he fpnad aa
impi,?bfe treafure, and then removed his court into thfi pro-
vince of Shen-Ji. His crimes dii not go lottg tinpupiflied ; ^
was murdered the year after, his body hung On a fbrk in tl|e
public fnarket-pl^ce, ^d adl his richcfts oongfarted. Tfte
yilhrv caps l)ad lil^ewife t^en adyaiitege of iSbt^ reignii^ <Hf^
ord<;rs, ^d yieit grqvha very numeroiii ; out tfie^s were pe*
wi^gr^du^y cut ofFhjTfdu'/aii^ ^Rairfbrped tihe imperiil
aatfiority; This laft was ftripped' of ft the thirty-^enA
year of th^ cycle, by his own fon ^fer-)Jrf, and 'bandied
into a^finall principality, vdiidi he gave ))i^, "where he <^1;
feBTfectt yeirs after, generally dd^ifel. Hyeh-fi lelg&J
thirty *one years ; and with him ende4 d;^ $^ dynafty*

Shtb Thf Sixlb Byrn^y^ (oUed Hew-luyit fhjif is^ tkf kfUff
Pjnafi. F^ify ^ Hbfl, tp^/Vi bad SwQ SptpfTors mtkk
the Spaet #/* Ikrff/ottr Tears.

t. t. /^HAU^LYE'VJNG, the firft moaaixii of this dvnaay,

Chau-lya- ^ was before calWd Lytw-pi, and was deTcended fsoA

vang. King'ti, the fourth emperor of the preceding one.* He>ai

4/^' Chr. very tall, and had an air of grandeur, which Commanded re»

^*^' fpeft. His valour cqrrefpondcd to bis afpeft, and preferved

(|l|l an cren temper, let things gp well or iU# How he came

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i(f^!bff kilpeHdl digAtf W6'aa« not told. Vtk fA^' kftii^'lmt
tfii«« jreftifs, and hedted itf the fixty-thiti4 Jtar df his aget
aftft?he had nanled'hte fon ^nJ-/i Hs ftcceflbr, and.^e*
M^ fthd hts prim^ lAMller fome whotibme direAioiis xo£t*
Ct^i^ their futw^ eondtid (K).

II. HEW'TPs reign proved a troablefome on^^ through H. ^
the wars that ragged among the other fovereigns, in which H«w-tii

latter o£ wfaolii is idblized ad thft ClSv^ iMknr. &o4yang
received likewiie feveral defeats from the king^of CA/^y, tho*
hlidij^ys'made a good retreat, at WhSch he vas moft^ex**
^f. Thar prioce matched next with a prodigious army
agakifV the confeder^atef khtgs of Han add £f, with an in-
teiif to ftrip theiti of their territories; btft, bcingcomc to
the borders of ^t xw^t Tang-tfi^kyangy whofe waves wtfre^
thctt V^ rough and boifterous, he cried our, Dot^tteftihefit
aH. the b(Htnds whkh hearuen hath put tv the ambithn cf'rnpr'i
faU 5 and immediately marched back. He was foon after (te-'
fi^^^, by his oWn rebellious general SdAg*chau, who, flirihetf
WiHl his •mafty fuccdlcs, as well as the great fway fte-ha^l
dy€^ the army, refolved to make his^way to- the imperial: dig-
irity. U^n which ffew^tPs fon, feeing things^ m that dt^^
{)^ert^tofiditioii, Iveht to Ms father: " There is, feid h^'
" W^ nd room to deliberate ; and this moment muft decide!
*' ^r fate, either to vanqtifti, or die. with this fword ht
•' your ^nd, and yourxrown on your head." But the em«
pkk^ 'W2kttltitg courage tor give Song^hau batde, the young
pffl^.did fo itkR tt to hedtt, that, raSring into the haft <tf
Itilf aliedWrS; he firA klHcd his wife, and then UmfetT. Soon "The impe^
^Skt tfii^i the iinJXttWi irmy Was ctrt 4i pieces, the palace riot -wwjr

• cut of.

XK!) lU fe^t lor ^lem a tittle *< ttotion mtA porftiit ; T %ave'

h0Sion his death, aftd Mirtfihf <* ii&d tM little ^f k, 16 lerre

hinifelf to his prime mituiler, **,yoa ibr an eExaaaplei buf

named Ko'Iyang, faid to him: ^* foU«^fhe advice of Abr^^n^

^* If my foa refttfe to pay a due ** andyoii.wiil find hi hjit a *

** j-e^d to youi- wife comafel, " fecond f jrther." Juft heior/^.

*^ d^krone him, and reign in he die4» he is reported to Juv^^ . r

«« tos ttcad." "Thch to hi« fon cxpreifed himfelf in words tfll

WeiJ)dtfetothfspuT'port:^«iJow thh efFbA : -" When a marf

'* light foever a fault may feem ** hath attained to the ag^ of

** M6 yimi bcii^ri of totemit^ «* ^fifty years, he hadi noTca-

«• ^ng it J and how fltiall fe- *' fon^o complain of the ^oft-

*' evbr a virtuous a^iou may* *^* nefs dT his life ; wTiy ftrould

** appear, negleA not to do it. '<. I then, who am-foimicbpall;

*' Virtae alone defcrvcs our at- ** fixty (30) ? "

(30) £>« HalJe, fub Cbang^^yt^vang*

plundered,

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Digitized b

43a Xbeimtmy ^ Cbto^ B. J.

Hew-tiV Alundered, aQ4 die cowardly emperor vrent and ddivered

trwariice himrelf into the bands of the cooqueror^ who gave him a

0tddiaib. gaaU principality, in which he Hv^ kvea years an obfcnre

and contemptible Uf^^ and died in the ilxty-fifth year erf* his

age, and forty-firft of his re^^ ^d with him ended the

IwLthdynafty,

pbdjfHa' Seventh t)ynajty dialled Tfin (L), wiich bad Fifteen
h' Emperors imtbin the Space ^155 Tears.

I. h CHI'TSU'VU^Tl was the fon of the tth^^Sang-chau,
Shi tfa* ^ which name he took upon hisbecoming the founder of
vu-ti. this new dynaftyi He kept his court in the province x>f Ho-
4f^'^' nan ; and was a magnanimoos prince, had ia quick apprehen-

*H* fion,. found judgment,' and was a jM-ofeffed enemy to all dif-
, fimulation. His reiga was; much difturbed by the warlike
preparations of many petty princes who afpired to the-uape*
rial d^nity ; but the fouthem were often defeated by the
aorthemones, who, befides their being moreiiardyfoldiers,
were affifted by the Tartars with whom they were in league.

His con* However, he fubdued the latter, and then immediately

futfts. marched into the fouthern provinces ; and, having palled die
river Tang^tfe-kyang without any oppofition, he befi^ed
the metroi>oli6 of the kingdom of I/, whofe king, not beiog
la a condition to oppoTe iiirn, fuiTendered himielf to hia ;
ind had a litde (late ai&gned to turn, where he ended his days.

JUc9ndua, He had fcarcdy reigned feven years before he found hin^lf
matter of the whole empu-e, and out of danger of any ene-
my f and refolvcd thenceforth to enjoy tjie repofe ^yfaich his
victories had procured ;him. He not only gave himfelf up to
. .^ . . idlenefs and pleafure, but was indifcrete enough to difband
his, army, which roufed up afrefli the amhitiop (^ the petty

Viath. foirereigns^ Ho^ died in. the twenty-fifth year of his rdgn,
and the fifty-fifthx>f his age, and left a numerous pofteriQr,
tut was fucceeded^by -hfe eldeft fon.

II. ■' 11. WHEr-Tr% Xvant of genius and ability was in a great
Wheynti. tfieafure rtlade up hy the ability of four of his minifters j ib
Aft. Chr, fliat the beginning of his reign proved pretty fuccefsful, bnc

aSg. ^e ambition or.Jealoufy of one of his wives, or iecood

(li) Tl^o^thje name ot Tfin written and pronounced, and

here feems tq be the fame with have a quite diiHerent fignifica*

ijiat of the fovirth dyn^y, yet- uon among the Cbintfe (31), •
we arc told, they are differently. -

quccnSf

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C !• The Hiftifry of China. 4^3

queens, who made him remove his emprcfs from the courts Ruiwd hj
poifoned her only fon, and caufei all the nobles that were of ^« amhi^
her party to be put to death, fooa threw the court and em- ^'o^'i'^f**
pirc into the utmoft confufioa. Several battles were fought,
aod a great deal of blood was fhed on both fides, till at
length this virago was (lain in her turn, with all that fldcd
with her, and the emperor forced to flee for his life.

Several of the petty kings, taking the advantage of thefe
diforders, took the field ; particularly the king of TJt, who
had fi?ch fuccefs, that he was in a fair way of paving feized
the imperial crown, but was flain in the attempt. The king
of Han did the fame in his northern province, and met mth
the feme fete. At laft the emperor was poifoned in the Poifimd*
forty-eighth year of his age, and feventeenth of his reign ;
and, leaving no iflue behind him, the grandees elefted the
twcnty-fifth fon of Shi-t/u'vu-ti, founder of this feventh
dynafty, for his fucceflbr.

III. ^i^y^r-T'/was'a princeof fuch endownmentsas pro- . itJ.
Hufed a happy reign, but the ambition oi the petty Idngs did Whay-ti.
not fnffer him to enjoy it long enough. One of thofe reguli^ AfttrCbr.
named Lyew-ywetiy was upon the point of dethroning him, 306,
when he was prevented by a fudden death ; but his fon Lyew-

tfong^ following his fteps, got pofleffion of the palace, and
plundered it, flew both the emperor and his fon, after he had
made the former wait on him at table in the guife of a flave,
in the thirtieth year of his age, and fixth of his reign. The
grandees chofe in his ftead Min-ti, the grandfon of the
founder of this dynafty.

IV. MIN'TlwBS no Icfs unfortunate than his predeceflbr, IV.
bring dethroned in the third year of his reign, and baniflied Min-ti.
into a fmall principality in the province of Shen-Ji, and in the AflerC&r^
next year being flain there by the king of Han. S' ^*

V. TWEN-TI^ another grandfon of the founder, was chofen ^.

in his ftead ; who proved a prince of fingular mdderationj Ywcnti. .
firugality, and love for learned men. He removed his court JfurC^r^
firom the weft to the eaft, and fixed it in the city of Nan- 3»6-
Img, whence his family hath been ftyled the caftern family
(rf TJin. He reigned fix years ; and then fell into a deep
mdancholy, which ended his days in the forty-fixth y^ar of
his age, and was fucceeded by his fon.

YI. M I NG'T I xtigTioA only three years : nothing elfe is VI.
recorded of him, except that he left the crown to his^ fon. Ming-ti.

VII. CHINC'TI was then but five^ears old, ^d his vil.
mother governed in his ftead ; but the imperial authority was Ching-ti.
too weak to curb the ambition of the petty princes, who After Chr,
warred againft and deftroyed each other, in Order to make 325*
Mod. Hist. Vol^ VIU. E « way

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434 ^^' Hijiory of Chba, B. 1.

way to the empire. Ching-ti reigned feventeen years, and
was fucceedcd by his brother.
VIII. VIII. KING'TI reigned but two years, and died in the
Kiog-ti. forty-fecond year of his age ; he left the crown to his eldcft
542. fon.

.„ IX. MO-TIy who was then but two years old, and under

j^ .' the guardianfhip of the emprefs, gave great tokens (rf an
Jfter'cbr. excellent prince. When of age to take the reins, he ftill
x^, followed the advice of his beft minifters, and recovered feve-
ral provinces. JVan-ven, one of his generals, marched againft
a northern petty prince of the family of Han, wRo had re-
volted, whofe palace he burnt to the ground. There were
feveral others* in arms, all aiming at the imperial dignity,
who, had Mo-ti lived longer, might havefhared the lame
fete ; but he died in the feventeenth year of his reign, and
was fucceeded by a fon of Cbing-ti, the feventh emperor of
this dynafty.
X .X. NGAUTI reigned four years, and died in the twenty-
Nga' ti* fifth year of his age, and the fecond of the fifty-fecond cyck

361. Xhe nobles chofe his younger brother for his fuccefTor.
• XI. XL Tl-TE's reign was not much longer than his brother's,

Tiye. altho* he outlived the lofs of it fifteen years ; Wang-ven^ his
JfterChr. general and prime miniller, having dethroned him, after he
365. had gained a viftory in the north, and confined him in a cita-
deJ, where he ended his days in the forty-third year of his
' age. He was fucceeded by Kyen-ven-ti, the laft of the chil-
dren of Twen-ti, fifth emperor of this dynafty.
XII. XII. KTEN'VEN-TI reigned only two years, and died

Kycn- in the fifty-third year of liis age, and was fucceeded by his
vcn-d. fon.

XIII. XIII. VU'TI was no fooner on the throne, than he faw
Vu-ti. his territories attj^cked by Fu-kyen, who reigned in the nordi;
JfierCbr. and, contrary to the opinion of all his minifters, came againft
372. him with a powerful army, and with a full defign of ftrippiDg
Uisfiuctfs jjjjjj Qf (hg imperial dignity. Vu-ti^ as foon as he was in-
^^^^ formed of it, marched againft him with a fmall but felefl
Fa-kycn. ^^^ ^j- ^^.^^pg . ^^^^ without giving him time to bring ia
all his forces, attacked his camp with fuch courage and xAo-
ludon, that he totally defeated him ; and his general, in a kind
of defpair and rage, feized on him in his flight, and led \m
Degene^ to a temple, and there ftrangled him. Fu-t'Cs fuccefe did not
rata. deter feveral other petty kings in the north from revolmig,
whom he might have eafily qua(hed, had he made the beu
of his viftory, and marched immediately againft them, inftead
of returning to his court, as he did, and giving himfelf upto
all manner of voluptuous feafualides. He died by die means

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C. i. ' The Hfjiory of Cknz. . _, _ 43^

of a fecond queen, whom, by way of raillery, ne had called

old woman, though but thirty years of age ; which fo flung Murdered^

her to the quick, that fhe was foon revenged of him, he beirg

found ftifled in his bed in the twenty -fourth year of his reign.

He was fucceeded by his fon. ,

XIV. NGAlSf'TI proved ftill more wortlilefs and indp- XIV.
lent, infomuch that we meet with nothing during his reign Ngah-ti.
but revolts and wars among the petty princes. A grandfon ^fi^r^^^
of the king of Tay^ the only remaining branch of the family, 39^«
having ftripped the king of Ten of his dominions, founded a
monarchy which was governed by fourteen fucceffive kings of

his family. About the fame time a mean fellow, named
lyew'hu, who went felling of flioes about the country, turn-
ing foldier, became at lall a general of a great army, and
powerful enough to murder the emperor, and feize ofl th^
imperial dignity. Ngan-ti was killed in the twenty-fecond
year of his reign, and fucceeded by his brother ; but his
reign proved fhort ; and Lyew^hu^ having difpatched him,
feized on the throne, and became the founder of" a new dy*
nafty.

XV. KONG'TI afcended the throne after his brother'^i XV.,
deadi ; but was himfelf ftifled or ftrangled by the fame afTaf- Konjg-ti.
fm, in the fecond year of his reign, and was the laft mon- AfierChr.
arch of the dynafty of Tftn. 418.

l\lhth Dynafty^ called Song (M) ; conning of Eigbi ^f^'4f»^-
Emperors^ '^itbin the Space of Fifty-tHne Tears. -^'

I. T TEfF'HU, upon his mounting the throne^ tool^ the name ^ ^' -

•^ KaU'tfu'VU'ti ; and fixed his court at Nan-king^ his K^";"**"
native place, fie had fomething inexpreilibly noble and ma- ^^' '^^^
jcihc m his perlou ^nd deportment ; and was a man or no -' .^^^
lefs frugality .than valour, which plainly appeared in clothes,
retinue, isc. He reigned but two years, and died in the
iixty-feventh year of his age, and was fucceeded by his eldeft
fon ^hau'ti. * IT- ,

n. SHAU'TI was then feVenteen years old ; butj being a ^^^**''^
weak trifling prince, Tdu-tau-tfi, his prime minifter, took the ^fi' ^^*
crown from him, and, foon after, his life, before he had ^*^*

(M) TJiis dynafty and the years, and of the enlperors. All *

four following ones, which to- this time CiJ/W was divided into

gethcr go by the name of f/-/^, two empires, the northern and ^

Sire accounted fmall in compa* foathern, each of which had its '\

rifon of the others, both with ptoper mdnarehs; "■

^fpedto the fmall number of

E e a /eigne4

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436 "tb^ Hi/iary pf CWoa. p. h

' ' reigned a^yc^r. Shau-ti wzs (xxcpeeded by ym-ti^ ^e tjur^
fon of the founder of this dynafty.
III. III. r-BAT-T'/ was a prince much admired for his aieek*

Vcn-ti. nefs, juftice, and integrity ; but too much bigotted to tfie
AfttrChr. bonzas, whofe chief proteftor he openly declared hiipfi^If.
4*3' After ftveral 'syholfome regulations, by which he 6xe4 him-
fclf on the throne, he declared war againfl the northern em-
peror (who was by that time grown, fo powerful, that he had
Suceefstn already fixteen petty kings under his fubjeftion), and gi^inec)
tht north, many fignal viftories over him, by the valour and conouifl of
treachery his prime minifter Tau-tau-tfi ; of whom growing afterwards
tobisgt' jealous, he caufed him to be put to death. The news of
neral. ^^^ \q{^ of fo brave ^ general foon infpirited the northerp
Dreadful princes to renew the war ; and Ven-ti^s troops, deprived of
defeats. \o brave a leader, were defeated in feveral battles ; one efpe-
dally was fought in the twenty-fixth year of his reign, with
iuch dreadful flaughter on both fides, that the fields 'lyere
overflowed with Chinefe blood. Tay-vu-ti^ the northern em-
peror, who ftill remained fuperior to his rival, caufed a gene-
ral maflacre to be made of all the bonzas throughout his o^n
dominions, burnt all their temples, and deftroyed their idols.
, Murdered, Ven-ti was foon after murdered by his el4eft fon, in the
thirty-fifth year of his age, and thirtieth of his reign { and
the patricide ferved in the fame kind by hi$ next bcothcr,
who immediately revenged his father's death.
IV. ly. VOU'Tlvf?^ eAcemed a learned prince; but valued

Voa-tfe. himfelf fo much on his fkill in managing a horfe, ancl dra^-
jifterCbr. ing a bow, that he made hunting his chief diverfion ; and,
453- being nfiti|rally more rough than w^ fnitable, to his d^oitv,

Sr^ve his tongue too great a liberty of |)reaking out uuo ul
anguage to thofe about him. He died in the eleventh year of
» his reign, and thirty-fifth of his age, and was (uc(:eeded bj

his eldert fon.
V. V, FU'TfhTidi hardly mount^the throne, before be dif-

Fo-ti. covered fuch a bloody difpofition, and put fo many inno(£A
JfterChr. perfons to death, that he was himfelf murdered in the ^^4
4^4* year, of his reign, and fucceed^ by AJingrti, the eleventh
fon of Ven-ti 9 the thud monarcli of this dynafty, *

yj. VI. MING'TIy no lefs inhun^an than^his pr^ceQbrs^

Ming-ti. began his reign with the murder of thirteen of his nephews
After Chr. of the imperial blood ; and, as he had no child* iaproduccd
H^S'* men among his wives., with a defign to have a maft chUd Iqf
Tome of them, and, having killed the ©other, to make %
prefent of the boy to the emprefs who was barren. He raifcd
Syau'tau^ching, a man of un^eafured ambition, to the highcfl
dignity of the empire, who afterwards murdered two cifapc-

rors,

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C.I. The Hljiolry of Chihz. 43^

rors, to make hfe way to the throne. Ming-ti died ia the
eighth year of his reign, and thtrty-fourth of his age, and
Was fucceeded by his eldcft fon.

' Vll. TSANG'NGU'VylNG (hewed to much of his pre- VII,
dccfeflbrs bloody temper, that it ferved to colour the perfi- Tfang-
dioufnefs of the traitor Syahg-tau-Mng , wbo murdered him °fj?"^5?)5*
in the fifteenth year of his age, and fourth of his reign. He 4^^*
tiras fucceeded by his' brother, ^ ^'^*

Will. SHU N'T I, who fell likewife a facrifice to thd am- vill.
6iti6ri of the prime minifter above-mentioned, by whon^ he Shun-ti.
was murdered in the fecond year of his reigjn, and fourteenth Aft. Chr.
cjf his age; and with him ended the eighth dynafty of 477*
Song.

the Ninth Dynafiy called Tfi, which Bad Five kmpe-v^*n^
rors within the Space of twenty-three Tears. A*

f. Xf^-^^-^Vi having made his way to the throne by the I.^
•^ *- mtfrdef 6f the two* foregoing emperors, removed the Kau-ti.
court to Nan-kirig, the metropolis of Kyang-nan ; but did -4^'^Grr.
not long enjoy the fruits of his parricides. He was more re* '^79-
markable for his learning than his military exploits ; and ufed
t4> fay, that if he could but reign ten years, he would make
gold as cheap as dirt. Being one day drefled in a habit fet
over with precious flones, he on a fudden ordered them to
be beaten into powder, faying, they \Yere only fit to iafpirc
a man withlixiiry and avarice. He died in the fifty-fburfli
year of hS age, and fourth 6f bis rdgh, and left the crown
to his eldeft loii.

II. VU'T I htgzxi his reign with enafting a law, tlia;t the' II,'
mandarins ftiould not hold their places longer than three Vu-ti.
years ; and reviving an old one, which forbad intermarriages After CAr^
lietwe'en perfons of the fame name. In his reig% appeared tlie. 4?3»
ifiipioUs philofopher Fan-chin, whofe till then miheard-of and,
ififipious doftrine is ftill profefled, though privately, by many^
of the Chinefe lite^ti ; though there then and fince appeared^^
fome of the moft learned pens to confute it (N). About the.
feme time Syau-ywen was raifed to the dignity of Ko-lau, a
tfian of confummate poHtics and boundlefs ambition, who,
foon after made his way to thfe throne by the murder of the
ftccceding monarchs. yu-ti died in thp eleventh year of his

(N) He Uttght, that all di<e (bul dies with the body, and-
events ht the worM were the that the (late of men after deailC
t^6t of mcsre chancy that the is the fame with that of brutes,

E e 3 »'e»^P*.

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438 ?2v Hiftory of Chi^a. R I;

reign, and forty-fifth of his age, and was fucceeded by the
brother of Kau-ti, founder of this dynafty.
;il. ^ ' m. MING'TI had been intrufted by his brother with
Ming-ti, the education of his two younger fons ; whom he accord-
JfterChr. ingly raifed tO the throne, and cut them off one after an-
^94- other in the fliort fpacc of four months, and feh^ed the crown.
At this time the northern empire enjoyed a profound peace;
>^hofe monarch was fo addifted to fhidy, that, whether in his
chariot, chair, or on horfeback, he always had a book in his
hand. Ming-ti died in the fifth year of his reign, and for-
tieth of his age, and left 'the crown to his third ton.
ly. IV. Jf HEN' LEW proved fo debauched and cruel a

)Vhcn' prln6e, was fo averfe to all good counfels, and fo governed
lew. by his eunuchs, that the ambitious Syang-ywen could not

JfterChr. have wiftied fqr a better pretence for his aiming at the crown.
'4S9* Ife accordingly joined 'with the king of Lyang^ and forced
into the iniperial palage, burnt it to the ground, and built a
more magnificent one ; dethroned the emperor in the {ecood
year of ms r^igii, arid nineteenth of his age, arid, for form
fake, placed his brother Ho-ti on the tlirohe.
y. V. HO'-Tl was not placed on the throne by the traitor to

Ho-ti. enjoy it long, but that he might have an opportunity of de-
JfterCbr. pfiving him of both that and his life at once ; which he did
5^*' by that time he had reigned one year ; and, feizing on the
crown, became the founder of a new dynafiy.

%oth dy Tenth Dynafty called Lyang, conjifting of Four Empi^
^¥J' * rors within the Space of Fifty-jfive Tears.

I. I. CTJU'TIVEN, having obtained the imperial dignity by

Syar- *J the blobd of the two foregoing emperors, aflTumed the

ywcn. TOimt of KaU'tfu'VU'ti. He was defcended from the family

4fterChr. ^f Syau-ho, and was eridowed with excellent qualities', being

S^^' aClive, vigilant, and difpatched all that i>aired through his

hands with furprifihg rea^inefs. He was learned, martial,

Turns auflerfe, and frugal ; but beo^me at length fo fond of the

loKxa, bonzas, that he neglefted the affairs of ftate, and became one

' ' of that order**; and ftriftly forbad killing of oxen and fhecp

even for facrifices, and appointed corn to l^ offered inflead

of thofe animals (O). In the fifteenth year of his reign he

^^ De bis, vid. fup. p. ii2> k feq,

(O) ^^fK-jrw^, tho' a tyrant approbation near 26 years^whea
andufurp^r, had governed the tj^is mad fit came upon iiim of*
Empire with fuch ruccer9 . z^d turning monk, had his head

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C. I. The Hifiory cf ChiM. 439

laid /lege to the city of Siew-yan^, in the province o( Shen^
Jif "which lafted ten years, and Toft an infinite number cf ,
men both by the fword, famine, and peftilence. His prime
minifler, in a fit of difcontent at being obliged to ferve a
tyrant and ufurper, ftarved himfelf to death ; which when he
heard, he cried out, Do not I hold my crown of heaven ? Am
I beholden for it to my grandees? What occa/im then had that,
unfortunate man to make aivay with himfelf?

Towards the latter end of his reign Hew-king, king oi Seized ly
Ho-nan^ his vaflal and tributary, revolted from v him; dSi^^tbt kingof
having made himfelf mafter of Nan-king, feized upon him. Ho-nan^
The emperor appeared before his conqueror with fuch maje-
fKc intrepidity, that he was not able to look him in the face ;
but, in a kind of dread, cried out, / could not have heVieved
it fo hard to rejiji a power which heaven has eflablijhed ; fo, His cruel
not daring to imbrue his hands in his blood, condemned him death<^ .
to % more lingering death, by retrenching part of his fufte-
nance everyday^ He caUed for a little honey juft before his
de^th, to put a bitter tafte out of his mouth j and, being-
denied^ it, expired in the forty-eighth year of his. reign^ and
eighty-fixth of his age, and was fucceeded by his third fon.. •

ti. KTEN'VEN''TJYi2ii fcar^ely reigned two y?ars, when ^ ^^*
Hew'^in^itized on him, and put him to death, in ^he forty- ^^^'^."
ninth year of his age, and aflhmed the imperial title; which ' ^^
he yet hardly enjoyed one year, when the feventh fan of th^ Death'
founder mounted the throne^ ' , ,

in. rWEN'TI had then a %'lau, gr prime minifter, III. ^ -
named Chin-pa-fen, who was a^fo fovereign of a fmall domi- Ywen ti.
nion, and who totally defeated the rebel Hew-king*s army, -^A'^ (?^''-
and canfed him to be beheaded. But this Ko-lau likewife 55^^ ~
revolted, and befieged Nan-king, where the emperor, a prince

ihaved, and wore a coarfc gar- occafioned infinite murders and^

nent, and lived upon herbs and robberies.

rice, that the grandees of the At the fame time, the boozaic

empire in fome meafure forced fed was in no lefs eflesm in the

him out of his retirement ; but, northern parts. That cftipira

though he returned to his pa* had been a long time divuled

lace, and refumed the govern- between two fovereigns, on^ 06

ment, yet he obllinately conti- the eafterh, the other of the.

nued to live after the manner of weftern; but were at leng^

the bonzas ; though, according united under the king of 7^ anq,,

to the doftrine of the tranfmi- C-&w, when the emprefs 6^ it,^

gration ef the foul, he dared not named Hu, built a monaftery

condemn any, even the greateil large enough to lodge a thoufand

criminal, to death, which open bonzas, and gave it the name of^

e^ a door to UcentioufQefs, and I'^ff^-c^^^) or /rr/^iiW/r/ir^. ,

E e 4 infatuated^

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j^ Tke Hifiory ef Chiwu B. h

infatuated with the fuperftitious dreams of the bonzas» b^t
Bums his his refidence ; but, being roufed up by this rebellion, look a
fapudli' turn round the city-walls, and, feeing all was loft, br6|tc his
brary^ and {^Qxi^ and burnt his library, which confifted of 140,000
put to volumes, hylugy There was an end of all fsiences and miRtary
dtt^b. ^^^ This done, he mounted his horfe, and went and fur-

rfcndered himfelf to the conqueror, who fl^w hhn in the third

year of his reigii, and forty-fcventh of his age. He was fuc-

ceeded by his ninth fon.

, rV. IV. KING'TI had not reigned two years, before he was

Kin|ti. likewife flain by the murderer of his father, in the fixteenth

JfierChr. year of his age, and, with him, expired the tenth dynafty.

-m* In his reign, the emperor of that part of the north, called

Chewy caufed all the temples and idols of the bonzas to be de-

ftroyed.

Mthiy Eleventh Dynafty called Chin, con/ifting of Fivi Emfc^
nafly. rors in the Space of ^bifty-tbree Tears.

I, I. T'HE rebel Chin-pa-Jieny being thus become the founder

Kau-tfu- of a new dynafty, afliimed the name of Kau-tfu-vw-H ;

▼u-ti. he was defcended from Chin-Jhi^ a fimed general wider the

JfterChr. femily of Han^ and was i lover of the fciences,. but ovcr-

558- fond of the bonzas. He reigned but three yiaics, and (tied

in the 'fifty-ninth year of his age, and was fucceeded by his

• ^ \stothex Ven-ti.

it II. VEN'TI, though h^ had lived privately till he came

Vcn*ti. to the crown, yet (hewed himfelf foon to be a prince of ex-

jift^CBr. cetlent qualities, and gaiqed the love of his fubjefts. It was-

560. he who ordered the night-watches to be diftinguiftied by the

l^eat of a Srhni, which method hath teen obfervcd ever fince i

itiii finding that hisi foa had not fufiicient capacity to rdgn

jtfter himi appointed his own brother^ then king of A^au^

''^ ehiri^ to fucceed him;' but his prime minifter, and other

Sandees, making a ftrong r^prefentation againft it, he altered
B intention. Ven-ti died in the feyenth year of his reign,
and ifortieth of his age, and was fucceeded by his fon.
, III, • ni. iriVCP-^y^r-A^^A^^ had hardly reigned two y^ars,
Ly ng' before he was dethronfed by his unclej the king of Ngan-jcbin ;
bay-vang. ^jj^ (jj^d fo^^ after, in the nineteenth year 6f his age; upoiji
* 5"7; "^^hich Sweh-tiy nephew to the founder, feized on thecrown.
IV. ' IV. SWEN'TI was a fweet and niild prince, a great lover
Swcn-ti. ^f niufic, and an adniirer of learned men. One of hid vaf&l.
JifterChr. princes having, out of fome felfifti view, feot him fixtie pre*
5^9' fcnts of fercat value, 'he> to check his iinbitlon, ordered them
to be burnt in his own prefence. In his rrign the northern'

emperor

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emperor having raifed Lyang-fyang to the di^lity' of Ko-lau,
and given his daughter in marriage tb his (on, made hhn ilot
long aAer fovereijgn of the principality of Swi, in which he
became fo powerful in a few years, th^ he w^ in a condition
to fubdue all China. Swen-ti died in the fourteenth year of his
ieign^ and forty-fecond of his age, and was fucceoded by his
foiu

V. CHJNG'CHING'KONG foon gave hifcfctf u]i tO' V.
all manner of excdfes ; upoft which Kyen aflbmed the tide of Chang-
iemperor, and, advancing fouthward with a, numerous army, fhing-
crofled the Tang-tfe-kyang without 6ppofition, ai>d entered ^^V,f
the metropolis of Nan-king in trlumpiu Thts cmperbr, to Afi'J^'^*
avoid falling into his bands, threw himfelf into a well ; but ^ ^*
was taken out alive, and dethroned in the feventh year dL
his reign. The conqueror became the founder of a new
dynafly, and changed his name of Tang-hytn for that of
Kau'tfe-vU'tu

^wdftb Bynafiy calUd Swi, eon/iftii^ of Tbrei Emfi- iztbdp^a^
TCfs vnthin the Space of Twentynme Tears. /J*

L j^AU'TSU'VEN-TI fdred on the crown in the forty- J.

-^ feventh year of the cycle ; and, feven years aftw, re- Kau-tftt-
united the northern and fouthem eiitpircs, which had beca^j?"'**
divided near 300 years by Tang-tfi-kyang^ their conftant 4r^^''^*
boundary. He was defcended from a noble family ; his folid ^^^
penetrating judgment made amends for his want of learning, «
and his moderadon and temperance gained him the love of hi$
fubje^ts. He reformed mufic and rhetoric of all that was foft
:Uk1 enervating ; and caufisd' a cei^n pordon dF 'com and rice
tdr be leaded on the fubfefts, for the fupport of the poor in
time of famine. He Was inexorable to the judges that fuf-
fered themfelves to be corrupted r ht had aUb made a law^
&at puni(hed the iinalleft larc^nks with death ; bntwasaftar-
mxis perfuaded to repeal it, as rather too fevere ; and, by
another, excluded merchants and mechanics from public em-
ployments. The preference which he gave to lus eldeft fon, a Murdend
Jrince of no merit, whom yet he defigned fot his fucceilbr, h ^^S^^*
io exafperated his fecon^ fon Tang-ti^ that he murdered then^
both, and, by a double parricide, mounted the throne. KaU'-
yu'ven-ti reigned fiftden years, and was flain in the fixty-
rourthof his age. •

M.yX^NG'TIvfzs much given to luxury ; and, having re- II- ^
moved his court from the province of Shen-Ji to that of Ho-^ Yanjg-d.
nanTf fpent much of his time with his wives and concubines, 4ft^^^;
and in the diverfions of hunting and muiic. He w^ however ^^*

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442 ^te Hiftory of China. B. 1.

fo much rcfpcfted, that feveral petty princes put themfelves
under his proteftion, and caufed the great Chlnefe wall to be
newly repaired. He forbad his fubjefts to carry arms about
them, which policy hath been in force ever fince ; and com-
• miffioned a hundred of the moft learned men to revife and
reprint, after the manner of thofe days, all books treating
of war, politics, phyfic, and agriculture. He likewife founded
the degree of doftor, to qualify both the military and literary
men for their rcfpeftive employments. He attacked the Ko-
reans both by fea and land ; and, though his firft attempt
proved abortive, yet in his next he obliged them, as vafTals,
to fend ambafladors to implore his clemency. He was aflaffi-
xiated in his prOgrefs through the fouthern provinces, in the
city of Kyang-nan^ by a mean fellow, in the thirteenth year
of his reign, and thirty-ninth of his age ; upon which U-
ywen, one of the petty kings, having got together an^ army
of 120,000 men, placed the crown on the head of Kong-ti^
grandfon to the founder of this dynafty.
' III. HI, KONG-TI was crowned and dethroned in the fame

Kong'ti. yejy. by li^ytuen ; whole fon, at the head of his£sither*s army,
Jf^Chr. entered the psdace, and, ha^ng viewed the magnificence of
°*^' it, fetched a deep figh, and faid, No\ fuch a Jiately edifice
mt{fi not befuffered toftand any longer ^ being good for nothing
but to /often thefpirit of a prince^- and cherijb his vicious in-
clinations ; and ordered it to be immediately reduced to aflies.
What became of the emperor, we are not told ; but Li-ywen,
by dethroning him, put an end to this dynafty, and became
the founder of a new one.

I yhdytta- fbc Thirteenth Dynafty called Tang, cenfifttng of Twenty
J^y* ^mferors within the Sface of iSg Tears.

I. I. T I-^YWEN^ upon his mounting the throne, afffamcd the
$hin-yau- -^-^ name of Shin-yau-ti, and began his reign with abating
^'- the rigour of the penal laws and public taxes ; but was too

After Chr, ^^^^ ^ zealot for the feft of Lau-kyun *, to whofe honour he
}?* crefted a temple. He had hot reigned above two years before
he had reduced ^11 the rebels, and was become the peaceful
pofleflbr of this vaft empire. He was the monarch who or-
dered tbe copper coin to be ftruck which we have elfewherc
defcribed ^ ;, and caufed 100,000 idlebonzas to marry, in or-
der to beget a fupply of foldiers for his army. He reigned
nine years, at the end of which he abdicated the crown ia

\ Dc hoc, vid. fup. p. 1 1 7. \ Vi^. ibid. p. 247, & (R).

favour

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G I ; T^ ^fiiffj of Chirta# 443

&Tour of his fecond fon ; and died nine year$ after, in tke
fev^ntieth year of his age.

II. TAT-TSONG is by the Chinefe efteemed one of their II,
greateft monarchs, both for his wifdom, ^nd kindncfs to thofe Tay-
who either gave him good counfel, or told him of his faults, tfong.
He ^vas no lefs admired for his frugality, temperance, and love ^*'' ^i
of learning (P). He was a fevcre enemy to corrupt judges, "^^*
and all forts of bribery ; and, in a time of drought and
fcarcity, publiflied an edlfl^, ordering all his faults to be laid His txceh-
before him, that, by amending them, he might avert the zngcrlent r»^«»
of heaven. As to foothfayers, he always fliewcd a lingular
contempt for them ; but when once, in the. fecond year of
his reign, he faw the fields covered with devouring locufts,
he cried ©ut with a deep iigh, Jlas I I had much rather you
would devour my own bowels y than thus dejlroy the harvejl and
lives of my poor fubjeBs. On fuch times as thefe he would
releafe the prifoners, and grant them a general pardon; tho**
he was very cautious not to offend by too great an indulgence
to them, left, as he ufed to fay, the impunity of the wicked
ihotild prove hurtful to thq good fubje<5ls, V

In the eighth year of his reign came an ambafly to China^ A Chrifli^
confifting of white men with fair hair and blue eyes, and jon am^
whole drefs, air, and manners, were altogether unknown to the *^«
Chinefe y and met with a gracious reception at that court. Theft
are fuppofed to have been thofe Chriftians of whcwn we feavc.
given an account in a former feftion ^ who left the noble vsxwsxr

\ Vide fupr^, p. 77, & feq. & (L), & 123,

(P) As an inftance of that, perfon, anfwered : / look upon

lie caufed an academy, for all my [elf in my empire as a father.

kind of literature to be crcfted in bis famify j and I carry my

in his own palace, wherein were fubjeSs in my bofom as my chil^

reckoned gooo fcholars, many dren\njohat han)e Ithentofearf

of th^m fons of foreign princes, He was indeed {o confiderat^

whom he provided w;Jth the in regard to them, that, having

bed mafters, and caufed the read ia a phy fie- book written by

beft books to be brought to it the emperor Whang- ti (32), that

£rom all parts. HeJikewife a bloworbruifeonthefhoulders

caafed another academy to be was apt to injure the vital parts,

ereded for military exercifes, he made a law, ftill extant, that

particularly archery, at which none fhould be baftonadoed on

he often aflifted ; and, being the back, but on the buttocks

reminded by hi s minifters of the (33).
danger it might prove to his

(yt) Deboe. vid. Univ, Hifl, vti, ZX. p, 140, & fif. (33) Du HaUt,

ment

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444 tbi Hijhr) if Chihi B. L

miftt 6f Chriftkmty there mentioned,' wHrch was afen^rards
difcovercd An. 1 625 ; and we find accorcBngly, that that mon-
«:h adiriitted it to 6* preached m his: dominions in tlie 12th
year of hia rtign, ^d even allotted a ^Stee of grotiffd in the
^Grieffor imperial city for building a Chriftian church. In the tenth year
his excel' ci his reign he loft his emprefs, a princefs of mbft excellent qua-
lent im- jjjj^s ( <^, by vrtiofe addrefs he wis reconciled to his prime
Z''^' riiinifter, whom he had JForbidden his pi^^fence for too fre-
quently troubling him with his wife adnionitions. The em-
peror grieved immoderately for her lofs, and ratted a much
ttkorc magnificent mbnumenlf for her than h^ had done for his
dwii father ; but, hcthg checked for it by the farrixful Ko-lau
and prim ab6ve-mentioned, caufed it to be dcmoKfhed. That wife
mnifter. attid excellent minifter dying aftd-wards in the feventeenth
ytsct of this prince's rtvgp^ he caufed a noble encomium of
Ms o>^n penning to be engraved on his tomb ; after which,
tiiming to his courtiers, f[»ke to this purport : JVe have three
firts of iHirrorSy ont for the ladies to drefs thtnifelves by ;
/I2? fieoridf the antient books treating of the rifiy pfogrefsp
and f all f of empires; and the lofty wife rnen, by whofe example
vfe form our own conduEl: this laft I had in the perfon bf hy
ikt^afed Ko-hvif whom, to my misfortune^ I have lofl, without
Ik^es of finding another Hke him. About the latter end of his
reign, the Koreans having revolted, he Was upon the point
DidtL <rf feidiii^ si formidable army to reduce them j but was pre-
vented by deadi, which for a time put a ftop to that expe-
dition. He reigned twenty-thi^ years, and djed in the
fifty-third of his age, leaving a fett of th6 wifeft and moft
excellent inftruftions to his fon and fucceflbr.
IJL ^^« KAU'TSQNG had reigned five years very' peac^bly,

Kau- "^hen he unhappily fell in love with Vufbi^ the young lady

tfong.

(Q^) It is obferved of that inal]ages,b\itthefi|^of whicb

excellent lady, that, whilfl (he made him the .mor^ fcnfible of

Uved, not one of that vaft nam- his inexpreifible lofs.

berof officers which belong to - In the eleventh year of hii

the court was condemned to any reign he admitted into his pa-

^vere pan'ifhment ] which is a lace, probably to lupply the

circumftance fcarcely to be pa* place oi the deceafed emprefs,

i^Ileled in the Cbinefe hiStory. a youn^ lady of fingular beauty

$he wrote likewife a book con- and wit, and about fourteen

fijllng of thirty chapters, 00 the years of age j who, after ha

due behaviour of women in death, retired into a monaftery

their inner 'apartments ; a piece qf bonzeiTes, whence ihe was

highly admired, efpecially by fetched out by his fon and fac-

the emperor, who ftylcd it the ceffor, and placed on the thronCi^

i^ile thai ought \o be obferved and became a great tyranneft.

mentioned

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C. i: Tie Hijory of Chioa. 445

mentioned at the end of the laft note ; and, for her fake, rcr 'After Chr,
pudiated his emprefs, and one of his queens, maugre aU the ^5^*
f emonfhranc^ and oppofition of his fsuthful minifters, and
placed her on the throne. She foon difcovered, however, that Fatai
his love for the difcarded princefles was far from being ckXi- fondnefs
terated ; and, in a fit of jealous rage, caufed thdr bands and/^^Vu-fci.
jfeet, ^nd a few days «fter thdr heads, to be cut off. It was ji^ ^^^^/.
pot long before the horror of her guilt threw her into a dread- ty and ty»
ful phrenfy, in which (he fanfied herfelf purfued night and day rantiy.
by the ghofts of thofe two princefles, which obliged her to
be ever ihif ting from place to place ; the emperor, flill more
enamoured of her than ever, not only indulg^g her in it,
but committing the care of the whole empire to her, and
^ying her the title of Tyen-hew^ or ^uim of heaven.

She was no fooner raifed to this height of power, than fhe
poiibned her eldeft fon, that the crown might thereby fall to
her brother's children, and her family be fettled on the throne ;
&ough {he was difappointed of her aim. In the latter end
of Kau-tfong'% reign the Koreans returned to their obedience;
and he, after having reigned thirty-four years, during above }Us itc^h.
two thirds of Which the Chriftian rdi^on flouriibed in feverai
parts of his eniph-e, died in the fifty-fixth year of his age,
and appointed his eldeft fon to fucceed him ; but he was fet
a](ide by his tyrannic emprefs, to make rpom for a younger,
lij^hom ihe might govern more at her will; for which re^on
that prince is by the Chinefe looked upon as an ufurper, an4
iiruck out of the lift of the mojiarchs of this dynafty.

VU'HEW \yas the third fon of that ambitious prmcefs; Vu-hew.
0ie bad poifqned J^er eldeft in the late reign, as hath been After Chr.
lunted, and^fent her fecond, after hb father's death, intg a 5^5*
finall fovefdgnty, where he lived rather like an exile, wbilft
ibis t^d, \f horn fh^ declared emperor, had only the name,
without the power. When ftie had fettled all things thus to
her nund, her ne^t care was to rid herfelf of all the nobles
and grandees whoni ijbe fufpe£ted not tobein herintereft ; wd,
in one day, put a great number of them to death, who ^yere
of the beft femilies in the empire. There was raifed likewife, A perfe*
under her, a cruei Rerfecution againft the GhrifUans, in the cutioti
fifteenth year of K^rA^w's reign, which lafted fifteen years, agmwfitb^
Her Ko'lau^ a man of virtue and courage, and equally grieved CkrifiUms.
and aihamed of her tyranny and cruelty, did at length prefent
Jo many noble renvonftrances in favour of the lawful heir,
who had, by this time, been bani(ked from his throne fourteen
years, . whilf^ her other fon wa$ only looked upon now, and
likely hp tranfipitted to poflerity, as an ufurper, that fhe was
at lengUi prevailed upon to recal him, and to ai£gn him the
" ' caftern

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446 tie mjioYy i?/ China. B. K

eafterri jpalace for his refidcnce, till the death of Vu-hna^
Thi law' which happened about feven years after ; upon which he af-
JitJ heir cended the throne, from which he had been deprived twenty^
refioreJ. one years,

IV. IV. CHUNG-rSONG (hewed himfelf little defcnre-

Chung- ing of the regard which his father and prime minifter had
tfong. cxpreflcd for him, and, giving himfelf up wholly to plea-
After Chr, fm-g ^^nd indolence, left the whole management of the em-
706. pjj.g fQ i^jg emprefs, who had been the feithfiil companion
of his exile. This princefs, who, by the advice of the go-
vernor of the palace, intended to place her fon Shang upon
the throne, was ftrenuoufly oppofed by the princes and petty
kingSy who took up arms againft him. However, the em-
peror being made away by poifon, in the fifth year of his
reign, (he caufed Shang to be proclaimed his .fucceflbr ; but
his uncle, who po/lcfred a fmall principality, having made
himfelf mafter of the palace, caufed her and her daughter to
be put to death ; upon which Shang found no other way to
favc his life, than by furrendering the diadem to him.
V.^ V.ZH UI'TS 0 NG reigned but two years ; during which,

Zhui- nothing is recorded of Jiim, except that he died in the fifty*
tfong. fifth year of his age, and was fucceeded by his third fon.
VI. VI. TIVN'TSONG proved an excellent prince, and the

Yivn- reftorcr of his family, then upon the brink of ruin. He vm
tfoog. a mortal enemy to the luxury then in vogu^ ; and, to fhewa
After Chr. good, example to his nobles, caufed all his gold and fUver
7 '3* veflels, and his embroidered cloaths, to be burnt before bis
palace. He was no lefs diligent in the promoting of learning ;
and was the firfl who honoured fuch of 'liis generals as had
fignalized themfelves by their fervices, with the tide of petty
kings, which ufed only to be given to princes of the blood.
In one of his progrefles through the empire, hedividcd it into
fifteen produces, and did feveral other public adts. But one
blemifh is juftly caft upon him; viz, his being deaf to the
wholfome counfel of his prime minifler Twen-chau^ who ftrovc
to perfuade him to fupprefs the too great power of his
eunuchs, and to aboli/h the idolatrous fefts of Fo and Ton,
A rebel- He had reigned almoft thirty-years peaceably, when the
lion in the empire was, all on the fudden, difturbed with fome infur-
MBrth, reftions, his army defeated, with the lofs of 70,000 men,
whilft all avenues to his throne were fo obftrufted by his
eunuchs, that he knew nothing of it. The author of thb
rebellion was a foreign prince, named Ngan-lo-Jhan^ Irhom
•he had raifed to the highefl employments, even to the batOL'
mand of his army, and who took the advantage of his fuc-
ceiTes in the north to affume the imperii title. Tht palicc

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C* I. Th Hift^ tf CUm^ 447

was, at the fame time, in no lefs a combufHoiiy the emperor Dtfifien

having divorced his wife, and put three of her children to »« defa»

death, without any juft caufe, and married his daughter-in- ^^^%

law. Thefe difafters brought on new ones, and encouraged

a Imnd of robbers to attack the imperial army, which they Tie emft-

routed, with the lofs of 40,000 men, the emperor himfetf ^^^^* ^'

b^ng obliged to flee into the province of Se-chwen. He had-^f '» ^^

reigned forty-four years when he made this fliameful retreat 5 -^''^^''

and his fon So't/ong was obliged to mount the throne during

his life, to fave the empire from ruin. ^

Vn. SO'TSONG, being a brave warlike prince, foon de- VII.
ftroyed the army of the robbers, and reftored the public tran- So-tfong.
quiJiity ; after which, he brought back his father from Se^ ^fiirChn
cfrwen, and condufted him to his palace with all the honours 757*
due to his rank ; but the unhappy primre died foon after, in
the feventy-eighth year of his age, and left the crown to his
more worthy Ton, In the mean dme the rebel Ngan-lo-Jban
had plundered the palace of Chang-ngan of all its riches, and,
among other curiofides, of an hundred elephants and horfes
which had been taught to dance at the found of inftruments,
and to prefent the emperor with a cup with their mouths.
The rebel wanted to fee that ceremony performed to himfelf,
but thofe creatures could not by any means be brought to give
him that fatisfaftion ; upon which, in a fit of rage, he ordered
them to be killed on the fpot. He met, however, foon after
with the reward of his treafon, being murdered in his bed by
his own fon, and this by his general. So-tfong reigned fix
years, and was fucceeded by his fon.

Vm. Tay-tfong was fo fuccefsful in the choice of his mi- VIII.
nifters, that peace was foon reftored to the empire, and the Tay-
rebels reduced : but it was not long before five other tributa-* tfong-
ries revoltecl, and made themfelves independent. The TJir- Afi^*^^
tars likewife, to the number of 200,000, made a dreadful 7 3*
irruption into th^ empire, in the eighth year of his reign,
forced him to flee, and carried away an immenfe treafure into
their own country. The emperor returned foon after into
his palace, by the help c^ his celebrated general Ko-tfu-u &
great patron of the Chriftians (R), and died in the feventeenth

(R) His elegy, we are told and he is thought to have been

by the miflionaries, is ftill to be very indruhiental, both by his

• feen in the antient monument, credit and purfe, in building of

formerly mentioned, wherein churches; infomuch, that feme

his liberality to the Chriflian believe him to have been a con*

preachers is highly extolled; vert to Chriftianity (34).

(34) Du Haldt, fuk Taj tjong, Lt dmptt^ JVm/, Cwpkt, & si.

year

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448 TU Bifiery ^CUm. B. I

jmr of kis reign, a&i fifty-third of his age, and was fac-
ceeded by his/eld^ ion.
I5f. IX. TE^TSONG was a timoroas and miftniftful prince,

Te-tfong. who Blinded only his flatterers ; yet fo far difinterefted, as to
JfttrChr. refufe fbme confiderable preients o&red him from ftrangers;
7^0. but he had the misfortune to loie his prime minifter and ge-
neral Ko'tfu-iy who died in the third year of his reign, a^
eighty-five years, after he had enjoyed that dignity, with the
iitmofl reputation, during the four foregoing reigns. The
whole empire mourned iox him, as for a father, three whole
yearff ; but the power of the eunuchs, which he had artfully
fuppreHed, whilfl he Jived, became foon after fo fonnidable,
that it occaflcMaed infurredions every-where. The emperor,
in order to maintain the vaft army he was forced to ratfe,
to fapprefs them, laid fuch heavy taxes upon the fub-
jeAs, as reduced them to the lowefl ebb of nufery, and oc-
ctfioned an infinite number of robberies. By good fortune
{lis troops prored every-where viftorious, fupprefled the re-
bels, and reflcred p^ace and plenty to the people. He reigned
twcnty*five years, and died in the fixty-fourth year of his age,
and was fuoceeded byhisfon.

X. X. *irX/JV-!riS^/V^^wasajpaFomifiogpraice; but, beh^
^hun- gtt^^deed by an incurable difi^e, refigned the crown to his
tibng. (on» after he had rdgned one year.

XI. XL HTEN-TSONG was a prince excellently qualified
Hyen- for the difpatch of the mofl intricate bufinefs <^ the empire,
tfong. and of fuch firmnefs of mind, that nothing could fhake hhn

Afiir Cbr. from a good refolution once tadcen. He was no kfs tender of
^^* his fuhjeAs welfkre ; and, in times of fcarcity, bad fyt open
his. granaries ta their relief tiendii^ his nobks through Ac
affli^ed provinces, with orders to fe» that every one wa»fap-
.plied according to their pre^sntdifbeis. But be was, bqrond
meafiire, addided to the fuperftitious follies of the Bonzuc
^, and had let his re&ntment iaU very heavy on fuch of
his minifiers as liad endeavoured to diffiiade him from them,
lie was no lefs intoxicated with another notion, which xxA
him his life, viz. a firm perfuafion of his being made im*
mortal by the pretended iupematural liquor which thefe
charlatans pretended to have the true receipt erf; and havii^g
caufed foihe of it to be brought to him, ^^diich is-fuppoied to
have been mixed with poifon by one of his eunuchs, ex{ure(t
immediately after his taking it, in the 1 5th year of his. relgo,
and 43d of his age. He left his crown to his fon, who^i
he had appointed his fucceflor.

XII. XIL MO'T^ONG wsts at firft oppofed by fome of the
Mo-tfong.^andc€§, who dcfigacd to place wo&cr prince on Ac throne ;

kot

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G. I. The HffioTj of China. 449

but their meafures being fruftrated, and they put to death, Jfter Chr.
he was indifcrete enough to difband his army, part of which 821.
beijQg thereby reduced to great ftraits, went and lifted them-
feWes among the banditti, and increafed their number, and
the diftrefs of the people. In his reign the imperial fatnily oi
Tangi or of this thirteenth dynafty, began to decline apace,
and his few fucceflors helped to complete its ruin. He died
in the fourth year of his reign, and the thirtieth of his age,
after having taken a medicine prepared for him, and was fuc-
ceeded by his fon in the year following.

Xm. KING'TSONG was raifed to the throne by the XIII.
intereft of the powerful eunuchs, and, proving a weak prince, ^"g-
•was deprived of it by the fame intereft, after two years r^ign, j^^f,', ^
to make way for the emprefs mother. He was but juft re- ^^ *
turned from hunting, and about to fluffhis cloaths, ^vhen• ^*
on the fudden, the candles were put out, and he murdered Murdered.
by his eunuchs, who placed his brother in his room.

XIV. VEN'TSONG, a wife and good prince, grew fo XIV.
impatient at the exorbitant power of thofe eunuchs, that he ^tn^
had taken meafures fecredy to deftroy them ; but they bdng ^^®°I;
aware of it, fell fuddenly on the minifters, and guards 9f the ^P^^'^^"
palace, and flew above a thouiand of them, and together with ' *
them were feveral coniiderable £unilies deftroyed, in the mpth

year of his reign. This misfortune, and others he forda^
grieved him to fuch a degree, that, having in vain tried ^o
alleviate his melancholy, by diverfions, drinking, be. he die^
of a deep confumption, in the fourteenth year of ^ r<^fU
and was fucceeded by hi^ brother, though he left a fon, whom
the eunuchs fet afide.

XV. VU'TSONG was a prince of a warlike tempsr, XV.
dreading neither danger nor fatigue, and worthy of the pre- Vp-tfong.
jference ftiewed to him. He drove the Tartars out qf the Af^^^^^*
proTOice oi Shen-Jiy where they had fortified themfelves, and ^^^*
cleared others of the banditti that infefted them. He had (p
excellent a judgment, that he never was deceived in the choice

of his minifters. He revived a. law, ftill in force, though -A #jfr//-
litde praftifed, which obliged the mandarins of the provinces, ^'^'^^ ^^^¥-
cmce in five, or at.moft feven, years, to fend an account to f^'?''«
court of all their mifcarriages, and to b^ the euiperor's par-
don for them " ; and if any thing was found in thdr cop-
fei&on either difguifed, palliated, or excufed, they were to
expeft no favour, but were immediately 'turned out. He is
f^d to have fuppreffed the Chriftians, who had been fo
iBUch favoured during fome of the former reigns, and to have

"* See before, p. 148. & feq.
Mod. Hist. Vol. VIU. F f obliged

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450 72^^ Hifioty of China. B. I.

obliged the bonzas to return to a fecular life. He reigned but
fix years, and died in the thirty-third year of his age, and
was fucceeded by the grandfon of Hyen-tfong^ the elerenth
monarch of this dynafty ; the eunuchs having rcjefted his l]ba
from reigning after him.

XVI. XVI. SIVEN'TSONG was no fooner upon the throne

Swen- xhzxi he (hewed himfelf a prince excellently qualified to reign,

^^jr^ru ^^^^n^ *^ ^^ expeftation of the eunuchs, who had raifcd
JfterCbf. j^ ^^ .^ ^j^ qy-^g Q^j^^j. yjg^s^ jjjs wifdom, equity, appli*

^^* cation, and love of his people, made him be looked upon and
revered as a fecond Tay-tfong^ the fecond emperor of this dy-
naftyi All his merit, however, proved infufBcient to fup-
prefs the power of the eunuchs, though his prime miniftcrput
him upon an efFeftual way of doing it ; viz. by ihewi^
himfelf inexorable to thofe who were guilty of any fault, and
not to fupply with new ones the places of thofe that died :
but they, having got intelligence of this defign, became fndi
mortal enemies both to the prime minifter and prince, that
' they ceafed not to create new troubles againft them. That

wife monarch is however juftly blamed for his fondnefs for
the feft of TaUy and his eagernefs of being immortalized by
their pretended panacea, notwithftanding all the wife diflha-
fives of his beft ininifters ; for he had no fooner drank the
His dread* hxsl liquor, than he felt himfelf devoured by worms that
fulend. fwarmed in his body ; and died a few days after, in the thir-
teenth year of his reign, and fiftieth (rf his age. He was
fucceeded by his fon, and by the intereft of the eunuchs.

XVII. XVII. /-7'5d?i\r(7foon became odious to all his ftbjefls
I-tfong. for his luxury and debaucheries. He reigned fourteen years ;
^fierCbr.zriAy about three months before his death, caufed one of the

^60. fingers of the idol Fo to be brought with great folemnity into
his palace ; and the Chinefe attribute his death, and the trou-
bles which enfued, to his ftupid devotion for that idol. The
eunuchs placed his fon oh the throne, who was but twelve
years old, that they might enjoy the greater fway.

XVIII. XVIII. HI'TSONG accordingly left thefolc management
Hi-tfong. to them \ and, whilft he fpent his time in mufic, riding, ihoot-
JfierChr. ing, and other fuch diverfions, nothing was fecn on all fides

^74* but tumults and revolts, efpecially in the northern parts.
Great re* The people groaned under the heavy load of taxes, and a
W9Us, &c. grievous famine, occafioned by the overflowing of the rivers,
and vaft fwarms of locufts which had deftrojed mod of tbc
com; all which ftill added to the number of the revolters.
Thcfehad one Whan-tfyau at their head, who went and ^
iiqjed the imperial city; and^ having driven their prince ooc

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C. i. ftife Hijhry of Chlnzi 451

of it, proclaimed their leader emperor, and gave to lus femily
the name of 7^?.

In tlie midft of tliefc difaflers, the command of the Impe-
rial army was given to a young man not above twenty-eight
years old, named Li-ke-yong, but nicknamed To-y ten-long , on
account of his being blind of one eye. This youth, however, Impmab
attacked the rebel army with great valour ; and, tho' repulfed army vie*
at the firftonfet, yet rallied his men, and renewed the fight foHouu
with fuch vigour, that he totally defeated them, and brought
badk the emperor in triumph. For this eminent fervicc, he
vras raifed to the principality of 7^n, and his fon became
ibon after the founder of a new dynafty. The emperor died
about three months ^ter, in the fifteenth year of his reign,v
and twenty-fcventh of his age ; and was fuccceded by the
Jtxth fon of the laft emperor, whom the eunuchs placed upon
the throne.

XIX. CHJU-TSONG, a wife and valiant prince, de- XIX.
Hgned, by the help of his prime and other minifters, to have Chau-
totally abolifhed the exorbitant power of the eunuchs ; when *^*^"8-
they, on a fudden, having got intelligence of it, came una- "^1^ *
•wares upon him with then: loldi^rs, felzed on his perfon, con- r. ?' j
fining him in a remote apartment under a ftrong guard, leav- i?ly^^^,
ing him only a hole in the wall for conveying his food to ^chu
him. *

The prime minifter Tfu-yUf having difcovered the place^ RtUafei.
lent fuddenly a number of refolute fellqws, who flew the
guards, and refcued the emperor, and brought him back to ReJkraU .
his pakce. After this, he invited Chu-Ven, then at the head
of the robbers, to come and aflift his prince againft the eu-
nuchs, who arrived juft at the time when that monarch had
ilTnid out an edift for extirpating them all excepting thirty of
the youngeft, to be referved for the moft fervile offices of the
palace ; and executed his commiffion with fuch zeal, that Eunuch
msmy hundreds of them were put to the fword. But Chw defiroyed,
•ven^ who had thus far behaved with fo much loyalty, being
feized with a fpirit of ambition, caufed the faithful prime Chn-ven
mihifter to be fl^, and obliged the emperor to remove his rebels^ and
court from the province of Shen-Ji to that of Ho-nan ; which murders
he had no fooner done, but the traitor put him to death in ^^^ '^^*
the fixteenth year of his reign and thirty-eighth of his age, ^°^'
and placed the crown on his fon, till he could fafely take it
from him.

XX. CHJU'SWEN'TSONG had not reigned two years, XX.
before he percdved that Chu-ven defigned to facrifice him as Chau-
he had done his father ; to prevent which, he offered volun- ^^^%'
tarily to rcfigu the crown to him. The ufurper took him at ^fi^^Chr.

^f { Z his ^05. •

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j^g2 ^*^ Hiftory of China, B. I.

hi« word ; and gp¥c him a principality, which he enjoyed
only three years, being flWn in the feventeenth year of his
age; and with him ended the family of Tang^ and thirteenth
dynafty ; and Chu-ven^ who then aflbmed the name of Ttiy-
tfuy became the founder of a new, though fliort and incon-
fidcrable one (S).

\i^ld:sna'<rhe TouTt tenth Dynafty called HevvAyangi which bad
fiy* only ^wo Emperors within the Space of Sixteen Tears,

I. , I. n^AT-TSU did not long enjoy the fruits of his rebellion
Tay-tfa. • -i and parricides ; and even during the time he fat on the
AfterCbr. throne, many principalities fell off from their allegiance. He

907' fixed Ws court in the province of Ho-nan ; and was murdered

h^lt'flm ^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^^' ^"^ *^ ^^^^ y^** ^ ^^ ^^^S°» andfixty-
$y ijons. f^Qjj J ^f j^jg 2jgc^ but was fucceeded by his third fon.

II. II. MO-TI was then fovereign of a petty flate ; birt, as
Mo-ti. {qq^ as he heard of his father^ death, he marched imme-
AfHrChr, diately at the head of an army againft his brother, and totally

9*3* defeated and flew him, and mounted the throne. In the third
year of his reign the Sye-tans^ lately mentioned, who had
changed their name into that of LyaHy laid the foundadon
of their government, which reckoned a fucceffion of nine
princes within the (pace of 209 years. Chang-tfong^ the foa
of the fiamed one-eyed general, lately mentioned for his great
fervices done to the late emperor Hl-tfing^ took the advan-
tage of the then reigning troubles, to feize on a crown, of
which he thought himfelf more worthy than the n/urper.
Vefetitidy He commanded an army accuftomed to conquer ; and, after
taking feveral coniiderable places from him, engaged and
md kills defeated him ; and Mo-ti, in defpdr, flew himfelf in the tenth
himfelf. ^Q2it of his reign, and with him ended this dynafty.

(S) The five following dy ira- koning twenty-four emperors in
ftics are ftyled by the ChiHefe thefoace of 198 years, whereas
Hmv'U'tayy or the five latter the tollowing ones hardly coo-
races or focceffions, and are ac- tinued one cycle, and reckon no
counted as petty ones, as well more than thirteen emperors ;
ais the five that pceeeded that of and thefe latter being muchdif-
^ang. They likewife refemble tarbed by a warlike nation
them in their wars, tevolts, and called Sye-taut which inhabited
parricides, which fo often ftained the country now called LyM-
the throne with royal blood : tong^ and were much incraW
but they differ from them in by the colonies that came thi-
the number both of years and thcr from Korea.

monarchs ; the five iorxsktr roc*

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•C. I. Tbi Hijfcry of China. 45 j

^The Fifteenth T)ynajiy called Hew-tang, jc$nfifiing of liihiyna-
Four Emperors in the Space of Tbirteen- Tears. ^y-

I. r^HWANG'TSONG, like his father, was enured to the I.

^ martial trade from his youth ; and, in all his cam- Chwang^
paigns, lay on the ground with a bell about his neck, for ^^^g-
fear of fleeping too long ; tho' his earlier years were Hcmifli- 4ft*^^^^\
«d by his luxury, and fondnefs for public fliews; and would ^^'
himfelf adl a part in plays, to divert his mother and wives.
He was no lefs given to avarice ; infomuch that though his '
coffers were filled with gold and filver, yet could he not pre-
vail on himfelf to open them for the relief bf his fubjefts.
He was at length wounded in a fedition raifed among his
foldieiy ; and died of it, in the third year of his reign, and
thirty-fifth of his age ; but it was never known whether the
arrow that wbunded him was fhot defignedly at him; or at
xandom. He was fucceeded by Ming'tfang^ whom the father
of the late emperor had adopted, though he was not bora in
the empire.

n. MING'TSONG proved worthy of the rank he was 11.
riifed to ; and was highly efteemed for his liberality, peaceable Ming. •
difpofition, love of his fubjefts, and regard for learned men, tibng.
though himfelf was quite illiterate. In his reign the art oi^f^^^^r. >
printing " was found out ; and the celebrated Chau-quang-yU^ jj^
'Who afterwards became the founder of the nineteenth dy- ¥" ^f
naftyv was born. Several other bleffings which accompanied ^''■*^*
and fpllowed Ming-tfong'^ reign are attributed to his flngular
piety, and the continual prayers he offered up to heaven for
himfelf and fubjefts (T). He had moreover a great number
of wife men, by v/hofe counfel he made many excellent regu-
lations, and one among the reft which excluded the eunuchs
•from all public employments. He. reigned eight years very

" De hac, vid# fup. p. aiz. &feq. . .

(T) The Cbmje hiftorians empire,theychcfe me to gd'vem iK

tell us, that he every night / make bat one rfqkeftt ^hi^h /V,

burnt perfumes to the Lord of that the ' keanHfily^Mdjefly mumld

heaven; and addreffed him in nfouChfkfe fo^watck^Vfiritfy eon''

words to this efFeft: Iivas born duB^ ^mifend<me''Vi'ife endexpe"

a barbarian f and in a country of riencfd . mrn* icbffe counfel may

barbarians ; yet^ in the midft of aid me-Jo^govem this, flatly luith*

the dijiurbancts that troubled the 'Out fulling into.any mlfiakes (35).

(J5) Vide LcCompte, Noel, Caypkt^ ^.ah & Du Halde, fubMing-tfaag.

F f 3 peaceably^ ^

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45^ ^^ Hijiory of China. B. 1,

Diotb. peaceably, and died in the fixty-feventh year of^his age, and

was fucceeded by his fon.

ni. in. MIN'TS 0 NG had not reigned a full year, when She^

^^^' , king'tangy fon-in-law to the late emperor, at the head of an

^^8' army of ♦50,000 men, furniftied by the people of Lyau-tong,

'^ri. * made himfelf matter of the palace, and deprived him bodi of

^^** his life and crown in the foi;ty-firfl: yeir of his age. He was

fucceeded by his adopted (on Lo-vangy fince named Fi-ti.
ly. IV. FI'TIf not being able to make head againft the mnr-

Fi'ti. derer of his father, fled for ftielter into the city of Ghey-chew ;
After Chr. ^hcre not thinking himfelf fafe* he fhut himfelf up widi his
935- family, and every thing he had of value, in a palace, and,
Bumsbim' fetting it on fire, periflied in th^ flames in the very firft year |
felf alive, of his reign. With him ended the fifteei;ith dynafl:y ; and the
rebel She-king-tang became the founder of a new one, and
took the name of Kau-tfu.

i6tb dy Tthe Sixteenth Dynajly called Hew-tfin, confijiini of\
^¥y' Two Emperors in the Space of Eleven Tears.

I. I. J^AU'TSU was forced to purchafe his new-gotten dig-

Kau-tfu. -^ *- nity at the expence of the honour of his country. The

After Cbr, general of the auxiliary forces of Lyau-tong refufing to ac-

936. knowlegc him, and bang inclmed to aflumed the imperial

Makes a diadem, Kau-tfuy not daring to enter into a war with him,

fatal fief, was forced to buy a peace, by yielding to him fixteen cities

of the province of Pe-cheliy neareft to that of Lyau-tong,

and fending to him annually 300,000 pieces of filk. This

imprudent donative, which could not but augment the power

and pride of that warlike nation, proved the fatal fource of

numberlefe wars, which ravaged the Cbinefe empire above 400

J years. He reigned but feven years ; and died in the fifty-firft

year of his age, and was fucceeded by his nephew, by the

choice of the grandees.

II. n. TSI'VANG had not reigned long, before he (aw him-

Tii-wang. felf invaded by the Lyau-tongians, notwithftanding the treaty

After Cbr. made with his predeceflbr. He oppofed them with an army

943- fuffident to have given them an efFcftual repuUe, had not his

Betrayed general Lytiv-cbi^yweriy who himfelf aimed at the imperial

dignity, given them time, by his flow marches and afiefled

etnd de* delays, to feize on the emperor ; who, being dethroned by

throned, them, was glad to accept of a fmall Sovereignty, where be

ended his days. He reigned four years ; and was fucceeded

by his treacherous general, who aflumed the name of iTaii!

tJUf and became the founder of a new dynafly.

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^Tbe Seventeenth Dynafiy called Hew-han, confijling cfiphdj^
Two Emperors in the Jhort Space of Four Tears. ^^Jh-

I, J^AU'TSU^ at the beginning, made fo litde refiftance I.

-'^ againft the Lyau-tongian forces, that they made ^ Kau-tf«.
t^rible havock among the northern provinces ; but, upon their 4fierCbr.
entering into rlje fouthern ones, they were oppofed by fuch ^^^T:
bodies of Chinefe^ as made then- general fay. He could not ^/^^^^^
have believed the conqueft of China ixjould have proved fo diffi- *^? ^^'
cult; fo that, contenting himfelf with his rich plunder, he ^^^ '
retired to his own country. In the m^n time Kati-tfu died •
in the feeond year of his reign, aged fifty -four, and in the
next was fucceeded by his fop,

II. IN'TJ, being obliged to employ his forces againft the II.
Tartar^ of Lyau-tqng^ gave an opportunity to the eunuchs In-ti.
of raifing great difturbances, in order to recover their power; 4f^trQbr.
fo that, whilft his army was gaining many fignal viftories 949-
ggainft thofe barbarians, his palace was all in combuftion 3
^nd the eunuchs had raifed a fedition, in which the emperor Murderti
was flain, in the feeond year of his reign. The emprels im- hy the tw
mediately placed his brother on the throne ; but he was nuchs^
fcarcely feated on it, before the iihperial general, named Ab-
^hey^ returned crowned with laurels from his glorious expe-
dition, and was prodded emperor by his army. The em-
prefs, unable to fupport her fqn, was forced to fubmit to the
viftorious general, who from that time refpefted her as his
mother ; and, taking i^pon hini the name of Tay-tfu, became
the founder of the next dynafty,

J^be Eighteenth Bynafty called Hew-chew, confifting of^^th <$p-
Three Emperors mtbin the Space of Nine Years ^ ^"^^^

I. ^AY'TSUy Vi^n his mounting the throne, removed his I.

•* court to the capital of the province of J/o-nan, vifited Tay-tfu.
ia perfon the fepulchre of Confucius, and honoured his me- Af^^^hr^
inory with the title of king (V). Some believe that the Mo- 9S^*

bammedans

(V) We are told, that fame kings. To which he' replied,

him, that fuch an honour did that he had been rather a mafter

not fuit with a man who had al- to kings and emperors, and

ways been a fuhjedl not only to that therefore too much honour

the emperors, but even to petty could not be paid to him (36).

(36) Lc Csmpte, Ncel, Couplet^ Du M^lde, ubifupra*

F f 4 We

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\5^ The Hipry of China. *. L

kammedans firft fettled in China in his reign ; Whilft others
^ace it much earlier, even as high as the thirteenth dyiMy.
He reigned biit three years, and died in the fifty-third year
of his age, and was fucceed^d by his adopted fon.
n. n. SHI'TSONG was admired for his love of kamfeg,

SKJ-tfong. fod (kill in the art of war ; though he ftill retained fuch frn-
JfurChr. ^ular modefty, notwithftanding his grandeur, that lie always
9S4» Kept a plough and loom at work in his palacef In the time
ff/j /itr^' ^f fcarcity he opened all his granaries, ordered his corn and
iarcba- Hce to be fold at the cheapeft rate, and the people to pay him
ritj. , when they were able ; alleging, that they were all his chil-
dren, arid that it did not become a parent to with-hold necef-
fary food from his children. He likewife caufed all the metal
ftatues to be melted, and coined into money for their re-
lief. His fame brought feveral petty princes to their obe-
dience, who had for many years withdrawn it from his predc-
ceflbrs ; and a method was propofed to him how to recover
the provinces that had been difmantled from the empire du-
ring the late troubles ; but death prevented his putting it in
Death, execution. He reigned fix years, and died in the thirty -ninth
year of his age, and was fucceeded by his fon.
III. III. KONC'TI "wzs but feven years old when his father

Kong-ti. died, who put him under the guardianftiip of his prune mi-
JfterChr. nifter Chau-quang-yu^ who had done fignal fervices to tb^
960. empire during the late wars ; but the grandees, excepting
againft his nonage, raifed that minifter to the empire. When
th^y went to acquaint him with their choice, they found him
iriTjed ; and faluted him •mperor, cloathing him with a yel-
low habit, which is the imperial colour. Kong-ti^ who had *
reigned but a few months, had a fmall principality aiEgncd
him, and with him ended the eighteenth dynafty. Chau'
quang-yxi accepted of the crown on condition that theemprefs
mother fhould take place of him on all occafions j and with
him began

We have formerly obferved, their fucceflbrs, have ddhc it to

that It was the cuftom of the their anceftors, who never had

Chinefe thus to honour the dead any while alive, tind merely to

with fuch title? ; and many of give the face of grandeur to

the founders of dynafties, and their familicB.

7fc

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C !• fbe Hijlory tf China. 457

^eNifteUeMhDynaJlycalkdSon^f^ conjiftingof Eightisin if^th dy-
Emperors within the Spaa qf 31$ Tears. ^fiy^

I. ^AT-'TSVy for that was the name he afffamed with his i.

-■ new dignity, together with eight of his fucceflbrs, kept Tay-tfa.
their court in fome of the northwn jM-ovinces of Chlna^ that After Chr.
they might be at hand to fupprefs the incurfiotts of the ToT" 960-
iars and Lyau-tongians', by which means the empire beg£fn io ^" excel'
take breath after all its former difafters ; and thofe ccfmmmions ^'"^ ^^^'j
were happily fucceeded by a long calm, which might 4iavfc ''^.^''* *^^
proved ftiil more lafting, had all the princes cff Ms fiaaily ''^^^'*'
been as much addidled to learnii^ and arms. He wasindeed
endowed with all the princely qnalities that cduld ^msike a
people happy and flourifhing 5 and ordered the four^ates of
his palace, which fronted thefoij^ cardinal points, to be air-
ways open, that his hou/e, as well as hjsheaft., might Ife^^
to all hisfuhje5ls. . -

His fame was fuch for wifdom and moderation, that'no^kft Frugt^ff^
than ten petty fovereigns^fubmitted to his. government ; dnd
be was fuch an enemy to luxury, that he rdtrenehed It altqgfe^
ther in his family, , and would not (uffer even bis daughters to
wear pearls. However, he honoured his deceafed fathe*,
■ grandfatlier, and great grandfather, with the title 6{ empfe-
ror; and his mother, an excellent princefs, with that of eiti- '
prefs (W). During a ifevere winter,' reflefting on what hard- Kind mef-
fhips his* army, then engaged in oppofiilg the ilorthefn T^-fage to his
tions, were likely to fuffer, he pulled off his fur gown, and army.
fent it to their general; telling him, that he wifli^ it was in
his power to do the Uke to every foldler ; and it is hardly
to be conceived what ardor and ieal this -aftioh infpirod his
whole army with. He gave a ftill more rprcgtlant proof of

( W) This noble lady, when hef fon'riot to be (waytd l^ his

congratulated by the grandees Naffedion for -his children in the

on her fon's advancement, in- choice of a fucceflbr ; but to

Read of exprefling any joy af it, nominate his brother to th^t

only reminded them of thereat dignity; " for (faid (he), re-

difficulty of ruling ivell ; add- « member, 'my fbn, that you

ing, that, if herfoh did fo, fhe " are beholden %r the throve

fliould gladly redeiVe their con- '" j^ou fit bn,^ kfs^to yoor oWn

eratulations ; but, if not, that " merit, tilan to the ihtancy^of

5ic fhould contentedly refign " the prince of th^ preceding

thofe honours, and finilh her " family j" which advice the

daysin her priftine obfcurity. emperor exa^Iy foHowvdj as

A year before her death fhe will be fccn in the fe^d.
is faid to have earnefUy charged

his

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45' Tbi Hijiory of Chm^ BL i;

Stratagem his fatherly afleftion at the fiege of Nan-king ; when, rcflcft-

tofave ing upoa the horrid flaughter that would be made in it, as it

^***' was on the point of furrendering, he feigned himfelf ficJk.

*^5* His generak, alarmed at it, came and furrcrandcd his bed,

every one propoiing fome remedy to him. To whom he«k-

anfwered : " The only remedy that can effcftually cure me,

** is in your power alone ; fwear to mcj that you wiH not fhed

** die blood <rf the citizens." They all fwore accordingly, and

he immediately appeared well ; and, though they took all

poffible precaution to reftrain the foldiers, fo that there were

but few flain by them, yet thofe few drew a flood of tears

from him : and as the city had, with a long iiege, fuiTeFed

likemfe by famine, he immediately fent one hundred thoufand

meafures of rice to be diftributed among them. M^ny other

HiMtkn poblicafts he did, worthy of fo good a prince; and died ia

the feventcenth year of his reign, leaving the crown to his

brother Tay-tfingy according to his mother's defire, men-

tiop)^ in the laft note.

IL 11. TAY'T^QffG was a great lover of learning, and

T«y- erefted a library which Is affirmed to have contained 80,000

tfong. vdumes. He was once befieging the metropolis of one of

AfttrCht, the revolted reguli, when he was alarmed with a tumult in

977* the camp which was commanded by his brother Chau^ occa-.

fioned by a defigri of the foldiers, as was reported the next

day, of making him emperor. Tay^tfong^ without betrayii^

the leaft refentment, went on vigoroufiy vnth the fi^e ; and,

a few days after he had taken it, Chau in a familiar manner

ligiialized themfelves at the fi^e. To which the" emperor

replied, I expedi^d that you would have rewarded them^ This

Hung Chau fo to the heart, that he killed himfelf before

night ; which when his brother heard, he (hed a flood of

tears over his corj^, aiKl caufbd the greateft funeral honour$

to be paid to it.

Wars in He fought feveral battles with unequal fuccefs againft ^e

ibc north. Lyau-tongians, in order to recover the cities which had been

yielded to them by Kau-tfu, founder of the fixteenth dy-

nafty, though contrary to the advice of his morp experienced

general ; fo that we need not wonder at his pqrfuing that war

with fuch fluAuating fuccefs, being as often defeated by, as

idftorious over, the Tartars, but without gaining any great

advantage (X). He reigned twenty-one years 5 and died in the

fifty^

(X) Thcfe wars were much neral Chang-tfi-hyen, who lii-
agaiaft the mind of his wife ge- vifcd him firft of all to fetdc^c

empire

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C* If ^he Hifiory of CWw. 455

fifty*n!ndi year of his age, and was fucceeded by his diird Z>/4if ^.
fon.

III. CHING'TSONG much deceived the hopes which UL
his fubjefts had conceived of his r^ign ( Y) ; and, inftead pf Ching-
purfuing the advantages he had gained againfl the Lyau* tfong.
tongians, whom his viftorious forces had thrown into the AfitrChr^
utmoft confternation, bought a fhameful peace of them at 99**
the price of 100,000 ta^Is, and 200,000 pieces of f^H, to be
paid annually to them. He was much intoxicated likewife
"iivith notions of magic, and other fuperftitions of the feft of
Tau; and we have had occafion to mention clfewhere an
egr^ous trick that was put upon him by one of thpfc im-
poftors 9, which wa§ not a l^tde to {us diflionour (Z).

9 See before, p. 103. ftib not. (E).

empire inpes^ce, before he aimed
^t new conquefis^ However,
we are told of a ftrange ftrata-
gem which that officer made ufe
of to raife the fiege of a city :
he cauied 300 foldiers to ap-
proach the befieger's camp, ia
^he dead of the night, with
lighted flambeaux in their hands ;
which fo alarxned theni, that
they thought the whole Chinefe
army was coming a^nft them ;
{o that they, betaking them-
iclvcs to a fudden flight, fell
into an ambufcadewhich Chang-
tfi'hyen had 'laid for them, and
were mofl bf them cut off (37).
(Y) A comet having appeared
^t the beginning of his reign,
which was v deemed to portend
ibme calamitj^, he ordered, as
ufaal, all his faults to be laid
before him, that he might avert
the omen ; and at the fame time
remitted ten millions of the taxes,
and fct 13,000 ptifonors at li-
berty ; and, a fon being born to
him at that jundure, he attri-
buted tha^ lone- wiftied for blefT-
jng to the favour of heaven.

which he looked upon now as
pacified by his religious and cha-
ritable deeds above- ii(ientioned ;
and his fubjefts looked upon the
whole as a good omen of a pro-
fperous reigi^ ; though it prove4
oth^rwife, through his exceiOivc
weaknefs.

(Z) His prime vifir, we arc
informed, being on his death*
bed, told his children, that hit
confcience did not upbraid him
with any negleft, except that of
his not having advifed the em-
peror to burn that pernicious
book which they had made him
believe was dropt from heaven^
and he received with fo much re*
fped ; and, as I cannot forgive
myfelf that fault, faid he, fo then -
I deiire I may be punifhed for it
after my death ; and therefore
charge you to caufe m>( head
and face to be fhaven ; and my
body to be buried, like that of
a wretched bonza, without cap
or girdle. This was doubtleU
done by that wife minifler, ia
order to cure the emperor- of
his vafl refpedi for that corfed

(37) V'idi Du U^Iih fab Tay-tfang, Set alfs before, p, lojr/n^ (£)•

book;

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Tn the Sixteenth year of his reign he canfed an aoconnt to
be taken of all the people employed in agriculture ; who were
found to amount to 2 1 ,976,965 able perfbns, exclufive of the
tnagiftrates, literati, eunuchs, foldiers, bonzas, watermen of
nil forts> ire. all which amounted to an imramfe number.
He caufed lifcewife the antient books *to be reprinted, and di-
fperfed through the empire , and died 'm die twenty-fifth year
of his reign, and fifty-fifth of his age, and was iboceeded by
Visfixth fon, whom he had by his tecond queen.

IV. IV. JIN-TSONG wvLSthen but thirteen yearsold; bnt
}in tfong. the emprefs took the government into her hands, and held if
J/eer Chr, till her death, which happened eleven years a;fter his acoedioo,

1023. and to whom he had always paid the fame yefpeft as if Ihe

had been his Own mother. As he was of a pacific difpofition,

his fole aim, when he came to govern, was, to let his fub-

Buys a jefts tafte the fruits of tranquillity ; but, this emboldening

. Jhameful the Tartfirs to renew the war, he was forced to buy another

peace of the fhameful peace from them. He was, however, a prince of

Tartars, jgreat .piety ; which. he Ihewed not only in baniftiing all image-

Hisjtnzu- "^^^rfhippers from his palace, but by hisconftant addreffes to

lar piety heaven during a long drought, and his thankfulnefs to it upon

to hisfiib' the return of the ufual rains. He faved 500,000 of his fub-

jeSis. jefts from perifhing by the timely fupply he fent them of corn

and rice.

Kis extreme defire of having a fon made him divorce his

. emprefs, for which he' was blamed by the generality of his

^y^tf ;»<?-. fubjefts ; but his moft (hameful falfe ftep of all was, his buying

ful treaty , ^ peace of the Lyau^tmgian king, who demanded arellitution

iKitb the.,^(i x&w cities which had been retaken by one of his predecef-

Lvau ' ^'^^^ ^^^ inftead of Ivhich he engaged to pay him a penfion

tone," \ ^^ 200,000 t^cls, and 300,000 pieces of filk ; and fufibred

• the word Na to be tifed inthe treaty, which rather %nifies a

tribute than a penfion. As' he' had no children either by his

' emprefs, or by that which he married after her divorcement,

he was obliged to name Ittg-tfong, the thirteenth fon of his

brother, for his fuccelTor. He -died in theforty-firft year of

his reign, and fifty-fourth. of his age.

V. ' V. /TVC^-^iS^^iVG^'s reign had like to have been imbittcred
Ing- by a mifunderftanding between him and the empreis, whoi
tfong. though not his mother, hada-ftiarein the government ; but
After Chr, that breach being made up by the ftrenuous endeavours of

1064. his vvife prime mlnifter, and ihe refigningher part up to him,

book ; againft which it is ob- Lord of heaven abated mock
fcrved by the Chine fe hiftorians, among great numbers of their
that, from that faral period, the countrymen,
refpefl due to the Sovereign

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C* i: Th IEjhr:t(^ China. 4^1^

he reigiKd quietly the reft of the tiflftr, which was b the whole
but four years. Ife died in, the thirty-fixth year of his age,
and was fuccecded by his fon (A).

VI. SHIN'TSONC, a pflnce of riiore courage tftin con- VI.
duf^^ was extremely dcfirous to deliver his northern fubjcfts ^^^^'
from the Tartarian yoke ; but was diverted from it by hi$ jJ^^'rL
dyiog moth^y who counfelled him to facrifice every thiag to j^go ^*
the peace of his empire. He was a lover of learned men,
many of whom flouriftxed in his reign, piiarticularly Chew^-
Ckangy Cbingy Shau^ &c. authors of a new atheifticaJ philo- ^n atbeif-
fophy, by which they undertook to explain their antient tical fea.
books, and whom that nK)narch diftinguifhed by titles ^and
honours both before and after their deaths. One of their
difciples, obferving the emperor's grief at a time of drought,
and that he endeavoured to appeafe heaven by fafting and
prayer, had the boldnefs to tell him, that he tormented him-,
fcif in vain, for that everything that happened in the world
was the merCfeflfeft of chance. Upon which the prime mi-
miler feverely reproved him: ** How dare you, faid he,
** teach fuch a dodfa-ine' ? If the emperor was to lofe all re-
'* fpeft and fear of heaven, what crimes would he not be ca-
** pable of conunitting ?" Thefe philofophers had fome other
equally dangerous notions, all which were learnedly oppofed by
the great Su-ma-quang mentioned in the laft note, and who was
then in the bigheft efteem. Shin-tfing reigned eighteen years, *

and died in the thirty-eighth year of his age, ai^d was fuc-
ceeded -by his fon.

VII. CHE'TSONG being then but tenyearsold, his grand- '^H*
mother governed with lingular wifdom during the eight years ™^"
Ihe lived; and, when (he died, would have obliged the prime. ^^'^S* ,
minifter to have difcarded feveral of the young moaarch's j^g^ ^*
nfelefs fervants and flatterers ; but, as (he had not done it her- •

fdf, his authority was not fiifficieBt for it. He pre{€nted, 'Ten mbU
however, a memorial to him, in which were the ten follow* ^'fA«^-
ing inftruftions, exprefled in twenty chara<fters : i . Fear hea- ^'^^''
ven; 2. Love your fubjefts; 3. Strive after perfedfon ;
4. Apply yourfelf to the fciences ; 5. Enfiploy perfons of
merit; 6. Readily hear advice; 7. Leflen the taxes; 8. Mi-
tigate the feverity of puni(hjments ; 9. Shun proiufene(s ;

(A) In his reign ftouri(hed ^bove 2000 volumes, beginning

the celebrated Ko-lau and arina- with Whavg-ti^ the third Cbifu/i

\\^ Su'tMu-quangy -wliO n faid to monarch (38).
have compiled his hiftory from

(3S) Du HafJe, fub Jng-tjang,

10.

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4Sz The tiijti^ ef C3iin4. fi. !,

I6i Dctcft debauchery. Che-tfong died in the fifteenth ycaf
of his reign, and twenty-fifth of his age, and wasfucceeded
by the deventh fon of his predeceflbr Shin-tfmgk
VIII. Vin. WHEY'TSONG was ^ually a lover of learning and
Whey* pleafure ; and divided the government with his grandmother,
tfong. to avoid ha'wng too great a (hare of bufinefs. He loft the
JfterChr. efteem of his fubjefts, firft, by raifing the eunuchs to greater
> '^'' power than they had enjoyed of late, and fome of them even to
loverdgnties, which were aftually granted only to princes of
the blood ; and, fecondly, by his fuperftitious fondhefs for
the feft of Ttf«, whofe bool^ he caufed to be coUefted ; and
was even infatuated enough to give one of his difdples the
title of Shang-ti^ or Supreme Lord*, and the Chinefe make no
fcruple to afcribe all the difafters that fince befel the empire,
to that blafphemous title, given i^ a fort of contempt of
heaven.
Wars He joined forces with the Nyu-che, or eaftem f'artarSt

againft tte iigsanii the Lyau-tongians, and obliged thofe few that re*
Lyau- m^ned unfubdued to flee intb the mountains in the weft ; by
tongians. -which an end was put to the kingdom of Lyau-tong, after it
Jn end e^had ftood 290 years. He paid dear for his viftories : the
tb^ king' <fartanan Chief, no lefs elated with his fuccefs, and xefolving
to found an empire, and give it the name of /S/j, or Cold, foon
ni Tar- broke all treatks with him ; and, invading the provinces of
tars in- Pe-cheli and Shen-ft, made himfelf mafter of diem, more thro'
vade the treachery of fome Chinefe malcontents, than by force of
China. arms. Whey-tfong, in danger of lofing a great part of his
dominions, made him feveral confiderable oHers ; and, at his
, defu-e, went in perfon to him, and with him fettled the limits

of the empire by a new treaty of peace.
' On his return to his capital, he was eafily perfuaded to alter
his mind, that treaty being fo fliameful to him, that the moft
bloody war was preferable to it : but the Tartar, having in-
telligence of it, refolved to keep him to it by force of arms ;
and entered the province of Shen-Ji in triumph, where he invited
Emperor the emperor to a fecond interview. Whey-tfong, who dreaded
pixed and nothing fo much as a war, eafily agreed to it ; and, upon his
confined, arrival, was feized, and ftripped of all his imperial orna-
Hii death * ments, and confined prifoner under a ftrong guard. He died
in the defart of Sha-mo, in the twenty-fifth year of his reign,
and fifty-fourth of his age, and appointed his fon Kin-tfong
his fucceflbr.
IX. IX. KIN'TSONG, according to his fethcr's commands,

Kin- put fix of his minifters to death, who had betra}^ed him to
^ong. the Tartars; but made fo little preparation againft them,
JfterChr, that they penetrated into the province of Hc-narii and, CTofling
"26. 8 . the

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C. t: The tiijlory of Ckini. ^ 465

the TeNow River without oppofition, where a handful of men
might have prevented them, marched direftly to the metro-
polis, took and plundered it, and carried away the emperor
and his queen prifoners, in the firft year of his reign, whilft
feveral lords, preferring death to an ignominious flavery, flew
themfelves. The conquerors left behind the emprefs Meng,
who had been divorced, and excluded from public affairs,
and who, being a princefs of great wifdom and conduft, had
preferved the empire, by getting the crown placed on the head
of Kdu'tfongy the brother of the late emperor.

X. KAU-rS 0 NG had fome few fuccefles againft the Tar- X.
tarsy which he might have improved to advantage; but Kau-
thpugh he was a lover of learmng, yet he was too apt to flight *fong.
the advice of his beft experienced minifters, and confiding in -^fi^rChr^
a few parafites, of no honour or fkill in governing. He was, ' * *7»
moreover, fo addifted to the bonzaic feft, that he committed
the care of the empire to his adopted fon, that he might be
more at leifure to vacate at his fuperftitions.

In the mean ^m^^^Ho-tfong^ the Tizr^^r king, did all h&h'vadedhy
could to gain the love of his new fubjefts, and fliewed a more '^ Tar-
than ordinary regard for learned men, vifited the fepulchre ^^^*
of CorfuciiiSy and paid him the fame royal honours the Chinefe
tdid, telling his courtiers, that if he did not deferve th^m on
account of his birth, he did on account of his excellent do-
ftrine. He marched thence to the city of Nan-king, where Nan king
the emperor had fixed his refidence at firfl:, but had been taken. '
forced to abandon it, and laid clofe fiege to it. He eafily made
himfelf matter of it ; .and, among other prifoners, carried off
a general, n^med Tung-pang, whom he ftrove, by the moft
advantageous offers, to gain to his intereft ; but that faithful
officer not only refufed them, but wrote, with his blood, on
his veft, that he chofe to die, rather than ferve barbarians ;
for which he was immediately put to death. Another Chinefe
general was then marching, with all fpeed, to relieve that
capital ; which the Tartars having notice of, fet the palace
on fire, and retired towards the north ; but had their rear
almoft cut off* by him ; and from that time ;iever dared to
crofs the Kyang.

A FEW years after, Kau-tfong made a ftiameful treaty with -//y^^«r/-
them, in which he cUd not fcruple to own himfelf Chin, ovf^^pf^c^
fubjeft, and Kong,- or tributary. This peace was, however, ^^^^ '^^^^
broken, in the Siirteenth year of his reign, by the Tartar, '^^^*
who came ^igaininto the fouthern provinces, with a formidable
army, and took the city of Tang-ckevj ; but attempting to
crofs the Yang-tfe-kyang, near the mouth of it, where it is
Wideft and moft rapid, his army mutinied, and flew him, and Tartar

with- hingjlain.

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4^4 y'Atf Hiitory of China: B. I.

wifbdrew with all fpeed towards the north, where feveral m-

furreftions began to appear.
Kaa- K/^U'TSONG Tcfigncd his crown to his adopted fon, in

tfong al* the eleventh year of his reign, but lived about twenty-five
dicatiu years longer, and died without ifliie, in the eighty-fourth y^r

of his age.

XI. XL HYAU'TSONG, defcended from the founder of this
Hyau- dynafty, reigned peaceably twenty-feven years ; the new Tar-

• ^^^rk ^^^ *"°8 She-tfong being of a more pacific difpofition than his

'^'fi predeceflbr. In this reign^ flouriflied the great Chu-hi^ one of

* ^ ^' the moft celebrated interpreters of the anticnt books, who dif-

charged the greateft funftions in the ilate with honour.

Hyau-tfing died in the fixty-eighth year of his age, and was

fucceeded by his third fon.

XII. XII. ^AlstG'TSONG died In a fit of an apoplexy, in
Quang- the fifth year of his reign, and fifty fourth of his age, and was

tibng. fucceeded by his third ton.

XIII. XIII. NING'TSONG, a prince of fmall abilities, was,
Ning- with great difficulty, perfuaded to accept of the crowo, and,
tfong. when he did, was wholly governed, or rather mi%uided, by

Jfter €hr. j^jg courtiers. In his reign the, imperial palace, was fet on fire,
'"95* and burned four days before it could be extinguifhed ; and,
fome years after, a fire happened in the metropolis, whidi
was ffang'chewy^ Xvhich reduced 5 30,000 iioufes into aihes.

It was in the twelfth year of Ning-t/ong^s reign that di^
famed Jenghiz Khiiiy head of the Weftern Tartars^ laid die
foundation ©f his vaft empire, ^nd gave it the name of Twejh
as hath been fully related in a fccmer volmpe *. In the mean
time, the Kin^ or Eqftern Tartars f having, accordii^ to cu-
flom, broken the peace, invaded China ^efh ; upon which
Ntng'tfong entered into a league with the head of the Weficru
Tartars^ in order to 4efbrGy ^ faithlefe ciiemy, which 'syas per-
petually difturbing him. This put the Eaftem into the i^oft
cQnflernat;oq,and obliged them to fe;id him new iind ^vantagp-
oils ofiers of peace ; bi;it the emperor, incenfed at the^ freq^^ent
breach of faith, ^nd coAfiding ignore ojf, that of t|}| We^erik
rejefted them with fcomj[B). ./V^-z/^fVqgn^l^ tj^ty years,

* Sec before, vol. iv. p. 543. 573. & fcq.

(B) We are told, that when " Today he <At Wejlern Tar-

the fmrtar king heard of his " tar) will Uke my empiie

o0ers being fo fcornfully re- " from me, ai)d to- morrow

iefted by the Chimfe monarch, " yours from y^u 5 " whkh

he faid, as fpe^king to him, "c^me tppafs ac^dingly (39).

<39) Coupkt^ Mtmarcb^ Sinic, TabXbroH» p, 74. ^ide & Dm Ualdt Englft^
^ing, nott (E).

aod

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C. I. Tie Hifiory of China; 45^

aad died in the fifty-feventh of his age, and was fucceeded' by
U-t/ongf another defcendant from the founder of this dy-
, nafty.

XIV. LI'TSONG was no warlike prince, but rather ad- Xrv, '
difted to learning, and to the whimfiesof the feft of 7iw; Li-tfong,
bat, neverthelefs, carried on the war againft thefiiithlefs Tar- ^fterChr.
tar with great vigour, in conjunftion with his new ally. He '^^S*
took from them the city of Hx^-nan^ where their king kept ^^^^
his court, and next 'the capital o^ Shang-tong^ after a long ^^^^^^
and bloody fiege, in which the Tartars were forced to feed oa r^ ^^
human flefli, their king Ngai-ti, in a fit of defpsdr, hanging
himfelfy juft before its furrender ; which put an end to the ns end §f
empire of the Eajlern Tartars , after it had continued iijl thmt em^
years, under nine princes. firt.

Nevertheless, the fmall remains of that nation, which Wefttfm
was then almoft deflroyed, gave rife to the femily which after- T^artarf
wards conquered the Chinefe empire, and governs it to this ^°^^thg ^
day, with fo much glory, as will be feen in the fequel. All »*"'^^^'*»
this time U-tJbng only held the fouthem provinces of Chiria
under his dominion, whilft the Weftern Tartars had the em-
pire of the north. Their king, called Kublay, or Ko^lay
Khdn, and by the Chinefe Ho-pi-lyey a lover of the fejetiices,
gained the love of his fubjefts, by the refpeft he fhew^d to
learned men, and the honours he paid to the memory ofCon^
fucius, Li'tfong reigned forty years, and died, without ifTue,
in the ilxty-fecond of his age, and was fucceeded by his ne-
phew.

XV. TU'TSONG had the tnisfortune to be encouraged XV.
in his debauches by a treacherous prime minifter, no lefs vU Tu-tfong.
dous than himfelf, and fell inter fuch pernicious counfels, as -^fierChr^

E roved fatal both to hin^ and the emphe. Many of his faith- ^ ^^5'
U minifters having in vain tried, by frequent ai>d prefSng if^l^^^
memorials, to difengage^ hin» from his wicked Ko4au ; and, i^ "

forefeeiiig the dreadful difallers that were likely to fall on
the imperial family, retired to the Weftern Tartars ^ who were
then purfuing their conquefts in the north, and had already
feized on the provinces of Tit-nan^ Se-ckwen^ and Shenfy and
were entering into that of Hu-quang^ moft of the cities opening
their gates to them; whilft Tu-tfong^ drowned \t\ pleafures, Stripped cf
was gracfually ftripped of his dominions, without knowing moft of ^ bis
any thing of it (C). He reigned ten years, and died in the domim9fu,

' . twenty-

that Mano Paolo^ or Mark Paul^ this country, and travelled rhro'

Mod. Hut. Vol, VHI. ^ G g ftme

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46€ The Hijhry of China. B. I

tweoty^flftb of his age, leavii^ thr^ young children, vrho

feemed only born to be the fport of fortune ; the fqcond of

whom was ratfed to the throne.

XVL TUVl. KONG'TSONG being buf an infiint, the emprefe,

. kdng* who governed for him, fent an ambafTy to the Tartars^ to

tfons. bra a peace, upon any terms ; but received a moft haughty

JfterCbr. rerafal. The Tartar general, at the head of 200,000 men,

1 271* went ftiU on with his conquefts ; and having feized the young

emperor, in the fecond year of his rdgn, fent him to a iefart

of Tartaryy called C>Ai, and by the Chinefe Sha-mo^ where

he died.

XVII. XVII. TWANG'TSONG, his elder brother, was next
Twang- placed on the throne ; but the Tartar advanced againft ^
L^f^^g- with fuch diligence, as obliged him to go on board his fleet,

"^^'^^ with the lords of his court, and about 130,000 troops that
**^^' remained with him, defigning to retire into the province of
Fo'kyen. But being clofely purfued by Ihe Tartar j, both by
fea and land, was forced to Sl^ to the coafts of ^ang-tongt
the moft fouthern province of the empire, where he died of
fome difeafe, in the fecond year of his reign, and eleventh of
his age ; and was fuccceded by his youngeft brother Tt'^ing,
the laft remains of the femily of Song.

XVIII. XVIII. TIP ING was then on board his fleet, which not
Ti'J>in?. being able to avoid enga^g that of the Tartars^ a bloodj
After Cbr.j^^^ eufued, in which the htter gained a complete idftory.

'^79* lo'/yew'/e^ the prime minifter, to whofe care the young em-

iMfard ^ P^or, then eight years old, was committed, feeing his fliip
.lurrounded by Tartar vcfleU, took him up in his arms, and

Brinvned. leaped with him into the fea. The reft of the grandees, and
.the diftraded emprefs, followed his example. Nothing was
heard but the moft difmal outcrien and it is affirmed, that
ho lefs than 100,000 Chinefe perifti^d in this fight, dther by
the fword, or by water, into whidi the greater part threw

.^ themfelves, in defpair,

a! Hbh ' - ^"^^ dreadful cataftrophe happened near an ifland depend-

^!^ 'ing on the city oi ^ang-thew-fu^ or Canton, capital of the

ieet ; province of ^ang'tong.

4nd*enJof . THUS ended the dynaftv of Song^ and with it thcC^

^ t^d/i* dommion ; for S/fi-t/u (bcrore call3 Ho-pi-lye by the Clune/e,

. imfy. arid Kublay Khdn by the Tartars), who was the fourth fonrf

.Tay-ifu (or Jenghiz Khdn, who foUnddd the empire of lb

(omt^ of the fineft provinces of at the be^nfting 0f this dip*
r|t i)tod piiblKhcd that defcrip- ter (40);
p4NMi m wKkh i^t have fpoken

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W^em Tartan J, %6ck pofleffion of his new conquelbi ixai
was the firil coipeiw of this new dynafty f •

Tie Twentuib Dyndfty^ called Ywen, confifiing ofTnjotntii^h
Nhn Emper&j^ within the Sface of lEigbty-nine ^j'*^-
Tears.

I. VNI'TSU, founder of this dynaftjr, though a Tartar, I.
/ " and the firft foreign prince that ever reigned over thie Shi-tfu.
XMnefe nation, yet found a moft efifeftual way of reconciling AftfrCbrk
them to his government, and even of endearbg himfelf to r,?^^-^' •
ihem, by keeping as clofe as pofliBle to their antient laws and ?" '*^'''
cuftoms, by his equity ai\d juffice, by his love and regard to i,^^^
learned men, and fatherly tendemcfs to kll his new fuDJefts ;
info^iuch, that the reign of tWs fiunily is, to this day, ftyled
by the Onnefe, the 'wife government. He even caufed a dc-
chration to be publiihed, that all perfons fiiould continue in
the {ame*pofts and dignities which they enjoyed in the pre-
teding reign ; though many 'of the Chinefe noble^ refiifed his
offer, and inferred a voluntary death to an hohourable fer-
iritude.

iii the third year of his reign, he formed a defign of in- Fatal at^\
fading of the Japan iflands widi 100,000 men; but m\i- tempt on
carried in itj th^ bring all (hipwrecked, except four or five J^an*.
perfons, who brought him the melancholy news of it. He
i::aufed; in thb fami ]^; all the bctoks of the imjrious feft c£
Tau to be burned ; and ordered, that there fhould be but 0^.^^^ ^m
bne calendar through the whole cmjrfre, which fhould be umwfiU
com'iriled at coilrt, and publi(hed every year ; and forbid aU calendar^
private pferfons to attempt the like, tinder pam df death. .
Four ycArs dftSr, his only fon, whom he had named his fuc-
ceilbry died ; arid, though he left children beWnd, yet was
the emperor inconfolable for his lofs.

At his firft acceflion to the Chiriefe croWn, he hid fixed his
court at Tay-ywen-fu, the capital of Shen-Ji, bbt thought fit '

kfterwards to remove it to Pe-king (Dj ; arid, being informed

t^at
*t See before vol* iv. p. 5x9, & feq. & alib. paff.

, . (D) This metropolis is, by Bur the above-mentioned ety-

Marco Paoloi called Kambaluy mon of Ham and j^alu is jofUy

in ftead of Hem-palu, which, queltioriedj for not Hamy but

iVe ire bid, fignifies, in the Han^ or rather Khdn^ figniiies

Tartaric tongue, tlie feal of a king, in the Mwrg*/ language j

the king or emperor; which, which is originally the fame

piftakc i$ inconfiderable in a with the ^urkifi ; and poffibly

ilranger, if it be really one. palu m^f be anoth<?r miftake

G g 2 for

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that the barks, wluch broqgbt to ccmrt the tribute of the

^uthern provinces, or carried on the tr^e of the em{»re»

were obliged to come by fca, and often fuffered fhipwreck,

Caufii th he caufed the famed gpca^ can^l to h% made, which is ^t pte<

great ca- (ent oqie of the wpnders qf th^ Chine/i: empire, it bang 300

nal to he leagues in length, and forming a great road of water, by

^*^'* which above 9000 imperial barks tranfport, with eafe, and

at fmall cxpencc, the tribute cS grain, rice, filks, iic. which

fe annually paid to the court (E). He reigned fifteen years,

fiis 4Uath, ^d died m the eightieth ^ his age, and was. fucceeded by his

grandfon.
' U. II. CHING'TSONC, a mild and wife prince, mitigated

Cking- xht feverity of the Chinefe punifliments, leffened the taxes,
j^rif ^^ '^hich feveral petty princes had b^an to burden tb«
After Lbr, p^pjg . \^[ jjjg bad ftatc of health would not permit him to
' ^PP^y f^ <^lofely to the affairs of the empire,, as h« was inclined
to. He reigned thirteen years, and died in the forty-fccond of
his age, and was fucceeded by his nephew.
IM- m. VU'TSONG was no lefs admirrf for his miklncfs,

^"-^"?JJ|5- generofity, and regard to learned men, and, in particular,
After Cbr, ^^ ^^ gj.^^ Confucius. Being informed, that gold, filver,
*3^- grain, fUk, and other commodities, were ^xjportcd into other
countries, he forbade ^t, under the fevereft pcpalties. Ht
reigned iut four years, a^d died in the thirty-firft of his ^,
ana was fucceeded by his brother.
. IV. w: JIN-TSONG was ftill more remarkable for his

^^r!^ pkicoly Tutues, and great penetration and appUca^n to the
AfierLbr, |)„f,j^gf^ ^f ftatc. He punifhed with relu^bancc, and rewarded
'3>3* ^j^ji fingular generoiity. He forbade the petty princes to
hunt from the fifth to the tenth month of the year, for fear
of damaging the produft of the earth. He iet an extrawdi-
nary value on grea^ men, and had t^em near his perfon ; al-
leging, that if he could but nuike his people happy and pro-
fperouSy by their advice^ no riches or felicity could be efual to

for balik or haluk, which, in his fondnefs for the faperftitions

the fame language, iignifiea a of his lamas ; but fay nothing

city (41 ). of his virtues, though it is plain,

(E) A late roiffionary (42), from what we have faid of hira

who has publiflied a curious above, that he defervcd their

abftraft of the five firft Mongol higheft encomiums, on fcvcrjl

fmperors, from x\it Chinefe hi- accounts, befides that of the moft

ftory, tells us, that thofe hi- ufeful and noble fanal aborc-

ftorians exaggerate the faults of mentioned,
this great monarch, particularly

(41) See note m Du Halde, fpk Sbi-fjk, W. 1. ^.215. (fl) 5«HUl-

Oifer. Math, tf/« eund. ibid.

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C* u The Hifiory of China. ' sf^^

his. He idgiied nme years, afld died in the thirty-fixth of his
2ge, and was ftuiceeded by bis fon.

V. ING'TSONG inherited aU his father's virtues-; but V.
was uaf(»*tBQatdy aflaflinatrd, in the third year of his rdgn, Ing-
and thirtieth of his age, as he was entering his teiit with his ^fong-
fiMthful Ko'lau, by fome wicked villains, who were confcious ^P^^^^^*
of fome encMrmous crimes, and in dread of a condign pubifli- jjt^y" j
judnt. He was fuccccded by the eidtft fan of Ming-byen- ^^''''^^'^
tfmg. . •

VI. TJY'TING, upon his mounting the thrcmc, not only ^ Vi. .
put the murderers to the moil fevcre deaths, but eaiterminaccd Tay-ting.
their families. In his rdgn happened fome very fcTcre cak- ^fi^Cf^*
mities, as earthquakes, falling of mountains, overflowing of ^ '3^5' •
rivers, droughts, conflagrations, ifc. during which, he gave /j'^f^/^"
iigaal proofs of bis love for iris fubjeftSi by the timely aid ^jfrinzbis
he gave to them. He forbad likewife entrance into hls^^/ff,;
Awnmion to all the bonzas or lamad of T^t^ who ufed to

come m 'fwarms,. and, going from houfe to houfe> were t
great burdoi to the people.

He reigned five years, and died in the thirty-fixth of hit
age^ and the ^ftales choie 1^ fecond iya to fucceed him % but
he refufing to acce^of the crown, which, he laid, bcloaged
to his eideft^ brother Ming-tfongf who was then in Tartary^
tfaejtfent for him from thence, and proclaimed him emperor.

VII. MING^TSONG^ upon his acceflion, gave a grand VIL
entertainment to the court ; but, in the midft of it, was fud- Ming-
denly ftruck with death, not without ibxjng fufpicion of his '^5*?S ^^^
bring poifoned ; and his brother, who had refufed the crown, "'^^J^jf^'^
waschofeninhisfiead. • anHHtei.

Vm. VEN-rsONG proved a wife and affable prince, VIII.
&pai to the wife counfels of his miniflers ; but was guilty of ^^n-
a weaknefs unbecoming Jiis dignity, bis receiving the lama or }^^^'
djief bonza oi Tibet mxo his palace, and fuffering his nobles ^P^*'^'*'^*
to pay him their honours, oa their knees, and prefcnting ^ ^J/)^^'^
him with wine,. whiUt the haughty prieft received them, with- ^;^^ Umas
out making the leaft return (F). c/Tar*

He tary.

(F) The proud lama did, it « mafter of the bonzas ; but

fsems, receive all tjiefe honours, ** you don't know, perhaps,

without ftirring off his feat j ** that I am a difciple of Con-

which infpired one of the nobles ** fucius^ and one of the chief '

with fuch difdain, that he ad- " among the litterati of the

drefTed him in a quite different " empire ; and it is fit I (hobld

manner : *' Honeft man, faid " acquaint you with it, 3fOjim

•* he to him, I know thar-you •* and advife you to lay afide

f^ are the difciple of Fo^ and •' all this ceremony. '" This

G g 3 frying.

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470 the ffi/Ury of OSm. B.1

He reigned but three years, and died in the twenty-Hindi

' of his age, and Tvas. fucceeded by Nrng^tfomg^ the' fon o£

Ming't/ongf the feventhmonarch of this dynwy ; but as he

reigned but two months, he is not reckoned among the odicr

emperors. He was fucceed^ by his elder birother Shun-ti,

who was fietcfaed from th^ prdvinee of j'i^^y indpiacedoa

the throne.'

IX. IX. SUUN^TJ was the laft of this Tartar race that

ShuB-ti. reigned in China. Thdc princes, enervated by the pleafarc^

4ftir Cbr, of that fine and fimitfiol eoun^, eafiJy degenerating from the

^'3^3- valom* of their aoceftors; whiilfl the£%fff^, growing gn-

^**^' dually brave and warlike by thdr fobjeftion, deprived dwn

r^ts. ^ ^jj^ conqneft, and tltove them deai'out oi thdr cmprc

Stun-ti, though othenrife a prince of great parts, was lulled

into a downright indolcnoe aod dSeminacy, by his favourite

K>lau ; aml» to compkte his misfortunes, fent for the lamas

of Tartary, Who quickly filled his palace with female fiqgers

and dancers, and introduced idolatry and magic, 'togedxr

urith lewdnds and debauchery, whkh quite htMByoi diq

young prince of the little valour that was left.

Chft Biods In me' fourteenth year of his rdgn, a Chmefey named CM,

tb$ n^ who had been a fervant in a monaftey of bonzas, going over

n^eltirs xo a numcrbus company bf revoltfcrs, becanie their chidF, and

^«>^ made a furprifidg advantage of the prefent junfture, nudui^

** " himfelf ipaftcr cl many confiderablc f ities, and hcit of t^

provinces i and,' in* a* cdebrated battle, defeated the impe^

Uisficcefs, rial army fent againft him. His great {faccefs'fooh drew vaft

numbers of Chiiufe into ids army, •: with which, havii^ eroded

the Telhvf river without oppofidon, he eafily fubdued every

place that came in hk'way, and meeting at length with the

imperial army, cut it afl in pieces. The emperor was feroei

to fiee towards the.mkth, where he died two years after,

andendofhzvmg reigned tMrty-five^ and with him ended the Tartar

/^^ Tartar dynafty oi Twert, "wrtuch was fucCeeded by that of il&ijf,

dynajfj. ' founded by CM above-menticned, -who, upon his mounting

' . the throne, took the name of Tlly-^^. ' . '•• »

faying, he offeredi^him the eup with a fmile, took the cup bom
ftaoding ; upon Wmeh tiie knm hithj and drank it (43}«
tiiought fit to ftand up, and,
^- 'w • - '■

i4i) Dm Bafdt, in FtM'tfitig.

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C. I. 7h W^y^ China. . 47»

Tb€ ^iwity-firfi Dynnfyj calUd Ming, containing Twent^^
Sixteen Emperors^ within tbfi Sface of Two hundred M ^3^
and Seventy^ Tears. *^-^-^-

L ^JT-TSU^ fi^rmerly named ^My 2nd ffong-vuy mounted I.

•• thp throne with agener^ apphufc, and fixed his court Tay-tfft,
at Nau'tingi and, the year following, made himfclf mafter-4^^^-
of Pe^kmgp after one day's fiege^ ^refting that country into 4 * 3v^»
foverdgnty, which he ggve to his fourth fon. He likewife
honoured ids father, grandfather, 6r. with the title of em*
peror ; and then ^na6led feme wholfome^laws, to preferve the ^xeeUeni
national tranquility (G). His court was foon crouded with go^vem-
ambaffitdqrst who came from all parts, to congratulate him, ment.
particularly from Japariy Korea, Fornwfa, the Philippine^ and
other fouthem Ulands. But the joy that reigned at h^s palace
wa3 fopn after allay^ by the death of his emprefs, to whofe
wife counfels, heiald, he owed the crown. He was a prince Piety ^
of great wifdgn and penetration; and his piety was no lefs
con^icuons in dme of droi!kght, when, they teU you, he hath
gona.and ftaid three whole days upon a high mountain, and
by his prayers hath obtained plenty of rain. He had taken
likewife fpedal care to breed up his fon in fuch excellei^
maimer, that he might prove a father to his people ; but thie Gtjeffif^
unexpeftcd death <rf that promifing young prince did fo over- his fon.
whelm him with grief, that he mourned for him three whole
years, contrary to his own law. H^ reigned thirty-one years,
and died in the feventy-firft of his age, and was fucceeded hy Deatif.
his grandfon, then but thirteen year$ old.

II. KTE N^yE N'TI gxvc early marfcs of an ej^c^llent dif- II.
pofition, by remitting one third of the taxes, and other po- Kyen*
pulara^s; but his uncles, ill brooking the preference that ven-ti.
^ 4fierChr.

(G) Among which^ the foU zefTes, nor men to turn bonzas, 1399*
loM^ing ones were the'moA im^ before the age of forty years,
portant; 'vitc, J ' 4. That the antient and mo*.

I . That thpfe who poffefled dcrn laws (hould be reduced
fovereignties, AouW not extend into one hoAy, of 300 volumes*
their power beyond their own It was, we are told, a whole
territories, nor meddle with century before that work ap-
poblic affairs. pearedl

^. That the ^nuchs flbould 5. That the Jtwenty-feven
be excluded from all employ- mQnths of mournine for t^^
ments, civil and military. death of a parent mould be.

3. That the women fhould reduced to twenty- f«ven days^
not hel fuffered to turn bon- (44). '

(44) Du HaiJe, fub Tay-tfuM

Gg'4 waf

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was given to him, which was afcribcd to the intrigues of the

Ko-ldu of the late cmperw, foon raifed great diftoii»nces in

Ittvadei the empire. Toung^h^ in particular, wlio had been raifed to

fy Youxjg* the fovcreigHty of Pe-king, took up anus agaiufi him, and a

*^* bloody battle was fought between him and the imperial anny ;

which was foon followed with new offers of peace on the

court fide : but Taung-lo rcfufed to hearken to any, unlefs the

emperor's minifters were delivered up to him. This not bring

granted, be marched direftly to the imperial city, where,

/ the gates being opened to him by a traitor, he committed a

moft horrid (laughter, and. reduced the imperial palace to

Burned in afhes. The body of the young monarch bring brought, half

bis vwn carfumed by the flames, to. the conqueror, drew a flood of

f^^^' tears from him ; and he ordered him to be interred with all

th^ pomp due to his tank. But this did not allay his r^nt-

Hient againft his minifters, many of whom he put to moft

cruel deaths ; whilft others chofe to kill themfelves, or to

efcape his fiiry in the habit of bonzas. Thus pcriihed that

young monarch, in the fourth year of his rdgn, and fcven-

tecnth of his age, and was fucceeded by Yming-h^ who then

took the name of Ching-tfu, and feized on the crown.

Ill- in. CHING-TSU was a generous and magnanimoos

Ching- prince, but much dreaded, on account (rf the cruelties with

jfrfChr ^^^^^ ^^ began his reign. He obliged a great ni^nber <rf

140? bonzas, who had taken the haWt before they were forty years

old, to quit their convenes; and ordered all the boK)ks of

chemifl:ry, which treated of the immortalizing liquor,* to be

burnt. In the feventh year of his reign, he removed his court

from Naii'king to Pe-king, leaving his fon in the former, with

. ; the fem^ number of courts and minlflers as were eflablilhed

in the latter. He encouraged learned men, and caufed forae

philofophical works to be publifhed, expofitory of the aofieiit

claflical books. When fonSe fine precious ftones were brought

to him from a mine lately difcovered, he ordered it to be flwt

Jn extei' up; alleging, it only fatigued his people with u/ele/s toil;

lent fay ' whereas thofe JioneSy however valued, could neither feed nor

*^g' chath them in times of fcarcity. He reigned twenty-three

years, and died in the fixty-third of his age, and wasfac-

ceed^ by his fon.

■ IV. IV. JIN'TSONG gave early inftances of his tendemcfs

Jin-tfong. and fiberality, in the fpeedy relief he fent to the province of

After Chr, shong-tong, then labouring under a famine (H). He wa5

2426. *=' "^ lij^e.

(H) It being reprefented to confult the tribanaU about the

him, by his minilUrs, that it means of relieving fo mwch

^ would be proper for bim to people, he replied , " When

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C- t* fkl BJhry ^ China. 473

KfeewUe ^oiicfa g^Ten to. aftrology ; and \mvB% fpcnt a whok Hhftrange

night In obfeiring the. fiars, and fo»^d iome uncommon ^^/^« '

change in the heaTens, fent for his two Ko'Uus, and told

them, that his life was at an wd ; and gave them fooAe iignal

marks of his love and gratitude for their fidelity to him. Hlfi

ibn> then ^iNan^kingt was fent for with all fp^ ; but c^une

too late to receive. his lafl commands. He had reigned but

a few months^ and died in the forty-dghth year of his age.

And this year is reckoned to the reign of his fon, contrary to

the Chinefe cuflom, which includes that of the emperor's death

with thc^ of his reign.

V. SIVEN'TSONG was attacked by the Tartars, who V.
tad made an irruption into the empire; but were feverely Swcn-p
l^polfed, and defeated by him. Some years after, the king J^^^^
of Cochin-China, whom he had nominated to that dignity, AP^Chr^
i)eing flain by a band of rebels, thefe tmaaediately lent an am- * ^^7*
bafly to crave pardon for it. Swen-tfong not being then able Jnvaded
to ftnd ah army againfl them, without great inconveniency, h *hi
not only granted them pardon, but fent them home with '^^^*'*"*
ibme titles of honour. About the fame time, the palace having Impirial
took fire, burnt with fuch violence feveral days, that gxt^ palace
•quanddes of gold, fdver, copper, tin, and other metal^ tumt.
which were melted together, formed a'mafs of a mixed me- J ne'w
tal, which, like that which is reported to have happened at mixed
Corinth, hath been much efteemed ever fmcc, and bears a very ^etal fro^
g[reat price, ^w^-t/ong rtigntd ten years, and died in the thirty- duced.
^ghth of his age, and was fucceeded by his eldeA fon.

VI. ING'TSONGy then but nine years old, and under VI.
the guardianflup of the emprefs and court eunudis, bq[an ^"S'
his reign with rebuilding the nine gates of the imperial dty ; J^^^f',
«id, in the third yearj forbad any honour to be paid to "^^ .
Confucius in the idqj temples'. In the mean time, the Tartan^ ^^^*
taking the advantage of his youth, made condnual inroads
into his northern provinces ; agaiuft whom he marched, in
the fourteenth year of his reign, at the head of a powaiiil
army, even beyond the great wall ; but his forces, weakened Defeated^
by want of provifion, were totally defeated, and he taken «f^ ^«';-
prifoner, and carried into the furthermoft part of Tartary.^'^t^"

*% my fubjcdls are id dlihefs, in more or lefs need of relief,

** we ought to fly to their re- " With all my heart, he faid j

** lief, with the fame fpeed as ** but let thena not be too nice

** we would to ftop an iaunda- ** and dilat6ry in their fcrntiny,

** tion, or extinguilb a fire ; " ** nor be afraid of exceeding

and, upon their reminding him '* my intentions, by being too

that a diftinflion ought to be *' liberal.'*

made between thofe who flood

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474 ^^ Hf/hry 0/ China.. B. I.

The court, in idle gretteft ooofiernation at the news, jilaoed
his fon, then but tWo years old, on the throne, under the
guardianihip of the captive prince's brother, who foon finzcd
T'wo in^ on the throne. In the mean time, the emprefs having feat a
ftwuts tf great quantity of gold, filver, fUks, be. tp ranfi>m the em«
Tartarun peror, the Tartar condn^Ml him to the frontiers of fifeVw;
VKfi^* but there pretending that the ranfom was too fmall, and be-
ing, perhaps, bought by the brother on the throne, conduded
him back, in a few days, into Tartary. He rdgned foorteen
. years, and was fucceeded by his brother,
yil. VII. KJNG'TI mounted the throne; but an agreement
^"8" ^ being foon after made for the releafe ci the emperor, fomc of
4/tir Cbr. ^^ grandecs went to recdve him on thejirontiers. Here die
'^5*' T/tr^or pretended a-new, that the retinue was too fmall to
accompany fo great a monarch ; and iniUled, that a greater
number fhould come, and in greater pomp ; but the emperor
forbade it, and fent the court word, that he renounced the
empire, and defigned to end his days in folitude; and, to
avcnd all ceremony, entered the capital by a private gate,
tiere the two, brothers having embrac^ each other, vdth great
tendemefs, King'tu attended by the whole court, accom*
panied him to & fonth palace, which he had cbc^ £or his
fetirement.

KING'TI had, by this time, refolved to declare his om
fon his fucceilbr ; but that was oppofed by the prime mim-
fter (I) ; and the young prince dying about a year after, ao4
himfelf being foon after taken ill of an incurable difeafe, hgr
ifmg was again brou^t but of the foutbem palace, and re-
afcended the throne, a year before his brother's death.

KING'TI had reigned feven years, and, upon his deadi,
the emperor was defired to ftigmatize his memory, and to
have his name erafed out of all public records, as a puiuih-

(I) Kiag-ti had defigned tp birth-dsy of /«^-(/^«^, who was
I dedare his fon his focceilipt/ en i^e lawful emperor. Upoa
his next birth-day ; aod, will- which Kingti fet aiide all tot-
ing to try how the prime mini- ther thoughts about his owii
^er would take it, faid to him ion.

one day, " The birthday of As Ing-tfing did afterwards

** tl?[e prince my heir falls on refume the empire, DuHaUtt

** ^eleconddayofthefeventh and others,' have niad^ two

f* moon/' To which the Ko- reigns of it, though hut ot»

/^<' replied, ** Give me leave monarch: we have only fol-

^ to' tcU you, that It is the firft lowed the feirics as it happenei

*< ^ay of t^e eleventh moon.** withput that needlefs addition*
I*lainly intimating thereby tl\e ' ^ • ^

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p. I. ^biI^^0fChm. 05

meat for his u&rpation : but he rgeAed the propofid^ and
contented hunfelf with ordering his funeral obiequies to be
j^erformed only as for an emperor's brother. After that, he '
i^eigned feven years longer, and died in the thirty-firft of his
age, and left the crown to his eldeft fon.

Vm. HTEN'TSONO, who was the fon of the fecond VIII.
queen, owed the crowh to the cmprcfs's barreniiefs, and proved ^X****
arwarlike jpHnce,and frequently defeated the plundering Tartars, jf^^Q^
who were bftdi making inroads iiato bis territories. Thf king 1465, *
6f Korea, about that tSne, propofcd an cafier method dF pay^
ing his homage; to him, than by fending an ambafly ; but he
aWblutely ri^efted it. ' He reigned twenty-three years, and
died in the forty-firft of his age, and was fucceeded by his
ddeA fon Hong^chi, who iince affumed the name of Hyau"

ifong. ^

^ IX. HYAWTSONC was much addift^ to the fuperfti- JX- ^
tions of the bonzaic-feft ; yet, in fhe eighth year of his reign, 5^*^^*
6ne of the moft confiderable of them, haring been the ring- Ja^^^
leader of a rebellion, and being taken prifoner, was executed, j^g^ *
tirithout regard to his funAion. About the fame time,' z h- i)rgaiifid
mine raged through feveral of the weftcm provinces, tofvLchcahamtiid
a degree, that the parents were known to eat their 0^^ child- all 9ver
ren ; whilft as grievous a peftilence, a calamity fcarcdy khowh thtimfin^
Jn China, raged and laid ^afle the eaftern ones. Thicfe were '
followed with fuch terrible esirthquakes, that many thoufandi
of people were buried alive. The latter end of this reign wai
tio lefs remarkable fpr the irruptions and depredations whicH
the T^r/arx made in the empire, and, at length, for the death
of the emperor, in the eighteriath year of his reign. He was
fucceeded by his fon Vu'tfong, whom he had caufed to be pro-
claimed his fucceffer, with great pomp, ^ve years aftdr his
toniing'td the crown. * ' *

' X. VU'TSO'I^Gy a wilful and debauched prince, enjoyed X.
but a very uncafy reign ; the calamities of the former fHll con- X**"^^*
tinning, and he deaf to all advice that was given him towards -^^'^ ^^\
a reta^y. ' At length feveral pix>vihces, prticularly thofe of «M^^*
Sharig'tong and ffO'nang,omr^Bed with famine and ^^^ j^atpf'-^
taxesy i^evoltfed, in a kihd of dcfpair, and, like an irrefiftibie^^^
{current, fprcad dread and devaftation where-ever they came ; »
and if any forces were fent again(l them, they only put a ftop
fo the evU for the prefient, to break out foon after with greater
ftiry* • • •

In the thuteenth year of bis reign, he took it into his bead
to march againft the mvag^ TaKtah iricogniu ; and h^ yas,
*dth great difficulty, diverted from the dangerous projeft/ bjr

^•'*^"^ OQC

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47^ ^^ Biporj $f China. ' B. I.

toinsardicet onc of his Ko-laus (K). The next year, he reWvcd to retire
into the fouthcm provinces, from which his miniAers all
joined to difluade him ; alleging, that it would be interpreted
by the Tartars as a {hamefiil flight : and fo exafperated w^
he at their oppoiition, that he fuffered them to continue, oa
their knees, five whole days before his palace, notwithftand-
ing the badncfs of the weather. At length, a fu4den inun-
dation which followed, and was by him loc4ced upon as por-
tending of fome evil, made him relax, and fet afide this fM:#-
* jcft alio. He reigned fixteen years ; -and, a little before his
death, fent for the grandees, and appointed his cmprefs
guardian to his fecond fon, then thirteen years old, whom he

and death* appointed his fucceflbr, and died in the thirty-firft year of his

age-
XI. XL SHI-TSONG, or Kya-tjtng, began his reign with

Shi-tibng. ieveral public a6ts (L) ; fuch as, repairing the great wall, re^
. ^#rC6r. lieving his fubjefts during the fcardty, and enadling fomc
1522. wholfome laws ; but is much blamed for his fondnefs for
poetry, for the fuperftitioos of the bonzas, and, in particji*
iar, for the immortalizing liquor, which he caufcd to be
Uisfuccefs fought for far and near. The Tartars ^ iuving invaded his
againft the tcrntorieSf were totally defeated, and above 2Q0 officers takca
Tartars, prifoncrs. The next year, their king fent to beg pardcm,
and to aflc leave for his fubjefts to come into China to feU
their horfes ; which^was granted at firft ; but, as that com-
merce was Bke to prove a continual fource of quarrels be^'
rsveen the mandarins and the merchants, it was abfc^tely
£orlnd again.
^^Ja- A90UT the thirty-fourth year of his rdgn, the Japimifi
yanefe. (hook off their homage to him, and ^bout 4000 made a de-
Iccnt into the province of Che-kyang; bfct were either d^
jftroyed, or forced to flee to their fliips. The next year,
10,000 more came on the fame errand, and met a worfe fete,
they being all cut off to a man. This did not prevent their

(K) He was fo provoked at (L) The famine and poverty
their oppoiing his mad proje^, then raging, obliging many'pa-
that he drew his f(^ymetar to r«?nts to proftitute their daugh-
. , flay the firft that fpoke another ters, two young maidj, td avoid
word againft it; upon which the difgrace, drowned them-
one of thofe K^-iaus ftretching felves ; which, when the cm-
out his neck towards hiiA, as peror knew, he ere£ted a fine
if to receive the blow, quite monument to their memory',
allayed bis paifion, and made giving them the title of Jbe fun
Jiim open*his eyes to the danger illt^rioui virgins.

of his dtfign.

piakl^

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C I, 9ie Hiftory of China: 477

making fre(h attempts in the folfowing years ; but ftill with
the fame ill fuccefs. . .

TowARD$ the latter end of his reign, a fevere memorial His ill con-
WHS prcfented to him, complaining of his ill condu<ft almoft dua com--
in every branch of his government, and more particularly oiplaintd
his extravagant fearch after the immortalizing liquor. He had^^'^'V*
no fboner read it, than he trampled it under his feet, in the
firft fally of his paflioii ; but, growing cool again, he took it
up, and, upon a feoond reading, fliewed fome fignal tokens
of rcmorfe. He did not live long enough, however, to give
afty further proofs of it ; for, fklHng fick a few days after, he Strange
had no foonef drank the pretended liquor, than he expired, death.
in the forty-fifth ytsrct bis r^'gn, and fifty-eightK of his age,
and was iiicceecfed by his fon. ,

XII. MO'TSONG, ^i^s Shin-t/ong, began his reign with -XII^
FeleaJing>fome of tbofc whom^his father had too feverely im- Mo-tfong.
prifoned, and with other afts of clemency ; but could never 4f^i^^^^^\
brook the advice of his miniflers, and often degraded them^ iy^l-
for it. He repealed, in part, the law which fwbids the fub- .
jefts having any toiployments in their own native provinces,
by excluding out of it inferior mandarins^ tax-gathcrerr, and
iirfp^ors over literature. He fell fick in the fixth year of
his mgn ; and putting his fon, thfen but ten years old, under
the guardianftup of the cmpreTs, and of the KoAau Chang-kyt^-
ebing, declared him his fucceflbr, and died not long after.
That prince was called Fan-lye, but, upon his acceiEon to
the crown, took the name of Shin-tfofig.

Xin. SNIN'TSONG fhewed an excellent difpofition,, and XIJL
prudence m^ch above his years, and paid the utmoft regard Shin-
to his msifka: dfang^'kyit'ciing, and behaved with fingular Ji^^^'i
affiduity, juftice, and uprightnefs, in every branch of his go- ^ ^'^
vernment : .and every day, from four in the mc^-ning, applied jjj/^gxcel-
himfclf to examine and anfwer the petitions that were pre- /^^^^ reign.
fen ted the day before ; and, for the greater eafe and conve*
niency of his fubjefts, ordered a book to be printed every
three months, containing the names, rank, degree, and'
country, oi every mandarin in the empire ; which cuftom is
ftill obferved. He married in the feventh 3ear of his reign,
and hnmediately his wife was proclaimed emprefs.

Three y^rs after there was fuch a dreadful famine in the Adred(^d
province oi Shan-fiy that numbei;lefs people died of hunger ;/^^''^^-
Infomuch that fixty great pits were dug in different places,
each of which held 1000 dead bodies, and, on that account,
were called Van-jin-keng, The fame year was remarkable
for a great defeat of the Tartars^ of whom 10,000 were Tartars
killed on the fpot \ but much more tor the death of the prime ^c/^^^^-
'• 5 miniller

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478 5^ ttifi$ry ^ Chba. k 1;

ndnlfter Chang'kyu<hin^t whom die emperor caufe^ to be '
interred with great pomp, and fingalar marks of honoarl
Thefe, however, proved rat of fhort duration; his enemies
li^ii^ fuch accn&tions againft the deceaied about two ysn
aner, that both he and his pofterity wer6 deprived dl all
their titles ; their eftates confifcated ; and his fon, either
>^ /tf- ^^ttg*^ ff^*^^f ^^ ^^"^9 killed bimfclf. A grievous firoft,. which
^„t^ happwied in the deventh year dF his rdgn, and had codgeal^
' the greateft rivers, invited again the plundering Tartars int^
China^ who were moft of them cut off. The nimine, whkh
^owed foon after, obliged that monarch often to addrefs
himfelf to heaven for roljicr, and to contribute largely to the
afliftance of his fubjefts ; but when it was reprefented to him;
^t hb mUcondu£l, and the avarice of themimfters of hb
court, drew th^e calamities down upon his people, he not
<mly proved deaf to thdr remonftrances, but puniihed the
Authors of them (M).
japan|(b About the twenty-firft year of his rdgn, the Japan^e
Jail upon broke into the kingdom of Koreay fdzed on ieverai ddes,
Korea, gi^i pat all to fire and fword whcre-ever they cmxs. The
king himfelf was obliged to flee ; but, having (oon after obr
t^^ a ieafonable foccour from the emperor, intirely routed
them. After this defeat, they fent an ambafly to the empe-
ror, to b^ his pardon for the hrrupticm, and to intreat lum
that he would beftow fome title upon their chief. Both whkh
7hiir chief vrtxt granted ; and the title of Je-pcioen-vang, which figni-
tbtMMs the fies kmg^of Japan^ was^ven to him ; but with exprefi or*
tiiU rf ders, that he fhould fend no more ambaifies to China. By
^'^* this time the Nyu^cbe^ or eaftern Tartars ^ who were become
formidable, and divided into feven dynafties, after a long and
bloody war, coalefced into one, under one prince, who laid
the foundation of a new kingdom. As to the Tan-yu^ or
weftern Tartars^ they lived peaceably •wdthin thdr own tern-
torieS) without making any further inroads into China.

(M) Daring thtfc troahles^ a bribes, and preferved their poftt

comet alfo appealed towards by the bafeft flattery. Fortius

the eafi, which w^ thought to he was condemned to death bj

portend ftill fome greater dif- the exafj^erated monarch ; bat,

afters to the emt>irdi upon his fbn coming to him, and beg-

which a Ko'laUf named Song- ging he might be permitted to

gueriy prefented a memorial to lay down his life to fave his ti<r

the emperor^ fet^ing forth, that thcr's, Shing-tong relented, and

the figure of the meteor fore^ changed his fentence inm tbas

warned him to rid his court of of baniihment

certain miniflers, who to^k

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C. t. 7ifo Hijhrsf rf China; 479

In th« forty^fodrth year of bis rdgn, th^ chief of the TiutAfs
TartarSf highly incenfed at the mfoknce with whicji iht innmik
Chinefe mandarins treated his merchants trading into Lyau» ChinaL
ton^^ and much more at their treacberoofly iozing on their
prince, and cutting off his head, reibived now to feizeon
ibme of the Chinefe -cities which lay moft convenient for
hun ; and accc^rdingly the fon of the deceafed king, named
Tyen-ming, entered the prowice of Lyuu^tong at tl^ head of
a powerful army, and took the dty of Kay^ywen ; but at the
fame time fent a letter, with his complaints, to the emperor,
offering to reftore the. city, and ky down his arms, upon pro-
per fatisfaAion being made for fuch a cruel injury. The Their
mandarins, to whom the emperor communicated the letter, king^s kf-
flightiilg it fo far as not to vouchfafc an anfwer to it, fo exa- *^ ^ ^he
fperated the Tartar prince, that he vowed to lacrifice 200,000 '^^^
Chinefe to the ghoft of his murdered father. He accwding^y-^'i^''''
marched with an army of 50,000 men into the province dF
Pe-cheli in triumph, with a defign to attack the imperial
city ; but, being repulfed by the Chinefe forces, he retu-ed
into Lyau'tong, where he aflumed the title of emperor of
China. Two years after, having, by a ftratagem, drawn the Succefi
Chinefe forces farther towards Tartary, he furrounded them againfttSe
at once, and made a dreadful flau^ter among them ; and imperial
their general was found among the (lain. On me next year/*''^''**
the emperor oppofed them ^th a powerful army, and 1 2,000
auxiliaries out of Korea ; and a long and obftinate battle was
fought ; in which the Ttzr/or/ being at laft viAorious, marched The emfte^
diredtty towards Peking^ which threw the court into fuch rorde-
conftemation, that the emperor would haVe retired into iht fitted.
fouthern provinces, had not his miniflers reprefented to him
how much fuch a ihameful flight would inljpirit the enemy,
and dtihearten lus ftibjeAs. Under thefe dilaflers the empe- Death.
tor died, in the forty-eighth year of his reign, and fifty-
tighth c^ his s^e, and was fucceeded by his fon ^ang-tfrng^
who, upon his acceffion, took the name kJl Tay-chang,

XIV. TAT^CHANG died in a month after, and, as is XlV.
fappofed, through the n^left qf his phyfician ; but ap- Tay-
pointed his eldeft fon Tyen-H to fucceed him, who thereupon chang.
took' the name of Hi tfong. i6ai.

XV. HI'TSONG, though a timorous prince, ^d too XV.
much fwayed by his court-eunuchs, yet made a vigorous op- Hi-tfong.
polition againft the Tartars ; augmented his forces, fent for -4^- ^^^*
frefli auxiliaries from Korea^ and faw his army rdnfc^ced '^*"-
irom icvcral quarters ; particularly by an amazonian lady. Great pre-
at the head of fevcral thou(and men, which flie had brought /^^''^^^
from the province of Se-chwen, where her fon htld a fmall

fovereignty.

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mgmwftibe ibverdgoty. ife aUb fitted out a poirerfnl ^oet» ia order to

Taitait* humble the enemy both by fea and kod ; and» upon this oc-

cafion, he fent to M&^du for feme Portugi^ eog^neers, to

fisrve the artillery, to which the Chirufe vterc very little ufed }

hot, before they cane, the Tartars mrere driven out of the

proviBce of Lyau^mg^ and the capital recovei>ed &oai them;

' to much the more eafdy, as the inhabitants detefted the cruelty

of^ Ty^n^ming, and b^ was then engaged in another war in

Tartary. He was, however, no fooner returned from that

expedition, than he renewed the fiege o[ that city with freih

iF^ur; in which the Chinefi loft 30,000 men, and he

20,000, and at iaft carried it by means cf a traitor. As fooo

as he was mafter of it, he pitbMied an edi6l, commandiog

all the Chirufe, under pain of death, to ihave their heads

after the Tartar fafliion ; upon which feveral thoufknds of

Strange them chofe rather to lofe their heads than their hair. In tfac

firmnefs ffrntzxi dme one of the ableft Chinefi generals, named Ms^

the Chi- ven4ongy being feat with frefli troops againft the Tartars j fo

nefe. ftrongly fortified the citadel of Shang^hayi that he made it

impregnable, and, by that means, fhut up the eotrance into

China frcwn Tartary.

The third year of Hi-tfhng's reign was dreadfully difturbcd
by crouds of robbers and fedidous people, whofe number aod
rapines daily increafed ; and the next year was remarkable for
the Chriftian .monument dug out near the capital of Sberr^
I-tfongV and mentioned in a fiDrmer fe6tion • ;: as alfo for the death of
JmA* the emperor, in the feventh year of his rdign, and thirty-
fecond of his age; who was fucceeded by his brother Tfong"
ching, or Zun-chin, fmce called Whay-tfong, the fifth foa of
^uang'tfing. '

In the fame year died Tyen-rmngy the king of the Tartan i
a prince, who, according to the 6j^^ account, was.diitia-'
guilhed chiefly for his fierccnefs ; and was fucceeded by his
fon Tyen-tfong, who proved the rcvcrfe of his father, and a
prince of great clemency, meeknefe, and goodnefs.
XVI. XVI. WHAT'TSONG, the Iaft emperor of the CImeft

Whay- r^ce, and more commonly known by the name of Zun-ching,
tfong. was a great lover of fciences, and a favourer of the Chriftiaos,
Jft. Ckr, though he continued ftiii bigotted t6 the bonzaic fuperiU-
1628. tions. He had moft of the princely qualities that could ren-
der him capable of governing ; was an enemy to luxury, aad
to the court-eunuchs, and took the moft eifeftual way to re-

•See before, p. 77, & (L).

flUOHO

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C I. The Hifiory of C\mz. ^t

move them (N), even from the very begmnipg of hi^ rdgn^
in the mean time the revolters multiplying in the provinces,
whilft his forces were encaged againft the Tartars^ he reftflved
to make peace with the latter, that he might the more efiec-
tnally fupprefs the former ; and, to that end, fent one of his
generals, named Ywen^ into Tartary^ at the head of an army,
with full power to negotiate a peace ; but that traitor made Bttr^^
one on fuch ftiameful terms, tliat the emperor refufed to ra- h ^^ l*'
tify it; upon which he took the following method to oblige •^^^ ,
him to it :

MAU'VEN'LONG^ the faithful and expert general men-
tioned under the lafl feign, was then at the head of the im-
perial forces ; and him the idllain invited to a feaft, and Mta-vw*
poifoned ; and then fent wosrd to the Tartars td march diroftly. lo»g >« •
to Pe-king by a different road from that which he took with his Z*'"'^*
army ; which they did without meeting with any oppofidon,
and laid fiege to that capital. Twen was thereupon ordered to
march to its relief; which he did, not fufoefting that his
perfidy was found out ; and, upon his arrival, was put to the
torture, and then ftrangled ; which the Tartars no fooner Ywcn
knew, than they raifed the fiege, and returned vato LyawJ^^^i^*^*
tongf loaden widi the richell plunder.

In the eighth year of Whay-tfong'z reign died Tyen-tfong, ^^*
king of Tartary^ and was. Succeeded by his fon Tfong-te^ ^°"f''
fitthflr of the founder of the following dynafty, and a mild ^^^'
and affable prince, who had been privately brought up fi*om Hisfou
his in£uicy' among the Chinefe^ and was a perfedt mafter of hr9ught up
thdr language and learning, as well as of their genius and amongtht
cuftoms ^ all which gainal him the love and efteem of the Chinefc.
Chinefe generals and mandarins, who infenfibly fell off fronr 7b€ f«5fr*
the emperor, whofe ill fuccefs had quite altered his temper, ^^ atmt'^
and rendered him thoughtful, uneafy, diffident, and crucL ^'^^
This and the following year proving a feries of robberies,

(N) Heat firft forbad all his wealth, and infolence ; but,

mandarins to have any conver- upon this emperor*s mounting

ration with them; and foon the throne, whom he knew to be

after eave them leave to go and an enemy to the whole tribe,

vifit their native country for a difpatched himfelf bypoiron,io^

month, and money to defray avoid a more feverepunifhnienti

dneir jburney, and afterwards upon, which his immenfe riches

&nt them an exprefs prohibition were confifcated, his body torf^

to return. in pieces by the populace, an,d

There was one among them, the temples and monuments

jQamedG%-(/2n^,w)io had raifed which his flatterers had reared

fiimfelf" in the former reigns to to his honour, levelled with the

the highefl pitch of power,, ground.

Mod. Hist. Vol. VIII. H b murders,

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48i • The Hiftcry of CHit\2u B. I.

Ri<vohen murders, and Inteftine wars, the revolters grew to fuch a

rvery- height, that they compofed no lefs than four armies, com-

*wh€re. manded by as many generals, who were however reduced

foon after to two, named Li and Chang. Thefe agreed to

divide the provinces between them : Change taking the weftcra

ones of Se-chwen and Ifu-quang, left Li to feize on part of

Kau fong Shen-Ji, and then of Ho*nan, whofe capital, named Kay-fong^

bcfieged by he laid fiege to, but was repulfed with lofs. He renewed it

l-i« fix months after, with no better fuccefs ; the befieged chufing

to feed on human flefti, rather than furrender to a rcbd.

The imperial forces coming foon after to its afliftance, thdr

general made no doubt of drowning the whole rebel army,

DronvneJ by breaking down the dikes of the Tellow River ; but, by iU

iyactident. fortune, they had time to efcape to the mountains ; wWlft the

city, which lay lower than the river, was quite overflowed,

by which unforefeen accident about 300,000 of its inhabit*

ants perifhed.

Atter this difafter Li marched into the provinces dfShen-fi

and Ho-nan^ where he put to death all the mandarins, ex-

afted great fums from the officers in place, and fhewed no

favour to any but to the populace, whom he freed from all

taxes : by this means he drew fo many of the' imperial army

Li 4xjfumes into his intoreft, that he thought Wmfelf powerful enough to

thi impe- aflume the title of emperor. He next advanced towards Ac

rial title, imperial city, which, though ftrongly garrifoned, was divided

into faftions ; and into which he had found means to convey

a foffident number of his own men in difguife, who were to

open the gates to him foon rfter his firft appearance. They

'Enters did fo accordingly on the third day, and he entered the city ia

• Peeking, triumph, at the head of 300,000 men ; whilft the infatuated

emperor kept himfelf (hut up in his palace, ignorant of what

was done without it; and only bufyiilg himfelf with his bofl-

zaic fuperftitions. It was not long, however, before he found

himfelf betrayed ; and, under the greateft conftimation, made

an effort to get out of the palace, with about 600 of his

guards. He was ftill more furprifed to fee himfelf treacbc-

^oufly abandoned by them, and deprived erf" all hopes of

cfcaping the fury and infults of his rebel fubjefts; (b that,

preferring death to the difgrace of falling alive into thar

hands, he forthwith retired with his beloved empre{s * {Du

Halde fays, only the young princefs his daughter) into a pd*

vate and diftant part of the garden, or, according to Pak^t

into a (mall wood, without being able to utter a word to

her, fuch was the excefs of his grief. That princefs, how

* Vide Du Halds, vol. i. p, 266, ic fcq. &pALArox, fup. dtir.

3 . cTor,

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e. I. The Hiftpry of China. 483

ever, toa'ivdl apprehended his meaning; and; aftef a fevir
tender, but filent embraces, retired into the wood, and there
banged herfelf in a fiiken firing. The emperor, pierced to
tEc heart at the doleful fight, ftaid only to' write thefe words
on the border of his veft : I have been hafely deferted by my
fidfjeSls ; do what you will with tne^ but fpare my people %
which being done, he cut off the young princefs's head with ^*^ «<!^-
one Aroke of his fcymetar, and hanged himfelf on another '?T^^^'
tree, in the feventeenth year of his reign, and thirty-fixth of *'^^-
his age (O). His prime minifter; queens, and faithful cu- The fad
nuchs, foon followed his example, and killed themfdves ^ ; cataftrephe
and with his life ended the Chinefe monarchy, to give place ef his fa-
ro that of the Tartars^ who have reigned over the whole ^b*
empire ever fince with an abfolute fway.

It was, not till after fome tune, and with great difficulty,
that the body of the unfortunate IVhay-tfong was found, which) Hf/ body
when brought, and laid before the rebel Li, as he fat upon itfultedf •
the throne, the Inhuman wretch ufed, with the utmoft indig-
mty ; after which he caufed two of his fons,. and all hb mi- oMdhisfonM
nifters, to be beheaded ; only his eldeft fon happily efcaped mMrdered^
by flight. It is fcarcely credible how foon every erne wb-'^ ^*
mitted to the ufurper; and prince U-fan-ghey, whocom-U-fim-
manded the imperial forces in the proidnce of Lyau-tong^ ghay ^p*
was the only one who refuied to acknowl^e him, wlAdxffeshin.
obliged him to march againft him at the head of a powerfilil
army ; and, having invefted the place where he was g6ver»
nor, the more effeftually to move him to furrender, Ihewed

^ See Du Halde, & al. ubi fup,

(O) Paiafox (45) adds, that He deeply laments the ruin of

the unhappy monarch, being his empire, which, had fiouriihed

quite chilled with horror, called in fuch power and fplendor fo

for a glafs of wine, though at long a feries of centuries ; and

all other times averfe to that the extindlion of his antient and

liqu6r ; and, having drank it, royal family, \^\\o had held it

bit with his own teeth one of his fo long, and with fo mucti

fingers, till the blood gufhed out, glory ; and concludes, that;

and wrote with it, not the above- hnce ht hath lived to fee the

jnentioned (hort fentence, but a lofs and ruin of them, and of

long and more mournful epiille, all that was valuable in life, he

in which he complains of the thought it high time to put ail

treachery of his officers, but end to it. But that author men-

abfolves . his fubjeds of the tions nothing of his cutting off

guilt, and prays that they may his daughter s head,asP»i^A/f y

cicape the puniihment, of it. doth (46). *

(^%) Cttipttft of Cbhtt, sbaf, 2r (At^) Jnnah, feg. %Vf.

H h t kl«l

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fekn his filths ioaden with fecitrs ; aadfwore tlbehe ihodd

Nohle ri' ^ inftantly facrificed^ if he refufed to fabfiut. The brm

folutioH. U'fiM'ghey^ when he beheld his £ithier in that condidon, from

the top of the city- walls, burft out into 4 flood of tea»;

and, falling on his knees, prayed to. heaven to forgivt him, if

he facrlficed his filial duty to his alliance to his prince ; add.

the good old gentlemaii, applaudii^ his fon's nobk refolutiofi,

fubmitted to his fate, and was accordingly put to death.

Invites th U-fan-gh^^ refolving at oflde to revenge his piiiKse add his

eafiem father*s death, immediately firuck up a peace with the Mm-

Tartar. ^^^^ ^^ eaftern Tartars^ atid inrit^ them to his ai&ftadoft

againd the ufurper and his rebellious forces ; lyhich tf9ng*te

their king eafily confented to, and, without any dday^ j<£id

him with an army of 80,000 men 5 upon which the ufofper

Li hums raifed the fiege, and marched dkeftly to Pe-king. Not think-

aniphtH' ing himfelf fafe there, he plunder^ and burnt the pah^

defs thi and^ with the immenfe trcafure he had got. Bed with bis

fakce. troops into the province of Shen-Jt^ no lefs leaden wlA thi

curfes of the people, than with the fpoil of the xfnperial

dty(P).

-,^ ' TSONG'TE died almoft as foon as he had fet foot in

,^!I^V GWnii, after he had declared his fpn 5im-rA/, thfiibotfe

ciared m- 7®*^ ^> ^^ fucceflbr, and committed the caire of htm and

pff^f,^ of the empire to his brother A-mofvan. The young prince

(P) The villain, who had hi- had dared to ibew (or their law-

therto hardly encountered with ful fovtrelgn, which ratbercon*

any but unarmed and difheart- filled in an univerfal abhorrence

ened enemies,and had fucceeded they tellified, than in any refift-

more by treachery than valour, ance they ventured to make

was fo exafperated to fee him- againft him.
felf now oppofed not only by What forces the iffng of f<ir-

the imperial arniy, but by a fary bf6ught with huD into

hluCh more numerous and war- Chin^^ we are not told ; except,

like olie of the Tartars^ that, in general terms, that they were

Hot Content to eive up that rich without number, both of horfe

inetrdpolis to ht plundered by and foot. They were com-

his rebellious troops, Whilfl he manded by the three uncles of

did the fame by the imperial that young monarch, who ferved

palace, he vented his rage on him fo faithfully wididicir wife

the inhabitants by the moft counfels as well as valoQr, and

blobc^ and execrable cruehies behaved with fucb moderatioi

during his Ihort flay; and that and equity towards theCt/ai^.
iihder pretence of punifhing- as the more eafily rcconciiw
them for thofe remaining fainj; ^them.to his government (47).
fparks of loyalty which tney

(47) Pahjhx, u^ijuf, €h. a, ^Stf,

was

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C I. the H0ary of China. ^^

iras prdeotly after cotidu^d to Pe-king ; and rec^vcc} wiUi-
tb^ acclamations of the people, as their great deliverer, . No-
thlog was he9f 4 oq all fides btit the fhouts of Vanfwil Van-^
fw\t Long may he Iru^ I long live the emperer / may he live a
thoufand years ! This memorable revolution, which put a End of the
iSoal end both to the twenty-firft dynafty, and to the Chinefn Chinefe
govcnM)[|eat, and made way a fecond time for that of the &ft- monarchi.
era Tartar^ happened in the twenty-firft year of the feventy"
third cydc, which anfwers to that of Chrift 1644 (Q^).

What became of the traitor Li, and of his army and im-
menfe trerfnre, is not certainly known. Some fay that he re-
tired idth thim into the province of Shen-Ji^ one of the fix
which he had made himfelf mafter of ; and that he fettled '
and fortified himfelf in it, the bcft he could, againfl the new
conqueror : others think that he was flain in an engagement
by U'fanrghey. However that be, we hear no more of him
from the time of his retreat from Pe-king ; and fo fhall have
done with him with this remark, that his name and memory
are to this day held m execration both by the Chinefe and
Tartars. It is now time to pafs on to

7be Twenty-fecond Dynafiyy named Tfingt ^ow mgn- 22^ dyna-
ingi and containing at prefent three Emperors. fiy^

I. VHUN-CHI, or Xun-chiy began his new reign with re- I.

*^ warding the noble U-fan-ghey^ by beftowing upon hini Sun-chi..
the dignity <rf king, and title dF Pingfi^ which fignifies the Af^- ^^'**
pacifier of the weft ; and affigned to him the city (A Si-gnan- jr^r^^'
Jii, czpxtsi of "Shen-Jiy for his refidence, which had been lately ]f '^^
ravagod^indthfirc and fword by the ufurper Li. But this did fi^I^
not hinder Ufan-ghey from forcly repenting of his error and
raflxnefs in galHx^ the Tor/arx to his afliftance agalnft that

( Q^) T^eG^>^hiftorian8» pleted in three ^years and fome

pr-at leaH dpr turofegn me- months^; and thzt ^afig-tdng,

ffkOtn from th9m» bave n<^ or Can-ton^ the laft city which

J)C«n fo careful to (ranfipait to farrendercd to them, was not

^$ the y^ear aad month of the taken by them till January

fartar syi^d hif army aotering 1647 ; wtbbl which it is proba-

^to China, niHT the laogith .<» hie to fuppofe, that t^ey entered

the rei^ s^d U& of this laft about the end of the year 1643,

jC^wji^ empenar. W$ are only aind that the new emperor was

told in g^o^ri^ ;(ha(« after thek crowned fome time in the year

their arrival, thia fion|4ieil of .ibov.e-meiitioned (48).
the whole. empir<i wa$ com*

H h 3 tyrant.

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'4i6

The Hifi^ of China. B. I.

tyrtAt, or, ts he hqpfdf ufed to phrafe it, in fen£ng for
htms U drive away dogs. In die mean while the young mon-
arch, who was now abfolute mailer of the northern pro-
tioces (R), b^n to turn his arms to the conqneft of die

fontheni

(R) It is furpriiing to think
what quick progrefs he made
in the conqaeft of thofe north-
cm ones, confidering their vafl
extent, and the number and
Ifarengdi of their cities ; for he
made himfelf matter of them
all withg^ the fp^ce of about a
year, that is, by the latter end
of the year 16^4. It is true
OieChifte/e had neither the heart,
nor were they at that dme fo
loyal to the family of their in-
dent princes, as to make kny
cohiiderable refinance ; n^ver*
thelefs there were feveral that
did, tho' with fo little fuccefs as
^ave even but fmall encourage-
ment to others to follow 'their
^example. But the new empe-
ror, who would himfelf be aU
ways at the head of his vaft
and powerful army, had fuch
excellent counfellors and gene-
rals, pardcularly his three uncles
lately mentioned, that he fell
immediately into the mofleffecr
tual and expeditioas way of re-
4ac]ngthem.

His method was, not to trou-
ble himfelf, when he entered
into a province, what great
towns he left behind, but ta
bend his forces towards the me-
.tropolis at once, .which hefirft
caufed to he fummoned ; aiSd,
if they fubmitted, he treated
, them with all poflihle humaaiqr,
. appointed .fuch governors 6ver
them as they could not but ii^
prove of, and often ibme of
their own nation, and left the

reft of dieir polity in the tunc
ftate in which he found it, widi-
out making any adteradon.. If
they refuf(Kl, then he onkred
his numerous troops to brii^
them the fecopd fummons;
which they did with fuch force
and fury, that they gained the
place in a fhort dme ; in which
cafe they muft fubmit to the
fate of war, which was gene-
rally very hard and cruel, if it
were but to ferve as a waning
to the reft. By thefe means,
whether the metropolis fub-
mitted of its own accord, or
was forced to it, the reft of ^
cides feidom fuled of opening
their gates to him ; and the re-
duction of the capital proved
the redudion of the whole pro-
vince (49).

Another thing that gready
forwarded theconqueft not only
of thefe, but of the fouthmi
ones afterwards, was^ .that the
emperor, in all his dedEaradons,
always afcribed his great and
^lurprifing fuccefs not to his va-
lour, or to the number and con-
rage of his troops, as might be
natural for Aich a young mon-
arch to do, but to the will and
favour of heaven $ whichfqnare-
ing .exadly with the notioA of
the generality of the Ok'nift,
thc3^noc only readily yields to
it, but were glad to pHtzd it as
«m excufe for their fo ftiame^'
fully abandciniag the interdi
and cai^e of their natural princes,
•f dieir laws and liberties, ud

(^J ^difii^ Qmiffii, Q^.

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C. !• Tii H0ory &f CUnz: 4S7

foutheqi cmes ; rightly judging, that he would never enjoy
the one quietly till he had got pofleflion of the other.

On the other hand, he did not think it proper to leave the Korea iW
kingdom of Korea behind him, a fierce and warlike people, vaiieJ fy
>vho had a king of their own, but who was a vaflal to the tie impt-
Chinefe^ and now of courfe to him. He marched accordingly ^^^'
againft them at the head of a powerful army ; and, though
die Koreans fought with much vigour and intrepidity, yet
they ftill found diemfelves inferior to the Tartars. At length Submitt
their king thought it the wifeft way to fecure his crown by a to him.
timely fubmiflion ; which Shun-chi readily accepted, and
brought back his forces vyith honour ; and ordered the Korean
king to follow him to Pe-king^ where the articles of peace
and homage were (bon after concluded ; and, having received
his crown and fceptre from the emperor, and paid him the
homage agreed on, returned to his own fubjefts, Shun-chi
then ordered his army, under the command of one of his
uncles, to march direftly towards the fouth, where a grand-
fori of Sbin-t/bng^ or Fan-fye, the thirteenth emperor of the
foregoing dynafty, had been proclaimed emperor, under the
name of Hong-quang, or ffun-guan, which fignifies fplendor,
and had mofl of the nine fouthern provinces under his fub-
jeftioQ. This young prince had many amiable qualities, and
had been educ^ited under thc^ late and laft emperor with great
<»r€, whilfl the empire was at peace, and was looked upon
as the laft refuge of the Ciine/e j but was with great difficulty
prevailed upon by the mandarins to accept of a crown, the
weight of which he forefaw would foon crufh him to death.
However, he was prevailed upon at laft ; and took all proper
means to fortify his capital of Nan-kingy and to ftrengthcn
his army ; but, Vith all thefe precautions, found himfelf un-
able to refift the fuperior force of the enemy, which came and
befleged him in that city, and foon made himfelf matter of
it. Hong-qufng ^vas purfued in his retreat, and taken pr^-
foncr, by the Tarfdr general, who immediately flew him, or. Hung-
accordii^ to others, tent him to Pe-king, where he was Ilran- quang
gled. Being returned to Nan-king^ he gave the government A^*^^'»
of it to a Chinefe mandarin, who had enjoyed {ome,of the
greateft pofts under the two or three laft emperors, and made
him viceroy of that province.

fo tamelv fubmitting to a fo- could they do better than fub,.

reign yoKc ; for, if that was mit to it ? This was, it feems,

the abtolute will and decree of their excufe then, and is fo ftill,

heaven, how could it be in their whenever finy other ii^ioAp-

iower to oppofe it, or what braids them with their flavery.

' Hh4 He

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4SI The JSflofy of China: B. I;

Hb marched thence into Che-kyangy and jbefi^ed the capi-
j^^p-vang ^ » where Jjhvang^ then king of it, aoid a fHince who bad
fuhmits refufed the dtle of emperor, appeared npon the walls, and,
bhBftl/ on his knees, b^ged the Tartars to fpare his fubjefbs, and
wtiuofk to accept of his Ufe as a viftim for theirs ; and Aen vrait
to the em- ^yt, and fubmitted to their mercy, and had the good fortune
f^^* to obtain it. Not long^ after this, another grandfon of the
*'^^* late emperor Shin-tfong^ n^med Lonz-vu^ and by others Jan'
Long-vtt van^ was proclaimed emperor in the province of Se-chwen^
frocldimej wl^chy with thofe of Fo-kyen, ^uang-tongy and ^uang-Jiy
imfiror. yf^^ die only four that ftill remained unfubdi^ed ; and, the*
he was not in a capacity of recovering thofe that were loft,
he was ftill made to hope that he might be able to preferve
Hisinter^ thefc. He was the more ealily flattered into this hope, as
^^t^^^' there had appeared in his intereft at fea one of the braveft
€dky tbi commanders, whom many of the nation had joined, and who
Ch*"' was then \ery powerful, and fuccelsful enough to alter the

chilling. ^^ ^^ ^ ^^•

Bis ex- ' This captain was the famed Chtng-chi-hngy a perfon ori-
^oByond ^Jially of an obfcure cxtraft (S), but then one of the rkheft

t«wer/ul

(S) Ching'cbi'Iong,ctS\t6,?\{o
Cbin-cbi'lung in the Dutch am-
baffies, and by foreigners Iquatty
leoa, Efuany and Ikentty was
born in feme obfcure maritime
'j>lace in the province of i^-
' fyin^ of very mean parents ; but,
being a fprightly lad, went to
feek his fortune abroad, firft at
Macaifi among the Portuguefi^
where he ferved a merchant for
fome time, became a convert to
Chriftianity, and took the pame
€if Nicholas; or, as others have
it, Gerard. From thence he
went to Jmfau^ niteve be foon
:rufed hmiielf in the fervice of
^ a rich merchant \ and, from his
fad^or, became jthe commander
•f liis trading veflels, with
which he i;fed to carry a confi-
derable traffick into Cochin-
^^Cbi^Uy Kamhoyay and other
]|^^(S^, not only for his own
iflK^ers, but for a number pf
Other merchants, who likewife

intruilfcd him with feme of their
richeft commodities.

Being come to Kamhoyay be
received letters, that b<^ his
mafierand they were dead;iQme
of the plague which liad raged
in Japant and others, of the fit-
mine that followed it ; upon
which, without any regard to
Chriflianity, which he had fi>
lately embraced, he forged their
wills, and made hinrfelf heir to
all the weahh they had inlrufted
him with ; and, to avoid being
qoeftioned by the Chinefi manda-
rins about their validity, refolved
to turn corfair ; and, with the
wealth he had made himil^
heir td, purchafed a number of
other veflels, and foon' became
commander of a formidable
iquadron, by the many other
pirates who joinied hi^, and
put themfelves under his co-
lours : infomuch that he, aiid
one more of the ikmeproftcffion,
haA

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and moft confiderable traders in the provliioeof.lb^/ii^;
who, at hb own charges, had fitted out a vmxmnm fleet

againft

had the fole comiBaBd of thofe
feas, and plundered all that fell
in their way, without diftinfUon.
but under a mutual agreement
not to a£t offeniively again!!:
each other.

The emperor and coort, to
whom they were become dread-
fol, and yet were not in a con-
dition to fnpprefs them bv open
force, bediought themfehres of
a (katagem that would in all
iikelihc^ efFe^ually do it. Ac-
cordingly he received a letter
from the emperor to this pur-
port : That, being thoroughly
apprifed of his valonr and fuc-
Ceis, and of the^greatierrices he
might do to his prince and coom-
try, he promifed him not only a
general pardon and amnelly for
nil his piracies, but to make
him chief admiral of all his fea-
forces, and o^tain-general of all
the fea-coafts, or any other dig-
nities or employments he ihouTd
4e&re>0n conditionhejoinedim-
mediately the imperial navy,and
affifled it ia ridding the (eas of
the other piratic fleet. The
istmt dfers wer^ m.aKie at the
fame time to the other com-
iliander, in a letter fent to him
from the fame m(march. What
dStGt it had opon the latter, is
not known ; but Clung'cbi'kngt
though he prefcQtly fi^fpeded
the artlEce, yet, depending on
his ftrength and good fortune,
made no he&tation to go and
falliipon the others and, after
.a long and bk)ody light on both
£des, wherein be proved vi&o-
rkms, ftmek off his h^aul^ ^nd
took as many of his men and
vefiels as he cpuld, the greateft
part of which readily lifted

under his flae, as they pnty ex*
changed mafters, witnaut alter-.
ing uieir condition. By this
means Icoun became nfore pow-
erful than ever J and, when the
imperial fleet came to join him,
Aey di^red not do otherwiib
than congmtnlate hite .<cm Ids
late¥i6iory, and gre^it faeeeft^
whilfthe, ^ybt^t of the em-
peror's letter, and a fufHcien;
force to oblige him to Hand to
hisnromiies, began to aft ac-
cording X6 the tenor of them,
without betraying the leaft diffi-
dence of the court's finifter
views, zsA to oblige all trading
flups to receive their fsfi^oitB
firom him ; infomuch that none
of them, whether Cbinefi^ or of
any nadon, dared vqiture.t^
fea without them.

He had but one thing to f^ar^'
the refentdient of the court, ^9^
account of his cruel eka^j^ojaf
on all thofe trading ve^lf, hi^'
taking all that had not a pa^
from him } and many ot)ief lud^
extortions* by which^he com^
merce was .greatly obftr4i£ied,
and the maritime jproviaoes
quite impoverifhed.. But, ai
he wasperfedUy well acqiiaintvl
with the W9^s of thecpurj^ ^nd
that tbe emperor, iurrounded^
he wasL by his eunuchs and mir
nifters, knew little or npthiag
of his fubjedts miiefi^s* b^t
what they pleafed to acquaisit
him with, he found nieips. Hf^
bribe chem fo high and ^^$£lu»
ally; as to flop ail complaints
from comity to his ear< ; th^y
caring but little how he plun^^
dered and robbed the people,
whilfltheyib plentifully partook
of the fp<Ml. Nothing wju^
heard

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49*

VrnJI
ttrifi.

r§fal

^^gdoft tbe T^si^tfr/ ; aod was foltowed by fach aai^
jnnlticiide of CUmfis vefl^ tluit he became head of one of
the moft fixmidible fleets that ever appeared on thofe feas ;
and had openly declared for the young Chinefe monarch,
againft the uforping Tartar. Some relations do erea affirm,
that he was the chirf perfon who canfed him to be crowned
emperor; and indeed the immenfe wealth which he had
amafled by fea and land, and the vaft number of veflels and
troops wluch he had under his command, had rendered hhn
fe powerful, and the vaft bribes with which he had been
cootinKatty crammiiffi the chief eunuchs and mimftcrs had
coofifoied his intercft at court to fuch a dq;ree, even during
the preoedii^ rdgd,. that he alone feemed to govern the em-
pire; fo diat, if he had not been faithfully attached to the
royal family, he .might much more eafily have feized on die
crown than either of the two rebels Lt and Chong lately men-
tioned ; and much more fo after the &tal death of that un-
happy monarch, and the wars that raged all over the empire :
but his fidelity to the royal blood would not permit hun to
liftea to, much Ids to form, any fuch defign (T) ; and this
. L it

among them but the higheft en-
comiams on him, and the Vaft
ftnriees hedid to his priikce and
coiintry, whilft the continual
complaints fent to them from
tiie defolate provinces were
wholly fopprefled by his large
preieats from bemg lomn^ as
heard. By this ume he was
grown to fuch a height of power
and ittfoknce both by fea and
laad,>that,upon a difguft agatnft
die imperial officers at Can-ton^
who were in arrear to him about
ao or 30,000 ducats of his fti-
pend, he went on fhore into
diat populous city with only
^000 of his own men, canfed a
tribunal to be reared in one of
flie fouares, and there fum-
monea diofe officers, with fome
public notaries, and obliged
them to pay him the money on
the fpot; and^ having given

them authentic receipts for it,
went back to his fleet wtthoot
the leaft raoleflation. This was
the condition to whidr Cking'
ehi'lonz^iA raifed himfelf at &
time of the ^^rtan invadine the
Chine/e empire, and which wt
thought neceflary to give oor
readers a (ketch of, for the bet-
ter underflanding die 'reftof this
tranfa£lion« See alfo the aezt
note (50).

(T) This is the coHimon opi-
nion, though there are not
wanting thofe who give him a
quite diffierent character, and
charge him with hav^pig afphed
to die crown, when made gone*
ral of the Cbhefi forces, and
to have betrayed the young em-
peror to the Tartars, for which
he was afterwards caft by dm
into a prifon at Pe-king^ where
he died (51). We (haU oa^

•bferve

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C I. Ype fJifiory of Chmau

it was that induced at length the Tartar monarch, who
looked opon him as one of the moft powerful obftacles to his
reducing the few remaining provinces, to try to gain him to
his intereft by the grcateft offers, and feircft promifes (U).
Thefc he rejefted with haughtinefs and fcom ; and, being
fully refolved to defend his prince to the lafl, fent anambaffy
to Japaity to procure fbme forces from that monarch, wmch

491

obfcfvc at prcfent under this
head^that die Dutch then ht-
tied ztFonfu^a^ or rather TV^-
^^^ ($<)> having given him
fome umbrage, either h^ tkiieir
carrying on too ^at, or per-
haps fome illicit, drade widi
China and Japan^ for which he
fent them a threatening meffage
that he would drive them from
that iiland, they fent him an
ambsifly, and agreed to pay him
30,000 crowns a year for dieir
liberty of commerce; and,
among other prtfents, a golden
fceptre and crown, engaging
themfelves to aM him with all
their forces, in cafe he took
the ftep hinted at by the pre-
fent ; and we are told, that he
never made any other fhew or
ufe of it, than to have it car-
ried about among other orna-
ments of his wararobe.

(U) Thefe pomifes were
made to him by the Chinefi
mandarin lately made viceroy
of Nan king 1 in which, among
Other things, he afTured him of
his beine made viceroy, or even
Idng, of the two provinces of
J#-i^ and ^nang-tong^ or, if
iie'iniified upon it, fliotdd only
pay homage to thcTartar empe-
ror for them. This o£«r C^/jf^'-
ehi long not only rejeded with
ibom,f but treated the Tar-
tar as a robber and uftirper ;
)uui' vowed, that he would
sot only defend the few pro-
vinces ftill unconquered, but

that he would nfe^ his utmoft
power to recover all the reft ui
the imperial funily of Cktrntu
It is true, ^en he was after-^
wards tidsen prifoner by tha
Tartaric and this haughty an«
fwer was laid before the empe-
ror againft him, he denied it to
be his, as he was forced to do
many other accufadons laid to
his charge. What was ftiU
more furprifing, thofe very mU
nifters o£ the Chini/k conrt»
whom henad corrupted by hit
vaft bribes in the laft reign^ be-
ing now gone over to the tar^ .
tars, became his mofl inv^erate
accufers ; fo that, knowing their
rapacious temper, he had re-
courfe to his former expedient
of cramming them with freih
gifb, which . at once flopped
their mouths, and all fardm
accuiadons; and he at leugjth
was acauitted with honour aA4
applauie.

As for the fever al battles
which he fought aeainft the
Tartars during about hx mondis
before he was made prifoner,
we only hear that they weftt
very bloody ones, without any
farther pardculars of the fucceft
of them. The reladons do not
fo much as hint whether he was
taken in one of them, or in
defending any of the imperial
cities; neith^ is it certainly
known what became of him at
laft, fo dark and contrary are
the accounts we have about it.

(52) yideOffUfs Cbins, uhijuf* Sa aifo hfirt, p. 4S. 57. & aii^

was

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vaakiog a mb)# 4«feQQe ; ood fewiil battles, we v^ «o}4, wem

finigbt with great bravfry ou both ii(Je$& ; tiU ^m: kt^ th«

Suffpri^ brave Ckmi-chi^limg was talp^cv prifoncr, j^id fent to Pe-kaag ;

.^*^/* lifXHk the news i:^which> the uifortUMtetaa^^zmfapQ found

re-fcing. yn^ ^appcfetedof ^Wshopes, aUthedtie^ofd^^

Long-vu viiicc opening their gates to the conqueror ; and himfelf,whc-

pti t9 iber h^wyed by Clmgrchp4mgy as Aww prefiKvl, w biirri^^

^^' diroBg^ htsill ftte kitd tb«ir band^ w«3 deprived %c once of

Cbing- Ins fife and ciovrn. 4nd then it was that 6%m^rib'-/<7flff, now

]^P^S in die hands cf «he TatUfi, and ended «nd tetad by the

A**?f' '* eonrt more on account of his grcrt wealdi and glory tMn of

^j **' his fidelity to his prince, went ovct to the T^artar intereft, to

lid himfelf from the many profecvitions they had laid agaioft

bim ; wbieh ftep he conid then taHe with Ids dlflionour to

bimlfilf, not only a^ l/mg-vut for whom he bad declared him-

ici^ W9i npw dead ; b¥t ais he Ipiew bis ppwerftil fleet to be

ftiU 9ttder tlie commtiid ti bis own W the brsire drng^chU

tm^, of whofe ioyj^ty to the unperial fapUy of Cffinm he

iMislnUy fitdsged. Some relations pretend that he was not

tak^n prifoner ; but invited to a grand feaft^nt court by the

Tkrt^r monarchy and was con^6ted thither with honoar ;

^d that he accepted of the invitatlpn, in hopes of obtaining

the bis^eft digoi^ there ; but, as this doth not appear fuit-

9ble to his cbaj:a^er aad beh^vlo^r in other cafes, we ratbg*

tbiafc be W9S caraod tbkher pii^^ier.

Tie reft tf HowsrBR, th^ Tatrtars i^d by thb tkne ta br proceeded

thi fro- in thdr cmcjueft, t)»t riiere remained but few dnt flood fim

^Wi ri' fy ^ fanpenal ftmSy ; and thefe one ^ ilie conqueror^

^^*4* I tmclesy named by fome relations P^li-^'wang, or PeH-pa-

cv4Tiy^'w^ feat "^ith a powerful army to reduce, who was

moraover made vjceroy, or, gs others lay, kijag, of thofe pro-

vioces, wbidi were ^ang^ft 4Qd ^jiang-tong, beCde$ that

of F^J^en lately inrnmdei^. to hm- He fent accordia^y a

Vift body of troops i«tp tb«t of ^pang'^trngs where, oiia of

tfar iflsperiai fSuntly of China had been prodatmed emftror;

but bad odly a fisw dgftardly troops, which had already (W^

turned th^ baeksinore l^an once to the conquerii^ Tartars^

and were expeAed to .do ib ag^n on th^ir firft appearauice*

(W) The Cfcnr^.relatiens do a^ ovfifr agiunft itfa^r^, tbs

nofite}ljosd»e^amfi:efth}siiew /VAi^^ii^/^ bad amndi better ia-

MOMBch^ thcwgb they are«vHV tdligenoftiof icbem than of i«JMl

aaia^ ^md fuUafi ft) theiothwr Msas 4Qfle in Athen aiore ffr

tcanfadMns iihat/hiimpftMd in mote^
this province, whic)) be4ng iitu.

3 The

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C. I. f9ir BM^ ^ Chktt. 4^1

The ca^, wket« ht Am rdfi<M^ \(ffts iftdfl^d trery ftrai^y
fwtified^ ftnd pe^ons enough to have m^tftiii^ a fiogc^
had it been better gatrrifened ; fiever^vdefe foiaa rekdoitt tt&
firm, that about twenty of the Tattarkn hdife, having e^* QaaBg>. '
tcred ity and riding about the ftreets hi a hoftUe manner, put tong «».
tiie whde place ifiito fuch conftemation, that ^ arttiy, which tertdbytbg
was then about half a day's match from it, had nothkig «^ Tartars,
dobutto^nto-lthitritimph^and talMp6flfeffion(tf it,witlK>ut .
ifteedfig with the leaft opjpofidont ; biitdiatfeems altc^etlier
fanreH^ to expofe the Ckinefe nadoti for not having better
defended their country afid liberty ; ftnd it is more pr6bable
thdt (hat metropolis, wlueh, befides iti garHfon, '{^\i as it
Was, contained above 200,000 inhabite^s, Aoft c^ th^m rich
and opulent [to fay nothing erf its having bean made a repo^
fitcwy of immenfe tteafores from other parts, as a place of
m<n« ftiength and fafety], made a vigorous defence ; and ao- jfig^ ^ ■
cxnrdingly we ar^ told by others, that It fuftdned a vigorous vigorous
fiege Aear a whole twelvemonth beft^e it furrendered to the difince,
Tartar general, who, on that account, p^mitted it to be phin-
4ered three whole days. On the firft night of their entering it, ^ fim
a powerful fleet, which brought a confiderable reinforcement, comsuh$
a|>pe^red on the^:anal of Canton, and came tip to the town ; dtftncei ^
Init,^ finditig the place already in the pofieffion of the enemy, hut coma
were fo exSperated at it, that they let fim to the new dty, too late.
which was the fineft andricheft part <rf the whole, and then^^'^f
put to fea again. The city was* plundered, and burnt to 2!"'''^^
afhes ; and the young emperor^ being found concealed among-^;^* ^^
fome faithful friends, was put to ddtth in die fortfcth day ^f^^^^^^*
his rdgn, and with him all his adherents. Hie plunder
which Was found in it, during the three days it was left to
the mercy of the army, amounted to an immenfe value ; and
the indignities and crudities which were committed ag^nfl: ttie
whabit^ts, without diilkiftion of age, fax, or quali^, wene
00 left dreadful. At lei^th the generals put an end to both ;
and, having refiored good order and govemtn^at in that me- ^
trbpoiis, fet about the r^duAion of Seceft of the prortnce ;
and met with fo litde rdJftancc in it, that tfiey completed k
in a very little time.

They riiarched next into the province of ^ang-Jiy where Quang^fi
they met with a quite difFer^t rscepdon ; and where Thomas makts a
KyUf then viceroy of it, and Luke Chin, generaliflimo of the nohUftatii
Gntuft forces, both Ohriftians and brave warriors, engs^cd againfith^
dieto With fiich intiepidity, *that they intircly defeated and Tarurs,
pat them 10 ffl^t. After thfe, the viaorious army pro- ^^^*^*

* VideDvHALOB, PAtAFOz, &al. fop. citat.

claimed

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494
Ywing-

dmmid

ffeCki
weStre

SSri^Kirxi^ China: B. L

ektiaed a oeir empefor of the Chm^c, Casnily, named Tom^
{^, then king of the metropolis of the province of ^uey^
cbew^ and removed his court to Shdu-kmg (X), aU^ Xm*
chin, the only city in the province of ^uang^ong that fiood
firm againft the Tartars, and refilled to fubmit to them.

The news oi their late viftory^ and of the eledioa of a
new emperor, was {bon fpread through the other provinces ;
and fo e&£hiaUy revived the courage of the Chinefe, -that a

^ commander^ who had got together a new army in the pro-

XgMT their vince of Fo-kyen, began to recover feveral cides from the

^gmr. Tartars ; whilft the brave Ching-chi-kong (Y), the fon of

Ching'chi'long, at the head of a numerous Chinefe fleet, did

C^%' .^^ ^^^ ^^ ^ fea-coafts» This new admiral, fUU more

chi-kong zealous for the imperial Chinefe family than his father, per*

mmd bis ^ formed many noble exploits agunft the Tartars, in which he

JUet Jefeat met at Hrft with great fuccefs. He took feveral ccmiiderahlc

/feTar- places from them, as the cityrof Hay-clnng, in the province

C»5. of Fo-kyen, where he cut in pieces the Tartar army fent to

relieve it ; that of Wm^chev), in the province of Che-hyang^

Drhoin ly ^^.n-king in Kyang-nan, and many others. The misfortune

/Icar t& was, that his good fuccefs did not follow him ^long, before

FoniK>(a. he met with fo total a defeat, that he was quite driven out of

China by the Tartars, and forced to direft his views anodier

way, viz. againft the illand of Formofa, where he was io

hopes to eredt a new kingdom, after he had driven the Dutch

out of it.

(X) This young monarch had
for his chief counfellor an eu-
nuch, named Fan- Achilles, who
was a very zealous ChriiHan,
by whofe in tereft Father -^»</rif««;
Koffier was permitted to inflruft
his royal mother, his queen, and
f^d^^'^ ion, in the truths of Chrif.
tianicy, who all received bap-
til'm from him ; and it was ex*
pe£led, that this monarch would
one day be fhe Conftantine of
icit.Chhhefe nation, which name
they gave him with that view
when he was himfelf baptized;
and we are told, that theie illuf-
trious converts did, by his con-
sent, depute Father Michael
JBoyn to Rome, to pay a filial obe-
dience to the holy fee in their
names.

( Y) This Is the fame that is
called Coxinga- in the Dulch
Amhajfyy and whom they charge
with having driven them oot of
Formofa^ or Tay-nuan, contnrf
to the articles agreed on between
them : but they fay nothing of
the provocation they gave nim
for it, <v/«. their feizing fome of
his (hips as they were failing tt>«
wards the eaftern provinces with
money to pav his forces therei
by which diiappointmeDt they
difbanded tfaemlelves ; and he,
in a fit of defpair, and refent*
ment againft their treachery,
failed dire£tly againft them, aod
drave them from that ifland, ai
we ihall have farther oecafioiii0
ihew*

liowEvifc

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C. I. The Hipry e/ China. 495

However, there were, befides thofe two, Cwnc others who Wt Chi-
tppeared in arms at theiame time for the new Chinefe monarch, nefe rr-
particularly the viceroy of Kyang-fi^ who (hook off the yQke,y2««f /^>
and defeated the Tartars m fev^ engagements; Soon after '*''i»*»'*
this there appeared two other chiefs in the northern parts,
one named ^o, and the other Kyang, each at the head cf a
numerous army which they had newly raifed. The firft HoV/k'^
marched direftly into the pro^nce of Shen-Ji^ and made him- cefi ik
felf matter of fome coniiderable cities in that province ; and Shcn^fi,
the other, following him into it vnih an army of 140,000
horie, and a much greater number of foot, ddeated the
Tartars in two ei^agements ; and threw them into fudi a
panic, that they dared not appear ainr more in the field.
Yet this did not deter the reft of them nom puflung on thdr
good fortune ; for they made a fecond attempt on the dty
of Shau'ldngy where the Ch'vUefe monaich refided ; and which
made fo vigorous a defence, that they were obliged to aban-
- don it. They met a iecond reputfe on the frontiers of the T'A^ Tar*
province', Whither the Chmefe monarch had gone^to meet tars ^^m
them, and was the firi^ that had the courage to da {q during refuifid,
this war, and gave them a^ frefli defeat. E^t the moft dread- Chang*
fill general that took up arms agaiiift them was one named hvea-
Chang-hyett'changy who afted more like a devU incarnate than changV
a Chinefe chief, makmg the moft dreadful havock in the vwsft- drea^
em provinces ; and, srfter haidng exerdfed t^xe moft horrid ^'^'H^\
cruelties in thofe of Ho-nan, Kyang-nan, and Kyang-Jt, turned *
h^ whole fury agdnft that of Se-cinven, where he committed
the moft unheard-of outrages and barbarides (Z) ; and did

not

(Z) This monilrotts brute, the title of emperor. A little

wHo COUI4 be affable to none after, double the number of li-

but his foldiers, with whom he terati, whom he pretended to

would converfe and caroufe with confolt aboutTome affairs, were

great familiarity, put the king likewife butchered, on pretence

of Ching'tU'fu^ the metropolis that they, ^y their fophifhry and

of Se-chwen, to death, thoueh fubtleties, flirred up the people

he was a prince of the lad W^ to rebel. Being about to depart ^

ae/e dynafly ; and, where- ever from C&f;j^«/»-^, he ordered all

he conquered, he governed with' the inhabitants to be led out of

fuch a tyrannic fway,that if any that cicy in chains, and to be

man comqiitted a Mult, thou^ maflacred in the. jfields, to the

ever fo fmall, he .caufed him, number of 60,000 ; and did

and all the people that lived not leave that province till he

in the fame ibeet, p be put to had burnt its capital, and feve*

death. He caufed 5000 eu- ral other confiderable cities. I{e

nucha to be murdered, becaufe was no lefs cruel to bit own

•ncofthemrefafcd togivehlm troops, ordermg them to kill

their

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49^ r^Hifiinyifaim. B.l

not leave' it dU he ha4 burnt the cajnidy smd othar ddes, and

Uarcbu filled them with ruin aod flaoghler. ijeaftKt advanced towards

MKii^the that oi Sk^-Jt, where he was preparing to £^ve the Tartars

Tartan, battle. He was already got near th^ army whe(i he was

toidf that five warriors were fe^n upon the hiUa; upon whkh

be went to view them» without ftayiqg to put oi^ other M-

tOfit or cuirais ; but was fcarcdy got in fight of them, beion

ShtH he was (hot throu^ the heart with an arrow. Hisarmywas

deaik, ^md loon aft^ difperf^ ; and the people of that province, feetog

ifisarmf tibem&lves fi^ from the danger ol that bloody moofteCj

dij^ftd. readily recdved the Tartars^ and (ubmitted themfelves to

ihem.
7be Tar- ^^ '^» ^^ ^^^ ^^' ^ many ill fuocefles obliged the Tartars
urs bavi ^ havereawirie to ftratagem ; and partly by bribes, rewards,
ncour/e to ^d promiies, and partly by fowing divifions and jeabaiies
jiratagem, amot^ the Chineje cotoHoanders [which laft proved the moil
andregatn effeflual], regsuned in a few years all the places they badloft,
thsir^ts. and obliged the Ghinefg forces to fubmit. As fin: ijie dty of
Shau'king, it had fuffered fb mudi by that time, dat, apoa
Shan- ^ Tartars beficjgpbog ft afrefh, Tou^g-fye^ not bdng in a coodi-
Idng/tr' tion to defend it agunft thdr powerful army, fimind himfelf
rtnitnd* obliged -to abandon it to them, and to retire into the promos

of $M(mg*fh and afterwards into that of Ttm^fum.
Pfines The year afier the reduAign of Can'tm, whieh was tht

A»i^- twenty eighth of the fevpnty^tUrd qFck, died the great J-imi
van's

death. theiF wives, becaufe they were Hv€t* The (ame aiM&or adds
an inqumbrance in time of war i ( 54), that he profeflcd fiich a
and fet them an example, by veneration for the law of Chntf>
catting the throats of thm hun- that he promifed, when he cane
dred of his own, referving only to the empire, to ere£t a mag-
twenty, to 'lyait on the three nificent temple to God. ]For
ijoeens (53). this he hath been repre&ntni

As he pretended to be a great by a late ingenious writer f Si
friend to the Chriftians, he a perfon otje^wi/h extraft, fbi
boafted to fome of the miflioD- claiming a cOiAmimonffOm God
aries, that he had dellroyed for all his murders and til-
20,000 bonzas, on account of lainies, and ftyled the Cbini^
Dtie of that order having raifed ConJ}antine\ as being, in his op-
j& perfecution againfl them ; tell- nion, fo like the Conftantim of
ihg fome of thofe fathers; that Rofne ^ but with what joftncfe,
the Lofd of heanfen had fent him Of reward either to the law or
to puni/h thofe tmfcreantij <who go^d, let the reader judge.
had trlfinikd to take anxjay their

CSZ) Ccuplet, Du HaJdiy ^.al, ($4) Cou^!a Msfiareh, Sinic. fd*

ehtamU p, 96. Vid, & not, in JSfi^l, Du Hjilde voAX p, Si8. ^ Setmiu

^ • ' * - ' Utfft,

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C. I. J4# Hiftary tf thmsL. ; 45>7

vtf/f, unde and gtuerdlan to riie young Tartar monarch '5^ff- ^. Cfc.
cA», to the great regret not only of the whole court, '• alid Tar- 1 65-1 :;
/tfr nation, but of the fubdued Chtne/e alfo, atnong whom he
was highly efteemed' for his gentle treatment of, and fingiriar
humanity towards, them ; fo that he might be juftly looked
^pOQ as the chief perfon who fixed the Tartar family now^
rdgning upon the throne. His brother, who had* a finall
fovcreignty in the fouthern provmces, claimed a right* to the
gnardianfhip of the young emperor ; but he bring then four- Shun-chi
teen years old, and married to a daughter of the prince of ^^^« /^^
th^ weftdrn Tartars, that claim was oppofed by-all ^ht^"'"^f
grandees, and Che young monarch -deemed capable of gbvert- i^^^**-
ing alone. They eren caufed the enfigns of thdr -re^eOtvfe ^^^J/'^
dignitiear to be hung at the gates of the palace ; proteffing, '^-^^-^ '
that they <would receive thetii again frotn no othef hands ihah
thofe of Shun-chL 4$ foon as it was refolved that he fhotiW Gains the
take uport hhnfelf the rdns of government, the young ifton- ^ru:^
arch did it: in fuch a manner, as could not fail of gaining the ^^^^^^
hearts of *all his fubjefts. Inftead of {hutting himfelf up^ ki ^"^^ ^
the impenal palace, as was the cuftom of the iCA/«^'empe- ''^

tors, he b^an his reign with fhewing himfelf in public^ and . ' . '
giving free accefe to his perfon. But what charmed the Ctn^
tiefe nation above all things, was, his extreme moderation; . ^

and the fingular and unhoped-for r^rd which he paid to -

thrir antient hiws and government ; in which, contnu^ to the ;-^^,

ufual cuftom of other oon<}uerors, he did not make any alter-
ation, except in a few particular cafes; and would not fo
much as permit them to learn the Tartarian language' with^
otit his fpecial licence. He alfo retained their fix fupreme tri-
bunals, but would admit them -to fit no-where but.at'P^
Mng : and ordered that there fliould be a Tartar as well as a
Chinefe prefident in each df them, and that thofe of Nari" *

king fliould be fupprefled.

He continoed to beftow the government of provinces and ReStifits *
cities on the literati; but abolifhed that abominable praiftice y^i^i^ ^r#ir/
of their examiners, of licehfing perCbns for money who were abufes.
not duly quifilified for it. He even condemned thirty-fix of
the former to be- beheaded for that male praftice, and caufed
the latter to undergo a fre(h examination ; pardoning thofe
who were found qualifi<?d for their degrees, and banllhin^ * s
*th^ reft, with their families, into Tartary, which is fmcc ber ' •

coine the conunon^f^ace of exile for great offenders ; as the ^
properefl means of peopling thofe vafV defarts is, that theehil*
dren who are born theire may more ^fRftually contr^ a ^ia*
tural conformity to the -manners and difpofition of the Tir-
tqfifs. With regard to the Chinefe troops, which, upon their
Mod. Hist. Vol. VIII. I i fub-

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fmvomn f«bmiffi<Mi« were onoorforatcd with hb owo; tbcgi^ he left

iif Chi- a great maoy of their own officers to command them» efpe-

aefe. dally if they were either well (killed in the martial dUciplkie^

or we^ deicended from confiderable firaulies^ in whidi laft

cafe th^y were rather a kind of hoftages to hii|i ; but ftill he

• commonly fetlbme of hh own Tartan over them* And as

to ciyil. esftploymentSy l&e was flill Ids icrnpuloiis ; and let

fiicb pf. the Chiiu/cy as were found, qualified for them, enjoy

thftp» as they had under tb^ native princes ; or even raifed

them to fome of tb^ hij^eft, if their defert l!ntitled thep to

it ; thon^ fae frequently found occafion tolefien their ocor-

bitant power, and n^ fbme ca(es to reduce it«o a mere hono-

■lary tide. But ftiU all this was done with £q much candour

and juc^[menty as. pkinly. {hewed thofe necefl^y alienations to

be more for the common good oi the empine thaa the fap>

. port of ^is government.

Lt^uit tmi SHUN-^HI was no le& efteemed for his love of kamu^

mmmagH and the great prpgrefs 1^ had made in feveral of the fciences,

banui^* even much beyond his years, as well as for the kind rcceptioQ

Htafsfa" whidi learned men met with from him and his €oiirt« Amoog

nj9urs on thofe who were moft in his. £Mrour» was Father Adam Sciaal^

thtJefidUi of whom wp have had occafion to fpeak, on another aocouat,

farttM" jmjj whom he always honoured with th<e title of Ma-fa^ cr

^ b^ 4fy f(Uhr. We need ^ot rq)eat here tke vaft imjMtivements

Sdha^ whi^ tb^ C^rfe obfervatory, vaA aftronpmical aoui other

' * fcbe^W received frof^ :that l^ned Jefoit, and others of hb

Society, under that mooardii ^who made Ima prefident of

ijie ^bunal of the ms^thematics, that he^aight reform thdr

aftrQnoq&y and calends^, , and deprived the Mobammediais of

that4igmty, after they had been in poflejQSon of it above

JwaCiri-390 years. The inteieft which the extiaptdinary leamiog

Jtiim o£ tiioTe miffioiiaries gained. them at the ifuperial court, dkl

churches not a litde contribute to the advancement of Chriftiamty theic^

iir///Mr^Vefpecial|y, as Father Sciaal bad this fpecial privil^e granted

f0j^tMl» xo him, of prefentii^ his petitions into his own hands, witboqt

paAi^ through the ufiiid esammatioa of the tribunals ; idb*

much that two. handibine cburches were built at Pe-^ng^ I9

the authority and proteAion ^f the emperor.

Five years after Sbun-chi had taken the reins of the em^
into his hands, arrived the firft ambalTy from the czar, cr
^rand duke of Mufc&vyy to him ; which, however, did not
Jucctfs/ul. meet with a favourable reception, the amhaflkdor refilling to
comply with the Chinefe ceremonies. Next to that, arrived
-^n^ from Holland \ which did bot prove more fuccefsfvlt
though Urn was rather owing ta the influence which the >

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fuits then had then over the emperor, than to the Hutch xt^
fufiHg to fiibmft to the formalities of the Chimfe court.

Three years after, Ching-ching-kong^ alias Coxinga, who Coxinga
had been left commander of thev numerous fleet belonging to bffi^ges
his father, after having ccMitented himfelf, for fome time, with ^{an.
making incurfions, and plundering the coafls of China^ came, ^v^g.
at l«igth, and bdi^d the city of Nan-king^ with about
3000 Ihips. A council of war bdng called, by the vicerojr
Sf the province, who was a young Chinefe mandarin, a Tartar
chief declared, that it could not be defended, unlefs its nu*
meroQs inhabitants were deftroyed. Upon which the young
governor bravely replied, " If that be the cafe, you muft be-
*< gin the butchery with me ;" which flopped the Tartar'%
mouth, and faved the fives of fomc myr^iads of citizens. The
fiege had gone on about three weeks, when Coxinga's birthr
day caufed an univeffal rejoicing through the befiegers camp, "^
which lafted three whole days; during which, there wa^
nothing feen but feafting, caroufing, and all manner of di-
verfions. When the befieged came to be apprifed of it, they
unanimoufly agreed to fally out upon them, with all poffibk
filenoe, about midnight, and found them all drowned in fleepi ^'^ ^^w/
and fo overcome with wine, that they eafily furprifcd them, /'^P^^/f ^9
and deftroyed about 3000 of them, and forced the reft to ^^^^is
flee, with all hafte, to their ftiips, leaving thdr camp, pro- ^^^lJ^l
vifions, and baggage, behind. To repair this lofs and dlf- J^^^^^'^
grace, he ordered nis fleet to fail immediately after that of "^
the Tartars, and engi^ed it with fuch tiefperate fury, that Succefi
he funk and took a great number of their ftiips ^ and having againft tht

J)tit the reft to flight, cut oflT the nofes and ears of his pri- Tartars,
oners, and fet them on ftiore, to the number of 4000. AU
thefe unfortunate wretches were, foon after, put to death,
under pretence that they ought to have died fword in hand,
but in reality to conceal the fliame of that defeat.

COXING J, after this viftory, thought it dangerous to
return to China, where the Tartar daily gained ground, . and
began to think of executing what he had threatened againft the '
Dutch ; and, in the year 1661, and feventeenth of Shun-chi's Sails to
reign, fet fail direftly towards the ifland of Formofa, with a Formofa,
fleet of 900 fail, and took the iflanda of Pen^gu and Tay^vjan
in his way, the Dutch not having had time to fortify them-
fdves in either of them ; fo that they furrendered to him, oh
bis firft appearance (B). He left 100 of his (hips there, to

guard

(B) The Dutch, who, as was aa alUtnoe with Cbifrg-eJ^ing-
. hinted a litde higher, had made Ung hts fathtr, and paid him

I i * ^ tribute

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500

^ Hi0^ry if ChUif. B. I.

guard them, and with the reft went and befieged Fortnofa, vrhcrt
the Dutch made fuch a ftput defence ag^nft him Vith thdf
cannon, that he b^n to defpair of maftering thenn as he had
brought no artillery againft them. On the other hand^ h^
tvas afraid, if the liege laffed too kxng, left they ftioold fend
tO'Batavia for a reinforcement,' and force him to raife it,
and if he was drove thence, he knew nbt where to fix next^
all whidi obliged him to puriufe k, at all events. At lei^th
fDrtune fo far favoured him, that, after four months, they
were forced to furrender to him, for want of provifion^
They were, howiever, fuifered to carry off thdr effefts with
them, whilft he difperfed his troops sdl over that part of the
SitfUsbis ifland which h now poffefled by the Chinefe, and eftabliftied
•'^ ,^V^' his new kingdom there. From this time that ifland pot on
^ 'V^ a new face, every thing tfiere beii^ fettled after the Chinefit

f 662. ^^^^' ^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^*^^? ^^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^ "*^ kingdcMn, but
Dia suul ^^^ ^^ about a y^ar after, and left it to his ion Ching-king*
tsfmccnMf^^yf who, having been 6rcd up to ftttdy^ took Iktiecare to

it.

Ching- a tribute of 30,006 croi9(rns for
king* their liberty, accufe his fon of
treachery, and bf coming npoh
diem unawares ; fo that, truft-
Hig on the treaty bettveen them,
they had taken no care to
ftrengthenthemfelves. And yet,
it is plain, bv their own con-
feffion and behaviomr, that they
ivere confcious of having done
fomething to incur his anger,
feeing they conceived fuch an
appr3ienfion at fome of his na-
▼u preparatk>ni, that they fent
him a frcitk ambafly, to know
whether he jntmded peace or
war. with them. The ambigu-
ous anfwer he gave to them,
^hat nvhin he looked towards o^e
foint of the compafs^ he defigned
to fieer towards another^ with-
out explaining himfelf further
as to tlieir qaeftion, did no lefs
alarm them ; io that he was far
enough from Ending them fo
unprovided, a^ they pretend.

As to the canfe of his treat*
11^ them 4n that hofUle and fe*
Tore manner, though they tcU

us nothing of it } but reprefent
his cafe as defperate, and him
as having no place to take
fin6luary in, and fccure himr
felf againft the refentment of
the Tartar's^ bat hJs making
himfeK mafter of thofb iilands ;
yet, if we may believe otiiet
relations, they will tell ns, that
they had given )um the greatcft
caufe of wrecking aU ms n^
againft them, feeing they had
intercepted fome pan of his
fleet, in which he had fent mo-
ney and pfovifions, to pay ibmc
of his forces in the north-eaflerii
provinces, who were in theut-
moft want of both, and did
actually abandon him, upon
their hearing of thofe (hips be-
ing feizcd ; by which difap^
pointment, his eoadicion was
become indeed as defperate,
as they fay, and he had no
other r^fonrce left, but at once
tO" go and avenge himfelf of
their treachery, and to fortify
himfelf^ and his few remainiag
forceiy in that iflaad.

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C. I- I'he BJhry of China. 501

improve what his father had» with fo much poiins^ acquired*
This indolence did not a little cool the^eal and courage of
his people for fome tanc, tiH a new occafion revivied their mar-
tial fpirity as we Audi fee in the fequd.

Bt this time the Tartars had b€«n fo fuGcefsful in the can*
tineot, that they had reduced moft of their oppofers. Neither
had Shun^chi any competitor to the imperial crown, but the
unfortunate Toung-fye ; and he had been driven out of fhina^
and taken fanftuary ac the court of Pe-gtt, where he ftill was
honoured with the title of emperor. The kingdom of Pe-gu
being contiguous to the province of Tun-nariy and Shun-chi,
having realbn to fear fome frefh difturbapces from thence,
fcnt fome troops thitherward, with a threatening letter to the
Jung of Pe-gu, that, if he did not deliver up the fugitive
prince, he would put his kingdom to fire and fword.. Upon '

which that monarch, not being in a condition to cope with Young-
him, immediately furrendered him, with his whole family, tq lye M'-
ibeTqrtarSf who condufted him to Pe-king, where he was 'vtridup
quickly after ftrangled. As to the two queens, his mother, to Shun-
and confort, who were brought back with him, they had c^?-
each a feparate apartment allotted them, in the royal palace, ^^/f^^M'
where they were honourably treated, and lived and died in 4f^^^^^*
the Chriftian feith, which they had been converted to by
Father ^cAW.

TuE fame year proved fatal to the emperor, who fell paf- Shun.chI
fionately in love with a young married lady ; and having ufed marriera
her hulband, a^ young Tartar lord, with fome indignity, j'««»^
which broke his heart, foon after raifed his wjdow to the *^^*^*'^*
imperial dignity. He had afterwards a fon by her, whofe
birth was celebrated with the greateft magnificence ; but the jji^ gxcef*
cl^ld dying in three months, and the mother foon after, that Jt've^rUf
monarch, upon the news of it, was felzed with fqch grief, at her
that hefn^tched a fword, and would have killed himfelf, had ^eatb.
aot his mother and eunuchs prevented it. He ordered after*
wards that thirty men fhould voluntarily facrifice their lives
to her manes, after the Tartarian cuftom, a ceremony jufUy
abhorred by the Chinefe^ and fince aboliftied by his fucceflbr,
IJe caufed her J>o4y to be burned on a magnificent pile, and,
with a flood of tears, gathered up her aflies into a filver urn.
After which, he gave himfelf up to grief, and to the fuper* jji^Cck-
fiitions of the bonzaic feft, which he ufed formerly to treat ^^w}, and
with contempt, and, in a few days, was reduced to fuch laJi'wordf*
extremity, that his life was defpaired of. ' Father Sch^,
fcr whont he had always had fo great an efteem, waited upon
him, and flrove all he could to divert, or reafon, him out of
l>is 4vep melancholy, btt in vain; he heard all he had to

lis fay

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coz fbi tUfiory ^ CKina. B. L

fay with patience, forbade him to kncd to him, and made
him drink tea with hin|, and, with his ufual kindnefs, dif-
mifled him ; and, as foon as lie was gone, ordered foqr lords
of his court to draw near to him, aod, in their prefencc, ac-
cufed himfelf of a great variety of fenlts he had been guilty
of, during his government j fuch as, his ingratitude to his
moft faithful minifters, his difregard to the counfels of his
mother, his avarice and idle expeoces in vain cnriofities, his
affe^On to the eunuchs, and inordinate pafiion for the late
queen, and the afl^dlions which he had occafioned to his
people. After this, he appointed them guardians to his
youngeft fon Kang-hi^ whom be declared his facteflbr,
though then but eight years old ; then calling for his imperial
mandc, he put it on, and flirunk himielf in his bed, faying.
Death* js^Q^ I ig^yg yojji . 3Q(i expired in zxi inftant, in the twenty-
fourth year of his age, and feventeenth of iiis reign. On the
next morning, the bonzas were all driven out of the palace,
and the corpfe of the deceafed emperor was inclofed in a
KaBg-hi xnagnificept coffin ; and the day after, Kang^hi mounted the
dedarii throne, and received the homage of all the grandees rf the
^^^^^* empire. \

II. II. AT/^iNTG^-ir/was not only endowed with an the princdy

"^*^ qualities that could render him worthy of, and an cnmament

mwttti the j^^ ^g impend diadem, but was likewife very happy in his

J^^Cbr ^^^^ noble guardians, who made it their chief ftudy to pre-

i66z. ' ^^^^ ^^ empire in a peaceable and flourifiiing condition.

They b^n with driving all the eunuchs out of the palace,

except looo, whom they kept *pnly to be onployed in the

7owns on loweft offices of it. ^ They next publiftied an edift, com-

tbe fea- manding ^ the inhaUtants oi the iearcoafts, on pain of

€9aftt d$' death, to leave their dwellings, and to retire, smd fetde

firoyed. themfelves, three leagues diftance from the iiea; and by

which all the maritime cities, towns, and fcnrtrefTes, wore to

be demoli(hed,*and all commerce by fea^blblutely forbid. By

this means, the power of the great fea command: Ching-

ching'kong was indeed gready impaired; but it no lefe af-

feAed the iifhing trade of the fubjefts ; fo that an infinite

number of families,^ who wholly fubfifted by it, were reduced

to want.

Fc'vire After this, came forth a fevcre cdift agunft the Chri-

C4^i/i ftiah converts, all whofe churches were demoliflied ; and the

^jgainjt the city of Ma-kau. in danger of (baring the fame fate, had notT

Qhrijiians. Father Schaal^ whofe intercft at court was ftill very great,

prevented i%y by employing all his friends there to procure to

that city an exemption from the general edift againft Chri«*

ftianity. For this, he, and three more of the iiune fodety,

were,

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were» foine time aftCTi imprilbnedy and loaded with irons
and infiuny, upon ihe petitjon of one of the literati to the re-
gency, in which bodi the nuffionarics and their religion were
F<eprefented i0 the moft odious cotonrs, and both, m a fhort
time, totally fupprefled, ts wc have ahready fliewn, in a for-
mer feftion %

In the fifth year of Kang-hfs reign, died the great So-ni^ So-nJ ih
tiCnS <rf the four i\egents ; when ihe'yonng enjpcror, takin^g chief n-
the government into hb own hands, began to^ve eminent ^^^^<''
tokei^ of that great reputaticm which he afterwards acquired '^V?^*
during the feqnel of his reign, the moft glorious and flourifli- j]{qL
fs^ that ever was^ Soon after the de^th of that recent, came ,^5- *
on the difgrace of Su-ka^ma, the next in credit to him, agaioft Su-ka-ait
whom were exhibited twenty articles of accufatlon. Upon thefti^md
"Which his effefts were confifcated, and a moft cruel fentence rtgentydi/'
prcmwinced againft him ; which was, however, fo far miti- graud^mti

Sted fey the emperor, that he w^s only ftraogled, (even gf /«' ^«
I childfen beheade<i, and hi^ third fon cyt into pieces. ^»'^*
Which fevere puniOmient was looked upon, by the Chriftians
^lere, as jtiftly defiarved by him, for the iH offices he had
|>rivately done to them, and their rdigion. About twp years Porta-
^^, arrived the P^rtuguefe amba^adors at the Chmfeg^^^m^
iDOurt, and met ni^ith ^n nonourable reception ; which di4 oafadors
not a little contribute to the eftabliflunent o( that natioq *^f^ ^*
Ht the diy of Ma-kau. On the next year. Father V^r^ '^^'m^
Keft, who had been ordered to ci»mine all the fkuUs i^ the ^/l^^*
Chimfe calendar, made by the frtccciTor of Father Schaal, in '^*
the chair of prefidcnt of die Qiadieoiat^cs^ was promoted (o
fhat place; and the other, TAxni^Tang'qtiang'fyen^ whoha^
let ah the box^cas and Mohammedans againft the Chriftian
jreligion, was not only turii^ ^t <;^ i;^ widi dMgrace^ but
even OMidemned to die, OQkaocoum oi die many bhinders that f^hef
vrere found in his calendar. Verbipfiy who ^ at the fame Verbicil
time inftruA the young emperor in »he mathematics for about pkadsfyr
five months, made ufe of all his intereft with that monarch /^^ Um/f
to reftore the Chriftlans to his ftvour, by reprcfentlng to him ^^^*
the inju(tice of thofe calumnies that had been raifed againft
them ; but all he could obtajn was the recalling of the mif«
Jionaries, and a declaration from theaflembly oi mandarins^
that the Chriftian religion taught nothing that was eril, or
tending to fedition : however, they were exprefty ft^'bid to
l>uild any churches, and the Chiruffe to embrace Chriftianity. t7-(an»

In the twelfth year of Kang-hi's reicn, U-Jhn^ghey^ who ghcyrr^
)i4d invited the Tartars into China^ to luppre^ the revolters w/^«

t Vide fqpra, p. 129, & ^q. k 131, & fcq,

I i 4 tberei

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Jfif Chr. there^ and had been fince made a tributapy fovereign of t
iiS74. fmall .principality, as has been elfewhere hinted, bong by
this time ba:ome ftrong enough, not only xo make himfdf
independent, but to deliver his country from their yoke, had
already taken fuch meafures, as gave the court no finall fu-
fpicion of his intendons. He was thereupon invited by the
emperor to come thither; but fent back his deputies with
Jnfnverfo thb anfwer, That he dejigrud not to amp t hit her ^ unkfs in
theemfe-^ company of 8o,QO0 men% and, as foon as they were gone,
^^' made a publiq declaration of his defign^ He h^d n^de him-

felf matter of the provinces of tun-nan^ Se-chwen, $uey^
cheWy and part of Hu-quang ; and, vtrhkh is a mark of the
imperial prerogative, had fent the Cbinefe o^endar to the
neighbouring princes, and, among the ^, to the king of
Tong'king, who all refufed it, and f^nt it back to the em-
peror; upon which U-fa^-ghey^s fon^ then at cou^t, was
jf/^i^^;,^ condemned to be beheaded. Sqon after this, the kii^sof
aliiofui i Fo-kyen and ^ang-tong did likewiie declare war agsdnft tbc
Tartars^ and were joined by Ching-ching-mayy the fw of
Coxinga, and now king of Formofa ; fo th^t Kdng-hi yraoii
hkve had a powerful ^liance agsdnft him^ if all thofe prince
had afted in concert, and in behalf of the common liberty.
irokSK. gut they were foon divided by fuch ijinbippy jealoufies, as
quickly turned the fcales in favour of the Tartars (C), lod
IT.fan- left U-fan-ghey to fight alone for the Chinefe. caufe ; who
jhey diis. being by this time much advanced in y^ffs, aiid ft^Jl erf
^'ks ^' grief at his misfortunes and di&ppointments, died foon aiftcr,
' not before {le. h^d feen himfelf ftrippe^ ag^ of great part oJF

the provinces which he had gained before. For, inunedi^tely
upon the f^tal rupture of^his allies, Kang'^hi fent fcyerrf

firft who broke this alliance, that the young king of fVhiv0^«

and fell out. with the king of who had fhewti himfelf fo care-

Fo'hfen^ under pretence that he lefs and indifferent aboot his

l;ad not paid hi^i the honpar du^ new kingd(mi» wa^ privately in*

to his rank ; upon which he de- licenced from the fame quarcer

clared war againft him^ ' defeat- to fall fool on the king of h»

ed him in feveral battles; knd ky^n^ in hopes of ingratiating

obliged him to fubmft to tfie hiinfelf to the emperor, and od«

Tartars. On fome fuch pretence taining the government of feme

the king of ^^g-timghxK^i riidh' province in the condnent

his treatV with U-fan-fhey^ and hy this'def(fikt of his anugonift ;

put himfelf and province nndd: but loft his aitn, by the Tacter*s

the protection of the emperor i being beforehaifd widi him in

and it is likely that theie dif- nfak|ng hif fublilli$on to that
cords and jealoufies were art- ' monarch-
fully fown among them by fome

' ' •' ■ * anni«ii

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C. I. The Hifiory -^China. 505

armies, Commaadcd by Tartarian chiefs^ to reduce thofe of
Che-kyangf Hu-fjuang^ Fo-ij^erij ^angtong^ ^^ng-Jt^ and,
in a word, zjl that refufed to fubmit to him^ Kpt^ithftand-
ing all which loffes, U'fan-ghey\ youngeft ton ffon^.-w/fa was
declared emperqrl

The latter end of this year 1624 proved fatal to the eqi-
peror, and to To^e of the northern provinces of China^ on
feveral other accounts. A dreadful earthquake, which hap- A dread"
pened on the fecond d^y oi" September^ at Pe-king, overturned/*/ eartbr
a great number erf* palaces, temples, ^nd other public build- quake.
in^, together with the walk and towers qF the city, and many
thoufands of people were deflroyed by iC The fliocks, which
fontin^ed from time to time for near three months, were fb
terrible, that the emperor, princes, and ■hoblUty, were ob-
liged to quit their p^hces, and to live in tents, whilft the reft
of the people,^ both in the city and pai;t's adjacent, were in
the utmoft conflernatipn. On this occafion the emperor
/hewed himfclf a veryrtender father, m the timely relief
he feh^ to all his filtering fubjerfs. "" ToXvards the tnd The impe.'
pf the fame month the -imperial palace was'Tet'on fire ; and rialpala^^
Jiurnt with fucb fury,, tliat it was all rej^uc'^d'to afhes in a ^*''*' *^
few hours; the lofs is. computed to have^|inounted to two '^^^''^"4
millions eight hundred 'apil 'fifty thoufand''faels.. Four days
tftcr thij dreadful fiie, fKe 'emperor fet out with his ufual re-
fiuue to t^e the diverfion of Hunting, at his pfeafure-houfe ;
and obfervin^, at a diflaace*,' fhe (lately monument which his
&ther haderefted to the urifertunate /^^a^-^^, the laft of
the CJ^/z^ emperors, ti!e"''went to it; and, proftrating him- Kang-hi'x
felf to the ground, caujSd rich perfumes to be burnt before homur f
It; and then, addrefTmg himfelf to the dead n^onarch with ^^^ ^'
tears, 21?^ jfcw, faid he, \0 great emperor, that it yjas not ^f^Ch*-
Wf, but ycmr rebellious Judje^SfVr' ho were the catife of your^^^
ieath. >''•''••

In the mean time the king of. f^tang-tongf though he had The king
fubmit ted to the emperor aliftle before, gave no imall urn- «/Qoang^
brage to him, not only on account of his eaterprifing fpirit, tong
biit on his having made himj^lf ^fxceeding powerful and richy^'*^^^^*
by carryii^ on a trade with" th^dS/^/<xr2f and Djutch^ not-, -^- ^^'■*
ivithftanding the imperial edidfe^agaiftft it ; upo/x whjch an
order was fent to him from coullt to march with hi^ forces to
fupprefs the rebels in the provhice of ^iang'fi\ which he
did accordingly, and divided hi$"army into feveral columns,
as occafion required. He was foon after artfully prevailed
ppon to returi^ to his own palacfe, c«i fom^ pretence ; and had
not been there many days, b^for? two grandees arrived from
court, and pfefented him with 4"filken halter, and the em-

pO-QT's

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p6 . fii Hyi0fy of Ctim: B.I.

peror'fi orders to^ftrai^gle bimfelf ; vrhich he was forced to
fubmit to. Above one hundred of his accomplioes, znd^
among them,^flirice pf his brothers, were beheaded; after
which, his immcnfe riches wp-c divided between his other
. brothers^ omc of whom was the emperor's fcm-in-law. On
ihe next year the king of Fo-kyen, another of U-fan-giffi
treacherous allies, was likewife ^put to death, and Us body
thrown to the dogs, on pretence that, daring his revolt, h^
^ad mal-treated ^me of the mandarins who continued faith-
ful to the emperor ; ^od at th^ fapie time hi^ brothers, the*
innocent, wcrp brficaded^ The fartars were no lefs fucceff^
ful againft Hon^-wha, who had been declared emperor in the
prpvince of Ttmrnan ; where, having m^de themfelvcs mafters
**"*?* ^r of the capital, tion(^'wha, to prevent a worfe prinifhment.

iim/^/r ^^^J^^ himfelf : but' they, not content wit

^IrCbr ^"^^ ^f ^^^ father ^the brave U-fdri-gheyj and carried them to

nxh that, dug up the

^fierChr '^"^^ ^^ ^^'^ rarner me urave u-jan-gney^ and carried them tQ

1681. ' P^'^^^^^S' where tnev were expofed'oii' ftakes, with marks of

infamy, in fevei*^^^pubU^ places, anrftiifea burnt, ^d the afM

fCfittered in thp far, ' / ^^.\

Kanghi By this time the >vhoIe fifteen* pi^ov^nces were fo fuccefsfoDj

unfits bis fubdued, thit tKe'"pmpcror determined to vifit his own nathe

Tartajr dominions of eaftern Tartaryy^vA the tombs of his anoc?

^A^rll' ftors; and fet put accordingly m'the beginniilg o£ March^

"^68 * accompanied &y' the prince hi^3^if, his three queens, and :| '

* ' * numerous coiirlahd retinue, fuch j^ we have elfewbere de-

fcribed ^ ; and oridered Father r^^f^'^ to attend him, and to be

always near his perfon ; by wfikh mpans he hath bepn enabled

to give U6 a better account of thofe ^ts than ^e could pof-.

fibly have before. On the n^?ct yeajr Tte made a' new prc^rclii

into weftern T^rir^^ry, with a greater fetinue and naore nume?

rous arAy (D) ; and continued W^ildfo every ye^, and fpent

< ' ■''^**- feven4

< Seeb^^.|?^5t.

(D) The army which accoM-?. tic memorials againft the fro,-
ipanied him in his firft progrefs \'^uency of them,
confiftedbf^ 70,000 men, be-^*^;^ However, the* the divcrfOB
fides his numerous court, anf^i^of hunting was the pretence fof

> the more prodigious numbeif ctf r: this, yet he had much highir
t)ieif atcendants. Whataddition/ views in it; i^/s. i. To keep
le fiiad^ to it in his fuhfequf^nt- his troops in exercife, and prc-

• jpu)rnies^ we ^c- not told ; bqt j vent their growing effeminate

hey were fp troublefome, and by the example of the Chinefe.

b cxpcnfiye, that fpme of Ws 2. It ferved to difplay the grant

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C t. ^e Uifiiry of China: sPi.

forcral months there, in taking the diverCoQ of huntli^ ; a
thing which nieidier the Chinefi^ nor even the Tartar lords of
his court, much complained againft. But that politic mon-
arch had his ends in it, as we hinted in the laft note ; and it
moft be owned, that he was a prince of fuch excellent abi-
lities, fuch conftant application to the affairs of ftate, fuch
penetration and juftnefs in the choice of his minifters, fuch
watchftilnefs over them, and fuch tendernefs for his people, tq
fay nothing of hb fingular frugality with refpeft to his own
perfon, and profufe munificence \\ ith regard to the public, that
it IS not to be wondered at if he bad the happinefs of keeping
that vaft empire in fo perfeft a fubordination and harmony,
tranquillity, wealth, and grandeur, during a long rdgn of
fixty years, which, under a lefs able governor, would be ever
liable to difcord and confafion.

In the fame year 1 682 Ching-ke-funy the fon 6f Ching^ching' Formof^
may, and grandfon of the famed Ching-ching-kongy or Coxinga^/wrrtndir'^
then king of Formofa, was obliged to furrender that ifland to '^'f ^^
the Chine/if, and to repair to Pe-kingy where the emperor con^ S^^ vil'
ferred upon him the title of count, and had fome fmall go- 4fi^^^^*.
vemment granted to him to maintain that dignity ; after which ^ ^*
WiB hear no more of him, or of any of his defcendents. ^wq
years after, that is, Anno 1684, the FsLthQrs' Gerbillon and
Pereyra^ two eminent miflionaries, were ordered to acconi-
pany the Chinefe plenipotentiaries into Tartary^ and to aflift Limits fe-
them in the fettKng of the limits between the two empires oitiueen
China and Ruffia ; an account of which, as well as of their ^^^^^p^
travels thro* weftern Tartary^ and defcription of thofe p^rts, ^i^^J^^fi**
the reader may fee at the end of the fecond volume of Du li* ^Chr
Halde*%em^\rQ of China. Thofe two fathers, aud fonle others 1534.
of the fame fociety, were lijcewife much tak^n up in inftrufting
the emperor in the mathematics, and reading and compofmg

coort, both to his fubjefU and remitting fome part of their tri*

v^al princes, who were obliged bute to him, by aflilling them

either to accompany, or meet in time of need with fome ot

him ih his progrefs, to pay their his forces againft any competi«.

hoinagetohim. J.-Thefefroops tor ; and frequently by beftow-;

aiade his power and authority ing fome of his daughters, with

more formidable, and kept thofe a liberal dowry, on fuch as h«

vaflal principalities in great- efteemed worthy 6f that hd-

er awe, efpecially as they were noar; by all which means he

fure to be vifited once a year by made himfelf as much beloved

him. Laftly, It gave him an by the loyal, as feared by thq

opportunity of liberally rewawi- difloyal or difcontented, whe-

ing thofe who bell deferved it, ther vaiTals or fubje^,
by hiUargo, prefents to thenii by

leftur^^

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rke Hi/hry of China: B. I

leAnrcs in the Tartarian tongue, on algebra, geometry, aftrch
nomy, natural phUofopl^y, phyfic, and sMiatomy 2 for tho' that
prince w^ before 9. jpomi^ete n^er of all the Chinefe kanir
ing, and had bellowed Jiis leifure boqrs in them, yet could hs
not tie fatisfied withcmt b,dng equally verfed in ^e European
J decree fpences ; and it was by th^ int^ereft of thoTe hi$ tutors tjiati
hfantour jccrce w^ obtained in favour of the Chriftians, who vert
€/^^. before but barely tolerated, but were now allowed the free
jn Cbr ^^"^^ ^f ^"^ reli^on throughout the whole emfMre. This
i6q2. ' ^^^^^ hc2x% date 1 692, ^nd in the thirty-firft of his rei^ and
^ * was confirmed and publilhe^ ia the month c^ March fol-
lowing.
Kang hPi Hi therto his reign had been peaceable apd hgppy, when,
fin emd cn a fuddiet^ the forty-eighjth year of it was difturbed with
heir de- an unexpected event ; and his fecond fon, whom be had apr
iraded. pointed his heir^ and w^s aliQoft his equal in dignity, was at
\^erChr. Q^^g loaden with irons, and his chil<ken and chief officers
^7^* involved in the frimj£ difgracc ; which was chiefly owing to
the intrigues of his elder brother. He was however foond
innocent, upon ftriA examination^ and the acciiling brother
condemned to perpetual imprilbnment ; and public re^idi^
were made through the empire, on his being reftored to fc-
your. This joy, however, proved ftiort'lived ; and he
v^ foon after deprived of all the titles and privU^es of his
rank, for a real confpir^cy againft his father*
A new So liiE years after the emperor revived two old"c4iftsagainft

fdi^ the Chri A^ns ; the one, foroidding them to build any churches,
fgaipfi the or make profelyt^s ; the other, obliging every miffibnary to
Qfrifiians. recdve an imperial patent, wherein (hall be mentioned his
JfterChr. country, flrdcr, the time he hath been in Chiite^ SMid his en-
i7i6» gagement not to reti^rn into Europe (F)^ Upon this, three
of the fathers wept (o tlirow themfelvcs at his feet ; but
could obtain no other anfwer, than that none were prohibited
to preach the gofprf, hut thpfe wfeo had not recdved the pat
tfnt.

(F) This new cdifl ^^as oc- franght wilh the iDoft anjuft ct-

ca Honed )>y a mempria) pre- lumnies againft them, iod the

, Rented €0 that monarch by a mandarin as an enemy, who

military mandarin, full Qf the fought to raife himfelf by their

Dittereft invedlives ^g^inft the fall ; yet thofe tribanals con-

Chriftians. Tfie Jefuits ufed firming the atcufatiops, and the

r all their intpreft to have pre- emperor, who was dieir ftkvi

vented it pacing thro' the ufual and patren, ratifying the feo-

examination of the tribunals, lence, (hew§ that it muft have

f)ut in vain ; and, though Fa- contained fomething more than

ther pu Halde reprcfcnts it as hare calumnies and invcftivcS'

• TflB

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C, i; ^ tii/tdrj of <5hlria. y>^

The next year, viz. 17 17, happened the general mourn-
ingf for the emperor's mother, which we have elfewhere givea
an account of *. Soon after which, th^ emperor was leizecf
with a diftemper which his court feared wouH fend him Grtai «iM .
after her, and thfew it int6 no findl confternation ; efpeciaUy. xiety at
as he defigncd to exclude his own family from thefucceriion,^^<'«^^^«^
and to bequeath the crown to a prince of the dynafty of Yvjerif the fuc'
ef y^om xiaact ftill remained ab6ve a thoufand. Upon this/^*'
occafion 6ne of the chief mahdarinir ordered his foh to prefent
a memorial to him, fetting forth tJie great importance it wai
to the peace of the empire to have hU fecona fon appointed,
his facceflbr ; at which th6 empJeror was highly inceafed.
However, he pardoned the foh, becaufe what he had done
iras in ijbediehce to his father, but ordered die father to be Se<verii^
put to death; which detftrr^d the reft of his minifters from' ag«i»/i m
^)caking any thing ihore to him about a fucceflbr,, , numdarau

Ik the year 1720 he r^cdved the congratulations of the.^;-„^^-^
whole wiipirCj on the newi of a fignal viftory whict V^,.£io}yo*ver
forces had gSlned ovet- the king of the Eluths^ who pofrefre4.//Jr^EIUdiS4
the coofitry of the lamas, and had committed dreadful ra-,
Tages there four years fticcefltvely j by which means the king*! Conqueft
dom of Tibet fell into the hands of the conqueror; a thingjd/' Tibet.
which Kang'hi had much at heart, a§ he had -the glory of
fimfhiag that troublefome war. In th^ month of June of the
fame year another earthquake was felt at Pe-king, which,
lafted about two minutes, and killed ibout iobo perfons by.
the £fdl of houfes.

On the aadA^v^wi^- following the ambaflador from the cpr fhe Ruf-
of Mufcovy made his public entry into Peeking, with a nume- fian am-^
rous and fptendid retinue, all drefled after the European man-* haffaiart
ncr ; and the gentlemen on horfeback, on each fide of hinv^**^'^ '*'
rode with thi&ir fwords drawn, which was a fight bpth new ^^"
and CKtraordinary there. His reception at court was no lef&
poUte and grand ; though the emperor, for wife and obvious •
rcafons, refufed to comply with the main defign of it, r which
"was, to eftablifli a free commerce between the two empires of
Ruflia and Chnuiy and to have obtained leave to fix a faftory
in the chief provinces of the latter ; and was pleafed to con- \
fine their number to two, the one at Pe-king, and the other
at Schu'kou-pai'fing, upop the frontier of the Katkas *• There
-was, however, a circuniftance, in the ceremonial of his ad-
miiliony which that envoy could not readily tonfent to ; and
his refufal had. like to have broken off all farther negotiation,
when that politic monarch found put an expedient which

* Sec before, p. 261. ♦ De his, vid. vol. v. p. ^j^ & feq.
^ would

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510 ftfe Hi0sry of Onmu &L

would oblige him to comply* We have eliewhereebfaifed,
^t every one, oF what rank or chara^ler fbevtr he be, that
approaches the imperial throne, is obliged to proftratc hisoidi
on the ground, and knock his forehead nine times againft it |*
This formal piece of refpc<fi, which is paid all over diis
Vaft empire, not only to the emperor, but to prioces ol dx
blood, idceroys, mandarins, and other minifters, hisexilQjIedqr
could not reafonably fuppofe would be difpeqfed with in an au-
dience to fo great an emperor. On the other hand, as he had
Caufe to apprehend left his complying with it fhould be jadged
too derogatory to his chaira^ler and dignity, efpedally at his
own court, and endanger the lofs of his head ; fo he had no
kfs caufe to fear left his refufal (hould be interpreted, at diat
of Pc'kmg^ as a want of refped to his imperial majefty> and
occaiion a mutual diHatisf^dHon between thofe two greftt
monarchs. We fhould here obferve to our readers, that this
very year was the fixtieth of the emperor Kang-hTs rdga,
and was a kind of grand jubilee through his dominioQS, and
was to be obferved with the utmoft joy and magnificence^
anid no-Where more than in his capital ; fo that it is notinq>io-
bable he might on that account iupprels his refeatment of die
ambaflador's refufal, that it might not be an impecfimeot to
his being an eye-witnefs of, as well as by his fplendid appear^
ance from adding to, the fplendor and brilliancy of his coort.
However that be, the following was the expedieat his pru-
dence devifed to fettle the ceremonial above-mentioned, infbdi
a manner as ftiould not admit of any exception from either
l^de : *^ Let theambaflador know, that it is my defign (hat
' ** the feme honour be paid to the letter which he is toddbrcr
** up to me from his .mafter, which our laws require to be
. ** paid to my own perfon ; for which end I defire that he
*' would place the faid letter on a table, that t may fend one
** of my chief mandarins in my name to ftrike his forehead
** on the ground before it." ffis excellency readily complied ;
and made no difficulty to pay the fame houours to the emp
ror as he had done to the czar his matter's jetter *.
Formofa On the foUowmg year the court recdved the dilagreeaUc
rtvo/ts, news that the Chinefe in the ifland of Formofa had la a fe^
mndis n* months ftiaken off die yoke ; and, being affifted by thofe of
ductd. Fo'kyen and Kyeu-mu had killed all the mandarins, excqjt
One who fled, and had put all the imperial forces to the
fword. This revolt was at firft reported to have been fc*
mcntedby xhtDutch ; but whether juftly, or no, is not certain.

t See hcfore, p. 142, & fcq. & alib. pafll f Lett^

edifianc. & cur. vol. xvi, p.378, &feq.
^8 HflV-

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<5. I, ThHUhiy if ChiMi . 51^1

However, thoie rebds were fboa after feverely pumfhed foi^
it by a new fupply of fprces which the emperor fent thither,
Vfho cutmoft of them qC drove thdr chief into themoua^
tainous parts, and difperfed the reft.

In the year \^^^ the emperor, bdag taking the diverflonn^ mv^
of hunting in his park of Hay*tfc, was on a fudden feized ror taken
with a ftraoge chilnefs, which obliged him tp return with all'^-
fpeedto his pleafure-houfe % where his^ attendants ibon found,
t6 their great furprife, tliat ixis Uood was fo congealed, that
no remedy <:ould iaye his life« Perceiving him^lf neir his
^id, Kang'hi aflSembled all his grandees, and declared his
.fourth fpn his fiicceffor ; and expired foon after, o» the 20th Dk^<»
X)f Decembiry in tiie fixty-ninth year of his age, and iixtieth
ic^ his rdgn* His body was that very night conveyed, to Pe-^
king ; and Ins fourth ion Tong-ching mounted the throne oa
«thie next morning, about five of the clock. - ^

. III. ro NG'CHING, the emperor then reignmg when the Ydnl;- ^
4aft relations came^ from thence^ was forty-five years of age chingjj^f.
jMi his accpffion to the crown, oa which he was coAgratulatcd ^j^^i,,
by all the grandees; and took the name of Tong-ciing, which ^^'^^^r
lignites Ufting pgace^ or mdiffbluble concord. He haa a great * ^^^'
niunbei^ of brothers ; but placed no great confidence m any^
expept his thirteenth, to whom he communicated all the affairs
of lUte ; but baniftied his ninth into Tartaryy wJiere he foon ^^«^ ^f^^^
after died; f^called his fourteenth, who had the coiamand di^'^others
the Oifl^/^ army; and moft of the reft, eipeciallyBj& eighth ^iS:''-'^^^-
and tenth) fell under his difpleaiure on fbrne pretence or .omer*
He ncj^t Iwniihed and imprifoned feveral princes and grander, O/^^r
on account of their protefling the miifionarifls : whidi fhews/^^^'" ***
be was no friend to their religion (G) \ and difcarded gll dift^^^^*

<G) It plainly appears that time9, would they Ic^Iow ^ny

he had conceived a Angular pre- : diredlions but theirs,
judice againft thefe mifllonarles This memorial was bs^cked by

from the very beginning of his another from the governor of

reign, by means of fome memo- Fo-fyen, much to the fame te-

rids prefehted to him by the li- nor, which vms confirmed after^

terati, (etting forth, that the late wards by the ];ribimal tsf jrines,

emperor had lofl a great deal of and by the emperor hiftifelf, and

his reputation by permitting produced thole dreadful edida

them to fettle in the provinces,^ againil Chrifliaaity, and its

where they built churches, and preachers, which wchave for-

roade profelytes, where-ever merly had occafion to ineqtiop,

th^y c^me j and their converts and in a great meafure extir-

acknowleged no other dpftors pated it out of the empire {55), ,

but them, nor, in troublefome

(55) Sa hfire, f. x%x, ^ tUh. tfg.

fath^

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gi2 : ^be Hijhry of tWm. R I.

fethcrs out of his fervice, except one, who was an excellent
painter ; which (hews that he had not the fame love for the
fciences that his father was fo femed for. In other refpejb Jie
(hewed himfelf a wife prince, Indefatigable and affidoons,
fleady and refolntie, witty and eloquent, and always ready to
tecdve and anfwer the ^emoriak prefented to him. He go-
vemed wholly by himWf, and no monarch coald be morr
^* J ^^^^^^^ ®^ o"*'^ feared than he was. This gave him an op-
^? . ]porttinity of enfbrcii^ a great many wholfome laws and r^-
iJim^^' lations for the good of his' fubjefts, in the framing of which
he fpent whole days and nights with a furprifiiig indefa^able-
ncis. iilTi^ raoft eiieftuai way to gain his favbut-, was, to pre-
fent him with forae fcherae tending to the pnblic good, or to the
relief of his fubjefls in any calamitous times, and he would
Ijpare neither pains nor coft to put it in execution.
iivtrky This was the excellent charafter of Toung-chingi wMch
to coirverts made therefore his fcverit^ agaiirft the ChrifHans the more re-
hftbetm- marldible, ts it extended itfelf in a inanner unworthy of fo
pfial wife a prince, even to fonife of the moft illufbious of the im-
ileod. pcrial family ; particulariy on that of the elder brother of die
founder of this dynafty, who, together with his whole
family, conlifting of eleven prirtces fbefides iixteen princeflcs
who were married to Mogol princes or mandarins of Peeking,
and had each of them a numerous family]], were all degrad^
Bknijhts ani feat into a miferable iexile in a defert place in Tartary, to
ihem into which they v^ere colidufted by foldiers, and there clofdy con-
Tartaiy. g,j^^ under a guard of them. The manner of theur being
treated before fiidr exHe had fike^K^fe fomething of cruelty in
it ; for that venerable old prince, without regard to his qua-
lity, age, merit, or the fervices done to the empire, was behdd
fetting out for the place of his baniAiment with thirty-feveo
of his children and grandchildren, without reckoning his
daughters and grand-daughters, who Were near as many, and
about three hundred domeftics of both fexes, moll of them
baptized. All thefe difgraces not being able to (hake their
^onftancy, the piinces were brought back to Pe-king in wag-
gons, each loaden with nine chains, There they were made
to undergo feveral frefti interrogatories, mbced with promifiK
of being reftored to their forjner dignities, if they would re-
nounce their faith, and with threats of being ufed with ftill
Confiancy greater feverities, if they perfifted in it. All thefe methods
^/^#Chi- proving ineffeftual, the tribunal condemned them to die; bat
ncfe con- ^^ic emperor chafed the punifhment into perpetual confine-
vfnr/. ment, which only proved a more fevere kind of death, feeing
inoft of them died foon after in their clofe dungeons merely
^o' hardfl^p and want ; and the reft were difperfed into other

provinces,

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C. u The tiipry of Chiha. 513

proidnccs, to end their days in prifons, fetters, atid mi{*ery.
The ambafladors of Portugal and RuJJia^ who were thfen at
the coun of Pe-kingy could not enough admire the conftancy
and intrepidity of thofe iliuftrious confeflbrs of Jefus Chrift.

In the year 1730, and eighth of his reign, he loft hk Dtath of
thirteenth brother, who ufed to ftiare with him the burden '^^ mpf-
of his government ; and died of a languiflilng difeafe, occa- fors/a-
iioned by his exceffivc application 5 and the emperor was fo 7^^^^
inconfolable for it, that it nearlyendangered his own life. '^'^^
However, hecaufed the moft magnificent funeral obfequies to Fumral
be performed to him, which, becaufe they fomc^hat differ honours.
from thofe we have dfewhere defcribed, the reader may fee
a fhort account of in the. margiii (H) ; and, amongft other

honours^

(H) A dec]ara.tion was at
firft iflued oat, intimating that it
was the emperor's defire that
all the world fhould (hare in his
grief, and in the honours to be
paid to the deceafed, without
difUndion of rank or quality ;
with this caution neverthelefs,
that fuch as did not think him
worthy ^f thofe honours fliould
be at liberty to decline it, tho*
he appointed officers at the
fame time to give him an Ac-
count every day of all who
performed that duty to him.

His body being expofed in
the great Ting^ where hone but
princes of the blood are ad-
mitted, there was a hall made
of mats ereded in the middle
of the great court, before the
gates of the palace, with a
Sirone in it, and before that a
table, on which were placed
only two candlefHcks, and a
vefTel burning with perfumes 5
for the dead prince was not
only a petty king of the firft
rank, but had been honoured
likewife with the title of ^^-
njangy or king. The entrance
into this hall was by a folding-
door, which was opened as often
as the officers of the tribunals

Mod, Hist. Vol. VJJL

came in dieir turns to pay their
honours to him, only a fet
number being admitted in at a .
time. Thefe at firft flood up
behind the tables that were fet
up on each fide of the hall;
then, kneeling down, made ^
feveral profbations, accompa-
nied with deep groans, and,
other filent tokens of grief> and
then as filently withdrew, to
make room for others that came
to perform the fame ceremony.'
From this place the body was
afterwards conveyed in pomp
to a palace built on purpofe,
about two little miles out of the
city, where the fame ceremony
was repeated ; and here it was
that the mandarins of the city,
the whde body of merchants,
and the meaner fort of people,
were introducea to pay him the
laft honours for a hundred days;
at the end of which he was car-
ried to another place, ftiil more
diftant, and erected for the fame
purpore,and where the fame rites
were performed during the fame
fpace of time. ♦
- There were five fuch ftations,
at each of which the ceremony
laded an hundred days ; after
which he was conveyed to the
K k^ fepulchre

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5,4 rbe Hififftj of Z\mz:. B. XIIL

honours he paid to his memory^ caufed his name to be placed

in the hall of the emperors, a diftinftion nevei- confeired on

private perfons, except they have done fome extraordinary

Third hro' ^^ important fervices to the ftate. His fiineral obfequica

tber im- "Were hardly completed before the third brother was arreiled,

fri/on^. and clofely confined. The occafioi^ of his dif^ace is not

known ; but it extended itfelf to his family, who were de-

,. . graded from 'their rank and dignities.

Pe-kiifg On the 13th. of November 1731 the city ofPe-iing'wts

dam^e^ almoft overturned by a dr^dful earthquake, fqch B%Cbim

ty Tar never felt before. The firft /hocks, which happened. aboBt

earth' eleven of the clock in the morning, were fp {u^den and vio-

quaki. lpnt,"that they were not perceived but by the horrid noifeof

the falling of houfes, atid the cries of the people ; and one

would have imagined that they had been blown up in the air

by a general miuei aild that the earth had op^)^ underneath

Above to fwlllow them up ; fo that, in loft than a nunute, above

100,000 100,000 inhalHtant^ wore buried in the ruins,, and a ilill

diftroyedin greater number in the country, where whcde towns were ut-

mmiuute, early deftroyed. What was ftiU more remarkable in it, is, that

the two fkft (hocks were not felt wth the fame force thro*

the extent of their courfe; but in thofe places where they

met with Icfs refiftance, they were gentle, and hardly per-

<;eived ; whereas they caufed the greateft devaftations wha«

they met with the greateft oppofidoa* Thofe two great and

dreadful oi^es were followed by above twenty more fmall ones

within the fpace of twenty-one hours.

Theempe^ Tme emperor was then at his pleafure-houfc, abont t<ro

ror'^s piety leagues from Pe-king ; which was inftantly reduced to-fnch a

§M that oc' heap of ruins, that it will require immenfe fums to repair it,

eafion. He was then taking an airing in his barge, on the canal diat

rUn^ through the gardens ; and, at the dreadful fight, fell

proftratc on his knees, with his hands and eyes lifted up to

heaven; after which, he publiflied an edift, as ufual, ac-

cufing himfelf as the main caufe of it, and at&ibutiog the

judgment to the wrath of heaven for his offences; and want

of care in governing the people. He next ordered an account

ftpulchrc which the emperor their ftead, to pay the fame r^
had caufed to be prepared for fpcdls to the deceafed ; after
him, and which was four leagues which they returned to their re-
in circumference. To this laft fpeftiveftations,and there caufed
the mandarins and grandees of monuments to be raifed to hiini
the provinces were to repair, or with the greateft elogiumsto hi<
depute fome oT their fons in tacmory (56).

(56) Dit Halde, fubfH, gnnah

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C, !• The Hijtt^ of China; 515

to be takca of all the families that fufiered by it, and an efti-*
mate of theu* damages, and advanced confiderablc fums for
their relief; and gave, in particular, 1000 taels to the mif-
iionaries, towards repairing of then: churches.

But, on the next year, thofe miffionaries, who had been 7^'Vi^i?^
ten years before driven from the provinces into the city of ^^^<^ to
^ang'tong,were now baniihed from thence intoM^-i^ji/, a little M^-kau.
city inhabited by the Portuguefe^ but oinder the dominion of
the Chinefe ^ What was ftill more fevere, they had but three
days allowed them to prepare for thdr journey, and conveying,
away their cffefts. The only rcafon they give for this fuddea
change, and hard treatment, is, that they had difobeyed the
emperor's orders; and preached the Chriftian religion, in
open defiance to his prohibition. They were accordingly,
forced to eiftbafk, to the number of thitty, on the 20th of
j4uguft^ under a convoy rf four gallies and two mandarins.
When they came to land at Ma-kau, the mandarins caufed T^^/r ^d-
their domeftks, and other Chriftians who had followed meftics
tiie miiSonari^, to be loaded with irons, and fent^back xo Severely
^Uang-tong ; where, after being dragged in an ignominious treated.
manner through feveral tribunals, fome were caft into prifons,
others baftodiSdId, others condemned to carry the Kan-ghe^
or viTOoden coUar, ^ month or two ; and all of them gave
fignal proofs of theJr zeal for, and fincere adhering to, the
Chtiftian religion.

Thus fatf go the Chitie/h annals, which Du Halde ends with Hopes of
the twelfth year of Tong-c king's reign, or the year 1732, at « return
which time he was reignmg with an abfolute fway over that A^'A^''^-
vaft empire. Siiice that time, we have been informed that he
died jinno 1736; and^that the miffionaries entertain no fmall
hopes of beiiig reftored under his fucceflbr. However, thefe
l^c accounts give us but little reafon to expcft it, fmce they .
atknowlege, that, though they found a great number of Jf^ws
and Mohanimedans upon their firft arrival thither, yet they
xnet with no Chriftians, notwithftanding their having been fo
numerous formerly. Neither can they have thofe opportuni-
ties of recommending themfelves to the Chinefe nation by
their fupefior fldll in the fciences, as they once had upon
their coming thither; but, inftead<>f that, muft expeft-to
irteet with the moft ftrenuous oppofition both from the literati
and the whole bonzaic tribe, and their numerous followers,
againft their religion, which, they cannot now be ignorant of,
is fo contrary to the tenets of the former, and the intereft

' Dc hac, vid. fup. p. Sj, & feq,

K k a of

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5i6 ne Hifiory (f (Xkiz. B. XIII.

of the latter ; tt> fay nothing of the diflike and contempt
which the difciples of Confucius, the only efteemed and valu-
able (ed in China, muft have conceived againft fome of their
fuperftitious dqflrines and praftice.
Fain ef' What hath fince happened to them, their various appli-
forts to rt' cations to the new Chinefe monarch, their apologies in behalf
tttter. of thcmfelves and their religion ; the feva*al memorials which
thofe few Jefuits, who were fufTered to continue at Pe-king in
the emperor's fervice, prefented to the throne and to the fupe-
rior tribunals, and the fmall fuccefs which they have hitherto
met with ; being foreign to our defign, and coming to us
from thence by private Tetters from fome one or other of thofe
fathers, may be feen in their collection of letters from thence,
and publiihid by Du Halde\ from that time to the year
1744 ; and we the more readily refer our curious reader to
thofe letters, becaufe he will cafily perceive, from the ftyle
and tenor of them, that though neither thefe, nor any thing
elfe from that quarter, were ever written with a defign to ex-
tenuate ihe feverity of the Chinefe government, and much
lefs to alcribe the total extirpation of Chriftianity to the mif-
conduft of the miffionai*ies» efpecially thofe of the Jefuit
fraternity, yet contain fuch a variety of impofiSnt tranfaftions,
and curious pieces, artfully worded^ and circumftances, as
we may fuppofe them to be, as will ihew him, that it was
ipt without the moft cogent motives, and after the ftrifteft
and moft impartial inquiries, that thofe two great mon-
archs Kang-hi, and Tong-ching his fon and fucceflbr, yielded
to the ftrenuous and repeated folicitations of tbeir vicerc^ and
governors, and efpecially of the fuperior tribunal, that of the
rites in. particular, to put an efFeftual flop to ks fiirther pro-
grefs, by the baniflmient and utter proscription of 231 the
miflionaries out of their dominions. It is hardly pof&ble for
the moft prepofleflcd reader in favour of that fociety to read
their relations on this fubjeft, written as they are by fome of
their ableft pens, without admiring the extreme indulgpnce
and benignity of thofe two great emperors towards them,
and efpecially their unparalleled condefcenfion, patience,, and
afliduity, in receiving, |)erufing, and examining, every me-
morial and apology which were prefented to them in their
favour, either by themfelves or their patrons, before they
could be prevailed upon to proceed to thofe unavcwdable feve-
rities. But, as the bare mention of every fuch inftance uf
thfir impartial lenity would carry us beyond our bounds, we
fhall conclude this lubjeft, and, with it, the Chinefe hiftory,
• ' with that remarlj^ble apodogetic fpeech by which the before-

^ Vol. xxi. & ^.of Lfttresedifiantes & curieafes.

mentionei

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C 1. Tie Hiftory of China. 517

mentioned emperor Tong-ching condefcended to anfwer their
complaints, in a memorial lately prefented to him, . and to
juftify his whole conduft towards them, to three of the moft
confiderable members of their fociety.

This cvirious jriece, or rather the fubftance of it (for, it
being fpoken to them extempore^ they could have no copy of
it ; neither could they, if they had been permitted, have
taken it down in ftiort-hand, his words flowing with by far
too great a rapidity for any pen to follow), h^th been tranf- '
mitted in French into Europe by Father De Mailla, one of the
three who had the honour to be admitted to this interview.
The other two were Fathers Keg/er and Parrennin, perfons
eminent in their way, and ftill in great credit at court, Thefe ^
three, having been admitted to the imperial prefence, accord-
ing to his majefty's commands, and-after the ufual proftrations,
continuing all the time in a kneeling pofture, he addrefTed his
ipeech to them in words to this effeft :

The emperor's fpeech U the three Jefuit mijjionaries,

'** ^T'HE late emperor my father, after having caufed me to
** -■- be brought up forty j^ars under his eye, hath made
■** choice of me, preferably to my other brothers, to fucceed
** him on his throne. I make it a capital point ofiny duty
** not to deviate in any thing from his manner of governing.
** Some Europeans in the province of Fo-kyen, who had at-
** tempted to difannul our laws, and to pervert the people,
" have been complained againft to me ; and I have thought
" myfelf obliged to remedy that diforder. It is an affair
" v4iich concerns the empire committed to my care ; and I
** ndther could, nor ought I now to aft as I did when I was
^* only a private prince of the blood,

" You tell me, that your religion is not a falfe one : I be-
" lieve It ; if I thought otherwife, what could hinder my
*^ demoiifhihg your churches, and driving you out of them ?
" A falfe religion is that, which, inftead o\' recommending
** virtue, infpires men with a fpirit of revolt, like that of
«* Pe-lyen-kiao. But what would you fay, if I ihould attempt
" to fend a number of bonzas and lamas to preach their ^eli-
*^ gion amongft you ? How would they be received by you ?
*' Li-ma-low (the Chinefe name of Father Ricci, one of the
'* firft Jefuits that came into China \)y came hither at the
*' beginning of Ovan, Vang, LPs reign. I fhall fay nothing of
^' the reception he met with from the Chinefe; I am not
** anfwerable for what was then done. But at tliat time

t Dekoc, vid. fup. p. 125, & fcq.

K k a ** ynu

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5 1 8 ^fbe Hiftory of Cluna: B. Xni;

" you were but a fmall and inconfiderable number. You
" had neither Chriflian converts nor churches m any of the
** Chinefe provinces ; and it was not till under my father's
" reign that you began to build them, and that your reli^on
** was fprcad every- where with fuch furprifing rapidity. We
'* faw it, but dared not fpcak a word againft it ; but, if you
** have found means to impofe upon him, do not hope to do
** the fame by me. You would have every Chinefe to become
** Chriflian ; your law requires it of you, I am well affured
, ** of it; but, in that cafe, what muft be the confequence
** but that we fliall become fubjeft to your kings ? Your new
" converts own no matters but you ; and, if any public dif-
••* turbances fliould happen, will liften to none but you. I
" am very. well fatisfied, that at prefent we have nothing to
** fear from you ; but, when your European fliips (hall come
" hither by thoufands and ten thoufends, will there not then
** be fome danger to be feared ? China hath on the north the
** great kingdom of Ru(fiay which is far from a defpicable
** one \ it hath on the fouth the Europeans, and their various
** kingdoms, which are flill more confiderable ; and, on the
" weft, a great number of others, which I am refolved to keep
" under, and prevent their fubjefts ever fetting foot into
**' China. When Angelo, the Rujfian ambaflador's coIl^[ue,
** was endeavouring to obtain the liberty of fettling Rujfian
*' faftories in all our provinces, for the better carrying on a
" mutual commerce, that favour was denied to him ; and he
" was allowed to traffick no-where but at Pe-king and Tchu"
" koo'pay-Jing, on the frontiers of the Kalkas. In the like
•' manner I have permitted you to ftay here, or at ^ang-
** tong, fo long as you give us no caufe of complaint ; but,
" if any fuch you give hereafter, I will neither fuffer you to
** ftay in the one nor the other, but drive you out of every
' '* on^ of my provinces.

" TkTe late emperor my father hath loft a good deal of his
" reputation, in |he opinion of our literati, by the condq-
^* fcenfion with which he permitted you to fettle in his domi-
** nions. The laws of our wifeft princes will admit of no
•* alteration ; and I will never fuffer my reign to be tarni/hed
.'* with any thing of that nature. When my children and
" grandchildren come to the crown, they may aft as they (hall
♦^ fee fit, and I trouble myfelf no more about it than about
*' what is done in Lapland. Do not, however, ima^ne, from
4 . ** what I have faid, that I Jiave any thing to lay to your charge,

** pr any dcfign toopprefs you. You cannot but know howl
♦* behaved myfelf towards you when I was only a regulo. The
♦^ fgmHy of one of youf u^w wnycrt iqaadorinS in Lyau-tong^

'' who

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C. 1. STi^ H^hry pf China. . ^ij>

** who pnl^y profisflfed himfelf one of your profeljrtfes, rofe

^' up in arms ag^inft him« for not paying the ufual honours

** to his anceftors. In that perplexity you applied yourfelves '

** to me ; and I extricated you out of it, and compromifed the

** niatter. What I do now Is in tjuality cS an emperor : the

** well-governing of this empire is what ingrofles all my care

** and time from morning to night, i do not fo much as fee

" ray children, nor even my eitiprefs, or indeed any one cx-

*^ ceptfuch as are intrufted with public affairs; anehthismuft

*^ be my continual af^lication-whilft the three years mourning

" for my father laft ; after which I may perhaps have oppor-

" tunities of feeing you as ufual*."

His majefly concluded his fpeech with defiring them to
acquaint the reft of their brethren with what he had (aid to
them, and difmiflid them with a fmall prefent. We (hall
leave it to our readers ro make their own remarks upon this
fbothing behaviour to that fraternity ; if not perhaps exag^-
ated by the rdater in favour of it, who was himfelf one of
them. This did not hinder^him, however, from giving them
foon after the moft convincing proofs of his being fully deter-
" mined to extirpate their religion, root and branch, out of
his dominions; for, his council having reprefented to him
the danger of fuffering miflionaries of any denomination to
ftay at ^ang-tong (which was the laft favour they had peti-
tioned him for, as their ultimate refuge, and the only way they
had left to fecure an entrance into China), he made no diffi-
culty to recall his promife to them, and to order them 231^
and with the utmoft fpeed poffible, to be tranfported to Mz-
kau\ contenting himfelf with ifluing an order, to thofe who
were to be charged with them, to treat them with all proper
decency and humanity ; which yet, li we may rely oii our
author, he fufFered to be tranfgrefled in almoft every inftince ^
of their behaviour to thofe unhappy exiles.

Before they left his dominions, they had the farther
mortification to fee a whole family of their nobleft converts
condemned to perpetual exile in feme of the barren parts of
Tartary, and to fee them depart thither under a ftrong guard,
loaded with chains, and in a moft deplorable guife. The head
of it was no lefs a perfon than a prince of the blood, aged near
80 years, and defcended from the elder brother of the emperor
Shun-Jhiy the founder of the dynafty now reigning. He had,
during a long feries of years, enjoyed with great applaufe feme
of the higheft pofts in the empire ; and had done feveral fignal
fervices to th^ ftate, efpecially during the laft reign ; yet
neither thefe, nor his affinity to the imperial family, nor his

* De hac, vid. Lettres^edifiant. & cur. vol, xvii, 267, k feq.

K k 4 extreme

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520 Tbfi Hi^ of Chin2u B. XIII.

extreme old-age, and perfonal merit, could obtain him either
^ revetfion or refpite, or evea an .alleviation of his dreadfiil
^ntence. A pr^oant proof thif of the irreconcileable hatred
Vrhich that monarch bears to Chriltianity, and of the fevere
treatment which any European mif&onary mufl expeA, that
fhall venture into that empire upon the like defign, fo long as
bis reign lafts. Their only hope now is, that Providence
will fome time hence raife him a fucceflbr of a different cha-
ni6l^, under whofe more aufpidous government they may be
enabled to gain frefh admittance, and repair by d^ees the Im-
Qienfe lofles which their religbn hath fuftained in fo fhcut a
time Within that extenfive empire. Immenfe indeed, if, as
^e are told, above three hundred of their churches have been
either demolilhed, or turne4 into public fchools, hofpitals,
dfc. ; and if, as it is farther affirmed, the number of thdr
profdytes amounted to 300,000 f , who are fince dther re-
turned to their old religion, or, at beft, live in continual dan-
ger of fome fevere puni(hment for their feithful adherence to
their new one. ' It is therefore, in all likelihood, to keep thele
&opes alive, that the public hath from time to time been
amufed with accounts, in the foreign papers, of thdr having
fmce met with better fuccefs and encouragement there from
tfie new monarch and his minifhy ; all which hath hitherto
proved to be without the leaft foundation, the laws and go-
vernment continuing in all appearance as averfe to, and fevere
againfl, all attempts of introducing again that profcribed re-_
ligion amongft them ; and all avenues to that empire, whe-
^er by fea or land, being ftill as dofely watched as ever; in-
fomuch that fome Jefuits^ having ventured to penetrate thi-
ther in fbrange difguifes, by the way of Tong-king^ have been
difcovericd, and arrefled in their paflage through the mofl
■ northern aefart part of that kingdom, and have been fince put
to death by order qf the Chinefe emperor, to whom thofe
princes are tributary, as we have feen in a former volume ♦.

t Lettr. ediF. & cur. vpj. ^vii. p. 275, & feq. & 279, &fcq,
* In fin. vol. vii. *

A P P E N D I X /d? /;&^ Chinefe Hljlory^,

Containing the Defcription and Hijiory of the tributary

Kingdom of Korea.

Vy'E have had frequent occafion, in this and fome of the pre-
▼ ^ ceding volumes, to remark, that tiie Chinefe empire had
three confiderable kingdoms, which were either tributary vaf-
fals, or paid only a kind of tributary homage to it, without any
farther fubjedtion. Of the latter fort are thofe olTung-king

and

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C.I. ^bi Difcription of KoTtsi^ 521

and Cochin-china^ whkh, for that reafon, and to avoid as much
as poffible oar deviating from the geographical order we have
prefcribed to ourfehes in this Indian hiftory, we have already
give an account of about the end of t|ie preceding volume.
This therefore of Korea^ and indeed the moft confiderable of
the three, is the only otA of confequence we have left to fpeak
of in this place, as bdng not only contiguous to fome part of
China on the north, but as being likewife held in ftrifter fub-
jeftion by the Chinefe than any other, but more efpecially by
the Tartar monarchs, fince their conqueft of that empire, as
will be more faUy fliewn in. the fequel of this appendix.

S E C T. I.

jy^OREA^ or Corea^ called by the inhabitants Tio-cen-koak, Korea
jfV. ^y *c Tartars Solko^ or, as others write it, Solgon, defiribed.

and Solho Kuron^ and, by the Chinefe^ Kau-li-que (A),
is a large oblong peninfula, fituate in the moft eaftern part
of China^ between it and the Ja^anefe iflands. It hath by
fome late writers been fuppofed an ifland ; but is allowed
now, by the moft recent authors, to be contiguous, on the
north, to the eaftern or IVanchew Tartars^ as it is on the
north-weft to the Chinefe province of Lyau-tong. It is divided
from the reft of the Chinefe empire by the Whang-hay^ or
Yellov) Sea ; from Tartary by a ftrong natural rampart, con-
lifting of a long ridge of high and inacceflible mountains ;
and on the eaft, from Japan^ by the fea of that name ; and,
on the fouth, is bounded by the Chinefe ocean. Its extent
from fouth to north is from 340 to almoft 43°, and breadth
from 8° 10' to 14® eaft longitude from the meridian of Pe-
king *. Its utmoft extent northward is bounded by the river
Tu'tnen-ula^ which name is common both to the Koreans and
Manchhjs^ and anfwers to the Chinefe name of Wang-li^
kyangy or river of 10,000 /i'j, or Chinefe d^des, which falls
into the Japan fea. It was likewife parted from the Man- Parted
chew Tartars^ and part of the province of Lyau-tongy by 2Lfrom Tar-
ftroi^ wall, not much inferior to that of China, elfewhere ^^^Y ^^d

defcribed ^ ; but fome part of it was in a ffieat meafure de- ^X^";

'^ ° tong by m

■ Baudraud, La Mar'iihierb, Regis ap. Du Hald/*; ^v^//.
vol. ii. & al. plur. ** See before, p. 289, Sc feq. ^^

(A) The words Kuron, or nations that of K^oliy Tro'xnn-

Kuroufif in the Manche<w, and ^//^, and feme others not worth

^a or ^e in the Chinkfe^ fig- mentioning, befules a variety

nify a kingdom. The Chinefe of old ones which it hath borne

books fometimes give it the through the fevcral hands and

pamc of ChaU'tJyen, and other ftages it hath pafTed (i). '
(i) Regh Obfcrv, Gte^* on Kcrea, ap. Du Ha/Jf, vs/.iu

ftroyed

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i2z • ^Tbi Dnfcpiptkn i?/iCorca. B. XIII.

ftroyed, by tht^Manchsws in tbdr knlptions into that pemn*
fula, which they made one ot their firft tooqaefts. The reft,
efpecially on the more northern fide, was ftiU {landing, and
almoft intire (B), till about a century paft, fince which it is
become daily more and more ruinous c ; however, there is
no going into Koreay either from Tartary or China, without
expre& permiilion from the emperor.

The whole country hath been diiFerently divided by the
Cbimfi mooarchs, whofe tributary it is pretended to have
been from time immemorial. At prefent it conliils of dght

MMi!ri^r£/'pfomcttS, which contain in all forty Kyutiy or grand cities ;

diies. 33 fV^'x, or cities of the firft rank; 58 Chews ^ or cities of
the fccond ; and 70 Hyen^ or cities of the third rank ; in
all, 201 ; l^fide^ a vaft number of fortrefles and caftks dif-
perfed in moft parts *of the country, and chiefly built upon
hills, all which are well garrifoned by a proportionable num-
ber of officers and foldiers. l?he firft or chief of the eight
provinces is fituate in the <:entre of the kingdom, and is
called King'hiy or the province of the court. The next on
the eaft (A it is ftyled Kyang-ywen^ or faurce of the river,

^ Regis ap. Du Halde, vol. ii. & al. plar.

(B) Korea, on the fide of that, in the Chinefe abridgement

ofchorography,intituled,%ifi>g.
ki, tSs city of Chw'tjyen^

tyaii tong, or, as it was alfo
called, ^uautofig, was parted
from it by a wooden palifade,
called from thence the palifade
of ^au't$ng, which was a kind
of barrier between them ; but,
whether built before its con-
queft by the Manchewj^ or fince,
is hard to guefs. However,
after that time it was agreed
that a fpacc of land between
the Manche^ Tartars and this
peninfula fl^ould be left unculti-
vated to ferve as a boundary
between them.

Father i?/j^// concludes his de-
fcription of the latter with a
curious c^njcclure, which is not
at all^mprobable, tvi%. that it
was formerly contiguous to the
province of Fe-cheiiy till the
Whartg'hay^ or Tello-ixj Sea, form-
ed that large gulph which lies
now between them. The rca-

where Ki-pe^ then king of that
territory, refided, is in the tcr»
ritory oi Tong^fing-fu, a city of
the firfl rank in the province of
Pe-cheli. From which he righdy
concludes it improbable, that
that prince fhould ^ his refi-
dence out of his dominions, efpe-
cially with fuch a large fea be-
tween them. He confirms bis
conjcdure with fomc other fpe-
culations no lefs curious, which
we cannot dwell upon. The
reader may fee them in that
author ; and by the map of that
countiy, and the fituation of the
city of Tong^finp may eaflly
convince himfeU of the proba-
bility of the fea having, in after-
times, made that large chafm
between that city and theoppo-
fite coatl (2).

fon on which he founds it is,

tad

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C. i^ ^6e Defiriptm pf %iX<sal ' 523

and was antkntly the country of the -flffV ; the thml, on
the weft, hath its name from the Whamg^hi^yf or Tellow Sea^
and includes part of the old kiogdom of Ciau-tjten, and
country of the zniicntMahan. The4&, or northern, ftyled Ping-
tigan^ or the factfie^ was formerly another parf of the Chau-
\fyen kingdom ; and 5. Tfwen-loy on the fouch fide, was the
refidence of ^t Pyen-hau. 6. Chu-fiuy or the faithful and
fure^ on the ibuih-weftern fide, is the antient Mahan^ Kyt-
king, or the ha^y. 7. That on the north^aftem was the
antient dominion of the Kau-kiu-li. And, 8. King-fban^ on
the fouth-caftem fide, was formerly the feat of the Chiu-hau.
Some late authors'are of opinion, that the fea of Korea hath
a communication vdth the northern ocean, becauie wfaafes
are fometimes caught in the former with European hooks, and
barping-irons fHcking to their flefti. To which one of our
authors adds, that, upon afldng fome of the Korean marinert.
What countries lay on tlie north of theirs ? they anfwered.
None, nor any thing but a boundlefs ocean *. But we fhall
find a more proper place to make a farther inquiry into that
pretended communication between the northern and Japan.
fea.

The cities both in the inland and on the fea-coafts are
built and walled much after the fame manner as thofe of
Chinay though much inferior in largenefs, pc^uloufnefs, beauty,
and richnefs. The houfes are much in the fame ftyle, oneftory
high ; in the cities of brick, and in the country moftly of earth. /// mitro'-
The metropolis 6i the whole peninfula is fituate almoft in the folis.
centre of it, ^nd is by the inhabitants ftyled King-ki-tau, but
by the Chinefe Kong-ki-tau, becaufe they reckon the word King
of too great a dignity to be given to any court but their own.
We know but little of it, except that the Chinefe maps place '
it in latitude 370 38' 20", which is about five degrees and a
half from the northern boundary, and its longitude about
II degrees eaft of P^'^/«f. * .

KOREA hath but two rivers of any note, viz, the Ta44Rirvers ef
and Tu'tnen, called by the Chinefe Td-lu-kyang and Tu-men- notei
kyang\ andj in the maps, by tht Manchew names of Ta-li-
ula and Twrnen-ula y x!ti<t words Ula and Kyang fignifying
each, in its particular language, a river. Thefe two rife ont
of the fame mountain, faid to be one of the higheft in the
world, and called by the Manchews Shan Alin, and by the
Chinefe Chang Pefban, that is, the ever-white mountain ;
but take oppofite courfes, the one running weftward, and the
other eaftward > they are both deep and rapid, and full of

* Ham^l Journal, in Collet, of Voy.

exceeding

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254 ^*^ Defcription of Korea. fe. XIII.

txoecding good "water. As for the others, which arc left
confidcrable, the reader may fee their courfe' marked in the
map, according to the Korean Obfervations.

The northern part of Korea is but barren, woody, and
mountainous, full of Wild bcafts, and but thiply inhabited.
It neither produces rice, nor any other com but barley, %>i
Sml and which the inhabitants make a coarfe kind of bread. Bnt the
frodua. fouthem is rich, and fertile erf" every neceflary of life ; breeds
great quantities of large and fmall cattle^ befides fowl wild
and tame, and great variety of game. It likewife produces
filk, flax, cott6n, and other fuch commodities, all which arc
manufaftured among them, except the filk, which they know
not how to weave, but fend abroad unwrou^ht, either to
China ox Japany the only two countries they have any com-
merce vdth. The paflage to either is (hort, tho* not equally
Commiree. cafy and fafe at all feafons. The Korean coafts are no lefe
difficult, of accefs, they being full of rocks, ihclves, ifc.
which make the failing along them very dangerous to thof^
who are not ufed to them : and what makes the Japan fea
ftill more fo, if what the Dutch relation fays be well founded,
is, that there is a current that comes from another and
A iarff greater fea on the north-eaft, in which are caught whales in
fea on the great number, fome of which are found with hooks and
N. E. cramp-irons, fuch as the Dutch and Greehlanders ufe in the
ftriking of them. This, if true, (hews that there muft be a pafT-
age or communication between Korea and Japan, which anfwers
to the ftreights of Veygatz \ but Whether fo or not, we dare
not affirm upon that bare authority. However that be, the
Koreans drive a confiderable trade with thofe two neighbour-
Commodi- ing countries ; and, befides the raw filks above-mentioned,
ties. export filver, lead, and fome other coarfe metals, rich furs

which come from the north parts ; and, above all, the famed
root Jin-feng we have elfewhere defcribed **, which grows
here in great plenty, and of* which they make no fraall gain,
befides their paying part of their tribute to the Chine/e em-
perors in that valuable commodity*'. The laft-quoted rela-
tion tells us farther, that they have mines of gold ; and that
their feas produce pearls, and variety of fifh ; and that the
inland is infefted with a kind of crocodile of a monftrous length,
fome of them being i8 or ao Dutch ells long. They have
likewife fome very venomous ferpents in the fouthern parts,
and great variety of wild beafts in the northern, particularly

* See berorc, p. qS, (C). « See the Dutch relation,

printed An. 1670, and Collect, of Vo}ag printed at Amfterdam
i\nBOi7i8, by Bernard, vol.iv."

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C.I. 77?e Defcriplion of Koresi. 525

bears, wolves, and wild boars. They ufe their oxen for €att/e.
plowing, and their horfes for carriage. The people are com-
monly very ftout and indqflrious, bold and warlike, and
equally trained to the plough and to the fword (C), to dome-
ftic trades and to navigation (D), and yet are generally affable
and civil to thofe that trade with them. Their manners,
cuAoms, and religion, nearly refemble thofe of the Chinefe.
Their drefs, like that of the Chinefe under the Tay-ming dy- Dre/u
nafty, is a gown with long and wide flcevcs, a high fquare
cap, a girdle, wide breeches, and leather boots ; but the bet*
ter fort wear this laft of linen or fattin, and their gowns of .
filk or cotton ; tho'»the poorer fort arc forced to take up
with coarfe hempen canvas. The northern provinces pro-
duce the ftouteft men and bcft foldiers. The rich commonly
wear fur caps and brocade clothes ; and the women wear a
kind of lace on their upper and und^v petticoats. The men
of the higheft rank, both in the northern and fouthern parts,
affeft to appear in purple-coloured filk; and, on pubKcoc-
cafions, their clothes are adorned with gold and filver. The
learned are diftinguiflied by two feathers in their caps, and
the whole nation ia general are well-ihaped, fprightly, and
courteous, lovers of learmng, tnd fond of mufic and
dancing.

(C) The Dtt/fi&rdatioii above
quoted tclts uS) that every pro-
vince in the kingdom is obliged
to fend once in feven years all
the freemen that are able to
bear arms to his court, to do
*duty there for two months. Each
province hath its general, who
hath four or five colonels under
him, and each of thefe as many
captains, every one of whom
hath either the government of
fomecity, town, orfortrcfs. The
very villages have fome infe-
rior officer, who hath a propor-
tionable number of men under
him ; and thefe, as well -as the
reft, are obliged to giyc an ac-
count every year of the people
under their government ; fo that
the king always knows what
number of people he can raife
upon any emergency.

(D) Three fides of the penin-
fttla being furrounded by the
Tea, every n^uitime dty is ob-
liged to. maintain a veiTel, or
galley, ready equipped, and fur-
nifh^ with all. necefiaries, at
its own charge. Thefe veflels^
have commonly but two mads,
and about 30 oars, with five or
fix men to each oar, befides
other common failors, the whole
amounting to about 300 each.
They have likewife fome few
pieces of fmall cannon, and a
large quantity of wild -fire, to
ferve upon an attack. Each pro-
vince, therefore, is obliged to
have its yearly admiral, who
takes a particular review of all
the veileis under him, and fends
an Account of it to the high ad-
miral, who conveys it to the -
king.

Theu.

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$26 ' The Defcripiion efYLat^. B. XIIL

Language. Tk^li tjEU^ag^ i$ differeat frxun the Chinefi^ or rather is
a mixture of that and. ^e Manehew Tartar \ but they ufc
the Chinefe charaftcrs in their writings and books. They have
fome learned men amotig them who admire the dod^rine of
Cmfudus^ and defpife the fupcrftitlons of the bonzaic feft ;
Bottzas but that doth not hindtr that monkiih tribe from being nu-
MMmerous. Qierous all over the country ': their idle life, and the gain and
refpeA thev extort from the people, invite them to, it ; and
ftill more 10, as they may renounce it when they pleafe. As
for^the tommon peofde, they fcarce have any reUgion ; and
uH the worfhip they pay to.their idols is only lighting a (tick
of fome odoriferous wood before them, and makii^ a very
low bow to them at parting. Thdr temples and monafteries
are numerous ;• but are not» fuffered to be in their towns,
but in the country, and nacrfUy upcm or by the fide of their
hills, and fome of them contain between 400 and 600 monks.
Worfinf, The fame fort of worflup runs through the whole peninfula ;-
fo that they feldbm fell but about reli^on, except that the
wifer and genteder fort radicr (hew a contempt for thofe-
idols and temj^:; yet one common notion runs among
them, that he that doth well fhaU be happy, and he that
7/(^^r(/?/- doth ill fliall be jmniflicd, in another life. As for Chriftianity,
ans iben. there is not the lead appearance of its having ever got foot**
ing in this country, even when the miffionaries were in fuch
high favour with the Chihefe emperor, wthout wbofe leave
they durft not have, attenq}ted to introduce it ; Such lefs
likelihood is theri^ of its^ ever gaining admittance there, fince
the Ghinefe coMxt made fiich fevere laws againft it.
Gfmern* The Korean government is altogether monarchical and
ment. ^efpotic ; for though, as hath been already obferved, their
kings are tributary, to the emperor? of China^ yet, excepting
the tribute and homage he is obliged to pay to them, be go-
verns with an abfolute fway, and hath neither prime mini-
fters, nor any'' other counfeilors, that dare to controul or
^be king^jcv^n advife him, unlefs he defires them. His council chiefly
council, confiffe of the governors and general officers mentioned in
the two lafr notes, who are obliged at proper times to attend
the court, and to be every day tlhere within call. Thefe,
though they have held the higheft dignities, and many times
to a very great age, yet dare not offer their counfel unlefs it
be afked, nor meddle with any affair of ftate unlefs they be
Jbfoiute appointed to it by him. There are few of them, except by
mrill. i particular favour, that hold their pofts above three yea«,
efpecially among thofe of the fubaltem rank; and many of
them are turned.out before that time, for fome fault or other,
the king having his fpies every-where to inform him of their

conduft;

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C.I. fBe 3efcr!ption of fHOTCdi. ' 527

condufl: ; fo that the fear of incurring his difpleafure obliges
them to concur with him in every thing, and to conceal their
diflilce to whatever he orders or doth.

He fuffers neither lords, nor any other grandees, to hold
cities or towns, or even villages, by right of inheritance, but
only during their lives, after which they revolve to him ; fo GraxdeeSf
that their chief revenue eonfifts only in certj^in land§ which ^^^''* '«-
they hold of him during pleafure ; and a great number of ^^*"'
flaves, which they keep to cultivate them ; uhilft the lands
and places, which they enjoy under him, intirely depend on his
will, ahd revert to him after their death. His chief revenue
eonfifts in a tenth, whidh the people pay to hun yearly out of ^
the produft of their lands; and feme cuftoms laid 011 the
^ csommodities either imported or exported ; other taxes are
not known among them, except on emergent occafions.

What their laM's are we know not, except that Ki-tfe, one Lavusn
of their firft monarchs, of whom we fhall fpeak in the fequel,
compiled a fet of them out of the Chinefe Shu-kbig, which he
reduced into eight, and' caufed them to be publiilied in his
new kingdom ; and that they had fo good an efFedt on h\% Singular
fubjefts, that theft and adultery were crimes unknown unto hhnejly.
them, nor did any of them (hut their doors at night ; and
though many revollttioris, which that kingdom hath gone
through fince, have made them deviate, yet our author ^
affures us, they may be.ftill jullly looked upon as a pattern
to other nations (E). They are not indeed fo eminent for Given u
their continence ; fmce they abound with loofe women, and njufifnen,
the young men and maids are very familiar with each other.
They marry without making fuch prefents to each other as Marri"
they do in China, or ufing any other ceremony. The princes ages.
and princefles of the blood always match with each other,
and the grandees follow the fame rule in their families.

f VideHAMiiuJoiimalinCoUea. Voy. vid; & Cuvvr. hif!^
of Korea, Art. V. ^

(£) This is in a great mea- which that againd adultery fs

fare contradided by the PutcA one bf the fevereft, except fuch

relation often quoted, which re« as the king in fome cafes canfes

prefents the Koreans as fo natu- to be inflided on traitors and

rallv given to pilfering and obnoxious perfons, which are

Healing, that he fays they are commonly arbitrary, and againft

forced to have very fevere laws which it would be equally dan-

againft it. The reader may fee eerous to make any objcjdion or

an account of their feveral pu- demur (2).
nifhmems in that author,amongft

(3) See 10!. iv. of tbt Re^ti, altve^mentitntdf printed 4{ jfrn^/rrfim ^r Tr^^. ,
Btrnard, 17 18.

s. . - -i---/

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528

Moitrning^
ralu

li*uing
criohtres.

MintSm

Houfest

Wine.

gum.

Strange
creatures.

The Defcription of Korea. B. XIIL

They keep their dead three years unbnriedy and lb long wear
mourning for their parents, but for a brother only three
months. When the bodies are interred, they place by the
fide of the grave the clothes, chariots, hoiies, arms, ijc.
of the deceaicd, and in general whatever they were fond of in
thdr life-time, which are carried off by tbofe who aflift at
the funeral. They are for the moft part very fuperftitions,
as are all the worfliippers of Fo%^ and aldior the deprivii^ of
any creature of life. Their punifhments are commonly of
the mild kind ; and fuch crimes as are efteemed capital in
other countries, are puniihed only with banifhment into fome
of the neighbouring iflands. Petty crimes are punifhedwith
baftonading on the back ; but thofe who are guilty of ill lan^
guage are put to death. When a criminal is to be punUhed,
they commonly throw a fack over his head, which comes down
to his feet ; by which means they conceal his fhame, and hold
him fafter in their power. ^

Their houfes have but one ftory, and are very*plain, and
thatched : they have no beds, but lie on mats. They ufe
plates and diflies, and moft of thrir furniture is plain. They
are moderate in eating and drinking ; and are commonly
healthy, and take no phyfic. Their wine is made of a grain
which they call Paniz, which we take to be a coarfer kind of
rice, fitter for that purpofe than for eating. We do not read
of any vines, or of thofe exquiilte fruits, and odoriferous gums
and woods, among them, which are fo plentiful in the wanner
foil of China ; but they have a tree not unlike the palm,
whofe gum makes an excellent varnifh, and of fo beaudful a
yellow, that it looks like gilding. They make a fort of cotton
paper, which is ftronger and more lafting, and bears a greater
price, than any in China. They have few natural rarettes,
except a breed of hbrfes not above three feet high, and a (on
of hens whofe tails are three feet in length. Their common
yreapons were crofe-bows, and long (abres without ornaments,
but they have fince learnt the ufe erf" fire-arms from the Chi-
ne/e.

They are wholly ignorant of the liberal fciences ; and thdr
literati know fo little of geography, that they divide the whole
world into no more than 12 kingdoms, antiently all fubjeft to
that of China, but fince become independent, and their maps
extend no farther than that of Siam ; fo that, when they hear
Europeans talk of the many kingdoms which that and the
6ther three parts of the world contain, they cannot forbear
afking them with a finile. Bow it is pojfihlefor the fun to en*

« Vide fup. p. 108, k fcq. 1 14, 5r kx^.

lighten

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C.i; ni Bftory of KxMz. 5^9

Ughten them all, unlefs indeed they give the name of king-
dom to fuch contemptible countries, or inconfderable i/lands^
as hardly deferve that of a diJiriEi, or barren hamlet. This
is indeed very different from what we are told by other wri-
ters, that fome rf their books affirm, that the earth contains
above 80,000 different countries ; but this laft they probably
had from the Chinefe\.

SECT. IL
Origin^ Antiquity^ and Hifiory^ of the Koreans.

WE can fay little concerning the origin and antiquity of
the Koreans^ except that it is as dark, impenetrable,
and, according to fome of their own accounts, as fabulous
and abfurd as that of any other eaftem nation ; they makmg no
fcruple to cry up the heads of their feveral hords or tribes as
the miraculous offspring of fome god, demigod, or hero, after
thd manner of the old fabulous Greeks (F). They are how-
ever allowed by moft Europeans to be of Tartarian extraft ;
and their country to have antiently been inhabited by various
tribes of them, the principal of which were the Me, the Kau-

t I^e hoc, vid. fup. vol. viii. p. 6, & (D) ; vid. & Hamel»
obi fup. & al. mult.

(F) To give our readers one
inftance, for all, of this their
vanity, the Kau-kyuli, who are
defcended from the Fu-yu, a
people of eaftem Tartan, give
the following account of one of
their antient heroes : A daugh-
ter of the god Ho'hang'bo bemg
detained in clofe confinement by
the king of the Kau-kyuli, con-
ceived one day by the rays of
the fun, and was afterwards de-
livered of an egg as laree as a
bufhel, wherein was found a
male child ; who^ when grown
up, was called Cbu-mong^ or
good archer, and made overfeer
of his ftuds. Cbu^mong ftarved
the eood horfes, and fattened
the bad, by which means the
kingchofe the latter, and left
him the former. One day, as
they were hunting, his majefty
g^ve him leave to flioot what
game fell in his way ; and he

• (3) ^'Ph ^Jitpra,

, Mod. Hist. Vol. VHI, L 1

flew fo great a number of fallow
deer, as made the king think of
cutting him off. Cbu-mong, per-
ceiving his intention, fled ; and,
being clofely purfued, and com-
ing to a large river which he
could not crofs, cried out. Ah!
Pall I, tvbo am the offspring of
the fun, and the grand/on of the
god Hohang-ho, he frequented
by this river from efcaping ? He
had no fooner ended, than a vaft
multitudeoffifhes,bindingthem-
felves together, made a bridge,
over which he paffed to the
other fide, where he met three
perfons, one drefTed in hempen
cloth, the fecond in a quilted
garment, and the third with
lea-weeds. Thefe three accom-
panied him to the city of Kyi'
Jhivg'ku, ^hcre he took the
name of Kau, to fignify that he
was of the Kau-fyuliait race ( 3 ) .

Digitized

fyuli,
by Google

530 ^be Hifiory of Korea; B. XIII.

kyuli, and the Ilau; the laft of which >vere again divided
into three hords, viz. the Ma-hau, the Pyeu^hau, and the
Chifi'hau. We have lately mentioned the feveral parts of the
country which they inhabited, in fpeaking rf thdr eight
provinces, at which time they were governed by thdr rcfpec-
tive princes,, till in procefs of time they all coalefced into one
kingdom, and were at length fubdued by the Chmefe ^.
When firft 'pn^ Chinefe annals pretend, that the Koreans have been
fubdued, fubjeft to them ever fincc the reign of Tau, their eighth em-
peror from Fo'hi, and continued fo till the tyranny of Tzatr
kangy the third monarch of the Byay or firft dynafty (who,
according to their chronology, b^n his reign in the year be-
fore Chrift a 1 88) caufed them to revolt. Kye, who afcended
the throne 1818 before Chrift, obliged them to become tribn-
Renjoh. ^j^j.y ^Q YAm ; but his oppreffive fway foon caufed tBem to re-
volt,, and even to feize on part of his dominions. Kye, bdi^
dethroned by Chin-tang 1766 years before Chrift, mlnce^
them foon after^his becoming head of the Shang, or fecond
Invade dynafty. They again attacked China in the reign of Chong*
China. ^^^^ which began 1562 before Chrift, and continued f<Mne-
times fubmiifive, fome times rebellious, till the year 1324
before Chrift, when, through the weaknefs of the emperor
Vu'ting, they fubdued the provinces of Kyang^nan and Shau-
tong, and kept pofleflion ot them till they were again fubdoed
by Tyin-chi'ivhang,

These times, however, are allowed to be obfcure hitherto;
and the Chinefe hiftory, confirmed by the calculation erf" feve-
ral eclipfes therein mentioned, begins not the foundation of
^}}^^. ff this Korean monarchy till the time of Ki-tfe, a prince femons
their frjt £^j, j^jg ^{^^^^ and uncle to the then emperor Chew^ the laft
^"f' monarch of the fecond dynafty *, who caufed him to be im-
prifoned, for the found and free counfds he ventured to give
him. Ki-tfe, however, was foon after reftored by Fu-vang,
the founder of the next or third dynafty, who mounted the
throne 1 122 years before Chrift, to whom he ddivered the
inftruftions contained in the Shu-king, book iv. c. 6. ; but,
being unwilling to live under a prince by whom his own
family had been dethroned, Jie retired into that part of Korem
I / luces ^'^^ called Chau^tjyen, where, by the emperor's affiftance,
tie Chi- ^^^ ^^ ^^^^ merit, he was made king, and introduced the
tick lawsf ^^^^A politenefe; and, by his fingular wifdom, fo firmly
ice. fettled hunfelf on the dipone, that his pofterity enjoyed it

filcceffively till Ching-tft-whang, who came to die Qtmefi
cvovira in the year 246 before Chrift, made Cbau-tfyen de-
pendent on Lyau*fongf allowing only to the defcendants of

*» See p. 522, & fcq. ♦ Oehoc, vid. fup. p. 392, & feq.

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C. t. Tbi tiijhry of Korea* 531

Ki'tfe the title of Hew, or Earls, till Shun reaflUmed that of Chan re-
Vang, ox King, about forty years after. Jumes the

He did not, however, enjoy it long, before ht was defeated royal tiiit*>
at fevwal encounters by Weyman (gJ, who at length put an
end to the family of Ki-tfe, and feizl»i upon that erown. He
was afterwards, though after feveral refufals, confirmed in it
by the emperor Wey-ti, or rather by his mother, who governed
daring his minority, and by degrees brought the Me, the
Kayfkyua^ and the reft of the Korsans, under his govern-
ment. Tew'iyu, his grandfon, about the year before Chrift
1 10, ha^dng put to death the Chinefe ambaf&dor, the emperor
Vu-ti fcntan army againft him, but without fuccefs ; but it
was not l(?ng before Tew-kyu was aflaffinated by his own fub- Ycw-kya
jefts, who voluntarily fubmitted to the emperor ; upon which ojfaffin-
Chau-tfyen was reduced into a province, and caJl^ by him ^^^^^
Tfang'hay ; and Korea divided into four more, viz. Chin-fau, Btf.Chr.
Ung'tong, Lo'lang, and Huen-tu ; and the emperor Chau-ti, .. ' '®*
who began his reign Jnno 86 before Chrift, fince reduced ^^^/^^
Korea into two provinces. ^^ "/

About fixty years after, the cmper(M- ^uang-vu-ti reduced ^i„ces.
the kingdom of Chau-tfyen, and made it dependent on that jimio 86.
of Lyau'tong, then under the government of Chyi-tong, famed
for his wifdom and probity. In the mean time. the king of /

Kau'kyuli conquered the Me, Hau, Eu-yu, and fome part of
Japan ; but ftUl continued -tributary to the Chinefe emperor^,
till Kong carried his arms into China for the firft time, took
Ac city of Huen-tu, and killed the governor of Lyau-tong in
battle. Kong was however defeated in his turn by a fon of
Ae king of Eu-yu ; and was fucceeded by his fon Swi-chin, Swi-chUi ,
who reftored Huen-tu to the emperor, and paid him the ufual reflcres
tribute. But, in the weak reigns of Whan-ti and Ung-ti, he Hucn-tu.
again invaded the country of Huen-tu, whence he was after- Expelled
wards expelled by Kew-lin, governor of that province ; part/-<>« if'
of his own kingdom was likewife taken from him, and the 4f^^^^^
reqiainder deftroyed under a fucceeding dynafty. *96-

But here it will not be improper to obferve, that the Chi- Korea
n^ annals make not theleaft mention of theconqueft which/«^Af/^jf-
Ae Japanefe made of this peninfula about the year 201 after /^r Japan*

(G) JFn-mem, or, aa others which China was divided under

call him, Ay«», was a native of his government (4), to enter

Pe-cheli, and took advantage of Chau-t/yen at the head of fome

the confa^n that then reigned dilbanded foldiers, where he de-

in China, whilft Kau-tfu, alias featcd and killed Chun, and dc-

tjew-fanw, founder of the Han ftroyed the red of the royal fa-'

or fifth dynafty, was reducing mily (5).
all the feveral kingdoms into

' hi % Chru^

d by Google

Digitized b

55j^ fbe^HiJhrycfKorc^. B.^mi*

Chrifty under their , emperor TJinrai^ or rather of his mardat

emprefs Dfin-gUy a celebrated heroine, who af&fled him ia

it ; for^ that monarch dying foon after his entering upon that

es^pedition, left it 'to be completed by her ; which {he did

vuth fuch fttcce^ and fpeed, that the whole Korean Jdngdom

was in a very few years reduced, and made tributary to the

Jdpanefe empire. How long they continued under that fub* .

jeiftion, the Japanefe hiftory doth not inform us ; but pwns,

Shiih off that in procdfs of time, and by the afliftance of the eallem

ibi yoke. Tartars ^ they found means to fhake oS the yoke, and reftored

their government to its antient form,, till again fubdued by

the Chinefei From that time the Japan emperors have made

frequent attempts to recover it, fometimes with, but oftener

without, fuccels; fo that they were glad at laft to let them

continue unmolefled for a confiderable fpace. Tay-cho, the

fecular monarch of Japan^ was the firft, who, after that lox^

interval, revived his pretenfions, but difguifed them under

* ^ the colour of defigning to invade Chtna^ and defiring their

^ ' afliftance ; but the Koreans feeing through his views, and

having murdered bis ambafladors, a war was renewed^ which

, lafted feven years, and of which we fliall give a farther ac-

* count in a proper place.

But to return from this neceflary digreflion, Chau, or Kau^

' the* great grandfon of Song^ lately mentioned, being made

king of Chau'tfyen by the emperor Tong-kya^ the kings oi

Korea Continued to be crated to that dignity during the dy-

riafties of Tjiny Ssng, TJi^ the latter ^ey, and Chew^ till the

feventh year of Tang-ti, the fecond emperor of the Swi dy-

nafty, when Twen, then king of it, invaded LyaU'tong at the

Koreans .head of an army : for this Yang'ti fummoned him to appeai;'

in'V4ule ^ before him y and, upon his refufal, marched againfl him in

I^yau- perfon; but, the Koreans taking (helter m their cities, and

^^K* defending themfelves ftoutly in them, the emperor was ob-

' is'^ k liged to retire, for wan t^ of provifions. He attempted thrice

Kyen^vu ^^^^ ^^ reduce th^n, but without fuccefe. Kyen<m^ the

fMunu the ^^"^ ^^ Tweny fucceeded his father, and was honoured with

JCorcan the title of Shang-chu-quey or the pillar (f th ft ate ^ by the.

tbr^e, founder of the Tang or thirteenth dyi\afty% At this time

JfierChr. Korea was divided into five governments ; viz. that of the

620. court, or middle ; and the other four refpefting the four

points of the compafs ; and Kay-fu-veny of the family of

tyuojy then governor of the eaftem canton, and a brutilh

jfffffftn- *^^ treacherous perfon, aflaffinated Kyen-vu his foverdgn^

mfed, ufed his body with the utmoft indignity, and fet up Xfang^ Ji

younger brother of the deceafed, on the throne, but only'

upder the title of Molichiy and referved the pQwer in his own

hands. - This traitor pretended to be the fon of a river-god,

,".-'' -. : w * * 5ft

d by Google

Digitized b

C iC '*' fthe Hijiery of K!orea7 '533

in order tofccore a particular regard from that fajjcrftttious

I)i-the mean time the emperor Tay-tfong; bdng informed nt empe'
of his murder and treafon, marched agaihft him at the head r or morel)'
of a powerful army, and was joined by the kings <rf Ki-taU' « againfi'
fn^ Pe^tfi^ and 5/m-&, took feveral towns from him, and fat ^^^reheU
down before that of Lyau-tongy which he took by ftratagem, Y^*/rti
reduced to a city of the fecond rank, and called it Lyau-chew. /{o^ ,*
He next took the city of Ngdn-Jbi, to the relief of which two * . ,

hrzYt. Moko generals came, at the head of 150,000 of their
troops. Thefe the emperor attacked in their trenches, and Hisfuccefi.
Jt>uted them. The generals, oipon their fubmifEon, were
kindly received ; but he ordered 3000 of the Moko of Pin-jam
to be tfuried alive ; and caufed a monument to be erefted oh
the mountain at the foot of which he had incamped, in me-
mory of this viftory. Not long after Kay-fum, dying, was
fucceeded as Molichi by his fon Nan-feng ; but a difcord
flriiing between him and his younger brothers, they came in
perfon to the emperor Kau-tfong, who was then fending fome
iiwrcesto the affiftahce of the Siu-hy againft whom the Koreans
•and Moho had declared war. That monarch fent an army Ka^-*
jaga3in|l the Koreans, under the'command of his general JL/- ^^ng
tfrig: and inquiring of the Kya-ym-chong, or cenfor of thfc-^*^ ^*
empire, his oj^nion of that expedition, was anfwered, that^^^
thefecret memoirs declared, that the dynafty or race of Kaii ^™^
Jhoiddnot reign in Koreayw// 900 years, and that it *would be jftg^^Q^f,;
ruined by a general aged 80 years. Now, continued the 57^
cenfor, this is the gooth year Jince the family ofKzu fucceeded A notable
that of Han, and the generaliffifno Li-tfing // fourfcore years prophecy
old. Befides, the people are divided among themfelves ; andfo about the
£ftreffed by famine, that the very wolves and foxes appear f?i expedition,,
their cities ; by which prodigies they are intimidated, fo that
the deJiruEiion (f the KsLVL dynafty is at ha^nd. Accordingly ,. -;
the Chinefe. general befi^ed Pin-jam ; and Tang, the titular . i

king of Korea, with about 100 attendants, furrendered him-
felf to him, and met with a kind reception ; notwithftanding >,

which, Nan-kyen defended the city with Angular bravery, till one
of the gates was betrayed to the imperial forces, and he was
made prifoner . Then v/tisKorea again divided into five provinces,
confifting of 1 70 principal cities, and 690,000 families.

In the reign of the emprefs, or rather ufurperefs, mother of Paw-
Vu'hew ^, Pay-ywen, the grandfon of Tfang, laft king of this ywcn
country, was created king, of the fecond rank, of Chau-tfyeh, to «<^^^ ^^^k
which Korea had changed its name, inftead of Kdu-ti, In this ^fthe/e-
ftate the government of it continued till the reign of one of its ^^ '**^'
kings named Van-kien, who iffumed the dignity of king, fub- '^g^. '

* Sec before, p. 445, (& fcq.
- L 1-3 dued

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^^ rhi H^hry 4f Koto. B.^IU.

Van-kyen daed the kingdoms of Pe'tji and Sin-ht and removed the
s^umis tbi court from Pin-jam gslA ward to the foot of the moamain
royal dig- Song-yo. However, his three fucceflbrs paid homage to the
^^' Chinefe emperors, till the laft of them, named Chi^ was ob»

J/terCbr. jjg^^ to pay it to iktKitan Tartars , Vho had conquered the
9*7' north parts of China^ whirfi were called Lyau^ and taken
^kirCbr, fij^ towns from Vang-fun^ the fucceflfor of Chi, and obl^ed
r 1? / '"^ ^ remove his court further from them : but he, making
S Kit^s!^ alliance with the Nywche Tartars (H), who dcftroyed
' ' Lyau, and fixed themfelvcs in the north of Cbinoy expelled

* the Kitans out of his domintons, and paid homage again to
the Chinefe monarch, and, for his bravery was highly ho-
noured by him. His fucceflbrs were no leis favoured by
them ; and indeed, confidering the then reagning contefb be-
tween the northern and foutbern monarchs of China, in whkh
the Koreans wer0 courted by both fides, thdr alliance was fo
confiderable, that they might make their own terms with
AMMtAaf' other \ and the emperor Kaw-tfing, upcm his mounting die
jy to Ko- throne, was fo afraid of their joining with the Kin, or north-
^Vii ri^ ^^ family, that he fent them a grand ambifly, to gain than
JftirCbr. ^^ Yis fide ; but was difappointed by the Kin's fending thither
"7* Vang<hu with the tide of king. Some time after Che, then
king of Korea, fent his {on Ghing to pay homage to the em-
peror U'tfing ; but, his father dying.^about the time, he re-
turned to take pofleffion of his kingdom, and had it confirmed
. : / to him by that monarch. This prince had paid tribute 36
timqs, when Shi-t/u, as the Chinefe, or Hu-pi-lay, as the 7ir-
tars, call him (the fon of the famed Jenghiz Kb&n, and the
Koblay of Marco Polo the Venetian traveller) \ was meditating
the conquefl of Japan, and defigned to j^ through Korea
thither. In purfuit of which proje^l he fent an ambaf&dor to
Japan, whom he ordered to pais through Korea, and to take
Koreans ^^ glides from thence ; but, the Koreans not confenting to
refufe pa/'^^* ^^ emperor fo highly refented it, that though Ching had
fagetoHa- J^^^cr neglcfted to pay Us tribute to him, yet he feized upon
pi-lay 'j Sinking, or Pin-jam, and called it Leng-nin-fu. But, upon
ytbaffa- ic See before, vol. iv. p. 515, & feq.

(H) Thefe had iormerly been of Song's family ftill keeping
fobjtft to the KoreanSi and po^effion of the foathem pro-
had in their turn fabdued vinces, as we have fccn in die
theni. Their princes had af- Chinefe hiftory. As to the far-
fumed the title of emperors, and thcr particalars of die Vju^U
?five the name of Kin to their Tartars, Kitms, &c. their vi-
amily, though they are not rious names, tribes, territories,
reckoned among the dynafties, fefc. we (hall refer cor teadcnto
becaufe they never were fole the 2>r/tfr hiftory ♦.
maftcr of China, the emperors

• Stthefire, f, ^6a. S&r{%

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C. 1^ fir Hifiory of Korea. 5^5

sun's fuccecding his father Ciing, he married a daughter of
the emperor, and received the feal of the emperor*s fon-in-
kw, with the title of king of Korea. He then took the
name of Kyu, and his third fucceflbr was called Song, anil
from Vang'ky en to Song are reckoned 258 kings of Korea, of
the f^ing- family, within the fpace of 400 years. When Hong- GhewV
vUf founder of the Ming or twenty-firft dynafty, mounted amhajjy
the Chinefe throne *, Kyu t>r Ckevj, then king of Korea, fent ^»^ ^<'-
an ambafly of homage and congratulation to him, and was ^^' *^
by him created king of Kau4i (or Korea), and was prefented *5?°^AT"*
wth a filver feal, and tlie antient privilege of facrificing to co^'
the gods of the rivers and mountains of that kingdom. But, ^
in the feventeenth year of that emperor's reign, the king's
ambafladors having joined in a confpiracy againft him, the
Koreans were declared enemies of the empire. The matter, After Chr^
however, was foon after compromifed, and that monarch 1390.
fatisfied, by a new ambafly and fubmiffion ; upon which he
fent to Korea to buy horfes ; and, the king refufing to take
any money for them, Hong-vu had them valued, and paid for
them ; but at the fame time ordered him to deliver up the
towns of Lyaii-yang and Shin-ching, which they had feized
in the pro^dnce of Lyau-tong, Soon after this, Kyu, then on
the throne, was depofed ; and Vang-chang raifcd to it by Li'^ .
jin^in^ then prime minifter of Korea, whofe fon Li-ching-que
dethroned Vang-chang, and fet the crown upon Vang-yau\
head, and in a little time after took it from him, and placed
it on his own. And thus ended the line of Fang-tan.
^ De hoc, vid. fup. vol. v. 60, & feq. viii. 471, & Teq.

SECT. III.

7bi Sequel and Conclufion of the Korean Hiftory.

LI-CHING-^UE, who then changed his name into that
of Vang'tang, failed not to difpatch a pompous ambafly,
with conliderable prefents, to Fan-lye, jthen emperor of
C/finoy vdth a petition to be confirmed on his throne ; but
both that and his prefents were rejefted ; and Ching-fe, who
had dravm the petition, baniflied by the emperor. Soon
srfter that; Tau refigned the crown to his fon Fang-ywen,
who obtaiaed a confirmation from the emperor Yong-lo, who
mounted the throne Anno 1403 ; and fent him 10,000 oxen
by way of tribute, in order to ftock certain lands which that
monarch had affig^ed to the garrifon of Lyau-tong. Ti«,.thc
fon and fucceflbr of Fang-ywen, fent his tribute in gerfalcons^
of fea'-eagles ; but the emperor refufed them, faying, that
Jewels and rare animals were not what he liked. We find
little in their hiftory, worth taking notice of, till theieign of

L 1 4 the

Digitized by VjOOQIC

536 The mjtory of Korea. B. JOriL

the emperor Van-lyc^ eiLcept that one of their kings, named
Van-ky -whangs ^xtw^SLci upon the emperor 5Ai-//5iig, * alias
Kya-tfing^ the twelfth monarch of the Mwg-dynafty, to craie
out of the book of the antient cuftoms of the Ming, the ar-
ticle in which Ching-que was recorded for having depofed his
lawful fovereign, and ufurped his crown ;(ibecai4k, faid the
Korean king, it was done at the folicitation of the grandees,
and of the people. But, in the twentieth year of Van-lye,
the fourteenth emperor of the Ming dynafty, Korea was in-
vaded by Ping'fyew'kyiy chief or king of Ja^n (I).
Korea /«• This conqueror, according to xh^Japanefe hiftory, find-
'vaded hy log, in the annals of that empire, ttdX Korea had been for-
//y^ Japan- merly fubdued, and made tributary to it, and being now
efc. raifed to the height of fecular power, thought it a proper time

After Chr, to revive his pretenfions to that peninfula, not without a
. 1592. farther view of opening to himfelf a way to the conqueft rf
Ping- China, He fent accordingly an ambafly thither, to demand of
(hyew- the Koreans a paflage for his army through their country ; and
kyiV ori' at the fame time that they fliould acknowlege the emperors of
gin and Japan as their fovereigns, and pay homage to them. But
n/^* the Koreans^ inflead of an anfwer, killed his ambafladors, and,

by that hoftile aft, highly provoked him to haften the war
which he had premeditated againft them. The Chineje^ how-
ever, without taking notice of either of thefe circumftanc^s,
only pretendi that he was induced to this invafion by the finall
diftance there is between the mountain King-Jhang in korea,
and the ifland Tiui-ma-tau, belonging to Japan, and then ia

(I) This conqueror is faid to the murderer; butprefently af-

bave been originally a (lave, ter raifed himfelf to the dignity

and afterwards a retailer of fi(h ; of ^anpe, and made himfetf

and, being found afleep under a mailer, by /raud or force, of

tree by 2Ljapanefe ^an-pe^ or about 60 fmall provinces. This

governor, who was then hunt- is the account which the Cbint/i

mg, and was jull going to kill and Koreans give of the great

him, awoke, and fpake to him Tay-cbo^ who raifed himfelf by

in fach a taking manner, that his valour and merit to the fc-

the ^anfe took a liking to cular empire of Japan, But

him, and made him overfeer of we fhall find a proper place, in

his ftuds,' giving him the name the next chapter, to do him

of Ping-Jyewj'kyi, or fhe man that juflice which his noble tc-

froM under the tree. He foon tions deferved. In the mean

after gave him fome lands, and time we thought it not impro«

made hini his chief confident ; per to give this one in&ancci

but, being a little after aflafTm- among many more, of the C^i*

ated by one of his counfellors, nefe pride, and the .contempt

Pingjyenv-kyi put himfelf at the they have of the Japanefe^ by

head of his mailer's troops, un- the difadvantageous light ia

der pretence of revenging his which they have fet one of tllcir

death, whicii he did by killing greatcft heroes and conquerors. •

JU3

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rhispofK/S(Mi(E)^ for» by the comaierce tarried on betW'^ea
them, he was informed^ that Li-feu, who then rdgned is
Koredy was a prince fo wholly devousd to his pieai]ares, thai:
Jie might be eafily furpriied. AccorcKngly Kyi fent two dF
his generals^ with a numerous fleet; to attack it ; who, landr
•ing their forces unperceiTed, ^ook the city of Son-te, and fop
veral others, the Koreans being fo foftened by a long peaces
.that they fled upon the firft approach of the enemy ; and the
•king, leaving the govenm^nt in the hands of his fecond fon^ i

•rctiFed firft to Pin-yang^ and next to hchevxy in the pfoidnce
pi Lyau'tong. From thence he fent an ambafly to the cmr
.-|>eror, to beg his affiftance againft the invaders, to receive
him as his fubjeft, and promifing to make Korea a province ^ ^
joi the empire; but, whilft that was tranfiifting, the JStx/^ii-
^ had already demolUhed the fepulchres, plundered the tre»* ■ • \
fury,, taken the mother, children, and officers, of the kii^
and made themfelves mafters of tHe greater part of the king-
dom. They had likendfe fortified the capital, and pofted St^ee^fs H
their troops in the moft important pafles ; and pretended ftill| Korea,
that they had no defign on the empire, but only to make the
liver Ta'tO'kyang the boundary of their conquefts ; but wc^
iliU nioving nearer towards Lyau-tong^ infomuch that he was
forced to remove farther from I<hew to Ngay-chew, AH
this while he was difpatching couriers upon couriers to the ^ '

Chinefe court, to haften the fuccours which came but flowly
on; and fome of them diat arrived had been defeated and a \
x:ut in pieces by the 7a/ii«^rj. •„

At length Song-ing-chang was fent at the head erf 60,009
Chinefe forces, and with the q[Uality of King-lyo, or genet
raliffimo ; and difpatched Li-yufongy a general under himi •
with diofe forces, through Lyau-tong; and the difficulty
which their cavalry . found in croffing the mountain Song"
nuang-fbdng. was fuch, that their horfes are faid to have
fweated blood. However, Li-yufong had fent beforehand a^
proper general before him, to try to over-reach that of the The Ja-
Japanefey by -endeavouring to perfuade him that he was not pane(e^««
coming with an intention to oppofe him, but to create Kyi neralout^
his mafter a king, for which he was invefte^ with full power wiV/f^'^jf
from the emperor. Hing-changi, that was tfie Japanefe ge- ^^' C^-
neral's name, readily fwallow^ the bait, and fent twenty °^*^*

(K) Thefe two are faid by with each other ; by whi<;]li

ibme to be fitaatc within fight means Kyi came to learn, th^

of each other, and, by others, the Koreans^ and their kiqg^

within three days failing with a lived in fuch peace and plea- '

fair wind; however near enough furc, that the conqueft of them

they are to carry on a com- might be eafily atchievedf.
mercej and even iittermarry, -' > .

t ^<* ^^^h Kampfir, fif « /. ubijup. officers

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53« lii Hi/lofy 0/ ^ort£ B.XKf.

• ioffioers to meet U-ythfa^^ who had ordered a party to tayte
them prifixiers ; but they defended diemfehvs ftrftoutly, that
three only of them were taken* This a^Bon m^ht have
CpaxA Hikfg'cbanfs eyes ; but^ bdog tcid that it hssppctkcd
through a imfunderftandiog of die rotameters, he was cau^t
a fecond dme, and fent a firefii mefiag^ to comfdiment the
Chinefe geaendr

Wb took notice a littk hi^er, diat the Ja^mrfe had for-
t^ed themfelres in the capidd, and other dties, partiadarly
In that of Pin-yang, which wasbefides a very flroi^ place l^
its fltnatioQ, haidng the river Ta-tong-kyang on the foudi-eaft;
and a confideraUe eminence on the north, then go^rded by a
Pia-yane good number of their forces. The Cbitufe genend arrived
nimkimty before the dty on the fixth day of the firft month c£ the
**[^Chi- twenty-firft year of Van-lye^^ reign ; and, having drawn up
"—• lus forces in order of battle, b^n to march mto the city,
^irObr. ^ Japanefe^ in their richeft accoutrements, linii^ the way,
'^^^ and thdr general being placed on a tower to viewjhe pro*
ceffion : but the Chinee officers behaved in fiich a manner,
as foon alarmed the Japanefe^ and forced them upon thdr
^uard ; upon which U-yu-fong made a feint to attack the
^eodnence on the north fide, and ordered tl^ detachment to
fetire after the firft charge, in order to draw Ac Japanefe '
Jn/lfctifi from their poft ; inftead of which, they in ti^ middle of the
mmmfi ttight attacked the Chinefe camp, but W^e repulfed with lo6.
mBw» On the eighth day the genend aflault was given by break of .
day, and the attack made on the fouth fide of the dty, widt
great vigour on both fides. At length the Chine/e, having
Kaled tiS walls, forced the enemy to retire to their fortrefs,
whence a good number of -^em, with their general, made
thdr efcape about mklmght ; but had near 300 killed in the
. aflion, befides a great number of others that were drowned
in croffing the river ; a detachment of 3000 Chinejk killed
40Q more of them in their flight, and took otliers prifoners.
On the 19th they took the dty of Fu-kay by ftorm, killing
" 1 65 of the enemy, who, by fo many defeats, were now Ihipped
irf four of the Korean provinces. From that time the Onnefe
jMt>ved fo fucccfsful agAinft them in almoft every encounter,
ibme of which proved very bloody on both fides, that they
had only the capital left to reduce, to which Ching-Hng^ an*
TSeeapi- Other Japanefe general, had retired. The Chinefe general,
isIofKO' who was within 70 Chinefe li's or furlongs from it, marched
rea be» with double fpeed agaiuft it with his light horfe, upon a fcdfe
fog*^ report, which he too eafily gave credit to, that the Japanefe
had abandoned it ; and thereby fell into one of thdr ambirf-
cades, near a bridge withm thurty li's of the place ; upon
which a bloody f)attle enfued, in which great numbers foil oa
. , - , both

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2x>tii fides ; tod, ihq' the enemy was pat to flighty yet die
Chinefe loft the flower of thdr troops. They were OK^reoveiV
cm* didr approach to the dty, much incommoded by the
thaw and rdns in thcip camp ; whilft the fapanefe were ad-
vaaiageoufly feated on a dry eminence^ with a river in front,
and a mountaun on their rear. The town had likewife reared
h^h machines filled with deftmftive weapons, vpon whidi
the Chinefe were forced to retreat to Kay^hing.

Here, on the 3d month of die fame year, tl^tr fpies bronghe
mtdUgence that 200,000 Ja^n^ri were aboot the cafutal,
imd t^t they were plentifidly fbmi&ed with com ; part of
^hidi lA-yu'/ong having fortunately burnt, the enemy, fear-
ing a fcarcity, agreed to peace, and jvAAeA the capital; wMch Smrrem^
h& entered on the eighteenth of the fourth month, and found ^^^red.
in it 40,000 bufliels of rice, and forage in proportion. After
^•the furrender of the place; the . Jnpaneje lent an ambafly of
fubmiffion to the emperor ; and, in the ieventh month, deli-
vered up the children and principal dficers of the kinpr of
Korea \ and the emperor, in the twenty-fecond year of lus
reign, agreed, at theintreaty of that prince, to accq>tof the
tribute offered by the Japanefe^ and to create Ping-Jbyew-Iyi Ping-
Taycho or kii^ ofv Japan^ on the foUo^xdng conditions : Ihyew-kyI
I. That he fhould deliver up all his conqD^ in Korea, ^^^img
a. That he (hould fend no ambafly to China. And, 3. that ?/^ J*P*"*
he (hould fwear never to enter into that peninfula "*•

This peace had like to have been brc^en both by the in-
difcretion of the Chinefe ambofiador, by whom Van^fye fenc
the imperial patent to the new Tay-^ho^ and much more by
the contemptuous ambafly whidi the rdnftated lung of Korea
•fent to him on his bdng raiied to the royal dignity. The
firft of thele, a marqub of the firft rank, but a perfon of a
very luftful difpofition, had been gratified in that fiivourite
paffion, on his arrival in /tf/um, by the governor of Twima^
who fent three of the md[t beautiful women of that ^coun*
try, to him one after another ; but, die marquis being irfter*
wards informed that the governor's wife was extremely beau-
tiful, and having made no fcruple to demand her of Itim, he
refented the a£ont« About the fame time a Japaneji of
quality, named Lof^, having difputed the way v4th the am*
baf&dor, had like to have been UUed by him, but was hap- -
pily refcued by bis own retinue, fo that the marquis had no
way left to dfcape but by flight, and leaving every thing,
even hb very crMentials, beUnd him. He wandered -fHi the
night, and at length in a fit of defpair, hanged himfelf ; but
■was cut down by fome of his followers, and fled back to

* See RxGis ap. Du Haldc, vol. ii*. p« 376.

China.

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(^inOf-viih&cCf b; the emperor's orders^ he was tried for hil

jnifcGMidQAy and another ambaf&dor fent in his room.

Cirmoi^ TifE CUmfe tell us, that Ping-Jhyew-kyi, haioi^ hAed

0/ nciiw- and bathed three days, vtent in great ceremony to meet the

ingtbepa" emperor's patent, before which he [nroftrated himfelf fifteen

^^''^p times ; after which he was created king in all the ufual for^

jnaiities, and exprefled the deepeft gradtude to the Cfnnefe

IRifei^' monarch for his new dignity. Bnt ioon after this, the king

'•^ of Korea^ being advifed by one of Ids favourites to treat the

^ainfttbe ^ay-cho mth contempt, fent his compliments to him only by a

^^ V ^ deputy-governor of a dty of the feccxid order, atid with a

^^^"^^ * few ordinary prefents of filk. Ping-fyew'l^i lug^y refented

mdmM' the infult ; and faid to the amba&dor. Hath thy mafierji

/wir to foon forgot that I conquered his kingdoniy and have reftored it

bis suaiaf" to him put of mere regard to the emperor ? What doth he ima'

fadfr. gine me to be, in fending mefuch a ^refent by one ef your

rank ? Whom doth he affront, me, or the emperor ? but, fince

be treats me in fo unworthy a manner, let him knov/ that

m forces Jball notjiir out of Korea tHl the emperor hath dufy

ch^ifedhim. On the next day he fent with his tribute whieK

was very rich, two remonftrances, the one acknowi^i^ his

f obligations to the emperor, and the other demanding juftice

againft the Korean king. He waited foe the latter tiU the

25th of that emperor's rdgn, ior a iatisfaftion for the af-

Renews front ; but, finding him rather inclined to fide '^^th the Ko-

tbi war rean Mixkg, as the lequel fiiews he did, he refdved to renew

*4^«V the war ; and accordingly invaded Korea afirefh with a fleet

him. pf 200 fail, and a powerful army under the command of Ink

7hefticce/s two old generals Tfing-ching and Hing-dnng. Thefe two,

•fhis two being thoroughly acquainted with die country, renewed the

gensralsi war with double vigour, and took Ngan-ywenfA, the governor

of which fled barefoot upon their firft .approach ; and fooA

made themfelves mafters of many other confiderable cities and

!pafles on all fides, inf(»nuch that the Chineje capital was in a

great meafure blocked up. The former had already fixed his

quarters at Tun^Jin, 600 li's, and the latter at Kingfbang,

400 li*s, from it% The Chinefe^ headed by Han-quey, laid

fiege to the latter with a numerous army ; but, upon a report

that the enemy had rc;cdved frefti fuccours, fled ; whereupoh

.his forces difperfed themfelves, 20,000 of them were killed,

.and their general puniflied for his cowardice.

Thetna* In the ninth month of the 26th year of Vanzfye^s reign,

chery of Lewting, another Chinefe general, marched againft Hing-

the Ghi- chang ; and propofed to him a conference, wherein matters

T^^^gS' might be amicably adjufted.' To which the JapanefegcnerA

*^^' agreed; and, on the next day, went to the place appointed,

attended only by fifty horfe. But the treacherous* Levj-ting

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had laid an ambttfi::ade for it ; and, havingiappointed oneof '^

his ofEcers to perfoliate him, attended the meeting in the
dUguife of a c^amon foldier. Hing-chang was received by
the pretended general with the ufual honours ; and, as he iat
at table, could^ not keep off his eyes from die difguifed
LfW'tingf and crying out. Surely that foldier has been un-'
fertimate. Lew-ting, furprifed at his fpecch, went imme-^
diately out, and gave the fignal to the ambufcade by firii^ a
gun ; upon which Hing-chang^ fufpedting the treachery,
mounted his horfe in an onftant, with his attendance, who
formed themfelves into a triangle, and, with a dreadful ilaugh*
ter, fcHx:ed their way through the treacherous Chinefe, and
efcaped. On the next day dbe Japanefe general fent to thank *
the Chine/eoat for his entertainment ; who had, no other way
o^ excufing it, but by pretending, that the firing of the gun
was altogether accidental. However, though his treachery «

had mifcarried, it did not hinder his attacking him openly,
smd a fierce engagement enfued, in which «the C/nne/ewaca.
cvery-where worfted. The war would in all likelihood have Tie Tay*
lafted much longer, and the Koreans have been feverely chaf- choV
tifed for their treachery by the h^hly incenfed Tay^cbo, had deati oe^
not his unexpefted death, or, if we may believe the Japan ^^fi^^ *^^
hiftory, fomemore cogent motives, induced him to recall his ^^f*''^
fhattered forces ; and put an end to all future hofHlities, by nn^'cho
laying them only under a tribute to him. What thofe mo- ^g^sbis
tives were, will be better feen in the hiftory of Japan ; how- /^^^^^ ^^
ever, that brave hero died whilft his genatjs were on their dies. *
'v^ayhome; and ^^'^ j, whom he had appointed guardian. /'^/fr#
over his fpn and fuccefibr; then but fix years old, thought Gtmadenmih
only to oblige them to fend an embafly to him every three ^^^l^o-
years, and to acknowkge him for their fovereign. And thus reans.
dided the Korean war, after it had lafted feven years ; fince Koreans
which time they relapfed again, under the dominion of the dri've out
Chinefe Tartars^ and drove out all the garrifons which the /M*P*^-
japanefe had left there, as far as the coifts of the proraice.®^*^*'*^*
of Tfiot'Jijnp which is the only place they have remaining of^^V* *^^
all their cpnquefts in that country. The «mpeFors of ^A««T^'-^n '
(eem to be fetisfied >yith the poflfeflion of thofe eaftem coafts,.^^ ^ J *
as a fufficient fecurity ta^their own dominions ;' and kecp^ part/gft
fbme garrifons there to guard them> which are put under the umir
government of the princes of /U and Tfufima^ two iflands* Japan;
lying about the mid-way between iSr(?r^tf and Japan \Vf\iiS^^
diote Koreans are only obliged to fend an ambafly to ci6urt,,
to take an bath of allegiance to^ every new emperor./ This
was the condition they were in linno 1693, whsu K^mpfeA
was in Japan. As for the reft- of the J&r^tfwx,. they feiyo
continued tributary xq the Chinefe ey«: fincc ; an4> to all ap«
: ; pearanc^

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54*

Kift Mire

mmuribi

Tartarian

mmmribs*

tUHi/iary of Korea. B. XUI.

pearanoe,' beea kept more Ih-iAly under them fince the Tar^
tars became matters of China, The prince that rdgoed there
when our author wrote his account was called Li-tun^ aad
was defcended from the family of Li. In the year 1694. he
prefented a petidon to the emperor Kang-hi, the contents ^k1 .
occaHon of which beii^ fometlung curious, tad confirming
what we have juft now hinted of their being noder greater
fabje6tk>n than formeriy, we (hall give it to the reader in the
iequel (L). Whenever any of them cBes, the emperor im-;
m^liatdiy deputes two grandees to coder upon the (vkx^Rsp
the title of ^ue^-Oangf or Mi^, w1k> receives die inveftiture
upon his knees, and makes certain fsefents to the comnadBon-
ers, which are fettled and fpecified, befides about 8000 tads
in money. Af^ that, he is obliged to fend an amboffibdor to
the Chinefi court with the ufnal tribute and homi^ ; "^Aadi
]fA is paid l^ praftnitioa and knockif^ his forehead againft
the ground before the imperial throne. If the Kortan kii^
i$ apprehenfive oi any difputes arifing after his death, about

(L) This petition, for which
we ihali find a more proper
place at the clofe of tluB iq)pen-
dix, was prefeated to tke late
famed' emperor Katig-bi, lately
mentioned, in order to obtain a
permiffidn from him for redlify-
mg fome wrong ftep which he
had taken wim regard to his
own private family, bat fech as
one would have imagined were
vaAly below the cognizance o£
fo great a monarch, and con-
cerned only the reftoring of a
favoorlte barren queen, whom
he had depofed, in favour of a
concnbine, who had brought him
forth a fon and heir. Yet this
fiep, incon^derable as it feems,
was fach as he dared not ven^
tore npon till he had prevtonfly
obtuhed leave by a pecitioa
cofM:h€d in the- aaoft abje^b and
fervile terms, ajkl backed with
tbe moil earneft wiihes andfuf-
frages of all his Ksa-tau fub-
jcas.

Neither was this rcq^eft re-
ceived at comt as a matt^ of a
trivial natmre, feeing the empe-

^ (7) ^^h •*' A?-

ror was pleafed to refer it to
the cmifideration of one of ius>
high tribunals of ceremonies i
by whom it was no fooi^er ap-
proved, than a proper mandarin
was difpatched to the Korean
court, to reinstall the queen, and
degrade the concubine. We
ih^l have occafion, in the fe*
qnel, to add an inftance or two
moreof this extreme fubjedioa:
in the mean time that which we
have given above is fofficieat to
convince our readers, that the*
Korum monarchs are far enough
from enjoying the fame defpo-
.tic fway under the Tartar winch
they did under the Chinefi mon-
archs, when it was reckoned
treafonto contronl their will in
any cafe, provided they . xxxk
care conflantly td pay their ho-
mage and triiwte to xhcm,. All
thatweihaU add with reladoa
to their prefent fkate, is, that they
fend yearly, an ambailador to
receive the almanack which is
publiihed at court the fir& day
of the tepth mbnth, for the en«
fuing year (7).

die

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the'fucceiSon, he noaunates an heir to die aovm^ aad gets
him confirmed by the emperor ; nor dares the royal coofort
aiSime the title of queen, before (he hath obtained it from
him : all which ceremonials have been fo exactly regulated, that
difputes can never arife ; and to this is owing the pi^ceful ftate
they have fo kng enjoyed. We (hall beg leave to iubjoin tlie
afore-mendoned inftance of the extreme r^ard which the Korean.
kings pay to the Qnntfe monarch ; which will not onlyprove
what we have faid, but fliew likewife how much fuperior die
Tartars are to the Chinefe^ m point of governing their tribu*
tary provinces, and keeping them under a due fubjeAioo ^md
dependence.

It happened in the 3 ad year of the emperor Kangrhr^ hfimim
rdgn, in the year 1 694, when the prince then on the Korean tf^^
throne, bdng diflatisfied at fome changes he had made in M&^^fii"
fanodly, fcnt him the following remarkable requeft by his Wi-«?'^*T^
baflador : «« I, your majcftjr's fubjcft, am a moft unfortunate ^.
*' man. I had beheld myfelf a coniiderabie dme without an ^^
*' heir, when one of my concubines was at length brought to
'^ bedof a fim, upon which account I thought myfelf obl^^
'< to advanceher to a higher rank; and, from this fi^fi^ftep,
** hath fprupg all my miSbrtunes. I obliged my queen Hdia^
** chi to redre from my coturt, and raifed the concubine
** Chang-ibi into her place, asi I failed not then of infix-imng >
«< your nuyefty : ilnoe which time, having duly confidered
•* . that Mifi'chi was created queen by your majefty ; that (he
^' hath had the fi;ov^mment of my &nuly a confideraUe
** while, hath ai&ited me in my ufual facrifices ; that fhe hath
** paid her laft dudes to the queen my gimndmother, and to
** the queen my ipother, and liath bewailedher Reparation from
'^ me the{e thiee years : I am now ienfible that ihe deferved a
« more honourable treatment from me, and am beyond mea^
** fure concerned for my imprudent condud towards her*

i,* In order, therefore, to yield to the eameft defires of my
** people, I am extremely willing to rdnftate my beloved Mm^
** chi to her prifiioe rank, and to reduce the other to her former
** low ftate of a concubine ; by wiiich means I fhall again
*^ rcftpre my family to its andent regular order; and tlie re?.
•* formadon of my houfliold, begun there, Will difFufe itfelf
'^ moft happily through my whole kinjplom.

** I YOUR fubjeft, diough I have had the misf(M*tune,
^* through ignorance and ftupidity, to ftain the honour ^•
** my anceftors, have jieverthelefs fervcd your majefty diefe
** twenty years, and acknowl^e myfelf indebted to your
^' goodnefs for all I am and enjoy, as to my only fhield and
** proteftor, I have no concerns, dtber public or private,
^ whichl would wiih to be concealed from your majefly ;

•* and

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^44 . " ^i Hfjfcrj cflL6rt2Ll' B. XIII

**aiid that is the chief motive which hath induced me to
*^ take the liberty, more than once or twice, thus cariiefUy
♦^ to foliicit your majefty upon this point. I blufh, I muft
''* confefs, at my boldnefs in thus tran%reffing t^e bounds of
** my duty ; but, as tg|« a point whj^is of fuch concern to
**^ the hap^inefs of umfamilyjancMmigdom, I thought I
**^ might venture ]j» hf this my humble requeft before you,
*• without wounmng that refpeft with which I am," i;c.
Korean ' This petition the emperor referred to the tribunal of
mithaf' rites, and it was approved by them : in purfuance of whioi^
Jbdors a- c<Mnmif&ry was difpatched to the Korean court, to rein-
f^anfy ftate the queen Min-chi tp her priftine rank ; but, in the year
^rgatidJH following, that imprudent prince, whether elated at the con-
^^'^ defcenfion of his imperial majefty, or from what other modve
unknown to us, ha^g prefumcd to fend a frefh addrefe to the
court of 'Pe-king, in terms lefs refpeftful than thofe of the
former, he was condemned to pay 10,000 dmices of filver as
a fine. And this may fuffice to fhew the extreme fubje£Hon
thti Korean kings are kept under by the CMne/e, or rather
Tartar, emperors ; which feverity, befides the politic maxims
of that warlike nation, may have been o>^ng, in all proba-
bility, to that noble, though unfuccefsful ftand, which the.
Koreans made, foon after the reduftion of China, to (hake,
off the yoke, and regain their antient liberty, of which we
have had occaiion to fpeak more fully in a former part of
En^eror'^s this volume f. To which we ihaK only add one more in-
nmkaja- fbmce of it ; viz. that when the emperor fends an ambaflador
don, how to Korea,^ die king is obliged to go in perfon, attended by
^^ru^ all his guards, and t numerous retinue of his houfltold, out
m CJuna. ^jp j^jg capital, to receive hun : whilft, on the other hand»
thofe of the Korean prince to the court of Pe-king are fcarce
received with any ceremony, and are even obliged to give
place to a mandarin of the firft rank. They are lodged in
Idme private houfe, and kept under a kind of honorary,
guard, which never leaves them, whether they go abroad,
of ftay at home ; but are to watch over, and give an account
of^ all their aft ions, behaviour, and even of their words, to^
. fpme proper oflScers of the court ^

t See before, p. 487. " Regis, ubi fdp. p. 377, &

fcq. Hiftoire de Core, vol. i. p. 454, &feq. Kjempfer, ubi
fup. &ai.

Tb^ END of the EicrtTH Volume.

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