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 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA.
 
 Little History of China 
 
 AND 
 
 A Chinese Story 
 
 BY 
 
 ALEXANDER BREBNER 
 
 LONDON 
 T. FISHER UN WIN 
 
 PATERNOSTER SQUARE 
 MDCCCXCV
 
 [All rights reserved.]
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 BEING engaged on a wider "Little History," it 
 occurred to the Author that an expansion of the part 
 therein relating to China might be of interest at a 
 time like the present, when that Ancient Empire is 
 about to enter on a new lease of life. 
 
 In his researches into matters Chinese, the Author 
 came across an anonymous book, published in the last 
 quarter of last century. 
 
 The editor of this book remarks in his Introduction 
 that one can get more knowledge of the English 
 people from a page of Fielding than from many 
 formal histories or collections of letters containing the 
 impressions of intelligent foreigners. Applying this 
 principle to Chinese history, and assuming, perhaps 
 somewhat rashly, a Chinese Fielding, he edits a trans- 
 lation of a Chinese novel, which came into his posses- 
 
 20C63C8
 
 vi PREFACE. 
 
 sion by a curious chance. It is called " The Pleas- 
 ing History," and an adaptation of it for the benefit 
 of modern readers follows the " Little History." 
 
 The translations quoted in the history are taken 
 from Dr Legge's " Religions of China," and the English 
 edition of the Abbe* Hue's " Christianity in China.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA . I 
 
 JAPAN . .101 
 
 KOREA . IT 5 
 
 THE PLEASING HISTORY . . . .123
 
 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 CHINESE historians make the nucleus of the nation a 
 wandering and settling in a region of the country 
 somewhere within the present province of Shan-se. 
 The Hoang-ho, or Yellow River, bounds two sides of 
 this province ; and, as most of the nationalities of the 
 world have been cradled in a river bed, it is likely 
 enough that the Yellow River, perhaps nearer the sea 
 than any part of the province of Shan-se, was the 
 raison d'etre of that early segregation, which has grown 
 and spread and become the Chinese Empire. Their 
 language indicates that the people were originally 
 pastoral and nomadic : their great shepherds became also 
 " pastors of men," rulers of tribes. 
 
 The national histories supply genealogies going back 
 millions of years ; it would take a long list of ordinary 
 generations to fill all these centuries, but some of the
 
 A LITTLE Hf STORY OF CHINA. 
 
 ancient Chinese patriarchs lived thousands of years, 
 and so simplified the matter from that point of view. 
 
 " The Book of Historical Documents " begins with 
 the first of ten dynasties, all very wonderful. The 
 eighth dynasty begins with a rationally-conceived 
 monarch, called Yeu-chaou, that is, " the nest-having," 
 who told the people how to make huts of the boughs 
 of trees; next comes Suy-jin, "the fire-producer," 
 who produced his fire in the archseologically orthodox 
 way, by the rubbing together of two sticks. Then 
 came the monarch Hoang-ti, who separated the people 
 into tribes, giving each a name ; he discovered iron, 
 and appointed certain days to show gratitude to 
 heaven and earth, by offering the firstfruits of the 
 latter. Then one Shin-noong, who invented the 
 plough. There is also a king, whose wife unravelled 
 the cocoon of the silkworm, and made cloth of it. 
 
 With the reign of Yaou, B.C. 2356, where Confucius 
 begins his "Shoo-King," or "Book of History," there is a 
 gain in definiteness. About this time the Calendar is 
 said to have been regulated by the introduction of an 
 intercalary year, to make up the difference between the 
 lunar and solar years. Yaou encouraged commerce 
 by the establishment of fairs ; and so anxious was he 
 for the good of the nation, that he put aside his son 
 and chose for his successor Shun, on account of the 
 atter's virtues. The nation beginning to extend
 
 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 3 
 
 largely in the days of Yaou, now reaches as fur down 
 the coast as the island of Formosa, and considerably 
 westward of the longitude of Si-ngan-foo. Yu, while 
 still only prime minister, had deepened the beds of 
 rivers, not merely for the prevention of floods, or for 
 irrigation, but also for the purposes of navigation ; 
 and shipbuilding had by this time made considerable 
 progress. 
 
 In the reign of Shun there occurred a flood, for his 
 ability in mastering which, by inprovements in the 
 bed of the Yellow River, Yu was chosen by Shun as 
 his successor and with his reign, B.C. 2100, com- 
 menced the dynasty of Hea. 
 
 In the immediate successors of Yu the country was 
 unfortunate, their sins culminating in one Kee. The 
 people rose against him, B.C. 1776, establishing in 
 the kingship Tang, their leader, the first of the Shang 
 dynasty. In the reign of Tang the country enjoyed a 
 restoration of peace and prosperity. His successors, 
 however, proved failures, and the old programme re- 
 curred under Chow-sen, the last of the line about 
 B.C. 1100. Chow-sen was a ruler not without ability 
 and energy, but passionate and impulsive ; and his 
 fall and that of his dynasty is attributed by the 
 Chinese to the evil influence of a woman, his queen 
 Kan-te. He built a large new palace for himself, with 
 gates of jasper, the cost of which the people no doubt
 
 4 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 felt in increased taxation, and within his palace gave 
 himself up to shameless dissoluteness. For any of 
 his ministers who remonstrated with him on his evil 
 ways he had only cruelties : he had a hollow brazen 
 pillar heated to nearly red heat ; this he compelled 
 them to embrace, while his wife and courtesans amused 
 themselves by looking on at their dying agonies. 
 
 After considerable hesitation to take up arms a 
 hesitation which to outsiders seems almost criminal 
 Woo-Wang, the hereditary chief of the province of 
 Tcheou or Chow, led an army against this royal 
 maniac, who, when he heard of the defeat of his 
 troops, shut himself up in his private apartments in 
 the palace, with all his precious baubles about him, set 
 fire to the place, and burned himself among the ruins. 
 His empress, in splendid attire, went out to meet and, 
 if possible, ingratiate herself with the victorious Woo- 
 Wang, but she was by his orders seized and executed. 
 
 Woo-Wang himself, and all his house, the rulers of 
 Tcheou, were famous for their proper and equitable 
 government of their people, and for their literary 
 attainments ; culture in their state being at this 
 time much higher than at the court of the central 
 kingdom. Wan- Wang, the father of Woo-Wang, is 
 said to have simplified the written language of the 
 country. 
 
 After the death of Chow-sen, Woo-Wang, "the
 
 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 5 
 
 martial king," was called upon to occupy the throne 
 as the first of the Chow dynasty. He ruled well in 
 the central kingdom, but the civilisation was now 
 spreading, and it was necessary to erect outlying 
 authorities. His appointments to these governorships 
 seem to have created jealousies and disputes, which 
 naturally harassed and weakened the central authority, 
 and the nation itself, relatively to outsiders. About 
 B.C. 9#6, in the reign of Muh-Wang, the Tatars 
 begin to make their flying inroads into the kingdom ; 
 they were generally repulsed, and although the 
 Chinese, the civilising people of Eastern Asia, were 
 in many ways distracted, there seems little doubt that 
 the outlying principalities were extending their borders 
 and their influence. The Tatars were a kindred 
 people to the Chinese, and might perhaps be looked 
 on rather as sturdy Conservatives, living in old-time 
 pastoral hardihood, than as a separate nation. 
 
 It was during the dynasty of Chow that Confucius 
 was born in B.C. 551, in Tsow, in the province of 
 Shan-tung. The existence of such a man as 
 Confucius is proof that the nation had grown 
 intellectually as well as materially, for he was 
 not merely a natural thinker and man of wisdom, 
 but a man who had studied, assimilated, and an- 
 notated the works of predecessors, and added to them. 
 He had access to the royal library, and among
 
 6 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 the books he found there was " The Book of Changes," 
 the work of Wan- Wang, written in prison, about 
 B.C. 1150, during the troublous period preceding the 
 fall of the Shang dynasty. Like most early philo- 
 sophies, it is founded on some observation, and a 
 recurrence to the natural from the merely formal 
 and traditional ; but it wanders into baseless generali- 
 sation and mere verbiage. It has been called "a 
 sexual system of the universe " : in it the first great 
 cause set up in all things a male and female prin- 
 ciple, represented in heaven and earth, sun and 
 moon, etc. 
 
 The works of Confucius are " The Book of History," 
 " The Book of the Odes," " The Spring and Autumn," 
 " The Book of Rites," and others, written partly by 
 himself and partly by his pupils. 
 
 " The Book of History " commences, as has been said, 
 about B.C. 2400, comes down to near the author's own 
 times, and contains nearly all we know of that period. 
 Along with the history proper, it contains little 
 dissertations on all sorts of subjects, in the form 
 largely of conversations between the kings and their 
 ministers. The nature of the didactic speeches of the 
 ministers to the kings is very much what one would 
 expect from a practical man speaking to his sovereign, 
 as distinguished from a public teacher trying to 
 convince the people or an assembly.
 
 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 7 
 
 " Virtue," one says, " is the basis of good govern- 
 ment ; and this consists, first, in procuring for the 
 people the things necessary for their sustenance, 
 . . . the ruler must also think of rendering them 
 virtuous, and of preserving them from whatever can 
 injure life and health." As to the duty of the people 
 it says : " The services of love and reverence to parents 
 when alive, and those of grief and sorrow for them 
 when dead, these completely discharge the funda- 
 mental duty of living men." The hook " Spring and 
 Autumn Annals " is said to he entirely the work of 
 Confucius himself, to "bring the annals down to his 
 own time, and to contain fearless judgments on events, 
 but translations do not seem to bear out this Chinese 
 judgment. " The Book of Rites " is attributed in its 
 inception to one of the princely family, who founded 
 the Chow dynasty of the Empire ; it was edited by 
 Confucius. 
 
 There had long been bards throughout the land, 
 both at the royal and princely courts, and many of 
 their compositions were preserved in the king's 
 library : from these Confucius made a selection, 
 forming "The Book of Odes." They are simple, loyal, 
 and domestic in sentiment ; pretty and kindly songs 
 of pastoral peace, breathing of a religion of reverence 
 untainted by philosophy. Occasionally songs of 
 wandering, and of skill in the chase, and of gaieties
 
 8 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 of festive seasons vary the theme. There is little 
 tragedy ; hardly any echoes, as of Olympus or Valhalla. 
 
 Confucius was during his life somewhat neglected, 
 save by some reverent pupils ; but his books became in 
 time, and continue to be, " The Law and the Prophets" 
 to the Chinese, especially among the official and 
 learned classes. He has had no more loyal followers 
 than among the Manchu officials of a generation 
 back. To a large extent, the government and religion 
 of China have been made one by Confucius. "The 
 Book of Kites " and " The Book of History " found 
 them on altruism and ceremony. He announced the 
 Golden Rule, and judged by the heart. His ideal of 
 paternal sway was his model of kingship and 
 government. He himself strictly performed the rites 
 for the dead, and approved of them, but he said : 
 " While we cannot do good to the living, how can we 
 expect to do good to the dead > " Again, in a similar 
 sense : " If we know so little of this world, is it likely 
 we can know much of another which we have never 
 seen ? " 
 
 A pension was granted to the family of Confucius, 
 which the representative receives to this day. It is 
 the only purely hereditary position in China, and the 
 oldest in the world. 
 
 Confucius had an eminent contemporary, Lao-tsze, a 
 profound thinker, of a different school. Confucius
 
 A LITTLE til STORY OF CHINA. 9 
 
 wanted no theory of the universe which was not 
 available for government and social communion. 
 Lao-tsze aimed rather at an absolute theory of tlie 
 universe, and at the deduction therefrom of privnte 
 ethics. He named his theory or principle " Tao " : the 
 word literally means "way," but may be freely translated 
 " the way of things." It had not so much in it of the 
 idea of progressive change as the general idea, current 
 to-day under the name Evolution, but the two ideas, 
 Tao and Evolution, are very near akin. " When we 
 grasp the Tao that was of olJ, so as to deal with the 
 existences of the present, and are able to know the old 
 beginnings, that is what is called having the clue of 
 Tao." As a consequence of his idea of the potency 
 of Tao, or " the way of things," he lauded one might 
 almost say inaction rather than restraint, or self- 
 denial. " Common people," he said, " were full of 
 discrimination, but he was like a country lout, for he 
 drifted rather than behaved, so that he fell more easily 
 into the ways of the great nursing mother nature, or 
 the living principle, Tao." He goes on to speak of 
 desiring nothing, doing nothing with a motive : 
 " States are ruled by correction ; war is carried on by 
 craft ; it is only by doing nothing that the kingdom 
 can be made one's own." 
 
 " The incomplete becomes complete, the crooked 
 becomes straight, the hollow becomes full, the worn-
 
 10 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 out becomes new ; he who deserves little gets much ; 
 he who desires much goes astray." 
 
 It might be paraphrased: "Only believe (in Tao) 
 and you shall be saved." A few disciples kept his 
 philosophy alive for a generation or two, but it latterly 
 fell into the hands of magicians and diviners, and 
 became one of the popular religions of China. Taoist 
 priests and temples have gone on growing in numbers 
 up to the present day, through varying fortune, but 
 retain nothing of the original philosophy or ethics of 
 Lao-tsze, only the name Taoism. 
 
 No doubt, the unsettledness of the times had much 
 to do with the searches after a basis of conduct, which 
 occupied the minds of men like Confucius and Lao-tsze, 
 and later of Mencius. The impetus of their beginnings 
 spread through succeeding generations and centuries 
 of Chinese literature, distinguishing it from the 
 Confucian collection in " The Book of Odes." The idea 
 of personal morality is more diffused, and so follow 
 "sturm und drang" periods. Demons and evil spirits 
 interfere with the sweet course of nature. Social 
 cataclysms occur, or are dreamt of, and tragedy walks 
 the stage.
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 TUE internal strifes still goiug on, and the hands of 
 the Chow dynasty loosening on the sceptre, the strong 
 man came to the fore, in the person of the Prince of 
 Thsin, the governor of a large province in the north- 
 west. He overpowered the other divisions of the 
 kingdom, and in B.C. 225, under the name of Chaou- 
 seang-Wang, assumed the imperial sway, and founded 
 the dynasty of Thsin or Tsing. Under his rule, and 
 that of his successors, the warring states were gradu- 
 ally pacified and united. 
 
 His grandson, Che-Kwang-te, ascended the throne at 
 the age of thirteen, and hecame the "first universal 
 emperor." He chose Si-ngan-foo as his capital r and 
 built there a splendid palace. He constructed roads 
 and canals and handsome buildings, clearly indicating 
 his popular and industrial leanings ; the canals served 
 both purposes of irrigation and navigation. The 
 Heung-noo Tatars, during his reign, were kept well 
 in check in their native hills and grassy vales. On 
 his return from an expedition against the Tatars, he
 
 12 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 was met by a rebellion in Ho-nan, led by some 
 dissatisfied princelings, which his relatively well- 
 trained troops soon put down. Thus twice victorious 
 in quick succession, he undertook a new development 
 in Chinese policy ; marching his expedition south- 
 wards, he subdued the hitherto neglected tribes of 
 these regions, occupied their country, and became 
 emperor of a China corresponding geographically to 
 the China proper of to-day. He was the builder of 
 the famous Great Wall of China. Beginning about 
 B.C. 214, with the help of prisoners and other forced 
 labour, he raised in a few years this remarkable if not 
 very effective barrier between China and the Mon- 
 golian Tatars. The wall commences at the sea, near 
 Peking, and extends to the Nan-shan mountains, a 
 distance of about 1200 miles. Determined, perhaps, 
 to have no more precedents quoted against him, he 
 issued an edict for the burning of all the books in 
 the country, excepting the works on divination, 
 medicine, and husbandry ; that is, he excepted the 
 popular and industrial books. This edict was carried 
 out ruthlessly, but fortunately, in happier times for 
 the books, a tolerably complete copy of Confucius was 
 found embedded in the walls of his house, when it 
 was pulled down about B.C. 140. The works of Lao- 
 tsze came under the head of divination. 
 
 Che-Huang-te was himself enamoured of the diviners
 
 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 13 
 
 and magicians, who were often Taoist priests. They 
 seem to have persuaded him into the belief in the 
 possibility of his obtaining immortality on earth, and 
 he paid dearly for draughts to procure eternal life 
 On one occasion he sent away, under the direction of 
 some diviner, a ship-load of young men and young 
 women, to induce the gods to come down to the 
 islands in the east, and bring with them the secrets of 
 immortality. 
 
 On the death of Che-Huang-te, in B.C. 210, and his 
 succession by a weak son, the pent-up discontent of 
 curbed princelings broke out again, and after five years' 
 fighting, the most successful general, Lew-Pang, was 
 declared emperor in B.C. 206, and under the name of 
 Kaou-te or Kaow-Hwang-te, he founded the Han 
 dynasty. Kaou-te continued the edict against the 
 books; his successor, however, set up a commission 
 to see to their restoration, and gave every encourage- 
 ment to literature : there was peace in the Empire, 
 and trade improved. About this time paper was first 
 made from mashed bamboo ; and Chinese ink and 
 the camel's-hair pencil were invented. Though the 
 professors of literature were at this time, no doubt, 
 personally, sleek enough, their work is mostly some- 
 what plaintive piping. So that we may say the chief 
 disturbers of the peace were these old enemies, the 
 Iluung-noo Tatars. Beaten by the Chinese, these
 
 14 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 restless tribesmen turned their attention to the king- 
 dom of Yue-che, which had grown up in the western 
 extremity of the province of Shen-se, and, after much 
 fighting, drove the inhabitants westward ; this state of 
 affairs suggested an embassy from the emperor, 
 offering an alliance with Yue-che ; but his ambassador 
 was seized and imprisoned by the Heung-noo This 
 embassy however, if not the first to introduce silk 
 into Europe, did at least inaugurate some trade in that 
 material. 
 
 In B.C. 121, the Emperor Woo-te sent an ex- 
 pedition against the Heung-noo, which defeated them, 
 and the Chinese followed up the victory with colonisa- 
 tion, establishing their own institutions in the con- 
 quered provinces; and, gradually expelling the 
 rebellious Heung-noo from Eastern Asia, left them 
 round the east and north of the Caspian Sea. This 
 emperor, like many of the great Chinese rulers, liked 
 to get the most out of the priests of any religion or 
 cult. He was quite favourable to the learned 
 followers of Confucius, with their reasonable philo- 
 sophies for the welfare of the nation; but he 
 hankered after the Taoists too, in the search after 
 immortality, a common earthly immortality. 
 
 The son of Woo-te succeeded him on the throne, 
 and the country succeeded to comparative peace ; but 
 the Han dynasty was waning in strength and power
 
 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 15 
 
 After disturbances during a minority, about the 
 beginning of our era, after rebellion and counter- 
 rebellion, the old line disappeared. The successful 
 soldier got himself placed on the throne, and the eastern 
 Han dynasty was begun by Kwang-woo-te in A.D. 25. 
 
 He was succeeded by Ming-te in A.D. 65. Iii 
 this reign Buddhism was introduced into China 
 from India. The following is a record of this 
 event, by a Chinese historian, interesting as a 
 record, and also as an example of Chinese history 
 writing. 
 
 " In the year of the reign of Tchao-Wang, of the 
 dynasty of the Tcheou (B.C. 1029), on the eighth day of 
 the fourth moon, a light coming from the south-west 
 illuminated the palace of the king. The monarch, 
 beholding the splendour, interrogated concerning it 
 the sages who were skilled in predicting the future. 
 These presented to him the books wherein it was 
 written that this prodigy would announce that a great 
 saint had appeared in the west, and that in a 
 thousand years after his birth, his religion would 
 spread into these parts. 
 
 "In the 53rd year of his reign of Mou-Wang, 
 which is that of the Black Ape, B.C. 951, on the 
 15th day of the second moon, Buddha manifested 
 himself (i.e. died). A thousand and thirteen years 
 afterwards, in the reign of Ming-te, of the dynasty of
 
 16 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 Han, in the seventh year of the reign of Yuug-Pia 
 (A.D. 64), on the fifteenth day of the first moon, the 
 king saw in a dream a man of the colour of gold, 
 glittering like the sun, and whose stature was more 
 than ten feet. Having entered the palace of the king, 
 this man said : ' My religion will spread over these 
 parts.' Next day the king questioned the sages. One 
 of these, named Fou-y, opening the annals of the 
 time of the Emperor Tchao-Wang of the dynasty 
 of the Tcheou, pointed out the connection between the 
 dream of the king and the narrative in the annals. 
 The king consulted the ancient books, and having 
 found the passage corresponding with the reign of 
 Tchao-Wang, of the dynasty of the Tcheou, was 
 filled with gladness. Thereupon he despatched the 
 officers Tsa-In and Thsin-King, ' the man of letters,' 
 Wang-Tsun, and fifteen other persons into the 
 west, to obtain information respecting the doctrine of 
 Buddha. 
 
 " In the 10th year (A.D. 67), Tsa-In and the rest 
 having arrived in Central India, among the great 
 Youei-Tchi, met with Kas'yamatanga and Tcho-Fa-Law, 
 and procured a statue of Buddha, and books in the 
 language of Fan (i.e. Sanscrit), and conveyed them 
 on a white horse to the city of Yo-Lang. Matanga 
 there translated the ' Sacred Book of Forty-two 
 Articles.' Six years after, Tsa-In and Tcho-Fa-Law
 
 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 17 
 
 converted certain Tao-sse (Taoists) to Buddhism. 
 Rising afterwards into celestial space, they caused the 
 king to hear the following verses : 
 
 " ' The fox is not of the race of the lions. The lamp has not 
 the brightness of the sun or moon. The lake cannot be com- 
 pared with the sea : the hills cannot be compared with the 
 lofty mountains.' 
 
 ' ' ' The cloud of prayer spreading over the surface of the earth, 
 its beneficial dew fecundating the germs of happiness, and the 
 divine rites operating everywhere marvellous changes, all the 
 nations will advance according to the laws of re-integration.' " 
 
 Buddhism in China, as in India, appealed to the 
 people : the Buddhist temple was a place in which the 
 crowds in populous places could gather themselves 
 together. As the trade and industry of China grew, 
 people came to have less permanence of abode and 
 less convenience to keep up in their house a little 
 room or corner even for the religious services to their 
 ancestors. In the circumstances the priests, either 
 Buddhists or Taoist, for a fee, took charge of the 
 ancestor of the poor, or rather, took charge of the 
 communications that took place between a man and 
 his departed ancestors. As Buddhism became popular, 
 rulers seeking popularity patronised it, and used the 
 Buddhist priests and their flock as a foil to over- 
 weening officialism. Some time after this, the imperial 
 harem seems to have been increasing in importance,
 
 18 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 for we hear (about A.D. 95) of the introduction of 
 eunuchs to the Chinese court. - 
 
 Disturbances are occurring among the people, 
 as witness the insurrection of the Yellow Caps. One 
 Tchang-Kio, of the divining tribe, during the pre- 
 valence of a pestilence, persuaded the people that he 
 could effect a cure : the cure was simple, a few magical 
 words spoken over a drink of water; in this way he 
 attained a popularity, probably at first quite innocent 
 of treason. But loathe to dissipate his power, or let 
 it pass away ineffective to the satisfaction of his 
 own vanity, he started a rebellion among the people, 
 and, with a rabble half a million strong behind him, 
 
 . openly aspired to supreme power. He had some 
 little successes, but his followers were finally scattered 
 by the regular troops with great slaughter. This 
 uprising, however, proved the first of a series which 
 began about A.D. 170, under weak emperors, and 
 continued till A.D. 220, when the last of the line of 
 Han was forced by the party of his prime minister, 
 Tsao-tsao, to abdicate in favour of the latter's son 
 Tsao-pe, who assumed the sceptre in that year. During 
 these disturbances in the central kingdom, the 
 various governors of the states were extending civilisa- 
 tion on their borders, as well as growing strong in 
 themselves by good government. 
 
 The governors of two of the most nourishing of
 
 A LITTLE HISTOR Y OF CHINA. 19 
 
 those states that comprising the present provinces 
 Shen-se and Se-tchuen ; and that of Ou, a fertile and 
 prosperous state, lying along the south-eastern bank of 
 the Yang-tsze-Kiang from the Lake of Po Yang to the 
 sea disputed the authority of Tsao-pe. Thus began 
 the troublous period of the San-Kuo, or three king- 
 doms, which lasted over forty years, and was brought 
 to an end by an outsider, a successful general of 
 Tsao-pe, named Sze-ma-Yen, who, under the title 
 of Woo-te, founded the dynasty of the "Western 
 Tsin. 
 
 These years of disturbance seem to have been, like 
 the troubled times of Confucius, characterised by a 
 literary fermentation ; and their traditional heroes 
 and their doings are favourite subjects for the plays 
 and romances of later days. Woo-te began his rule 
 with vigour, and after having restored order near 
 home, he effected the complete subjugation of Ou. 
 To do this he raised an army of 200,000 men, and 
 built for its passage the first great bridge over the 
 Yellow River. 
 
 During the reign of Woo-te, the capital was visited 
 by an envoy from the Roman Emperor Theodosius, who 
 may have suggested and designed the bridge. 
 
 The independent spirit abroad in China was such 
 that no royal house could stand, unless administered 
 by a powerful chief. Woo-te's son and successor did
 
 20 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 not fulfil this condition, and the country soon fell 
 into disorder. 
 
 An able soldier of fortune, Lew-Yuen, himself of 
 Tatar origin, obtained from the imperial court the 
 appointment of commander-general of all the tribes of 
 the Heung-noo Tatars. He inspired the confidence of 
 the tribesmen, who rallied round his standard, for 
 he now claimed to be the King of Han, being a 
 descendant of that house on the female side. He 
 established a firm and extending power, rivalling the 
 house of Tsin. His successor, Lieou-tsong, marched on 
 the capital; pretexts, in these troubled times, were 
 not difficult to get. He was easily victorious, and 
 imprisoned the emperor, treating both him.: -and his 
 son with great indignity, and in the end cruelty. 
 While this Han family increased in power, they 
 allowed the Tsin dynasty to linger on on the imperial 
 throne, but with little power. Disorder and blood- 
 shed at court and among the people were common. 
 
 One of the Han family, who had by this time 
 changed their name to Tcheou, following the example 
 of many established tyrannies, built himself a splendid 
 palace, which is a short way of writing a long account of 
 extortion and luxury ; and at his court maintained more 
 than 10,000 persons, including gymnasts, diviners, 
 priests, and fortune-tellers, but never a Chinese man 
 of learning. Perhaps his most remarkable fancy
 
 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHIXA. 21 
 
 was a cavalry regiment of the tallest and handsomest 
 girls he could procure, and which he kept about him 
 as a bodyguard without the palace, and as a retinue 
 of attendants within it. In this luxury the house 
 of Tcheou grew weak, rivals arose, and one reads of 
 little but intrigue and murder; and ghastly Taoist 
 priesthoods standing by with offers of immortal life 
 for value received to temporarily repentant or even 
 quite impenitent reprobates, whose likeliest desert 
 were rather instant death. The maritime provinces 
 are being ravished by pirates, and the landward 
 peoples are no doubt having their unrecorded 
 troubles. 
 
 It is curious that the rulers of the house of Tsin 
 were also under the influence of this same glamour 
 of a possible earthly immortality. Tsin-ngai-tai was 
 so much under the spell that he would take nothing 
 but draughts to procure it a diet on which he soon 
 became unfit for business. In this plight the priests 
 told him that he could not expect to arrive with 
 every comfort at the beginning of his everlasting life, 
 and so hoping tho poor man died. At other times 
 the court was given over to dissoluteness, jealousies, 
 and murders; sometimes a king kills a whole series 
 of wives, at other times the queen, stung by jealousy, 
 waits for her lord in his cups, and stifles him with 
 the royal napery ; through weary records.
 
 22 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 It is pleasant to find that there are regions of peace 
 and industry throughout the land, and that in the 
 midst of political disturbance one of the reigning 
 princes, about A.D. 560, set up in Kin-tee-ching a 
 factory of pottery and porcelain, which in time 
 became an imperial institution, and continued to 
 flourish down to modern times.
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 AN able general at length appeared on the scene, in 
 the person of Yang-kien, the Prince of Soui, in A.D. 
 585. After a series of brilliant achievements in the 
 field, he united the north and the south, and assumed 
 the imperial sceptre under the name of Ouen-ti, 
 founding the house of Soui. He ruled for sixteen 
 fairly peaceful years. He made no pretence to 
 learning, but he took good care that the mandarins 
 and doctors of law should be strictly impartial' in 
 the administration of justice. He cleared the literary 
 drones from the colleges, suppressing some altogether. 
 Personally he was simplicity itself, even to plainness 
 in dress. At the same time he could be generous to 
 an able servant ; and while his economy enabled him 
 to relieve the burdens of the poor, his treasury was 
 always full. 
 
 His son and successor, Yang-ti, was of quite an 
 opposite school. He held a magnificent court, encour- 
 aged learning, built splendid canals connecting the 
 rivers, and so adding greatly to the convenience
 
 24 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 for traffic of these natural waterways, along which, in 
 superb barges, he and his court passed from one capital 
 to another ; and one can well believe the record that 
 as he journeyed through his "flowery land," over the 
 blue waters of the Yang-tsze-Kiang, and along one 
 of his well-made canals, he invented that fine style 
 of gardening in which the natural and artificial blend 
 so prettily, and which has become so characteristic of 
 the Chinese. All this meant taxes and popular dis- 
 content, and at last rebellion and general fighting, out 
 of which rose Le-Yuen, who in 622 seized the throne, 
 and, under the title of Kao-tsou, founded the Tang 
 dynasty. 
 
 Le-Yuen had been an officer in the imperial service, 
 and was assisted in his ambitious schemes not only by 
 his son, but by his daughter, Li-chi, who, selling all 
 her jewels, levied a body of troops, which became the 
 famous Band of the Heroine. In seven years he 
 consolidated and pacified all China, when he died, and 
 was succeeded by his son, Li-chi-min, who took the 
 name Tai-tsong, and was one of the most illustrious 
 emperors of China a David in battle, and a Solomon 
 on the judgment seat. He revised the law codes, 
 which in China consist almost entirely of a penal 
 code, obliterating many of the barbarous punishments. 
 The calendar was purified of astronomical errors and 
 astrological nonsense ; on these matters he may have
 
 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 25 
 
 been assisted by Xestorian Christians, who settled in 
 China during his reign, who hailed from Syria, and 
 were doubtless not without Chaldean lore. 
 
 The existence of an early Christian mission to 
 China was not known until the year 1625, when an 
 inscribed stone was found in an excavation outside the 
 walls of the city of Si-ngan-foo, the capital of Shen-se. 
 The gist of the inscription is the relation that, in A.D. 
 635, there came a man of eminent virtue, named 
 Olopin, from Ta-Thsin (usual Chinese expression for 
 the Roman empire), bringing sacred books with him. 
 He was received by the emperor, who ordered him to 
 translate these books, and finding them on examina- 
 tion to contain good doctrine, he permitted their pub- 
 lication. The emperor, in his declaration permitting 
 the publication of this sacred book (that is, the New 
 Testament) announces that it is the return of the true 
 doctrine of Lao-tsze an intimation which no doubt 
 had the sanction, if not the initiation, of the learned 
 councillors of the emperor. The true followers of 
 Confucius must have been happy during this reign, 
 for the emperor would have nothing to do with 
 auguries or magic. During his rule the Tatars were 
 not only kept in check, but much of their territory 
 was annexed, and good order established among the 
 people. 
 
 Kao-tsong, the next sovereign, committed a fatal
 
 26 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 weakness. Having caught sight of one of the ladies of 
 his father's household, he became infatuated with her 
 beauty, and instead of allowing her, according to the 
 usual custom, to be immured in a convent, he took her 
 into his palace, where she soon began to devise and 
 plot for supreme power. She stuck at no crime to gain 
 her end, degrading, torturing, killing queen and council- 
 lors, with the assistance of a Taoist magician and a 
 crafty eunuch. Chinese historians have little mercy on 
 her, but she seems, when she finally arrived at power, 
 to have governed with vigour and considerable success. 
 She was happy in her choice of generals for her armies, 
 and they kept the borders in order. She left her son 
 emperor, and the troubles which followed are pointed 
 to by Chinese writers as the natural result of the 
 " Monstrous Eegiment of "Women." She died in 705. 
 The eunuchs, a compact band, acquainted with court 
 intrigues, now largely usurped the power of the Tang 
 dynasty. Yueng-tsun, who succeeded in 713, was a 
 well-meaning monarch, encouraging learning and 
 liberality of thought. His armies, however, were 
 unfortunate against the Khitans, and a Turkish 
 soldier of fortune chased him from the throne. His 
 son succeeding him, called in the aid of the Bokharans 
 and others, and drove off his father's enemy ; but in 
 the end sank under the influence of his harem and 
 the eunuchs, and died in A.D. 762. For several reigns
 
 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 27 
 
 the eunuchs retained their influence at court, and 
 fighting continued on the borders, especially of Thibet. 
 The power of the eunuchs was destroyed by the 
 second last emperor of this dynasty, Woo-tsung (841 
 847), who nearly extirpated them, as well as ban- 
 ishing Buddhists and Christians, and closing monas- 
 teries and nunneries. The next emperor, desirous 
 of public favour, became a restorer of the religions, 
 especially of Buddhism. But troubles followed on 
 troubles, and the empire was ripe for a new dynasty, 
 led by personal ability and vigour. The Tang period 
 is famous for its literature. Printing from engraved 
 blocks was invented during its sway, and was 
 naturally followed by a diffusion of literary aptitude. 
 The art of printing rapidly spread, and during the 
 next dynasty, that of Sung (960-1127), the use of 
 movable types was introduced. The first great 
 monarch of the new line, Tai-tsou, was raised to the 
 throne in 960. He quieted the warring tribes, except 
 a rising one in Leao calling themselves Khitan, who 
 occupied Pe-che-le. While literature flourished, and 
 doubtless trade also, the people of the central kingdom 
 were becoming less warlike, and the Tatars began to 
 interfere in the national policy. The books of the 
 period do not fail to denounce disgraceful acts of 
 compromise with the Mongolians. Chin-tsong and 
 his successor bought peace from the Tatars, and gave
 
 28 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 their chiefs daughters in marriage. A semi-indepen- 
 dent state in the north, called the Kin, now took up 
 arms against the Khitans; and China, never looking 
 with a friendly eye on the latter, rashly helped the 
 Kins, who, beating the Khitans, got into dispute with 
 their Chinese allies. Peace was at first purchased by 
 the Chinese, but the Kins returned, and in the end 
 overran all Northern China. 
 
 About this time the western Mongolians were 
 being marshalled into larger communities, especially 
 under one Temugin, a noted leader, who afterwards 
 changed his name to Ginghiz or Zingis, the famous 
 Khan. The Kins now ruling in Northern China 
 sought to obtain the usual tribute from certain 
 Mongolian tribes, but the tribes boldly refused, and, 
 allying themselves with others, marched under 
 Temugin against the Kin government. The Chinese, 
 now jealous of the Kins, assisted Ginghiz, who, with 
 varying fortune, renewed the fight, till in 1213 he 
 gained a decisive victory in a battle in which the Kin 
 monarch was killed. His successor took up the fight- 
 ing, but was driven gradually by the vigorous Ginghiz 
 from the field, sheltering at last in his capital, which 
 fell before the conqueror in 1220. Five years later, 
 and one year before his death, Ginghiz was master of 
 most of China, but the south still held out. 
 
 In these conquests Ginghiz relinquished the former
 
 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 29 
 
 Mongolian practice of exterminating conquered foes. 
 His chiefs were about to carry out this practice, and 
 turn the land, transformed by Chinese agriculture, 
 back to grass again for their horses and flocks, but a 
 Chinaman who was among the advisers of the victori- 
 ous chief pointed out to him how much better it 
 would be to maintain this industrious working people, 
 and levy a tax on them for the upkeep of his armies. 
 Ginghiz accepted this advice, and so Chinese civilisa- 
 tion was saved. 
 
 On his death, Ginghiz bestowed his power on Ogdai, 
 his son by a Mongol wife, who governed the Kin 
 kingdom that is, Xorthern China. He stayed at 
 home himself, attending to the administration of peace ; 
 while his armies, even as far as the lands east of the 
 Caspian Sea, were conquering and gaining tribute. 
 He quarrelled with his old allies, the Chinese of the 
 south, still under the dynasty of Sung, but did not 
 live to commence hostilities. He died in 1241, 
 having done much to set up the Mongol power in 
 China. His immediate successor died early, and was 
 followed by Mangu, a son of Ogdai's brother Too-le, 
 who continued the work of the suppression of Sung. 
 On the death of Mangu in 1259, his brother Kublai 
 ascended the throne. During his reign all enemies of 
 the Mongol dynasty were swept away. He was emperor 
 from the Frozen Sea to the Himalayas, and all the
 
 30 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 Mongol princes as far west as the Dnieper brought 
 him tribute. The Chinese in the south did not give 
 in too easily, but they had no leader able to stand 
 against the genius of Kublai. Several princes of the 
 dynasty of Sung, one after the other, were raised to 
 the throne, and the people rallied round them, but in 
 vain. Swept from the land, their last fight took place 
 on the fleets. When beaten there, the king and his 
 chief councillor jumped together into the sea, and so 
 ended the house of Sung ; and another method of self- 
 destruction was represented at the conge of a Chinese 
 royal house. 
 
 Gunpowder seems to have been used about the 
 beginning of these Mongolian wars, probably in 
 mortars. 
 
 The internal rule of the Sung dynasty in the south 
 was, under the first emperors, characterised by the 
 encouragement of letters. It was under orders from 
 one of them that Se-ma-Houang compiled his digest 
 of the Chinese annals, which has been translated into 
 French by Mailla. 
 
 Xearer the close of the dynasty a great literary 
 dispute convulsed the country. Tchu-hi, an eminent 
 scholar, and plain, rough man of the hermit type, was 
 called to court, and his commentaries on Confucius 
 and the fathers were published. Disciples gathered 
 round him, and a possible expansion of Chinese
 
 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 31 
 
 thought was hanging in the air. Some of the elders 
 discovered heresy in the writings of Tchu-hi. The 
 matter was taken before the 'board of learned doctors, 
 and it was decreed that Confucius was, as heretofore, 
 to be read without commentary. Tchu-hi was required 
 to renounce his official dignities, some of his more 
 ardent disciples were exiled, and others holding high 
 office were deposed. 
 
 To return to Kublai, whom we left Emperor of 
 China, we find him, while keeping his Mongolian 
 soldiers about him and an immense entourage, 
 patronising Chinese learning, as well as Buddhism and 
 Taoism. It was during his reign that Marco PoJo 
 visited China, from whose memoirs it would appear 
 that Kublai was quite ready for the reception of 
 Christianity ; but the Pope was unfortunate in the 
 preachers he sent out with Marco. They took fright 
 at some warlike rumours that cropped up on their 
 journey to China, and returned to Rome. He 
 conquered Thibet, but bestowed the power on the 
 Buddhist high priest, the chief Llama. Kublai died 
 in 1294, and was succeeded by his grandson Timur or 
 Yuen-ching, who was followed by a Mongolian prince 
 in 1307, under the name of "Woo-tsung. Then came 
 Jin-tsung, who was captured by the old official Chinese 
 classes, and who honoured Confucius and literary 
 excellence, reintroduccd the old examinations for
 
 32 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 government appointments, and did what he could to 
 amalgamate the two nations. His reign was peaceful 
 and prosperous, but he was the last of the Mongol 
 emperors who attended to their business. The last who 
 sat on the throne was Shun-te, who in 1335 had to fly 
 for his life from his rebellious subjects, led by a man 
 who had begun life as a Buddhist novitiate, and then 
 gone into the army, named Choo- Yuen- Chang.
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Tins son of the people proved an able leader. He 
 established settled government at home, and beat the 
 troublesome Tatars back to their own land of grass ; 
 he was victorious over the Mongols in Leaou-tung; 
 and at last accepted the imperial crown as the first of 
 the Ming dynasty. While still struggling in the 
 beginning of his career with a few followers, he had 
 luvn careful to repress mere robbery, but impressed 
 his fellow-rebels with their duty to humanity, and 
 during his reign he fulfilled this early promise of 
 beneficence. He set up his capital at Nan-King, 
 Peking being the home of the court of one of his 
 younger sons, who, when he ascended the throne as 
 third emperor of the Ming in 1408, transferred the 
 imperial capital to that town, the heir in future 
 holding his court at Nan-King. 
 
 Timour or Tamerlane, the great Tatar chief, who 
 was rapidly reforming the Mongol power, and leading 
 his tribes to victory, died about this time, while 
 organising an expedition against China. Timour
 
 34 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 remains to this day the great hero of the Mongolian 
 bards ; they sing his praises at the festivals of the 
 wandering tribes all over the land of grass. 
 
 ' ' We live in our vast plains tranquil and peaceful as sheep, 
 
 yet our 
 Hearts are fervent and full of life ; the memory of the golden 
 
 age of 
 Timour is ever present to our minds. Where is the chief who 
 
 is to place 
 
 Himself at our head, and render us once more great warriors? 
 great Timour, will thy divine soul soon revive ? 
 Return, return ; we await thee, Timour ! " 
 
 Yung-lo, the third emperor of the Ming, had to take 
 in hand the Buddhists, grown aggressive under the 
 favours rendered them by his father. He renewed an 
 old law prohibiting Buddhism ; he made new con- 
 quests in Tatary, and added Tong-King and Cochin- 
 China to the empire ; he encouraged literature and 
 the fine arts. During the next reign, that of Kung-ly, 
 a great fire occurred in the palace, which melted 
 together several kinds of precious metals, and from 
 this mixture there were made a number of vases of 
 fine workmanship, which are sought after and highly 
 prized to this day. The next emperor was Seuen- 
 tih, during whose reign Cochin-China re-emancipated 
 herself. In the next reign the Tatars were again on the 
 warpath.
 
 A LITTLE HfSTOKY OF CHINA. 35 
 
 The following reigns those of Ching-h\va and 
 Hang-che (1465-1506) were quiet and peaceful. It 
 was during these reigns that the Portuguese navigators 
 rounded, for the first time, the Cape of Good Hope, 
 and effected a landing on the coast of China. 
 
 In the reign of Chung-tih (1506-22) rebel princes 
 distracted the central power, and in the reign of a 
 successor, Kea-tsing, a Tatar army raided the province 
 of Shen-se, and the fleets of the Japanese ravished 
 the coasts. Tung-King (1567-73) had to bribe the 
 Tatar general and grant favours to him, which had to 
 be increased by his successor, Wan-lich (1573-1620). 
 During these reigns the Japanese invaded Korea, 
 killing and devastating, and then retiring. 
 
 The Portuguese obtained a settlement of a precarious 
 nature at Macao, where they exchanged Indian gold 
 and spices, and in time, no doubt, American gold, for 
 the silks of China. Jesuit missionaries accompanied 
 these voyages to Japan, India, and China ; and two of 
 special eminence, Fathers Ricci and Schall, settled in 
 China. The missionaries had great difficulties with 
 the rival schools, especially with the Taoists and 
 Buddhists. They found it necessary to appeal to the 
 emperor for protection. In this appeal they were 
 greatly aided through being able to produce a clock 
 which kept correct time and struck the hours. In 
 addition, they were mathematicians and astronomers,
 
 36 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 and were able to correct the Chinese calendar. They 
 were made use of by the emperors, and Father Schall 
 held high office, not only under the Ming dynasty, 
 but under the dynasty of the Manchus, who followed 
 them. While the missionaries were eminently suc- 
 cessful personally, Christianity made no headway in 
 China. 
 
 Military kings holding a large population under 
 sway were only too glad of the assistance of Taoists, 
 Buddhists, or any other established power. 
 
 The Tatars were in possession of Leaou-tung when 
 the emperor died of a broken heart, and in the same 
 year the Manchu Tatar prince Teen-ning declared 
 himself independent. The emperor was succeeded by 
 his son Tai-chang, who fell ill, and on the advice of 
 his medicine man drank the water of immortality and 
 died. The next emperor was Teen-Ke, and to him 
 succeeded Tsung-ching, who disappeared in one of 
 those tragic glares which have so often enlightened the 
 page of Chinese history. Peking was surrounded by 
 the troops of a rebellious chief, Li-tse-tching, and in 
 flames, when the emperor, dreading the fate of his 
 daughter, drew his sword, and putting one hand over 
 his eyes, attempted to kill her, but only cut off her 
 hand, then -strangled himself. Through all this fire 
 and looting and massacre, the indomitable Father 
 Schall, the Jesuit, missionary, held on his course.
 
 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 37 
 
 The victorious usurper at Peking now led his armies 
 against a brother rebel. The latter retiring from his 
 position, requested the aid of the Manchu prince 
 Teen-ning. This aid was readily given, and the allies 
 were successful. The Manchu prince then marched on 
 Peking, where he restored the troubled city to much- 
 needed order, was well received, and, acting with 
 great consideration, gradually assumed sole authority. 
 Among his other appointments to office, he made 
 Father Schall chief of the doctors of celestial literature. 
 Being seized with mortal sickness, he appointed his 
 son, then a boy, his successor (1644), in whom began 
 the Manchu dynasty still reigning in China. His 
 royal name was Shun-che, and the dynasty was called 
 Ta-tsung. The good Schall was a constant companion 
 and adviser of the young emperor. The emperor's un?le 
 Ama-Wang, the actual ruler, was also a friend of 
 Schall ; but the empress-mother was too devoted a 
 Buddhist to allow of these friendships opening a way 
 for the spread of Christianity.
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 THE Manchu conquerors kept as many as possible of 
 the Chinese mandarins in their civil functions, but set 
 up a class of military mandarins entirely of their own 
 race. They also limited the period of the office of the 
 civil governors of districts. They marked their conquest 
 in another way, in some senses a very drastic one, 
 and indicative of their power ; they made the Chinese 
 adopt the Manchu costume, and even the Manchu 
 style of wearing the hair. The shaved head and long 
 pigtail, now so characteristic of the Chinaman, had to 
 take the place of the luxuriant black locks which had 
 been the pride of the sons of the " Flowery Land." 
 
 It has been noted that while the Manchu warriors 
 conquered the Chinese armies, the Chinese people, 
 agriculturalists, and merchants gradually entered in 
 great numbers into Manchuria, and by cunning and 
 settled diligence in business, possessed the land, 
 ousting the pastoral inhabitants. 
 
 In 1677 a small English vessel sent from Formosa 
 to Amoy, on the Chinese coast, landed there, and set 
 up a storehouse or factory, as it was then called. The
 
 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 39 
 
 articles chiefly in request were flowered damasks and 
 silks, hut this ship had also orders to expend $100 on 
 tea. 
 
 The Manchu dynasty had established peace on land, 
 the pirates under Koxinga were amenable to reason, 
 and the power of the Dutch fleet was waning, so that 
 circumstances were favourable to British trade, and 
 that of tea, in particular, made great advances. 
 
 The first check it received was the imposition of a 
 duty of five shillings in the pound. Then in 1705 the 
 Malays set on fire the factory at Amoy, killing or 
 burning the few English residents there. At Canton 
 the trade began to give indications of the importance 
 it was yet to attain at that port. In 1703, 105,000 
 Ibs. of tea were exported thence. By 1715 the trade 
 had become established, a regular fleet of British tea- 
 ships arriving at stated seasons for their freights. 
 
 The next emperor was Kang-he, an able and 
 industrious monarch, alike in administration and in 
 the battlefield. In literary and scientific matters he 
 was assisted by the Jesuits, whom he befriended. 
 Thibet was drawn closer to the empire by the appoint- 
 ment of resident military mandarins at the populous 
 centres. Warren Hastings, when Governor-General 
 of India, endeavoured, about 1780, to open trade 
 between India and Thibet ; but was informed that in 
 all external matters Thibet could not act without the
 
 40 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 sanction of China. It was during this reign that the 
 great earthquake occurred at Peking, said to have been 
 fatal to several hundred thousand people. Kang-he 
 died from a cold contracted during one of his great 
 hunting expeditions, having reigned for sixty years 
 over a peaceful empire. His son succeeded to a short 
 reign, and uneventful. In the reign of Keen-lung, the 
 next emperor (1735-1795), the Mohammedans in the 
 empire rebelled, but were put down successfully, and 
 many were massacred. He was a restless monarch, 
 with a lust for conquest, marching his armies into 
 nearly all the adjoining countries, but without much 
 permanent success. In India he was fairly successful 
 almost up to the British frontier, having beaten the 
 Gourkhas and the Kepaulese. He wrote long poems 
 and histories, chiefly glorifying his military campaigns. 
 His expedition against the Meaou-tsze, or Highlanders 
 of China, was only partially successful, for it failed to 
 follow the clans to their mountain retreat. These 
 Highlanders still remain, the only Chinamen who do 
 not wear the Manchu dress and queue. He was also 
 unfortunate in his expedition against the rebellious 
 Formosans. Lord Anson visited Canton in 1742, but 
 although he was treated with pomp and favour, he 
 could get no concessions for the tea merchants. 
 
 The high rates of interest on loans paid in China 
 induced British merchants to make advances to the
 
 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 41 
 
 Chinese, and the failure of the Chinese to repay was 
 the cause of frequent disputes. An Englishman, Mi- 
 Flint, endeavoured to make his complaint at head- 
 quarters at Peking ; hut before getting half way he 
 was dragged back, and only liberated on condition 
 of leaving the country altogether, his offence being 
 simply intrusion into the central kingdom. The 
 emperor in the end ordered repayment of principal 
 and interest, but forbade the traffic for the future. 
 
 In 1792 the British Government, at the request of 
 the East India Company, sent out Lord Macartney at 
 the head of an embassy. The visit was friendly enough, 
 but no concessions were obtained. 
 
 At the age of eighty-five Keen-lung resigned in 
 favour of his son, Kea-King. Kea-King soon sank 
 into indolent and luxurious habits, and during his 
 reign the peace of the empire was disturbed by sects 
 or brotherhoods, who incited to insurrection. A rising 
 in Shan-tung spread over the neighbouring provinces, 
 and lasted for eight years, until it was suppressed by 
 troops called in from Tatary. From these sects or 
 clubs sprang the Triad Society, the members of which, 
 like freemasons, recognise one another by secret sym- 
 bols. During this reign a systematic piracy sprang 
 up. The force of these corsairs was at one time 
 estimated at 70,000 men, navigating 1800 ships. The 
 Chinese imperial navy was repeatedly beaten off in
 
 42 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 attacking them ; but at last, on the death of their 
 famous queen, they split up among themselves, and 
 both crews and leaders were absorbed in the national 
 navy. 
 
 In 1804 and 1805 the tea ships of the East India 
 Company were armed, and had often to fight off the 
 French and Dutch fleets to get their cargoes through. 
 In 1808 Admiral Drury landed a body of troops at 
 Macao, for the French fleet was lying off Jaffa a 
 proceeding which irritated the Chinese officials. 
 Again, in 1814, H.M.S. Doris, having captured the 
 American ship Hunter, and brought her into Macao 
 Eoads, the Chinese objected, and threatened to stop 
 the tea trade by way of retaliation. The English 
 Minister, Sir George Stanton, however, made a firm 
 stand. The result was the first appearance of any 
 concession granted to the merchants, the Chinese 
 hitherto pretending to a total disregard for the con- 
 tinuance of the trade. An embassy under Lord 
 Amherst in 1816 was anything but a success, and 
 Peking, as a source of relief or redress to the mer- 
 chants, was given up as hopeless. 
 
 From near the end of the last century a trade in 
 opium (chiefly contraband) had grown up between 
 China and British India. The central government 
 of China issued proclamations against it; but the 
 mandarins and the people had alike fallen a prey to
 
 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 43 
 
 its charms, and even the Chinese revenue-cutters 
 were used by the officials to bring the smuggled drug 
 from the ships in the roadstead up to Canton. 
 
 In 1820 Kea-King died, and was succeeded by 
 Taou-Kwang. Kea-King left behind him a badly- 
 governed and disaffected people, to whom the new 
 emperor, in the first moments of his reign, gave some 
 hopes of better things. 
 
 Probably a corrupt officialism was too much for 
 him, and he too went in for pleasure and its mean 
 excitements. Insurrections and seditious societies 
 were the order of the day. 
 
 Traders in the Canton River, British and others, 
 were still subject to impositions and unfair treatment, 
 and not allowed to trade directly with the people, but 
 only through the Kongs, or intermediaries appointed 
 by the Chinese governor of the province. Messrs 
 Mathieson . and Innes made several attempts to open 
 trade at other ports, and were sometimes successful ; 
 in fact, things looked all right for their enterprise, 
 until the mandarins began to interfere and burn the 
 houses of those who had traded with the strangers; 
 some poor natives were even cruelly beaten for merely 
 looking at the barbarian ships. 
 
 In 1833 the monopoly of the East India Company 
 came to an end, and three commissioners were 
 appointed to watch the conduct of the British traders.
 
 44 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 They were Lord Napier, Mr Plowden, and Mr Davis. 
 Difficulties of rites and formalities arose. Napier 
 had his case written out and distributed in leaflet form, 
 after the Chinese fashion. He was answered by the 
 Chinese officials in a counter notice, wherein they 
 called him a barbarian slave and an outside savage. 
 Shots were exchanged between the British warships 
 and the forts, and the tea-trade was stopped. Trade 
 was opened again on very much the old footing, and 
 Davis, who had now become superintendent, followed 
 a quiescent policy looking after the British traders, 
 and leaving the Chinese officials alone. 
 
 This policy was maintained by his successor, 
 Robinson. In time a change came over the British 
 home policy, which became more marked on the 
 accession of Lord Palmerston to power. Mr Elliot is 
 appointed superintendent, with a deputy, and on the 
 understanding that he is to go to Canton and open 
 communications with the Chinese. With tact and an 
 appearance of submission, Elliot got into Canton, and 
 into some kind of communication with the mandarins, 
 when a new element of discord intervened in the 
 opium question. 
 
 The excessive secret import of opium, and con- 
 sequent payment for it in Syce silver, the standard 
 coin of the empire, appreciated the coin to the
 
 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 45 
 
 great inconvenience of the ordinary trade of the 
 country. 
 
 This, with the baneful effects of the drug itself, 
 led to the promulgation of an imperial edict prohibit- 
 ing the import of opium. Elliot in the end, although 
 the official Chinese of the province were busy at the 
 time smuggling opium in large quantities, was ordered 
 by the Chinese governor to require the ships to give 
 up all their opium at a. place and time to be ap- 
 pointed. This was one part of a mutual agreement, 
 and it was carried out; the merchants and Elliot at 
 the same time leaving Canton, after depositing claims 
 for payment and for damages in the proper quarter. 
 
 Various bickerings went on between the parties, 
 until, in March 1840, Lord John Russell sent out a 
 fleet, which blockaded Canton. Various ports along 
 the coasts were also blockaded or bombarded, and 
 attempts made to communicate direct with the 
 emperor. The Chinese temporised and retracted ; the 
 fleet again operated, and all the forts in the River 
 Canton were reduced. Whereupon the Chinese agreed 
 to open the port to trade, to pay $6,000,000 indem- 
 nity, and to cede entirely the island of Hong-Kong 
 to Britain. But in a few days crowds of Chinese 
 began to appear on the scene ; English troops were 
 again landed, and Canton evacuated by the Tatar 
 soldiers.
 
 45 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 In the meantime the home government had sent 
 out Sir Henry Pottinger to replace Mr Elliot. More 
 troops of Tatar soldiers arrived, and the British again 
 took active measures, defeating and punishing the 
 Chinese soldiery. The former imperial commissioner 
 was recalled and disgraced, and a new treaty arranged, 
 the Chinese agreeing to pay $20,000,000, cede Hong- 
 Kong, and open to trade Canton, Amoy, Fou-tcheou- 
 fou, Ming-po, and Shang-hai. This treaty was signed 
 in August 1842. It should be noted that the exclusive 
 spirit shown by the Chinese government in no way 
 accords with the wishes of the Chinese people, who 
 were always found friendly and open to trade. 
 
 The state of the army as described by Hue, who was 
 about this time travelling through China, may well 
 account for its total collapse before very small bodies 
 of English troops. In fact it seems quite likely that 
 the East Indian Company, if they had thought of it, 
 instead of bargaining with official rascals about duties 
 on tea, might have taken China. 
 
 We have seen how part of the official class guarded 
 for selfish interest their country ; the following from 
 the Abbe Hue will illustrate another cause of national 
 coherence, in the midst of many appearances of 
 imminent dissolution : 
 
 " Ty-kouo-!N"gan," the leader of the party with which 
 Hue, Gabet, and his friends travelled, "getting more and
 
 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 47 
 
 more unwell, we thought it our duty to speak to him 
 seriously on the subject of his soul and eternity. Our 
 previous conversations on the way had sufficiently 
 enlightened him as to the principal truths of Chris- 
 tianity. Nothing now remained but to make him 
 clearly perceive his position, and convince him of 
 the urgency of entering frankly and fully into the 
 path of salvation. Ty-kouo-Xgan entirely concurred 
 with us, admitting our observations to be replete with 
 reason. He himself spoke with great eloquence on the 
 brevity and frailty of human life, of worldly vanities, of 
 the impenetrability of God's decrees, of the importance 
 of salvation, of the truth of the Christian religion, and 
 of the obligation of all mankind to embrace it. He 
 said to us on all these subjects some very sensible and 
 some very touching things but when it came to the 
 point, to the practical result, to the declaring himself 
 Christian, there was a dead stand : he must absolutely 
 wait until he returned to his family and had abdicated 
 his mandarinate. It was in vain that we represented 
 the danger he incurred by postponing this important 
 matter ; all was useless ' So long as I am a mandarin 
 of the emperor, I cannot serve the Lord of Heaven ' ; 
 and he had this absurd idea so deep in his brain, that 
 it was impracticable to dislodge it." Foolish Abbo 
 Hue ! " this absurd idea " was loyalty, not without a 
 touch of chivalry, " that cheap defence of nations."
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 ANY family influence in the government of China 
 which may have survived the Mongolian conquerors, 
 and cropped up again under weaker rulers, was 
 finally extirpated by the Manchu government. In 
 China now, in addition to the military Manchus, there 
 are but two divisions of the people the magistracy 
 and the commonalty. "Wealth, without power and 
 learning, is supposed to be held in contempt. It is 
 true that outsiders have'observed that learning being 
 the road to power of the official and magisterial order, 
 learning thereby has a way of handing over to power 
 the riches of the unlearned. In other words, the 
 quan, or, as he is now called by Europeans, the 
 mandarin, or, as he would be called in the Confucian 
 philosophy, the father of a particular administrative 
 family, small or large, takes care that the surplus 
 wealth of private enterprise shall somehow reach his 
 coffers. 
 
 The official class is composed of candidates who 
 have passed examinations in the knowledge of the
 
 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 49 
 
 ancient books. This examination system came into 
 use gradually. From the earliest ages the kings were 
 the reputed fonts of learning. Mencius (B.C. 330) 
 says : " Good laws are not equal to gaining the 
 people by good instruction. Good laws the people 
 fear; good instruction the people loVe." From these 
 successful candidates are ultimately appointed the 
 men who form the councils which advise the emperor. 
 The emperor is absolute sovereign, is entitled "Son 
 of Heaven," and holds communion with the supreme 
 deity on his own account, and on behalf of his people. 
 With the lesser deities the people may hold direct 
 communication, but with the supreme ancestral god of 
 the empire only through the emperor. 
 
 The emperor is assisted by a small cabinet with a 
 president, and there are six supreme tribunals or 
 departments of state, charged with the care respect- 
 ively of the provinces ; the revenue ; ancient usages, 
 religious rites and ceremonies, and the temples ; the 
 army and navy ; the administration of justice ; and 
 lastly, public works, mines, bridges, canals, etc. There 
 is a president of each of these boards, who lays 
 their decisions before the cabinet or grand council, 
 who in their turn present them to the emperor. 
 There is also a board of censors, a sort of inspecting 
 department, whose duty is to keep a watch over all 
 the officials of the empire, and another board which 
 D
 
 50 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 keeps a watch over the various members of the 
 imperial family, and reports to the emperor. 
 
 Each province has a governor-general, a governor, 
 a treasurer, a suh-commissioner, a literary chancellor, 
 and a chief justice, six taotais of equal rank, a numher 
 of prefects, and 'a large numher of district or county 
 rulers, according to the size of the province. Every 
 town and village has its governing hody. The 
 governing hody of the town or village is subordinate 
 to the county chief, he to the prefect, the latter to the 
 taotai, and so on to the governor-general. Each of the 
 high officers has a number of officials attached to 
 himself. 
 
 All officers are supposed to be appointed by the 
 emperor on the recommendation of the Board of 
 Ceremonies, according to their merits as displayed in 
 the great literary examination. The members of the 
 Board of Ceremonies are, however, capable of recom- 
 mending officers whose literary degrees have been 
 bought. Although the salaries attached to the various, 
 offices are very small, mandarins of China retire as 
 men of wealth and substance through the corrupt gains 
 of office. 
 
 The extortion of officials is of course a great check 
 on private enterprise, and while not denying the 
 possibility of evil in extremes of capitalism in the 
 West, it is well to note the disastrous effect on
 
 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 51 
 
 industrial progress in China of the prohibition of the 
 able and diligent man from infecting others with his 
 ability and energy. The marshals of industry make 
 and preserve order without cost to the state, and do 
 it without the use of the bamboo. In China there 
 are few large employers of labour. Nearly all the 
 law of the country is a code of punishments, and 
 the bamboo is omnipresent. The bamboo, inflicted on 
 the offender with his face flat on the ground, is the 
 main instrument throughout this vast empire of 
 criminal justice. Blows vary from ten to a hundred. 
 Strangulation is considered the mildest form of capital 
 punishment, and is inflicted for want of piety towards 
 parents, the sowing of discord among relatives, and 
 theft above the value of 40. The severer forms of 
 the death penalty beheading and hacking to pieces 
 deliberately are reserved for the crimes of treason 
 and parricide. The barbarous system of extracting 
 evidence or confession by torture is practised with 
 severity. Imprisonment and the canyue are the 
 punishments that may be inflicted by the elders of 
 the village, or court of first instance. The cangue 
 is a heavy slab of wood, which is placed like a collar 
 round the prisoner's neck, wearing which he has to 
 stand in a public place for days and weeks, or even 
 months. The prisons of China are filthy dens. 
 
 The torture which has crept into the practice of
 
 52 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 Chinese courts is against the law, and is an instance 
 of the power which has been arrogated by officialdom. 
 It is applied not only for the extraction of confessions 
 from accused persons, but also to force evidence from 
 witnesses. The barbarous and rude cruelty of the 
 tortures practised is hardly credible. In civil cases 
 the state of matters is little better. The applicant for 
 justice has to begin by bribing the underlings to pro. 
 cure the attention of the mandarin that is to say, 
 to show him a place about the yamen or court-house 
 where he can wait on his knees for the passage of that 
 official, who, when he receives the application, appoints 
 a day for investigation. At the taking of evidence it 
 is not unusual to have torture employed, and as in 
 Chinese courts of law there is frequently bribery and 
 corruption, a man will naturally think twice before he 
 gives evidence, unless he knows who has given the 
 largest bribe. 
 
 Another tool, which Chinese authority makes large 
 use of for the government of the people, is quite as 
 effective in the way of intellectual and industrial 
 stagnation and degradation that is, organised super- 
 stition. The soul of industrial progress is an appeal 
 to the laws or methods of nature, and implies the 
 institution and spread of a knowledge not contained in 
 the books of the schools and the priests ; therefore the 
 schoolmen and the priests oppose it. We have already
 
 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 53 
 
 Seen how an intelligent commentary on Confucius was 
 prohibited ; how it would fare with any kind of quite 
 independent line of thought may be judged from that. 
 In the religions of most of the early nations there 
 was contained a reverence of letters, which, as usual, 
 became a superstition. One form still extant of this 
 Chinese superstitious reverence for letters is the care 
 they take of any scrap of paper on which there has 
 been writing ; it is wicked to throw away such a piece 
 of paper, or use it as a wrapper. All bits of waste- 
 paper that have had any letters written on them are 
 carefully collected and burnt ; the spirit of the words 
 thus passes through fire back to heaven, and the ashes 
 are thrown into the river. Mrs Gray writes from 
 Canton : " The Chinese certainly are a people given 
 to superstition, but yet one cannot but admire the way 
 they carry out what they profess. For instance, every 
 night and morning lamps are lighted before the ancestral 
 altars, joss-sticks are placed on the altars and before 
 each shop in a queer little place made for the purpose 
 on the ground, cut out of the stone projections. In front 
 of the shops you will see three lighted joss-sticks at 
 the dawn and at the setting of the sun. Religious 
 worship is also much observed in the boats. The 
 sampan we always employ (a small boat with a broad 
 beam enclosed by a mat roof over the centre, propelled 
 by two oars, and by a very powerful scull astern,
 
 54 A LI TTL E mSTOR Y OF CHINA . 
 
 generally kept in motion by a woman) has a small 
 altar erected in the stern of the boat, which is covered 
 by a sliding door by day. Morning and night the little 
 door is withdrawn, and you see the miniature altar, 
 crowded with effigies of the household gods, tiny 
 tablets for ancestral worship made in wood painted 
 red, bearing gilt characters signifying the names of the 
 deceased ancestors, offerings of fruits and flowers, and 
 little zinc ornaments. Incense-sticks are burnt night 
 and morning on this altar at the bow of the boat, and 
 at the entrance of the covered part where passengers 
 sit." 
 
 That is the general and ordinary religion of the 
 people. In addition to this there are many gods and 
 goddesses, each with a temple and an annual festival. 
 There is, for instance, the god Sheng-Wong, "The 
 Protector of Walled Cities." He has a temple in every 
 city, and a festival on the 27th day of the seventh 
 month of the Chinese year. On that day the people 
 flock to the temple, and the chief official of the city 
 worships the god there, and kow-toics to his image on 
 behalf of the people. The sick resort to this festival 
 to receive the blessing of the god. Large quantities of 
 prayer-sticks are purchased in the temple. Two seals, 
 bearing the god's name, belong to the temple ; one is of 
 silver and one of jadestone. Devotees can have articles 
 of clothing stamped with those seals at a cheap rate
 
 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 55 
 
 with the jadestone, but for a fine gift with the silver 
 one. The stamped article is taken home, and pre- 
 served as a charm against epidemics and other evils. 
 
 Then there is the goddess Kura-Fa, also with a 
 temple and annual festival. She is more especially 
 the tutelary deity of women and children. " At this 
 festival men and women come to return thanks to the 
 goddess for the gift of children which she is supposed 
 to have granted them during the past year. Women, 
 too, come to beseech her to give them children, and so 
 to prevent their husbands from taking other wives. 
 I saw many little ones in the temple, and learnt that 
 they had been brought by their mothers to be presented 
 to the goddess to receive her blessing. We were not 
 fortunate enough to see many ladies ; they had most 
 probably visited the temple very early in the morning, 
 to escape the crowd that would later in the day besiege 
 it. The women I saw were of the lower orders, but 
 amongst them, during our visit to the temple, were two 
 ladies beautifully dressed (they always come to this 
 festival in their richest robes to do honour to the 
 goddess), who looked shy and nervous, and who shrank 
 into a corner with their attendants to wait until the 
 altar was not so crowded. They seized a favourable 
 moment, presented their offerings of fruit, flowers, and 
 cakes, worshipped the goddess, and then retired." Arch, 
 deacon Gray writes : " When I was visiting a Taoist
 
 56 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHI ft A. 
 
 temple, a father brought his son to the priests who were 
 lodged in it, saying that the child was possessed of a 
 devil. Having consulted the idol, the priests informed 
 him that there were no fewer than five devils in the 
 body of his son, but that they were prepared to expel 
 them all on payment of a certain sum." The father 
 agreed, and the priests produced five eggs, into each 
 one of which they alleged they had sent a devil, and so 
 disposed of the five. 
 
 Then every great river has a river-dragon, much 
 feared and worshipped by the many dwellers on the 
 rivers, who are engaged in the transport work of the 
 country. A storm is caused by the stirring about of 
 this dragon, and indeed a glimpse of his tail above the 
 surface, as he turns, often heralds a coming storm. 
 
 The State, too, affords a quantity of ceremonial 
 worship in the name of Confucius. Every town has 
 at least one temple in honour of the almost deified 
 sage ; the larger towns have several. Services are held 
 in his honour twice a month, and there are special 
 services throughout the empire in the middle months 
 of spring and autumn, attended with great solemnity 
 by all the mandarins, civil and military. At Pekin the 
 worship is led by the emperor himself, and in the chief 
 towns of the provinces by the governor-general. For 
 two days preceding the ceremony the mandarins ought 
 to fast. On the eve of the great day incense is lit on
 
 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 57 
 
 the altar in the temple. A solemn procession, \vith 
 bands of music, brings a bullock, sheep, and pigs, 
 which are, with all proper formalities, laid upon the 
 altar; also flowers, fruits, and wines, and fabrics of 
 white silk. On the day itself, the chief priest that 
 is, the emperor or governor-general (for Confucius did 
 not separate the offices of king and priest) arrives at 
 the temple, and, having washed his hands, is ready 
 to officiate. The whole of the mandarins of the dis- 
 trict, in court costume, having now been marshalled 
 in front of the altar, a master of ceremonies calls 
 aloud, " Receive the Spirit." Again he calls, and the 
 vocalists and musicians who are present sing and play 
 a hymn. After this a herald cries aloud, "Let the 
 incense arise," and again, " Receive the Spirit." Here 
 the officiating chief kow-tows, and on rising is 
 presented with a burning incense-stick. He raises 
 this stick in both hands twice over his head, as a 
 Roman Catholic priest elevates the host, then hands it 
 to an attendant, who places it in a large incense-burner 
 standing on the altar, and again performs the kow-tow. 
 The chief then goes back to his place at the head of 
 the mandarins, and all together perform the kow-tow 
 while the minstrels sing a hymn in honour of Con- 
 fucius. The chief has to advance to the altar nine 
 times, and each time he presents to the tablet of 
 Confucius a certain number of offerings, parts of the
 
 '58 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 animals, or some of the flowers, fruits, or silks, raising 
 each offering as it is presented above iiis head. Some 
 quotation from Confucius, written on a sheet of yellow 
 paper, is then read aloud by a herald, after which the 
 paper is burnt and the writing is thus conveyed to 
 spirit-land. In some cases an image of Confucius has 
 crept into use in the temples, in place of the original 
 and still usual tablet. The tablet is a piece of painted 
 wood, with the name of Confucius written on it. In 
 connection with every Confucian temple there is a hall 
 containing the tablets of men of conspicuous official 
 ability, or of men renowned for their filial devotion ; 
 another hall for the tablets of local celebrities; and 
 another for the names of the devoted and virtuous 
 women who have lived in the district.
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 IN 1850 Taou-Kwang was succeeded by Hien-feng, 
 when a new but vain cry was raised for the reforms 
 hoped for at the beginning of the previous reign. 
 Revolts followed. One under Teen-tih failed, the 
 people deserting him for Hung-sen-tsuen, whose mis- 
 sion was to drive out the Tatar rulers, as well as the sins 
 of the age. The people flocked to his standard. His 
 campaign through Hoo-nan and Hoo-pih was successful, 
 and in 1852 he had established himself in Nan-King, 
 and declared himself first emperor of the Tai-ping, 
 under the title Tien- Wang. His armies were victor- 
 ious as far north as Tientsin, and his sympathisers 
 appeared in numbers in many parts of the country. 
 He declared himself Christian. 
 
 In 1857 a dispute arose between the European 
 representatives and China, and war was declared, 
 Britain and France sending an expedition to the 
 country. Pekin was captured by Hope Grant with 
 10,000 English and 5,000 French troops in 1860. The
 
 60 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 fight concluded near the end of the following year, the 
 Chinese paying an indemnity of 8,000,000 taels. 
 
 When peace was arrived at, the Chinese authorities 
 "ot the benefit of the services of Major Gordon to 
 
 O 
 
 assist them against the Tai-pings. Hien-feng had 
 fled when the allies were marching on Pekin, and 
 his son Tung-che, five years of age, became the next 
 emperor. In a short time Gordon had drilled his 
 troops and gained several victories, gradually driving 
 the enemy into their capital, Nan-King. In 1864 the 
 capital itself fell into the hands of the imperialists, 
 and Tien- Wang, and his cause with him, fell about the 
 same time. That the army maintained a fair amount 
 of vigour for some time after Gordon left it is shown 
 by the way in which the imperial power put down 
 the attempt of the Mohammedans in the distant south- 
 west to set up an independent kingdom for them- 
 selves under Sulieman. Their capital, Ta-le-foo, was 
 taken, and their partisans throughout the province of 
 Yun-nan almost killed out. There may, however, be 
 some truth in the allegation that they were assisted by 
 treachery. 
 
 During the minority of Tung-che the power was 
 in the hands of empress-regents the widow of 
 Taou-Kwang and the mother of Tung-che, who were 
 installed with the assistance of Prince Kung, a 
 brother of Hien-Feng. They remained in office until
 
 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 61 
 
 1873, when Tung-che ascended the throne. He was 
 dissipated and in failing health, and invited the two * 
 old regents back to power. He died in 1875, leaving 
 a widow enceinte, but it seems she also died. The 
 regents alleged that Tung-che had not declared his 
 successor, and themselves declared a son of the seventh 
 brother of Hien-Feng. This succession was received 
 with disfavour in China, being of the same generation, 
 and so not fitting for the performance of ancestral 
 worship, inclusive of the last emperor. However, the 
 disaffection seems to have passed away, and the 
 second regency lasted fourteen years, when Tsa-tien 
 assumed power, with the title of Kwang-Hsu, in 1889. 
 In the same year he married his cousin, but has as yet 
 no heir. One of the empress-regents died in 1881, 
 but the mother of Tung-che still lives, and the pre- 
 parations for the universal celebration of her sixtieth 
 birthday were lately put off on account of the war 
 with Japan. 
 
 The emperor is twenty-three years of age, and his 
 imperial person and harem are at present surrounded 
 by eight or ten thousand eunuchs. This later age of 
 woman's rule and swarms of eunuchs is not likely to 
 be remembered with greater love than those long past. 
 
 In connection with Gordon's work against the Tai- 
 ping, a Chinese official, Li-Hung-chang, distinguished 
 himself, and was made Goveruor-Geuerul of Kiang-su
 
 62 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 in 1862, and Viceroy of Kukwang in 1867. In 1870 
 he settled at Tientsin as Viceroy of the Metropolitan 
 Province of Chihli. He conducted the negotiations 
 with England arising out of the Margary murder, 
 which ended in the Chefoo Convention of 1876. For 
 the past twenty years he has been senior Grand 
 Secretary of State the first Chinese who has held 
 that post under a Manchu emperor. Chinese official- 
 dom is exclusive in the extreme. Eepresentatives 
 of European states have seldom been in a Chinese 
 minister's house; even the servants at the various 
 legations would feel chagrined if observed speaking 
 with their masters on the streets. It was only after 
 the war of 1860-61 that a sort of Foreign Office 
 was instituted, the duties appropriate to such an 
 office having hitherto been conducted at the Colonial 
 Ministry, on the principle that all foreign peoples were 
 tributary to China. The new board, which is called 
 Tsungli-yamen, has consisted of from eight to twelve 
 members closely identified with the Grand Council, 
 and its chief aim seems to be to delay the demands 
 and shelve the proposals of those who have commu- 
 nications with it. 
 
 The right of audience with the emperor of the 
 representatives of foreign powers has long been a 
 vexed question. After the war of 1860 the right of 
 audience, after the manner of other foreign courts,
 
 A LITTLE HISTORV OF CfilNA. 63 
 
 was one of the first concessions demanded by the 
 victorious allies; but the Emperor Hien-feng having 
 fled, and the next emperor being a minor, there was 
 no immediate opportunity of bringing the matter to 
 a crisis. As soon, however, as Tung-che assumed 
 power, the ministers presented a collective note re- 
 questing an audience with the emperor. In former 
 discussions of the question of audience, the. obstacle 
 to its being carried out was the refusal of foreign 
 ministers to perform the kow-tow a ceremonial 
 required of tributary princes, which consists of kneel- 
 ing three times, and at each kneeling striking the 
 ground three times with the forehead. 
 
 On the occasion now referred to the Chinese gave 
 way in the matter of kow-towing, but had recourse 
 to one of their usual ruses inviting the ministers to 
 audience, not in the palace, but in a hall used for the 
 entertainment of Mongolian and other tributary chiefs. 
 The ministers were not satisfied with this, but the 
 matter was again postponed on account of the death 
 of Tung-che, and his succession by a minor. When 
 Kuang-hsu in 1889 assumed power, he issued a pro- 
 clamation that he would hold an audience in the 
 same building, and here, notwithstanding expressions 
 of dissatisfaction, it was held in 1891. On the next 
 occasion a compromise was made. The reception took 
 place in another hall, and the ambassadors were ad-
 
 64 
 
 A LlTl^LE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 mitted through the main or porcelain gate of the 
 palace. 
 
 On the 12th of November of last year (1894) the 
 European and American ministers were received by 
 the emperor in the imperial palace itself, the 
 ministers having informed the emperor that they had 
 letters of congratulation to present on the anniver- 
 sary of the sixtieth birthday of the empress-dowager ; 
 and China, being no doubt somewhat humiliated by 
 the Japanese victories, ceded this long-denied right to 
 foreign representatives. 
 
 In 1876 there was a railway made from Woosung to 
 Shanghai, but soon after completion it was acquired 
 by the provincial authorities and torn up, so that, as 
 late as 1887, there was not a bit of railroad in China. 
 There is now a line from Tung-ku, at the mouth of 
 Peiho River, to Tien-tsin a distance of twenty-seven 
 miles ; and from Tong-ku to the Tung-shan and Kai- 
 ping coalfields, and on as far as the seaward end of 
 the Great Wall. Li-Hung-chang is said to be per- 
 sonally concerned in this railway and the coal enter- 
 prise. Chau-chi-tung, while viceroy of the two Kuangs, 
 pressed for the construction of a railway from Pekin 
 to Hankow, and in 1889 an imperial proclamation 
 authorised this railway but as the Chinese wished to 
 be beholden as much as possible to themselves, they 
 have begun by searching the country for iron ore and
 
 A LITTLE HISTORY OF (If IN A. 65 
 
 coal, preliminary to setting up smelting furnace?, to be 
 followed no doubt by rolling mills, and in time, let 
 us hope, by a railway. Besides the general objection 
 of Chinese officialdom to permit anything new until it 
 sees where the benefit to itself is to come in, there 
 are two great objections current. One a semi-religious 
 or geomantic one, which is founded on the prevention 
 of offence to the Feng-shui, or crowd of spirits, to one 
 or other of whom every inch of Chinese ground is 
 sacred. Hardly a house can be built in rural China 
 without the direction of some one skilled in geomancy. 
 The other great objection is that railways would 
 deprive the junkmen and coolies, who now carry on 
 the river and canal traffic, of their means of liveli- 
 hood. In spite of Feng-shui, there is now an extensive 
 telegraph system instituted in China. 
 
 Since Gordon's day his army has to a certain extent 
 been kept up by Li-Hun g-chang. It is called the Black 
 Flag Army, and is supplied with modern fire-arms. 
 
 After the late French war, too, China appeared to 
 bestir itself a little. Arsenals and forts were built; 
 colleges were instituted for the education of cadets; 
 cruisers and ironclads, heavily armed, were obtained 
 in England and Germany. Still there was no cen- 
 tralisation, and nothing in the shape of a headquarters' 
 staff. The Chinese and Mongolians, Manchus and 
 others, would make fair enough soldiers ; and officers 
 no doubt would arise, too, if there was any worthy head 
 E
 
 66 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 to call them out ; but as it is, the officers are mostly 
 men who have bought their position by bribes, and 
 become corrupt pilferers of the soldiers' pay, and even 
 rations, to make good their outlay. Supposing the army 
 to be Avell disciplined and well led, it would still be 
 without any efficient means of rapid mobilisation in the 
 present backward state of railway enterprise in China. 
 
 The customs' revenue is under the control of Sir 
 Robert Hart, an Englishman, and amounts to about 
 5,000,000 per annum, all taken at the twenty-four 
 Treaty ports. At these ports there are resident 10,000 
 foreigners, of whom 4000 are British. It is mostly at 
 these Treaty ports that there is any sign of a free native 
 press. It can hardly be called free in the British sense, 
 for the editors, as a rule, give a general support to the 
 government, perhaps paid for, and make little attempt 
 at the free criticism or the reflection of public opinion. 
 No doubt the absence of anything in the shape of party 
 politics handicaps the Chinese journalist. The papers 
 are, however, useful for the acquiring of telegraphic 
 information and the circulation of general news. 
 
 The inland revenue is composed chiefly of the tax on 
 land ; a tribute on rice and salt, amounting to about 
 33,000,000 silver taels ; the native customs, transit levy, 
 and licenses, of nearly 20,000,000 taels. The tael at pre- 
 sent rate of exchange, or price of silver, is about 2s. 6d. 
 At the time of the payment of the war indemnities to 
 England, the exchange value of the tael was about 6s.
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 1IIE WAR W1TII JAPAN. 
 
 IN 1884 Japan sent troops to Korea to redress an 
 insult to its representative, who was resident there 
 under a treaty of 1876. China interfered, and in 1885 
 a treaty was concluded between China and Japan. In 
 it, it was stipulated that should either China or Japan 
 find it necessary to protect their interests in Korea 
 against the rapacity of the inhabitants by landing 
 troops, neither country should do so without giving 
 due notice to the other, and that China and Japan 
 should, if possible, enter upon joint action. 
 
 In 1894 Japan, after first appealing to China for 
 redress against alleged Korean depredation on her 
 merchants, and after making this appeal in vain, gave 
 notice, in terms of the treaty of 1885, that she was 
 about to land troops in Korea, which she did in that 
 year. Japan had already drawn attention to the fact 
 that China had troops in Korea. 
 
 Oil 20th June 1894 a Times telegram says:
 
 68 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 "Japan, preferring foreign to civil war, refuses to 
 evacuate Korea, and simultaneously demands a joint 
 occupation. China refuses both propositions, and is 
 increasing her naval and military powers." 
 
 The insinuation at the beginning of this message is, 
 that Japan prefers to go to war with Korea or China 
 at the instigation of her own war party, rather than risk 
 the open rebellion of that party in Japan. It is true 
 that there is a strong popular war party in Japan, but 
 it is also true that, not Japan only, but the European 
 Powers and the United States, have received unwar- 
 rantable treatment at the hands of the Koreans ; the 
 ascendancy of the Chinese ambassador at the Court of 
 Seoul was also well known, and, as has been shown, 
 Japan was acting within her treaties. The plea now 
 set up by Chinese diplomacy, that, though Korea was 
 free to make treaties, China was still suzerain, and 
 would take no steps in the matter until the withdrawal 
 of the Japanese troops, was sophistical, and not likely 
 to appeal to a practical and warlike country which 
 believed itself to be ill-treated. Japan then announces 
 her intention to carry out the desired reforms in Korea 
 herself, after giving Eussia satisfactory assurances 
 that she has no intention of making any territorial 
 conquests in Korea. 
 
 On llth July 11,000 Japanese troops landed in 
 Korea, and reinforcements are held in readiness in
 
 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA, 69 
 
 Japan. The Korean Government now, at the request 
 of Japan, appointed three commissioners to discuss the 
 proposed reforms. About the 20th of July the Korean 
 Government seems to have accepted the reforms 
 desired by the Japanese, but this acceptance turns out 
 to be conditional on Japanese evacuation. At the same 
 time rumours are afloat that 12,000 Chinese troops are 
 on their way to Korea, and that China has threatened 
 to break off negotiations if Japanese troops are not 
 withdrawn from the peninsula, the 20th of July being 
 mentioned as the date for Japanese acceptance. 
 
 About the beginning of the last week in July 
 word comes from Seoul that the palace troops are 
 assuming a threatening attitude, and that a rupture 
 is imminent ; at the same time comes the rumour 
 that the Japanese have sunk a Chinese transport. 
 
 This sinking, of the transport, and attack at the 
 same time on the Chinese war vessels accompanying it, 
 seems to have been the first overt act of the war, and 
 was done, says the Japanese Foreign Office, " in conse- 
 quence of severe provocation." 
 
 On the morning of Monday, 23rd July, the inha- 
 bitants of Seoul are awakened by the firing of the 
 Japanese troops on the king's palace ; earlier in the 
 morning 1200 Japanese troops had entered the city. 
 The palace was soon taken, then the Chinese Embassy, 
 and by the end of the day the town was in charge of
 
 70 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 the Japanese, and the various legations guarded by 
 them. 
 
 By 31st July the Japanese Government has informed 
 the foreign representatives that there is a state of war 
 between their country and China. Shortly afterwards 
 comes the news that the Japanese forces in Korea 
 have repulsed the Chinese, and now occupy their 
 headquarters at Asan. By the 9th of August 20,000 
 additional Japanese troops have been landed at Che- 
 mulpo, and are marching on Seoul. The Japanese fleet 
 has made a run into the Gulf of Pechili and exchanged 
 shots with the forts at Port Arthur and Wei-Hai-Wei ; 
 but not finding the Chinese fleet, of which it is in 
 search, it returns to Korean waters. Great prepara- 
 tions are being made at Ping-yang by the Chinese 
 to check the invaders, and Japanese troops are still 
 arriving in Korea. Before the end of August all 
 Japanese harbours have been protected by torpedoes. 
 
 The advance of the Japanese columns in Korea 
 continues. One division comes up with the enemy at 
 Sing-chuen, and drives them out of their lines there ; 
 another column coming up on the 7th of September, 
 the attack is renewed ; the Chinese fought well, but 
 seeing that they were being surrounded, they fled in 
 the end towards Ping-yang. Further skirmishes occur, 
 the Chinese still retreating. 
 
 The commander of this, the first Japanese army,
 
 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 71 
 
 Marshal Yamagata, is now at the front. On the 13th 
 of September a Japanese division made a reconnais- 
 ance in force. On the 14th the Japanese army, 
 supported by the fleet, are in a position to attack ; 
 they are in three divisions, the left wing being 
 strengthened by marines. On the 15th the battle 
 opened with an artillery duel, which lasted till 
 noon ; the Japanese centre then advanced, keeping 
 up a musketry fire till dusk ; the Chinese defences 
 suffered considerably, but there seems to have been 
 no great loss of life. After dusk the Japanese "wings 
 drew round the Chinese position, and at three o'clock 
 next morning a simultaneous attack from three 
 directions drove the Chinese in half an hour from 
 their camp, where they left behind them large 
 quantities of arms, ammunition, and stores. 
 
 Ping-yang, the old capital of Korea, now held by 
 the victorious Japanese, is about half-way between 
 Seoul and the Yalu River, which divides Korea from 
 Manchuria. 
 
 On the 16th the news of the land victory is 
 brought to the fleet ; the marines are embarked, and 
 the fleet, consisting of nine ships of war and two 
 armed transports, steam northwards no doubt with 
 the intention of again supporting the army. As 
 they come iip, however, to the bay at the mouth of 
 the Yalu, they find that the Chinese fleet, which
 
 72 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 has just managed to convoy transports into that 
 river, has been watching them steam up. The 
 Chinese admiral is practically forced to make his 
 battle formation in the bay. Had he taken to the 
 open, he would have left his transports, still undis- 
 charged, to the uiercy of any Japanese gunboat which 
 chose to make for the river. He arranges his vessels 
 in a crescent form. The Japanese vessels come into 
 the bay in a line abreast, saving their fire for some 
 distance after the Chinese have commenced, and until 
 they are within a mile and a half or two miles of 
 the enemy. For some time they move ahead in a line 
 slowly, then turn and swoop down on one of the 
 horns of the Chinese crescent. Coming about in 
 perfect order, they make a similar visit to the other 
 horn. This method is kept up until the Chinese 
 ships are pretty well punished, and have lost all for- 
 mation. Two of them are on fire and are fun ashore ; 
 one, in a half-sinking condition, is blown up by 
 torpedoes, and many are badly damaged. On the 
 Japanese side one of the armed transports is crippled, 
 and the Agdki has been badly hit ; the captain of the 
 latter was in the tops when her mast was shot away, 
 and was killed. The fighting had lasted from one 
 o'clock till five. At dusk the Japanese sailed away, 
 and next day most of the Chinese left for the Gulf 
 of Pechili, the transports with them.
 
 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 73 
 
 These victories no doubt served to heighten the 
 war fever in Japan, and, it may be, to alter the 
 Japanese plan of campaign. By 22nd September, 
 30,000 troops are embarking at Hiroshima, whose 
 destination is still unknown. 
 
 About the beginning of OctobeV, Great Britain 
 seems to have made endeavours to bring about a 
 joint proposal of peace from the Powers, but did not 
 succeed. The burden of the Japanese press is that 
 China must take her chastisement, and learn from it 
 that, if she is to save herself as a nation, she must 
 follow Japan in her adoption of Western methods 
 certainly a very sensible position to take up. 
 
 The first army is steadily moving forward in Korea. 
 On the 15th of October it is on the south bank of 
 the Yalu, facing the Chinese on the opposite shore. 
 On the 24th, 1600 Japanese crossed the Yalu above 
 the ferry, which was guarded by a Chinese fort, and, 
 making a detour, attacked this fort and carried it 
 by storm. Meantime pontoons are in readiness, and 
 during the night the whole force is. transported men, 
 horses, and guns without mishaps. Next day there 
 is a skirmish at Fu-shan, and the Chinese retire on 
 Ku-Tien-chao. Early on the morning of the 26th 
 the Japanese are in array before the latter place, but 
 there is no answer to their firing. The realisation 
 among the troops that the Chinese have evacuated the
 
 74 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 place during the night is followed by ringing cheers 
 and a hot pursuit. Thirty guns are captured, besides 
 ammunition and stores. 
 
 The mo an tain passes between Manchuria and Korea 
 have been guarded, and the Japanese army is on the 
 main road between Peking and Mukden. In this way 
 is realised the general expectation of a great battle on 
 the Yalu. It should be remembered that during this 
 expedition the Japanese have not only to meet a foe 
 in their front, but also to keep in order a nation 
 almost in a state of anarchy behind them. Evidently 
 great credit is due to the almost statesmanship of 
 Marshal Yamagata, and the energy and skill of 
 General Nodzu in the front. 
 
 In the meanwhile the Japanese fleet has not been 
 inactive. The Gulf of Pechili has been blockaded, and 
 warships are patrolling the coasts in the neighbour- 
 hoods of "Wei-Hai-'Wei and Port Arthur. 
 
 On the 21st of October a special embassy from 
 Korea assures the Japanese Government of the willing- 
 ness of their country to carry out the reforms proposed 
 by Japan. 
 
 On 4th November news comes from Tokio that the 
 second Japanese army has effected a landing on the 
 Liao-tung Peninsula, with Port Arthur as its goal. 
 One section landed to the north-east of Talienwan, 
 and another near Kinchow. Having occupied and gar-
 
 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 75 
 
 risoned Kinchow, they march together on Taliemvan, 
 of which they quietly take possession, meeting with 
 little opposition. 
 
 On 6th November, 'at Tieu-tsin, the assembled 
 representatives of the foreign powers hear the declara- 
 tion by the Tsung-li-Yamen of Chinese impotence to 
 withstand the attack of Japan ; but it appears they can 
 only advise a direct appeal from China to the Mikado. 
 The lifting of the torpedoes in Yokohama harbour 
 about this time indicates the Japanese opinion of the 
 power or opportunity left to the Chinese navy. 
 
 Great sections of the Chinese Manchurian army 
 seem to be little more than badly-armed, plunder- 
 ing rabbles; the Japanese army keeps perfect order, 
 pays its way, and is naturally received by the native 
 peasantry with open arm?. 
 
 Marshal Yamagata has now, about the middle of 
 November, divided the first army into two sections. 
 One of them is marching on Sui-yin ; the other, on its 
 way to Liu-sau-Kwang, was attacked vigorously by a 
 large body of Chinese cavalry, but finally dispersed it, 
 reaching its destination in order, and is now on its 
 way to Mo-tin-ting. 
 
 The division marching on Sui-yin finds, on its 
 arrival there on the 18th, that the Chinese had fled 
 during the previous night, and arc retreating on
 
 76 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 Peace proposals, instigated by China or made on her 
 behalf, fill the air. 
 
 The second Japanese army leaves Kinchow on the 
 16th of November, in two divisions, for Port Arthur 
 a distance of thirty-five miles, with bad roads, especially 
 for heavy guns. 
 
 On the Nth Admiral Ito discovered that the main 
 Chinese fleet is inside Wei-Hai-Wei, and not being 
 able to induce it to venture out, he leaves some of his 
 ships to watch the harbour entrance, and returns to 
 Talien Bay. About the same time there is news of a 
 third Japanese army embarking for some unknown 
 point in China. 
 
 The second army marches very warily on Port 
 Arthur. On the 18th the advance guard meets 2000 
 of the enemy about eight miles from the town ; it falls 
 back on the first division, and returning reinforced 
 beats back the Chinese. On the evening of the 19th 
 the combined divisions of the Japanese are within four 
 miles of the enemy, who occupy some eleven land 
 forts and nine sea forts. On the 20th the Chinese 
 make a sortie, with the object of preventing the 
 besiegers from mounting their guns, but are beaten 
 back after five hours' fighting. At 6.30 A.M. on the 
 21st, the Japanese artillery, having taken up positions 
 during the night, opened with remarkable precision a 
 fire on the fort to the right. Later on this fort is carried
 
 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 77 
 
 by storm ; the other forts soon follow, also taken by 
 assault. These defences seem to have been taken by 
 artillery and the bayonet. 
 
 Although Admiral Ito reports that Port Arthur fell 
 entirely to the land forces of Japan, the quick firing 
 guns of his torpedo boats seem to have lent consider- 
 able aid in the clearing out of the sea forts which 
 followed. By the morning of the 22nd the Japanese 
 were in complete possession of the town of Port 
 Arthur. Many guns, and large quantities of ammuni- 
 tion and food, were found in the place. 
 
 The dockyard and arsenal have been handed over 
 to the fleet, and important plans have come into its 
 possession, showing the positions of the sunk mines, 
 and enabling it to clear the harbour of them. 
 
 The second army is under the command of Marshal 
 Oyama. On the 26th an advanced guard of this army 
 has started to march on Neuchang. 
 
 About the beginning of December the health of 
 Marshal Yamagata breaks down, and General Nodzu 
 takes command of the first army, which has crossed 
 the Mo-tien pass by the 6th. It presses on against 
 considerable opposition, both from the enemy and 
 the wintry weather, the Chinese gradually retreating 
 before it, not without stubborn fighting, in the 
 direction of Neuchang. The division of General 
 Techimi, who succeeded Xodzu, seems to have been
 
 78 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 checked by the Chinese in force at Feng-huang. The 
 Kirinese soldiers fought well on behalf of China, but 
 were dispersed on the arrival of Japanese reinforce- 
 ments. On the night of the 18th an army of 10,000 
 Chinese under General Sung was overtaken ; on the 
 19th Sung's forces took up a good position, protected 
 against the flanking movements of the enemy. The 
 artillery on both sides was well served. The Japanese, 
 after disabling a Chinese battery, took advantage of 
 the occasion to make a rush on the enemy's position, 
 but were stubbornly met and had to retire ; twice 
 again the charge was repeated, and although they 
 broke through the lines, and engaged in fierce hand-to- 
 hand encounters, the Chinese centre remained firm. 
 Japanese reserves were now called up, and fresh 
 charges on the part of the invaders were successful in 
 driving the Chinese from their position, and forcing 
 a general rout. This proved the fiercest fight of the 
 campaign. The Japanese occupied King-wasai, and 
 took much spoil. On the 26th General .NTodzu reports 
 all quiet round Feng-huang. 
 
 By the 10th of January General Nodzu has occupied 
 Kai-ping, and his various divisions, a week later, are 
 massing near Neuchang ; and the second army, under 
 General Nogi, is now in touch with them. 
 
 On the 8th of January Korean independence has 
 been proclaimed at Seoul with great pomp.
 
 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 79 
 
 On the 17th the Chinese assumed the offensive, 
 marching from Liao - yang and Ying - Kow on the 
 Japanese lines. Halting at about one and a half miles 
 distant, they open artillery fire. A duel ensues, in 
 which Japanese marksmanship again proves superior to 
 the Chinese, and the latter are finally driven back with 
 considerable loss. Large numbers of Chinese reinforce- 
 ments have been arriving, but General JSTodzu reports 
 that he is well informed of their movements, and feels 
 no disquiet. Xot the least notable feature of this 
 campaign is that the peaceful inhabitants are re- 
 turning to their occupations, and that they willingly 
 bring in supplies to the invaders, which are promptly 
 paid for. 
 
 Peace envoys at last, after many delays, leave for 
 China on the 20th, 
 
 On Sunday, the 20th of January, a Japanese force, 
 stated at 25,000 men, in seventeen transports, has 
 entered Yung-cheng Bay. This is the third Japanese 
 army. These transports and a large fleet of men-of- 
 war entered during a snowstorm. A body of marines 
 were soon landed, and prepared to make a settlement. 
 A Chinese battery fired on them, but with little result. 
 In the meantime the storm cleared away, and the 
 astonished defenders found themselves face to face 
 with the Japanese array of warships and transports ; 
 they then followed the example of the storm, and
 
 80 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 cleared away also. A landing of another smaller 
 Japanese force has also taken place, on the other side 
 of Wei-Hai-Wei. By the 23rd most of the Japanese 
 force has been landed under General Sakuma, who is 
 to lead the storming of the fortress; and Marshal 
 Oyama and his staff have taken up their quarters at 
 Tung-Cheng. Siege and field guns are being pushed 
 forward rapidly. Another Japanese landing has been 
 made in the Ning-hai inlet. By the 29th January the 
 investment of Wei-Hai-Wei has been completed and 
 skirmishing has begun. On the morning of the 30th 
 the Chinese have been shelled out of their more exposed 
 lines, and by the end of the day the defence collapses, 
 and all the land forts are taken. 
 
 The island fortress of Lin-kung-tau and the Chinese 
 fleet, which has lain some time under cover of the forts, 
 still hold out. On 1st February the bombardment 
 recommenced with vigour, the Japanese firing from 
 the captured land forts, the forts on the island and 
 the fleet replying steadily. 
 
 On the night of 2nd February, after the moon had 
 set, the Japanese torpedo boat fleet entered the harbour, 
 but were fired on by the army from the captured forts, 
 who mistook them for Chinese craft, and they were 
 forced to return. Next day the rough weather at sea 
 forces the attacking fleet to take shelter in Yung- 
 cheng Bay. But on the nights of the 4th and the 5th 
 the torpedo boats again, with the same precaution,
 
 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 81 
 
 enter the harbour and sink or disable three large 
 Chinese ironclads. On the 6th a Japanese force landed 
 on the island, but was unable to hold it. On the 9th 
 an explosion, evidently of the magazine, on one of the 
 main forts silenced that one. On the llth and 12th 
 the ships are still firing ; on the latter day Admiral 
 Ting surrenders, conceding everything except the lives 
 and liberty of his officers and men. The surrender is 
 carefully arranged, and the Chinese are received with 
 the honours of war. 
 
 Meanwhile the Chinese peace envoys arrive on the 
 30th of January at Kobe, where it transpires that they 
 are not empowered to settle anything without reference 
 to Peking. On the 2nd February they are sent back. 
 
 On the day after the surrender of Admiral Ting, 
 Li-Hung-chang has been re-invested with all his lost 
 honours and appointed special envoy and plenipo- 
 tentiary to proceed to Japan to sue for peace. 
 
 On the 20th Japanese war vessels are cruising off 
 Formosa. 
 
 Eound about Liao-yang and Neuchang there is still 
 considerable resistance to the first and second armies of 
 Japan. On the 27th of February a sharp fight takes 
 place; the Chinese are beaten off, but not pursued. 
 About the beginning of March, however, Nodzu 
 and Nogi are both advancing in force, the objective 
 points being Neuchang and Ying-kow.
 
 82 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 In the first week of March two divisions of the 
 first army, after bombardment of the fortifications and 
 desperate fighting in the streets, occupy Neuchang. 
 Yogi's army captures Ying-kow, and assistance is being 
 sent to Colonel Katsura, who is being stoutly resisted 
 before Tiao-yang. 
 
 On 15th March Li-Hung-chang sails from Tien-tsin, 
 and on the 19th arrives in Japan. 
 
 The negotiations begin at Simonoseki. On the day 
 after the mutual expressions of satisfaction as to the 
 respective credentials, an unfortunate occurrence causes 
 some delay. Li-Hung-chang is shot at and wounded 
 by a Japanese maniac. Amid universal expressions of 
 satisfaction, it transpires that the wound is not serious. 
 On the 29th of March an armistice is declared, and the 
 war is practically ended. 
 
 The Japanese conditions of peace include a large 
 war indemnity, the granting of various commercial 
 privileges such as the permission of foreigners to 
 import into and employ machinery in China, and the 
 opening up to foreign trade of towns and waterways ; 
 Korean independence ; and the cession of Liao-tung 
 Peninsula and the island of Formosa. 
 
 After the publication of the treaty, Russia, backed 
 by Germany and France, objected to the cession of 
 Liao-tung, and this condition was replaced by an 
 addition to the indemnity of another large sum. In
 
 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 83 
 
 view of this alteration, Russia, ostensibly at least, 
 stepped in as a guarantor of a Chinese loan on con- 
 ditions not made public. 
 
 Japan is now engaged in possessing itself of and 
 pacifying Formosa. 
 
 Just about the time of the fall of Port Arthur, 
 a telegram appeared in the newspapers to the effect 
 that China in the interior was enjoying marked tran- 
 quillity. One might have thought that a press agency 
 had suddenly taken up the role of humorist at the 
 expense of the characteristic blandness attributed to 
 the Chinaman ; but most probably the news item was 
 a plain statement of fact. Many parts of the interior 
 of China nre still ignorant of the occurrence of a great 
 national defeat. 
 
 The dreary picture of Chinese incompetence is not 
 without one or two relieving incidents or redeeming 
 features. Sung, rallying his half-drilled, indiffer- 
 ently-armed levies, seems to pick up a little knowledge 
 of tactics, though his forces never attain any great 
 solidarity. Admiral Ting, holding out against the 
 enemy and reason, is a refreshing spectacle after such 
 a never-ending display of facility for dispersion on the 
 part of his fellow-countrymen. 
 
 The old Li-Hung-chang, too, whose name is in so 
 many telegrams and tales, whose words or sentiments 
 are in none, holding on impassible whether special
 
 84 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 buttons or yellow waistcoats come or go, and at last, 
 when straits are direst for his country, bearing the 
 weight of all its humiliation, as suppliant at the gate 
 of the conqueror, is a figure worth attention. 
 
 As has already been said, there is no central control 
 over the army and navy in China, each province being 
 responsible for itself. During the war it would seem 
 that some kind of an attempt was made to form a 
 centralised regulating power for the control of the 
 national defence, but that it failed. 
 
 The most pressing problem in Chinese statesman- 
 ship is how to effect this centralisation of authority 
 now.
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 THE Manchu dynasty added to the lands under the 
 Chinese crown all Manchuria. They also brought 
 tribute from Korea and many parts of Mongolia, 
 including the Ordos tribes and those of Koko-nor; 
 so that the China of their day may almost be said to 
 have consisted of all the territory between latitudes 
 20 and 42, and lines of longitude 100 to 130, or 
 over 2,000,000 square statute miles. The southern 
 Nan-Shan mountains, a range about 1200 miles in 
 length, extend for about 800 miles nearly east and 
 west between latitude 25 and 26, then, stretching 
 northwards to latitude 28, cut off the fertile, nearly 
 tropical, valley of the Se-Keang river and the province 
 of Fuh-Keen, opposite the Formosa Channel, from the 
 rest of the country. It was in this strip of country 
 that nearly all the early European maritime trade was 
 carried on. From the northern slopes of this mountain 
 chain flow through fertile valleys many tributaries of 
 the Yang-tsze-Kiang, the great central river of China. 
 Its middle and upper stretches are called the Ta-Keang
 
 86 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 and the Kin-sha-keang, the latter rising in the Snowy 
 Mountains which separate Thibet from China. 
 
 North of this great river the mountains of Thibet 
 reach into China in two long nearly parallel chains, 
 running nearly east and west, and ending half-way 
 between Thibet and the Eastern Sea. To the north 
 and west of these, in the northern Nan-Shan moun- 
 tains and the highlands of Koko-nor, rises the Yellow 
 River, the other great river of China. In the north of 
 the province of Kan-suh it wanders away north into 
 Mongolia, but returns upon itself and flows south, 
 separating in its course the provinces of Shen-se and 
 Shan-se, coming down to within 250 miles of the 
 course of the Yang-tsze-Kiang. It is here turned off 
 by a spur of the northmost of the two parallel moun- 
 tain chains above mentioned, and flows eastward and 
 northward to the sea, in the Gulf of Pechili. Before 
 the last great change in its course in 1851-53, it flowed 
 into the north of the Yellow Sea, and in former 
 times it has reached the sea at a point as far north as 
 the mouth of the Pei-ho Eiver, near Tien-tsin. One 
 of the most remarkable geographical features of China 
 is the vast delta plain, through which the last stretch 
 of the Yellow Kiver reaches the sea. It begins near 
 the north-east boundary of the empire, comes south 
 through the provinces of Chi-li and Shan-tang, leaving 
 the mountainous district of the latter to the east, like
 
 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 87 
 
 a seaward island ; then stretches westward up the 
 Yellow River, and southward and eastward till it joins 
 the delta of the Yang-tsze-Kiang. This great plain has 
 a stretch parallel with the sea of about 700 miles in 
 length, and a landward breadth at its greatest of 500 
 miles. It has long been the scene of disastrous floods 
 and of preventive works. 
 
 A certain amount of navigation by small native 
 vessels is carried on on the Yellow River, and it is a 
 useful source of irrigation canals. The Yang-tsze- 
 Kiang, on the other hand, is one of the finest navigable 
 rivers in the world, and, like the Se-keang River, bears 
 a large population living entirely on boats, and having 
 no other home. The influence of the tide rises as 
 high as Nanking, about 200 miles up from the sea. 
 The river is navigable for steamers of moderate draft 
 for about 1200 miles of its course, and has many 
 large, rich, and populous cities on its banks. Above 
 this, between I-chang and Kwei-chow-foo, its course is 
 in a mountainous district, and its flow disturbed by 
 rapids, presenting difficulties even to the native craft. 
 
 The next river in importance is in the southern 
 section of the country. It rises in the west end of the 
 Nan-Shan mountains and flows eastward, passing near 
 its mouth Canton, and reaching the sea at Macao, the 
 site of the first European settlement in China. It is 
 navigable for moderate draughts for over 100 miles from
 
 88 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 the sea. It is called the Se-Keang on its lower reaches, 
 and, like the other rivers of China, has other names on 
 its middle and upper reaches. 
 
 The navigations of the Yang-tsze-Kiang and the 
 Yellow River, and that of the Pei-ho still further 
 north, are joined by the Grand Canal. This canal 
 extends also south of the Yang-tsze-Kiang to Hang- 
 chow ; and as the Pei-ho in the north is the river of 
 Peking, the canal thus serves to connect Peking with 
 the port of Hang-chow. Between the Yang-tsze-Kiang 
 and the old bed of the Yellow River the canal is the 
 source of irrigation for the adjoining country, and the 
 means of transit for its produce and for the wants of 
 the industrious and prosperous people who line its 
 banks, marked at intervals by thriving towns. Beyond 
 the old bed of the Yellow River and up to that river 
 a different state of matters arises ; the little water in 
 the canal being below the level of the surrounding 
 country, and so not available, without mechanical aid, 
 for the purposes of irrigation. Beyond the Yellow 
 River the canal passes into a wooded and well-watered 
 country, where it is joined by the Wei River, and 
 passes on without further difficulties to the Pei-ho 
 River, where it terminates about 800 miles north of 
 its beginning at Hang-chow. The north end of the 
 canal and the Pei-ho River are frozen for two or three 
 months each winter.
 
 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 89 
 
 Near the centre of the great valley of the Yang-tsze- 
 Kiang is the great Lake of Tung-ting, formed at the 
 convergence of nine rivers on a comparatively flat bit 
 of country. Its level and extent varies with the flow 
 of the water in the streams which feed it, and the 
 gorging of the channel of the Yang-tsze-Kiang into 
 which it drains ; at its high water it is eighty miles 
 in length. Po-yang is another large lake of similar 
 formation and characteristics, also draining into the 
 Yang-tsze-Kiang at a point over 200 miles further on 
 on its seaward course. There is also a chain of lakes 
 along the line of the Grand Canal, dwindling into 
 marshes in the north. Tai-hoo, near the town of 
 Soo-chow, is noted for the beauty of its surroundings 
 and its islands. The latter, adorned by temples and 
 pleasure-houses, are favourite resorts of the rich 
 pleasure-seekers of the cities of Hang-chow and Foo- 
 chow. These lakes are inhabited, not the islands 
 merely, but, in a fashion peculiar to China, by floating 
 villages made of a platform of bamboo covered with 
 turf, having cottages and gardens and tiny lakes 
 spanned by bamboo bridges. 
 
 The Yellow Kiver takes its name from the fact 
 that it cuts through, during a great part of its course, 
 a geological formation which is a marked feature of 
 that part of Northern China. It is a deep and wide- 
 spread layer of a yellow, compact, but friable earth,
 
 90 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 which the river eats away and is coloured by. It 
 covers an area of more than 200,000 square miles, in 
 depths of up to 1000 feet. This loess, as it has been 
 called, forms a good agricultural soil, and when borne 
 down by the river seawards enters largely into the 
 composition of the great delta plain mentioned above. 
 
 Peking, being in the north, and near their home, 
 very naturally became the permanent capital of the 
 Manchu dynasty. It is situated in the province of 
 Chih-li, whose northern boundary is the Great Wall. 
 Here the Manchus were near their own ancient city of 
 Mukden, and near the great imperial hunting-grounds, 
 the annual resort to which of the emperor and his 
 court was one of the great social events of the year. 
 Tien-tsin is the treaty port of this province, where 
 the annual value of the imports is about 5,000,000 
 sterling, exceeding by about ten times that of the 
 exports. The capital city no doubt absorbs a certain 
 amount of this surplus, and to some extent now it is 
 balanced by the export of coal into the other provinces. 
 There are extensive coalfields in the north and west, 
 which are being slowly developed. Wheat, oats, and 
 maize are grown, as well as fruits and vegetables, 
 abundantly, the climate being similar to that of Paris, 
 but colder in winter. 
 
 Shan-tung lies to the south. Its eastern half is a 
 hilly promontory projecting into the ocean, the north
 
 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 91 
 
 side forming the south side of the Gulf of Pechili, 
 and its southern side forming the northern shore of the 
 Yellow Sea. From this promontory and the mountain- 
 ous district alongside are exported salt and coal. The 
 western half of the province is flat and fertile, and 
 exports silk and grain. The wax-tree which supports 
 the wax insect grows here, and wax is manufactured ; 
 the insect is housed in autumn for the winter, and put 
 out again in the spring. The treaty port is Chee-foo, 
 situated on the north side of the promontory. 
 
 Kiang-su is on the sea to the south of Shan-tung. Its 
 eastern boundary is the southern shore of the Yellow 
 Sea. In the north it is part of the great delta plain 
 of the Yellow River, whose former courses traversed it. 
 In the south it is crossed by the Yang-tsze-Kiang, and 
 the Grand Canal passes through it longitudinally at 
 right angles to the seaward-flowing rivers, which are 
 numerous, joining its many lakes. The land is well 
 watered, flat, and fertile. Tea and silk are the princi- 
 pal productions of the province ; it also exports cotton 
 and sugar. Nanking, the capital, was once the capital 
 of China. Near it minerals are worked plumbago, 
 iron, and coal. The Soo-chow-foo district is famous 
 all over the empire for its silk as well as for its beauty. 
 The treaty ports are Shang-hai in Hang-chow Bay, and 
 Chin-Keang on the Yang-tsze-Kiang. This is the most 
 populous province in China, its area of 45,000 square
 
 92 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 miles being inhabited by 38,000,000 people or about 
 850 to the square mile. 
 
 Che-Jceang is the next province coming'south. The 
 northern and seaward part of it is a continuation 
 of the delta plain. To the west and north the 
 eastmost spurs of the Nan-shan mountains close in 
 the southern end of the plain, and on the south 
 cut off the province from that southern section 
 of the country which lies beyond the Nan-shan 
 Mountains. The valleys in the hilly portions of 
 the country are beautiful and fertile, growing large 
 quantities of tea. In the plains silk is produced in 
 abundance, and a certain amount of cotton. Straw 
 hats and paper fans also figure among the exports. 
 Hang-chow is the principal city, and the treaty port 
 is Ning-po. 
 
 Shan^se, going back again to the north, lies next 
 to Chih-li, and is bounded on the north by the Great 
 Wall, and on the east by the Yellow Eiver. No 
 province more loudly declares the industrial stupidity 
 of the powers that be in China. It contains one 
 of the largest and finest coal and iron districts in 
 the world, but in agricultural products the province 
 is poor. Meat is a rare luxury; even salt fish is 
 attainable only by the well-to-do. The people are 
 poor, and in some districts subject to famine and 
 starvation.
 
 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 93 
 
 Shen-se lies next, to the west, on the other side 
 of the Yellow River, also reaching to the Great Wall 
 on the north. This province is cut in two by 
 the Tsing-shan and Foo-new-shan mountain chains, 
 running east and west. To the north of these, in 
 the valley of the Wei-ho River, lies the road through 
 the Koko-nor district into Central Asia, the gate 
 from Eastern China being at the narrow passage 
 between the Yellow River and the Foo-new-shan 
 Mountains. This gate is commanded by the town 
 of Si-ngan-foo, the capital of the province, and for 
 twenty centuries the capital of the empire. . It is 
 enclosed in a walled square measuring six miles 
 across, and its fortifications are supposed to be kept 
 in perfect repair. The great Tung-kwan road, from 
 Thibet and Yun-nan and Sye-chuen to Peking and 
 the north-eastern provinces passes through Si-ngan- 
 foo. Another great road leads to the city of Lan- 
 chow-foo, and thence along the neighbourhood of 
 the Great Wall to Soo-chow-foo and from there, 
 into Central Asia. It was along this road that the 
 earliest communication with Europe took place, in- 
 cluding the journeys of the Polos. 
 
 Han-suh, the next province to the west, is the 
 one in which the above road mostly lies. This state 
 is thinly populated, and to the north-west mostly 
 desert ; so that the government, during the Han
 
 94 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 dynasty, erected fortified post-houses along the road, 
 where travellers might rest and government couriers 
 change horses. What agriculture there is in the 
 province is chiefly pastoral, and its products wool, 
 hides, and butter. To the west lies Koko-nor and 
 Thibet. 
 
 Sze-chuen, which lies immediately to the south 
 of Kan-suh and Shen-se, is the largest province of 
 China, but its north-western region is mountainous 
 and wild, and inhabited by tribes who own to 
 but an indifferent allegiance to China. Its popula- 
 tion numbers about 35,000,000. The south-eastern 
 region is traversed by the Yang-tsze-Kiang, which is 
 navigable, and several considerable rivers from the 
 north-west and west join it on its course through 
 the province. Perhaps no river in the world gladdens 
 the heart of a finer country or more industrious popu- 
 lation. Silk, though not of the finest quality, is 
 largely produced and exported ; also tobacco, opium, 
 and wax. 
 
 Salt is derived from brine wells. The brine is 
 evaporated over fires of petroleum, which also is 
 procured from wells in the district Spelter and 
 .copper are exported, also wood oil in considerable 
 quantity. For China, the province is well supplied 
 with roads. 
 
 Ho-nan marches with Chih-li on its north, and is
 
 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 95 
 
 bounded by the seven provinces that lie around it. 
 The Yellow Kiver flows through it in the north. 
 On the west the mountains of Fow-new-shan form a 
 watershed, pouring rivers to the south and east. In 
 the north cereals are abundant. The province on the 
 whole is agricultural ; cotton is grown largely in the 
 south. The population averages about 350 to the 
 square mile. Various roads in the province join the 
 great road passing alongside of the Yellow Kiver from 
 Thibet to Peking. 
 
 Gan-htcay lies south and eastward of Ho-nan. In 
 the south it is hilly, with the Yang-tsze-Kiang flowing 
 between two mountain chains. In the north it is 
 watered by the Hwai-ho and its tributaries, which 
 flow into the great lakes of Kiang-su. Green tea is 
 largely produced in the south, and tea of some kind 
 all over the province ; cotton and hemp are also 
 raised in large quantities. The land is everywhere 
 carefully irrigated, and is extremely fertile, and 
 waterways for navigation are fairly abundant. The 
 state is populous 720 to the square mile. 
 
 Hoo-pih, to the eastward, is a well-watered and 
 fertile province, almost wholly agricultural, producing 
 wheat, beans, cotton, and tobacco. It has a treaty 
 port, Hankow, on the Yellow River, the value of 
 whose exports (over 5,000,000) is greater than that 
 of any of the other treaty ports.
 
 96 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 Keang-se, south of the two former provinces, is 
 mountainous. The Kea-King, the principal river, 
 flows from the Nan-shan Mountains in the south 
 down the centre of the country to the Lake of Po- 
 yang in the north. On the east are the Nan-shan 
 Mountains, and smaller mountain ranges bound the 
 west. Tl.e river is navigable for light native craft for 
 a long distance. Tea is the chief product, 30,000,000 
 pounds being exported annully. China ware, hemp, 
 paper, and tobacco are also among its exports. Ken- 
 keang is the treaty port. 
 
 Hoo-nan, immediately to the west, is a hilly pro- 
 vince, with the nine considerable rivers flowing through 
 it which meet in the great Lake of Tung-ling on the 
 northern border. Long stretches of many of these 
 rivers are navigable. In the south-east of the province 
 there is a vast coalfield, which is worked to a consider- 
 able extent. The agricultural products are tea, rice, 
 cotton, and tobacco. The people, as a rule, are well 
 off, and there are said to be more rich merchants here 
 than in any other part of China. The largest town, 
 Seang-tang, contains 1,000,000 inhabitants. 
 
 Kwei-choiv, to the west of Hoo-nan, breaks the long 
 tale of plenty and prosperity which is told of the 
 central provinces. The country is mountainous, yet 
 badly watered and unhealthy. It has long been dis- 
 turbed by civil wars conducted between the Chinese
 
 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 97 
 
 and the highland clans, called the Meaou-tsze, and 
 been also affected by the Mohammedan rising in 
 Yun-nan. A certain amount of wild silk is exported. 
 Among minerals, copper, lead, zinc, and quicksilver 
 and coal are wrought and exported. Quicksilver is 
 one of the most important of the products of the state. 
 Kwei-yang-foo is the capital. 
 
 Tun-nan is the south-west corner of China proper, 
 and adjoins Thibet and Burmah. It is the second 
 largest province of the empire, and is generally ele- 
 vated, but not destitute of intervening valleys. The 
 Me-kong, the great river of Siam, rises in the western 
 mountains. The Kin-sha-keang River reaches the sea 
 in the Bay of Ton-kin, and is navigable through a 
 considerable part of the province. Several main roads 
 cross the state. Minerals are abundant, but the 
 country has been little explored. The ratio of the 
 population drops to 52 to the square mile. 
 
 Shing-king, or Liao-tung, is in the opposite corner 
 of.the empire, in Southern Manchuria, and beyond the 
 Great Wall. It is largely mountainous, but contains an 
 alluvial plain on the west, of marked fertility. The 
 principal river is the Leaou-ho. Great parts of the 
 hilly country are green and picturesque. The climate, 
 like the north of China generally, is marked by ex- 
 tremes of heat and cold, ranging from 90 F. in 
 
 summer to 10 below zero in winter. The agricultural 
 
 G
 
 98 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 products are wheat, oats, barley, millet, maize, cotton, 
 and tobacco. Coal, iron, and gold are to be found, but 
 are little worked. The ratio of population is 140 to 
 the square mile. 
 
 Kwang-se is the westmost of the three provinces that 
 remain, and that form the southern strip of China, cut 
 off from the rest by the Nan-shan Mountains. On the 
 east the country is mountainous. The principal rivers 
 are the Se-keang, which flows from the Nan-shan 
 Mountains eastward and south through the middle of 
 the province, and the Kwei-keang or Cinnamon Kiver, 
 which rises in the hills in the north. The capital is 
 Kwei-ling-foo. 
 
 Kwang-tung adjoins Kwang-se, and is eastward of 
 it. It is mountainous in the north, but with valleys 
 of great fertility. . The principal river is the Se-keang, 
 which, flowing from Kwaug-tung eastward to Canton, 
 turns there to flow nearly north, and reaches the sea near 
 Macao, west of the mouth of the Canton Kiver, whose 
 mouth forms the natural harbour of South China. The 
 province has considerable mineral wealth, and its valleys 
 and southern plains are very fertile. Tea and silk, and 
 silk textures, are largely exported, also sugar. A 
 variety of manufactures are carried on in the province, 
 including metal work, malting, fans, etc. There are two 
 treaty ports Canton and Swatow. The ratio of popu- 
 lation (250 to the square mile) does not approach the
 
 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 99 
 
 wonderful central provinces in density. Near the 
 entrance to the Canton River is the Island of Hong- 
 kong, which is British territory. 
 
 Fuh-keen lies between the eastern bend of the Nan- 
 shan Mountains, Kwang-tung, and the sea. It is gene- 
 rally mountainous, and the principal river is the Min, 
 reaching the sea near the capital, Foo-chow-foo. Foo- 
 chow-foo and Amoy are the treaty ports. The products 
 are tea of the finest kinds, wheat, rice, oranges, ginger 
 and sugar. The Island of Formosa lies opposite the 
 province, and forms part of it. It has a central 
 mountain chain inhabited by native tribes, while on 
 the fertile plains are settled Chinese immigrants, who 
 raise luxuriant crops of rice and sugar. Jute and rice- 
 paper are also exported. The island is one of the 
 richest sources of sulphur and camphor; the latter 
 obtained from huge laurels, which grow in the moun- 
 tainous districts. The treaty ports are Tai-wan-foo and 
 Tam-suy.
 
 JAPAN. 
 
 JAPAN consists of four main islands, in a long chain 
 running north-west and south-west between the north 
 latitudes 30 and 46, being nowhere more than 200 
 miles in breadth, and a large number of smaller 
 islands. The country is mountainous, and many of 
 the mountains are volcanic. The most notable is 
 Fusiyama, 12,000 feet in height. It is cone-shaped, 
 and has a crater 500 feet deep. Of active volcanoes 
 the best known is Asamayama, about 8500 feet in 
 height, the earliest known eruption of which took 
 place in 1650 ; the latest in 1870, when a considerable 
 flow of lava took place, accompanied by earthquake- 
 shocks which were felt at Yokohama. 
 
 As might be expected from the narrowness of 
 the islands, the rivers, though numerous, are short. 
 The longest is the Tonegawa, over 170 miles in 
 length, which reaches the sea on the eastern side 
 of the island near the capital, Yedo. The coast- 
 line is broken up into numerous bays, often of con-
 
 102 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 siderable size, in many of which good anchorage is to 
 be had. 
 
 The climate naturally varies much, as well with the 
 varying latitudes as locally, on account of the dif- 
 ferences of elevation of the country. At Yedo, which 
 has about a medium latitude, there are generally 
 several falls of snow in winter. The summer com- 
 mences in May, and in July and August the thermo- 
 meter has been known to rise a few degrees above 
 100 F. The Riukiu and Bonin groups of islands, 
 close to the tropics, enjoy perpetual summer; while 
 some of the islands in the north have an almost Arctic 
 climate. 
 
 The native name for Japan is Nippon, which means 
 " the land of the rising sun," and indicates that the 
 name was given by a people hailing from the West. 
 The Aino tribes, which still inhabit the Island of 
 Yezo, are probably a remnant of the aborigines of the 
 islands. The present ruling race are said to have 
 arrived from China during the reign of the Emperor 
 Korei (B.C. 290-215). Malay tribes, and perhaps the 
 dark Papuans and the natives of New Guinea, are 
 also represented in the present people. The earliest 
 date, in a long line of genealogies, which is accepted 
 by the Japanese themselves, is B.C. 660 ; consequently 
 the present year of our era is the year 2555 of Japan. 
 The Emperor Korei, just mentioned, is the seventh of
 
 JAPAN. 103 
 
 the line. For a long while the Mikado, as the 
 emperor is called, was the sole governor in a military 
 court consisting of scions of the royal house resident 
 at Kioto. In the Middle Ages the Chinese military 
 system was adopted, and generals, called Shoguns, were 
 appointed to the various districts. Their business, 
 assisted by subordinate officers, was to enroll in 
 regular corps the able-bodied males of each province. 
 About this time the family of Fujiwara, related by 
 marriage to the royal house, began to exercise a 
 hereditary administrative power. Other families or 
 clans tended to become hereditary shoguns; and out 
 of the bodies of drilled troops there gradually sprang 
 up a military class, separated from the agricultural. 
 The military set in time overshadowed the imperial 
 throne. In the tenth and eleventh centuries the clans 
 Taira and Minamoto became deadly rivals, and most 
 of the inhabitants of the country taking the side of 
 one or other of them, they were virtually the rulers, 
 each in his own country, of the land. Civil wars 
 ensued, lingering on to the end of the twelfth century, 
 when the Taira clan was subjugated, and the Mina- 
 moto seized upon the supreme power. The Minamoto 
 family were in their turn subdued by the descendants 
 of the Taira clan, and one of these latter was created 
 Prime Minister and Chief Shogun a title which 
 became hereditary. This Shogun appointed under
 
 104 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 him a Hojo an office which, also becoming hereditary, 
 originated the clan or family of the Hojos, during 
 whose rule the attempted invasion of Japan by an 
 expedition sent out by Kublai Khan, then victor of 
 China, was totally defeated in 1281. The rule of the 
 Hojo family was overthrown in 1333. From this 
 time there were two rival claimants to the throne, and 
 two courts kept up until about 1390. 
 
 During the whole of this time Japan was continually 
 ravaged by civil war. In the early part of the six- 
 teenth century the " later Hojos " family arose, and 
 remained for four generations in Kuanto. 
 
 The Christian religion was introduced by the 
 Portuguese in 1549, when Xavier first came to Japan. 
 In 1585 the Taiko (another instance of an office pro- 
 ducing a clan) came into power. In 1590 he overthrew 
 the later Hojo family, and presented the province of 
 the Kuanto to one of his generals, whom he directed to 
 reside at Yedo, then a town of very small importance. 
 
 In 1603 the Tokugawa dynasty, represented by 
 lyeyasu, came into power, and, retaining it for fifteen 
 generations, became the most important of the ruling 
 families of Japan. By diplomacy and by war, lyeyasu, 
 who was alike an able man of business and a successful 
 general, subjugated the powerful territorial lords, the 
 Dannies, throughout the whole country. His capacity 
 was marked, and his rule almost universally accepted,
 
 JAPAN. 105 
 
 as putting an end to the horrors of civil war and 
 anarchy, which had distressed the country for nearly 
 two centuries. The court of the Mikado now con- 
 sisted mainly of the descendants of the cadets of the 
 old imperial line, who were, although destitute of 
 much means or power, looked up to with consideration 
 by all classes. The court of the Shogun, on the other 
 hand, at Yedo consisted mainly of the old captains of 
 lyeyasu, who owned land in the country, but seldom 
 visited their estates, and the daimios, who were 
 bound to attend in Yedo at certain fixed times, and 
 spent the remainder of their time at their strong places 
 in the country, leaving their families at Yedo. As 
 lyeyasu grew in strength, he gradually imposed 
 restrictions upon the daimios. His policy was perse- 
 vered in by his successors in the Shogunate, who, in 
 this way, completed a feudal system of their own. 
 The country was parcelled out into districts, each 
 governed by a lord, who was loyal to the ruling 
 member of the Tokugawa family. This lord or 
 daimio was chief of a clan or " han," and each of 
 these hans had its hereditary councillors. Within 
 each district the daimio could make almost any laws 
 he chose, impose any taxes, and issue his own coinage 
 or paper money. Although the people were thus quite 
 separate in each province as to laws and taxes, there 
 were four divisions of them, common to the whole
 
 106 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 country. These were (1) the military families, (2) 
 the farming population, (3) the artisans, and (4) 
 the mercantile or trading class. At the accession of 
 each new Shogun his ceremonial investiture by the 
 Mikado was solemnly kept up, and in this way the 
 Mikado and his court kept up a kind of ceremonial 
 precedence over the Shogun and his powerful lords. 
 
 The Tokugawa period was, on the whole, character- 
 ised by peace. Towards its close, however, internal 
 feuds of the separate lordships resulted in alienations 
 from the Shogunate at Yedo, and the disinclination of 
 the disaffected daimios to keep up their attendance at 
 its court. With the increase of this disaffection, two 
 or three of the larger clans, naturally enough, looked 
 to the restoration of the Mikado to power to replace 
 the Shogunate. The result was the revolution of 
 1868, led by the great clans of Satsuma, Choshiu, 
 and Tosa, to which the reigning Shogun offered but a 
 feeble resistance, though some of his friends among 
 the daimios stood siege in their castles for months 
 after his resignation. In 1869 the official name of 
 Yedo was changed to Tokio, and the Mikado set up 
 his court there. 
 
 Even before the fall of the Shogunate there had been 
 relations between Europeans and that court. Com- 
 modore Perry and Admiral Stirling had made treaties 
 in 1854 on behalf of Great Britain. In 1858 these
 
 JAPAN. 107 
 
 treaties were extended, and similar ones concluded 
 with the Dutch and French, under which the ports 
 of Nagasaki, Hakodate, and Yokohama were opened 
 to the trade of these nations. In a short time most 
 of the other nations of the world ohtained similar 
 treaties. Since 1868 many reforms and changes have 
 been carried out, not always peacefully ; the most 
 serious rebellion being that at Satsuma, which, how- 
 ever, was confined to the district, and after several 
 months' fighting the rebels were annihilated. 
 
 The earliest literature of Japan consists of records 
 of the past, made up of stories of the early kings and 
 of the gods who guided them. The Kojiki, or record 
 of ancient matters, which seems to have been a codi- 
 fied and purged collection of scattered tradition, was 
 made by the Emperor Temmu. For twenty-five years 
 it was entrusted to the memory of one of the persons 
 of the imperial household, from whose lips it was 
 taken down in the year A.D. 711. It was followed 
 by a rival "Japanese record" in 720. Both works 
 appeared during the reign of an empress. The 
 Kojiki is purely Japanese in spirit ; while the latter 
 record falls in with the Chinese influence then begin- 
 ning to prevail. Both purport to be history, beginning 
 with the origin of all things, and, passing through the 
 divine age, contain the foundations of the Shinto 
 faith. They form the basis and beginning of all later
 
 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 national histories of the country. The best of the 
 later histories of Japan are said to have been com- 
 piled under the patronage of the second lord of Mito, 
 in great part by scholarly Chinese who had fled from 
 their country on the accession of the Manchu dynasty. 
 
 The poetic form of literature seems to have been 
 kept up chiefly at the court of the Mikado, the ear- 
 lier examples dating back to the eighth ceutury. It 
 consists chiefly of collections of pleasant lyrics, not 
 unlike the Shiking of China. Of dramatic or epic 
 poetry there is nothing of importance to be found in 
 Japanese literature. There is a theatre, patronised 
 chiefly by the lower classes in the large towns, where 
 ordinary comedy and light farce are the staple enter- 
 tainments. 
 
 There are considerable numbers of novels, and the 
 semi-historical romance is a favourite form of fiction. 
 Fairy tales and short story books are common. 
 
 Japanese art consists almost entirely of landscape 
 and genre, adapted to decorative purposes : in the 
 ordinary medium to fans, screens, and wall papers ; 
 and in lacquer and inlaid work to an endless variety 
 of articles of ornamental furniture, the toilet, and the 
 table in its ordinary and ceremonial uses. As applied 
 to the keramic craft, in which they are masters, or to 
 textile fabrics, the same decorative motive prevails. 
 
 In 1872 the first modern judicial system was
 
 JAPAN. 109 
 
 organised, and courts established. In all the treaties 
 referred to with foreign powers, consular courts were 
 granted in all cases in which foreigners were interested. 
 The abolition of these consular courts has since 1882 
 been one of the burning questions in Japan, In 1886 
 it was proposed by a Japanese minister to have a 
 number of foreign judges on the Japanese bench, and 
 to submit the present codes and future amendments to 
 the foreign powers ; but this was received by strong 
 marks of national disfavour, and the negotiations broke 
 down in 1887. Next year foreign assessors were 
 offered in foreign cases, and the consular courts were 
 not to lapse until after at least three years, but the 
 country was still dissatisfied. An attempt was made 
 on the life of Count Okuma, who was conducting the 
 negotiations with the foreign powers, and a suspension 
 took place. Viscount Aoki resumed negotiations in 
 1890. His overtures were received with favour by Lord 
 Salisbury, and a few conditions which he desiderated 
 were granted to his successors at the Foreign Office, 
 and the Japanese will now, as far as Great Britain 
 is concerned, be in possession of judicial autonomy 
 on the termination of a certain number of years. 
 Foreigners naturally demand that, with the establish- 
 ment of a native jurisdiction, the whole of Japan 
 should be open to foreign residence. 
 
 In February 1889 Japan was presented with a
 
 nO A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 Parliament, consisting of two Houses, named the 
 House of Peers, and the House of Representatives. 
 The former is made up of hereditary, nominated, and 
 elected members. The first of these conists of the 
 imperial princes and members of the higher nobility ; 
 the second is nominated by the emperor for dis- 
 tinguished service to the state ; these two classes sit 
 for life. The largest proportion of the Upper House 
 consists of the third class, who are elected from among 
 their peers for a period of seven years, subject to the 
 approbation of the emperor. The House of Peers 
 contains 270 members. The Lower House, which 
 contains 300 members and- sits for four years, being 
 bound to assemble at least once every year for a 
 session of three months, is wholly elective, and com- 
 posed of representatives of the principal prefectures 
 and towns, returned in the proportion of 1 to every 
 128,000 of the people, upon a tax-paying, residential, 
 and age franchise ; the qualifications for electors being 
 the possession of land of the taxable value of $600 or 
 of an income of $1000, a twelve months' residence, and 
 the minimum age of twenty-five. In the three and a 
 half years of its existence, since its first meeting in 
 November 1890, the Japanese Diet has passed through 
 six sessions and three general elections. Very full 
 and accurate reports of the speeches are published by 
 a Government staff of reporters, whose stenographic
 
 JAPAN 111 
 
 attainments are on a par with the most highly trained 
 experts of Europe or America, and a condensed ver- 
 sion of the debates in English appears in the columns 
 of the Japan Daily Mail. 
 
 This new parliamentary episode has naturally given 
 a fillip to newspaper enterprise in Japan, and the 
 newspaper has naturally given voice to the popular 
 and radical elements in the nation. The intellectual 
 capacity of the chamber is reasonably high, and the 
 suspicion with which the experiment was watched by 
 the more stable elements of the community is not 
 increasing. Ministers, in Japan, are appointed by the 
 emperor directly as his servants, and need not be 
 members of either House. The House of Represen- 
 tatives not being responsible for the ministers, tends 
 to become a continual opposition, and in fact 
 ministerial proposals are constantly rejected. In 
 1872 a new ministry, consisting of all the eminent 
 statesmen of Japan, headed by Count Ito as Prime 
 Minister, met Parliament with a financial scheme 
 rearranging the taxation, and recommending the ex- 
 penditure of $16,000,000, to be carried out in six 
 years on a naval programme ; the expenditure to be 
 met by an increase of the tobacco tax, the sake tax, and 
 the income-tax. When this budget was introduced into 
 the House of Representatives, wholesale reductions 
 were made on officials' salaries, and the money for the
 
 112 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 shipbuilding programme refused. Three times was 
 this process repeated. At last the emperor came to 
 the rescue, himself surrendering for six years one- 
 tenth of his civil list, and directing the civil and 
 military officials to make a similar concession. On 
 this a committee of the Lower House was appointed 
 to confer with the government. The government gave 
 way on the main points, and the budget being passed, 
 the crisis came, for the time being, to an end. 
 
 In 1893 the crisis arrived again. The Repre- 
 sentatives began by demanding the resignation of the 
 President of the Chamber, and, on his refusal, 
 addressed the throne on the subject, and adjourned. 
 This quarrel terminated in the enforced resignation 
 of the President, and the House, flushed with vic- 
 tory, proceeded to address the throne on the question 
 of official discipline and the status of ministers 
 in fact, practically demanding the dismissal of the 
 Cabinet. After this the sittings of the House were 
 again suspended. The emperor replied, declining to 
 dismiss his ministers, and politely hinting to the Diet 
 that they should attend to their own business. The 
 ministers again introduced the measures relative to 
 the treaty arrangements, but their proposals were 
 received with riotous refusal. The assembly was again 
 adjourned for a fortnight ; that being ineffectual, the 
 stronger measure of proroguing was adopted. At the
 
 JAPAN. 113 
 
 same time the executive dissolved the so-called 
 Great Japan Society, which was agitating against 
 any concession to the treaty powers. 
 
 The general election following lasted for two 
 months, attended with scenes of violence, and in the 
 end the government had not improved their position. 
 On the meeting of the new Parliament, a motion 
 against the ministers was within five votes of heing 
 carried, and Count Ito again dissolved the assembly. 
 
 The general principle involved in these contests 
 is the old story of a hereditary oligarchy against 
 democratic ideas. The House of Representatives 
 explains that its opposition to the shipbuilding pro- 
 gramme is entirely on the ground that the admini- 
 stration of the naval department is corrupt, and that 
 the chief offices are given to members of the aristocratic 
 clans. There is no doubt of the truth that the 
 executive of Japan is in fact entirely in the hands of 
 the representatives of these old families ; and that 
 the chief posts, civil, military, and naval, are filled by 
 the same class. No doubt, with the enlightened spirit 
 growing in Japan, representatives of the Lower 
 Chamber may gradually filter into positions of power, 
 and by that time, doubtless, the people of Japan will 
 have appreciated the efforts of her aristocracy in pro- 
 curing for the nation a gradual, substantial, and honest 
 reform, in contrast with the absurd revolutions and
 
 114 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 economic failures of the young republics of South 
 America. No better instance of the sterling capacity 
 of the executive of Japan, or the thoroughness of the 
 administration of its services, could be given than the 
 conduct of the late diplomatic relations with China, 
 and ^ the able management of the war with that 
 country.
 
 KOREA. 
 
 THE Peninsula of Korea is a temperate and hilly 
 country, inhabited by a Mongolian people. It has long 
 been, either nominally or really, tributary to China. 
 The Koreans claim as their first King Ki-Tsze, who 
 emigrated from China and founded a dynasty at 
 Pyong-yang in B.C. 1122; but Chinese histories, even 
 long after these early times, are silent as to any union 
 of the separate states of the peninsula into a nation, 
 while mention is frequently made of these separate 
 states. The country, which has long been a battle- 
 ground for both China and Japan, seems never, even 
 from its earliest days, to have been out of a state of 
 embroilment ; if not being over-run by enemies from 
 beyond its borders, its separate states have been at 
 war with one another. In the eleventh century Wang- 
 Kian united the whole peninsula into one country ; 
 but at the time of the fall of the Mongolian dynasty 
 in China a revolution took place at Korea, and that 
 family was deposed. In 1392 Li-tan captured the
 
 116 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 throne, and founded the present dynasty of Tsi-tsien. 
 About this time the Chinese imposed on the Koreans 
 the use of their chronology and calendar. The annual 
 presentation by the Chinese of their calendar is a mark 
 of the tributary condition of the state receiving it. 
 
 In the first half of the sixteenth century the Koreans 
 were strong enough to invade Japan. In the end of the 
 same century, however, the great Taiko with a strong 
 force ravaged Korea, driving back the Chinese troops 
 sent to assist the dependency. The Japanese destroyed 
 the cities, imposed a tribute on the country, and 
 retained the fort of Fusan-kai. When the Ming 
 dynasty in China was tottering to its fall the Koreans 
 supported it, and in 1637 they were beaten by the 
 victorious Manchus, and a heavy tribute imposed upon 
 them, to be paid annually. Since this date the 
 Koreans continued to send a mission to Japan, but 
 latterly merely as a matter of form, for the satisfac- 
 tion of Japanese pride, the cost of the excursion being 
 paid by the Japanese. The country has all along 
 adopted the most exclusive policy. The only com- 
 munication with Western ideas seems to have come 
 through the tribute mission to Peking meeting there 
 Jesuit missionaries, through whom Father Kicci's work 
 in Chinese on the " True Principles about God " seems 
 to have reached Korea. A Christian sect was formed, 
 and Koman Catholic missionaries were successful in
 
 KOREA. 117 
 
 getting a residence in the country, and keeping up 
 amidst persecution a small Christian community, but 
 they were finally expelled in 1866. From 1654-67 a 
 Dutchman named Hamel lived in the country, and in 
 a book which he wrote says that the upper classes 
 frequented the monasteries rather as pleasure-houses 
 than temples. Many of these monasteries are in the 
 fine scenery of the upland district of the Diamond 
 Mountains. As in China, the population may be said to 
 consist of two classes the mass of the people who work 
 for a meagre subsistence, and the official class who live 
 on what they can squeeze out of the former. The 
 present King Li-hsi ascended the throne when he was 
 twelve years of age in 1864, his father then acting as 
 regent. The policy of the father included the rigorous 
 exclusion of foreigners, and it was in execution of this 
 policy against the missionaries that some of them lost 
 their lives in 1866. Admiral Rose was sent by the 
 French Government at the end of that year to avenge 
 the missionaries. He destroyed the city of Kang-hoa 
 and its forts, but obtained no concessions from Korea. 
 When threatened by the French, the Koreans sent for 
 help to Japan, but received no reply. When therefore, 
 in 1868, a Japanese embassy arrived in Korea announc- 
 ing political changes in Japan and the assumption by 
 Mikado of sovereignty, and to invite from the Koreans 
 the renewal of old friendship and vassalage, an insolent
 
 118 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 refusal was returned. Previous to this the Koreans 
 had burned several American vessels, and the captain 
 of a United States gunboat was also knocking with 
 cannon-balls on the gates of the Korean court. All 
 these countries also made representations at the court 
 of the suzerain power, China, where Li-Hung-chang 
 declined all responsibility. At the same time it was 
 well known that the Chinese resident at Seoul was 
 controlling the policy of Korea. In 1875 a Japanese 
 warship was fired on, and China still disowning all 
 responsibility, the Japanese in 1876 sent a treaty to 
 Korea as an ultimatum, which was accepted. It included 
 certain important concessions to Japan, among them 
 the right to send a permanent resident to the capital, 
 and the opening of three ports to Japanese trade. 
 The first clause in this treaty states that Korea, being 
 an independent power, enjoys the same sovereign 
 rights as Japan. In 1884 Japan sent troops to Korea 
 to avenge an insult to her representative, and refused 
 to withdraw them until an agreement was made with 
 China that the troops of both nations should leave 
 the country, and that no soldiers should again be sent 
 into Korea by either nation without previous intima- 
 tion. These were two diplomatic triumphs for Japan, 
 and her success in commercial matters was also evident. 
 In 1889, finding that the Japanese were exporting 
 large quantities of beans, the Koreans, acting within
 
 KOREA. 119 
 
 their rights, stopped the export. The Japanese said 
 they had already paid for the beans, and claimed a 
 sum of money. The Koreans acknowledged a certain 
 indebtedness, but said they could only manage to pay 
 860,000. There was a popular outcry in Japan, and 
 the government sent an envoy in sympathy with 
 the people to Seoul, who managed to extract from the 
 Koreans $50,000 in addition to their first offer, and 
 on his return he was received by a popular ovation.
 
 THE PLEASING HISTORY.
 
 THE PLEASING HISTORY. 
 
 CHAPTEK I. 
 
 TIEH-CHDNG-U, a student, was very handsome and clever, 
 with erect gait and black flashing eyes. His father, 
 Tieh-ying, a mandarin of justice at Peking, sent him to 
 the small town of Tah-ming to study there in quiet, 
 and get rid of his ungovernable temper. In time he 
 repented, and determined to return to his parents to 
 ask their forgiveness. In going home, towards the 
 end of the first day he lost his way, and, as he wan- 
 dered, met an old woman near her house in a village, 
 and entreated her to give him lodging till the morning. 
 "While she was preparing to accommodate him, she 
 asked him if he was a student, and told him that there 
 was but one student in their village, and that he, poor 
 fellow, was off his head for grief ; for the girl, whose 
 father, a learned doctor, had promised to give him his 
 daughter in marriage, had been coveted by a powerful 
 mandarin, who wanted to make her his concubine. 
 Both the girl and her parents had refused, and were 
 now imprisoned in a palace of the mandarin, which
 
 124 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 had been given to him by the emperor, and made sacred 
 to him by imperial decree, and into which no one might 
 enter without special permission. 
 
 Next morning Tieh-chung-u set out on his way home, 
 his hostess escorting him to the outskirts of the village. 
 He had not gone far when he saw on the road a man 
 stamping and raving to himself. It was Whey-phey 
 the disappointed lover. Tieh-chung-u endeavoured to 
 soothe him told him not to despair, that it might all 
 come right again. 
 
 On his arrival at home, Tieh-chung-u was staggered 
 to learn that his father was imprisoned by the emperor's 
 order. Tieh-ying had petitioned against the powerful 
 mandarin who was persecuting Whey-phey's affianced, 
 and was commanded to bring the girl and her parents 
 before the court. Hearing of this order, the wicked 
 mandarin sent his servants to seize them and carry 
 them to his house, where he kept them in prison. 
 Tieh-ying, being therefore unable to find them, was 
 suspected of making false complaints against the great 
 mandarin, and was sent to prison. 
 
 Tieh-chung-u got to see his father in prison, told 
 him he had learned part of the story in the village on 
 his way. He also brought with him a petition asking 
 the emperor's order to enter the mandarin's sacred 
 house in the suburbs, and bring away the girl and 
 her parents. This petition, being sealed with the
 
 THE PLEASING HISTORY. 125 
 
 stamp of the mandarin Tieh-ying, was sent to a 
 mandarin of the emperor's audience-chamber for safe 
 delivery to the emperor. 
 
 Now Tieh-chung-u went home, and next day, taking 
 his brazen mace weighing 20 catties? and getting to- 
 gether twenty of his father's servants, he bade them 
 follow him at a distance, he himself going on ahead 
 with his own servant Siou-tan. When he arrived at 
 the house of Tah-quay, the powerful mandarin, he 
 looked from his seat on horseback over the gates 
 of the outer court, and demanded from the servants 
 admission to the house. Of course he was refused. 
 Dismounting, he struck the lock with his brazen mace ; 
 the door sprung open at the sounding blow. He now 
 told his servant Siou-tan to go back and bid his father's 
 servants to come on, then go direct to the prison, where 
 he reckoned his father would now be ready with his 
 release and the imperial order for the rescue of Tah- 
 quay's prisoners, and bring him on to the scene. 
 
 Tieh-chung-u then entered the inner hall, where he 
 found the old man stripped, and about to be punished 
 for refusing to give up his daughter willingly. He 
 advanced to the mandarin, telling him he had come 
 there with the emperor's order. 
 
 " Did not the emperor," said he, " give this house 
 
 1 Catty = about U Ibs.
 
 126 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 for a house of pleasure, not for a place to administer 
 public justice in? "Why therefore are you inflicting 
 punishment on this man ? " 
 
 Tah-quay, somewhat cowed by the bold front of 
 Tieh-chung-u, said this man was a servant of his own, 
 and that no one else had any business with him. 
 
 " Not so," said the man ; " I am not his servant, but 
 a doctor of law." 
 
 Tah-quay then ordered his servants to seize Tieh- 
 chung-u ; but he, seizing Tah-quay, so used him as a 
 shield that he was glad to cry them off again. 
 
 In the meantime, hearing of the disturbance, friends 
 of Tah-quay had gathered in the house; also the 
 che-foo 1 and the clie-liien had arrived. When they 
 were discussing the matter, the entrance of Tieh-ying, 
 whom they believed to be in prison, caused them to 
 open their eyes in surprise. He produced the order 
 of the emperor ; the girl and her parents were brought 
 before the court and released. Tieh-ying was pro- 
 moted to the high office of Tu-cha-yuen, and Tah- 
 quay sent to prison. Everybody admired Tieh-chung-u 
 for his wisdom and courage, and many high mandarins 
 came to congratulate him. 
 
 1 The che-foo is the prefect or magistrate of a town who acts 
 under the tao-tai, or chief officer of a district. The che-hien is a 
 sub-prefect.
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 TIEH-CHUXG-U, greatly to the relief of his father for 
 his careful parent was afraid that so much flattery 
 would spoil him now confided that he would like to 
 travel. He set out for the Province of Shan-tong with 
 his servant Siou-tan, where for the present we leave 
 him. 
 
 In the city of Tse-nan, the capital of that province, 
 there lived a great mandarin named Shuey-keu-yeh, 
 whose wife was dead. He had one daughter, Shuey- 
 ping-sin, who was exceedingly pretty. Her father was 
 very fond of her, and gave her the entire management 
 of his household. Unlike other parents, he never gave 
 a thought to marrying her, and now left her in charge 
 of his household, while he was serving the emperor at 
 his court at Peking. Shuey-keu-yeh had a brother, 
 a sort of " hanger-on," who had three sons and a 
 daughter. The latter was as ugly as her cousin was fair. 
 Shucy-guwin, the hanger-on, thought that if his brother 
 died he should get his money, but to get it he must 
 first have Shuey-ping-sin married. So he pays a visit
 
 128 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 to Kwo-khe"-tzu, and tells him of his beautiful niece. 
 " Come to my house to-morrow," he said. " I will bid 
 my daughter invite her there, and you will see her 
 from my window when they are in the garden together." 
 Kwo-khe-tzu is so taken with the beauty of Shuey- 
 ping-sin that he hastens to make proposals to her 
 through her uncle, which she refuses. lie then appeals 
 to the che-foo, 1 who twice visits her, but with no more 
 success. 
 
 About this time news is brought from Peking that 
 the father of Shuey-ping-sin has been banished from 
 court into Mongolia, and that the father of Kwo-khe- 
 tzu has been advanced to be minister of state. Kwo- 
 khe-tzu consulted again with the che-foo. He sent for 
 the uncle, who gladly accepted the order to try yet 
 another time to persuade the lady to consent, and this 
 time he seemed to be successful. He is overjoyed, and 
 asks for the Nean-king, 2 which was brought, and on 
 which Shuey-ping-sin wrote the names of the bride 
 and the bridegroom according to form. Shuey-guwin 
 
 1 Every magistrate in Chiua is the "father" of the people of 
 his district, and so is naturally appealed to in the absence of 
 the actual father. 
 
 2 The nean-Tcing is a tablet with a writing of eight letters 
 containing the year, month, day, and hour of a person's birth. 
 It is usual to exchange these when a marriage is arranged, to 
 guide the astrologers in reading the fortunes of the bridal pair.
 
 THE PLEASING HISTORY. 129 
 
 took it to the che-foo, then told Kwo-khe-tzu of his 
 success, and he was no less transported. The day for 
 the sending of his nuptial present was arranged, and 
 Shuey-ping-sin prevailed on her uncle to have it taken 
 to his house, and let it remain there. Kwo-khe-tzu 
 had now had the day fixed on which to send for his 
 bride, and informed her of it through her uncle. 
 Shuey-ping-sin arranged that the chair should be sent 
 to her uncle's house. On the morning on which it was 
 to come Shuey-guwin walked over to the house of his 
 niece, and was surprised not to find her in readiness 
 for her journey. On his remonstrances she had to 
 reveal her plot ; on the Nean-king she had written not 
 her own name but that of her cousin, and it was her 
 cousin, she said, whom Kwo-khe-tzu must marry. Now, 
 for the first time, Shuey-guwin saw why the present 
 had been sent to his house, as well as the chair. At 
 first he was angry, saying Kwo-khe-tzu wculd never 
 look at his ugly daughter, and would harm him for the 
 trick which he would naturally believe he had played 
 upon him ; but Shuey-ping-sin pointed out to him that 
 it would be difficult to get so good a match for his 
 daughter, and though she was not beautiful, Kwo-khe- 
 tzu would find out that he had got a wife who was 
 cheerful and good-natured. Shuey-guwin assented to 
 the arrangement, and his niece walked over to his 
 house with him, to assist her cousin in dressing for her
 
 130 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 unexpected wedding. Before she was quite ready, the 
 golden chair of Kwo-khe-tzu was at the door, sur- 
 rounded by servants and musicians. Shuey-ping-sin 
 put her cousin up to a plan, making her pretend to be 
 afflicted with shyness at the part of the ceremony where 
 the bride and bridegroom drink wine together, and 
 hide her face ; and when her husband came to the 
 nuptial chamber, after drinking with his friends who 
 were present to wish him joy, she was to make the 
 attendants put out the lights and go off to bed. 
 Kwo-khe-tzu would not, therefore, see her face. She 
 was taught how to act in the morning, too. When 
 Kwo-khe-tzu had got to the height of his resentment, 
 she was to burst into tears, ask how she was to blame 
 for it all, and declare that she would kill herself.;
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 As was expected, Kwo-khe-tzu who was angry 
 at fate, at Shuey-guwin, and at himself by turns, 
 softened a bit, and thought it best to soothe his 
 weeping wife. But all the while he was" the more 
 determined to win Shucy-ping-sin yet. In this view 
 he dressed and repaired to the che-foo, where he 
 related the trick which Shuey-guwin had played on 
 him. The che-foo advised him to go home and act 
 kindly to his wife, and see Shuey-guwin about the 
 matter. "When the two met, Shuey-guwin was very 
 apologetic, blaming his too clever niece for the whole 
 affair. Kwo-khe-tzu said he would forget the injury 
 done to him when he had got the lady he had ex- 
 pected to wife. Shuey-guwin suggested that Shuey- 
 ping-sin should be invited to the usual after-mar- 
 riage entertainment to relations, but that Kwo-khe-tzu 
 should have everything in readiness for a wedding, 
 and when he got Shuey-ping-sin within the house he 
 should tax her with the deceit of the Xean-king. 
 After much importunity from her uncle, she consented
 
 132 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 to come to the feast. Kwo-khe-tzu was entranced, 
 and had everything in readiness for a marriage, in- 
 cluding the presence of the che-foo and che-hien, alike 
 for their influence and testimony. He had music, 
 too, which turned out to be his undoing ; for when 
 Shuey-ping-sin, already arrived at the door, heard 
 this, she suspected the trap into which she was being 
 led, and made her servants take up her chair again, 
 and fly with her home. 
 
 Next day Kwo-khe-tzu, downcast and angry, held 
 counsel again with Shuey-guwin, who assured him of 
 his sympathy, and that he would do all he could to 
 help him. " The twentieth day of the ninth moon," 
 said he, " is the anniversary of her mother's death, and 
 Shuey-ping-sin will go, on two or three days, to burn 
 incense and make offerings at the tomb, and walk 
 and amuse herself in the gardens. You must provide 
 yourself with a swift horse, and have coolies at hand, 
 who will seize her chair from her servants, and run 
 off to your house." Kwo-khe-tzu agreed to this, and 
 Shuey-guwin was careful to send over his youngest 
 son to enquire of his cousin on what day she should 
 go to the tombs. Shuey-ping-sin, on the second or 
 third visit from her cousin, told him not only the 
 day of her intended visit, but the hour of departure, 
 and the route she would take. On the day fixed her 
 servants gathered in the hall. There were chairs of
 
 THE PLEASING HISTORY. 133 
 
 small size for her female servants and her own large 
 chair. At the hour appointed the coolies took up the 
 chairs, and the procession started for the tomb. 
 
 Kwo-khe-tzu had his lusty fellows lying in wait, 
 and when the procession reached a lonely part of the 
 way they appeared on the road, and, hustling the 
 bearers of Shuey-ping-sin's chairs, they took up the 
 great chair, and ran with it to the house of Kwo-kh^- 
 tzu, who followed on his horse. One or two of the 
 startled servants of Shuey-ping-sin tried for a while to 
 stop the chair, but they were beaten olf.
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 KWO-KHE-TZU, as before, had the che-foo and che- 
 hieti at his house in readiness, ami Shuey-guwin and 
 other friends were waiting. The chair of Shuey-ping- 
 sin was borne in to the inner hall, and the female 
 servants were told to open it and bring forth the bride. 
 Picture, then, the chagrin of Kwo-khe'-tzu, and the 
 amused amazement of the company, when the chair, 
 was found to contain only a bag of stones. The fact 
 is that the enquiries of her cousin had raised the 
 suspicion of the ever-on-her-guard Shuey-ping-sin, and 
 this was her plan to evade her persecutor, which 
 she saw carried out from one of the small servants' 
 chairs. 
 
 Kwo-khe^tzu was still as determined as ever to gain 
 his end. He appealed this time to his friend Chun-kee 
 to assist him, who said that nothing but downright 
 force could succeed with so astute a young lady. He 
 advises that Kwo-khe-tzu should get a coloured paper, 
 and write on it, as from the emperor, that a pardon
 
 THE PLEASING HISTORY. 135 
 
 had been granted to her father, and send this to her 
 house with a train of twenty messengers. She would 
 have to come out for this paper. They must have 
 a chair ready for her, force her into it, and carry her 
 away. Kwo-khe'-tzu thought this the best plan of 
 all. The time for it being settled, he. departed to 
 make arrangements. 
 
 Shuey-ping-sin having thus a third time narrowly 
 escaped, kept herself well within doors. One 
 morning she was alarmed by a great disturbance 
 in the street, near the gate of her court. She sent out 
 a woman to see what it was all about; but in the 
 meantime word had come to her of the pardon for 
 her father, and fearful, yet hoping, she went out 
 for it, and was seized. They were about to force her 
 into a chair, when she told the men she suspected 
 them, that if she must marry the man she must ; but 
 give her a minute, she asked, and she would step 
 into the chair of her own accord. She spoke to one 
 of her servants, rearranged some part of her dress,, 
 and putting something into her sleeve, 1 entered the 
 chair. 
 
 Kwo-khe'-tzu's men, in their haste to get their 
 charge home, ran into a young gentleman mounted 
 on a mule. This gentleman was not of a nature to 
 
 1 The Chinese sleeve is long, covering the hand, and it is 
 sometimes used as a pocket.
 
 136 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA, 
 
 stand rude treatment. He dismounted, and seized one 
 of the bearers. Hearing a female voice crying for 
 help coming from the chair, he accused them of 
 running away with a lady, and said they must all 
 come before -the che-foo with him. The che-foo, 
 knowing of the affair, asked him who he was to 
 interfere between the son of a great mandarin and 
 his bride. The stranger declared that he had entered 
 the sacred house of a powerful mandarin and rescued 
 a girl, on which the che-foo perceived that he was 
 dealing with Tieh-chung-u, whose exploit had become 
 famous throughout the country. He treated him 
 with great courtesy, and tea was brought in and the 
 matter explained to him ; but he said it was unfair 
 that the che-foo should hear only one side of the 
 case, whereupon he went to Shuey-ping-sin, who told 
 him the whole story. Tieh-chung-u now declaring 
 that he would lodge a complaint with the superior 
 mandarin against all those who had been instrumental 
 in the affair, the che-hien, alarmed at the danger he 
 was in, entreated Tieh-chung-u to come and sup with 
 him. Shuey-ping-sin was conveyed home in safety, 
 and the che-hien ordered an entertainment. Tieh- 
 chung-u agreed to stay with the che-hien and drink 
 wine with him. During the feast he took occasion 
 to recur to the affair of the day, and it was arranged 
 that if Kwo-khe'-tzu should engage to lay aside all
 
 THE PLEASING HISTORY. 137 
 
 thoughts of this young lady, and cease from troubling 
 her, nothing more would be said about it. The che- 
 hien then recommended Tieh-chung-u to a convent 1 
 where he would be well lodged. 
 
 1 Convent. In China convents are not unusually the best 
 hotels.
 
 CHAPTEE V. 
 
 KWO-KHE-TZU was, of course, disgusted and carried 
 away with anger against Tieh-chung-u when he heard 
 the story, and went again to consult with Chun-kee. 
 Chun-kee had seen the che-hien, and was able to tell 
 Kwo-khe-tzu that he was not indisposed still to help, 
 and told him. that the stranger was at a convent, which 
 he named. He then paused a little, and in secrecy 
 communicated a seheme which diffused a visible trans- 
 port over the countenance of Kwo-khe-tzu, who in- 
 stantly resolved to put it into execution. ' 
 
 "Make haste, then," said Chun-kee, "lest he be 
 gone before we can effect it." 
 
 In the convent, Tieh-chung-u went to sleep dreaming 
 of the fair lady whom he had been the means of 
 restoring to her home. In the morning, when he 
 essayed to depart, the bonze 1 informed him that he 
 could not let him 'go without first acquainting the 
 che-hien who had introduced him. While they were
 
 THE PLEASING HISTORY. 139 
 
 still arguing the matter, a person arrived from the 
 che-hien with a request to Tieh-chung-u to come and 
 dine with him. Shuey-ping-sin had not forgotten her 
 rescuer, and, indeed had sent her servant with a 
 present for him, which, however, the young man 
 refused to. accept. Shuey-ping-sin, suspecting the 
 influence of Kwo-khe'-tzu with the che-hien, and sure 
 that the former would be anxious to avenge himself 
 on the stranger, made her servants keep her informed 
 of the doings of Tieh-chung-u. From them she 
 learned that he had gone to dine with the che-hien, 
 who had kept him late, and had made him drink 
 much wine. Next day he had gone to dine with the 
 che-foo, where the programme was repeated. And 
 after two days the Superior of the bonzes had made a 
 feast, at which, as it was said, the diet had not suited 
 Tieh-chung.-u, who now kept his bed and could take 
 no food. On hearing this, Shuey-ping-sin, feeling sure 
 of the existence of a plot to poison him, sent a servant 
 for further intelligence, with the result that her con- 
 viction was deepened. She now sent for Siou-tan, the 
 servant of Tieh-chung-u, and advised him to throw 
 away the medicine which was being given to his 
 master, which he did with his master's approval. He 
 then told his master that Shuey-ping-sin was 'about to 
 send a chair for him at night to the gate of the con- 
 vent, into which he would carry him, when the ser-
 
 140 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 vants of Skuey-ping-sin would take him to their mis- 
 tress's house. Tieh-chung-u was at first staggered at 
 the idea, and declined ; but in his wretched condition 
 of health he could not withstand the urgency of the 
 faithful Siou-tan. The arrangement was carried out 
 all right, and Tieh-chung-u, on regaining consciousness, 
 found himself resting in a handsomely curtained, 
 sweetly-perfumed bed in the house of Shuey-ping-sin, 
 the fair lady whom he had rescued, and of whom he 
 had dreamed. Compliments passed between them, 
 and she had brought to him gin-seng } and other 
 cordials, which restored him to comparative health. 
 
 Kwo-khe-tzu, who understood that Tieh-chung-u 
 was in the convent and nearly dead, when he heard of 
 his flight was in a great rage, and took, the bonze 
 before the che-hien. In examination he let out that 
 the young man had no visitors at the convent, except, 
 indeed, the servants of Shuey-ping-sin, who had come 
 to inquire after his health, at which the che-hien 
 laughed and said, " Now I know where he is. She has 
 heard of his illness and probably suspects the cause." 
 He advised Kwo-khe'-tzu to send for Shuey-guwin, 
 
 1 Gin-seng. The cordial is a decoction from the root of the 
 plant of that name. Father Jartoux tells us that, after taking it, 
 he found his pulse beat quicker and livelier, his appetite better, 
 and himself possessed of uncommon ease and an aptitude for 
 business. The chief habitat of the plant is Eastern Tartary.
 
 THE PLEASING HISTORY. 141 
 
 and tell him that he had heard that his niece had a 
 young man in her house. Shuey-guwin then sent his 
 youngest son to his cousin's house, to whom that 
 young lady carefully showed off her guest ; and when 
 Shuey-guwin himself followed to upbraid her on the 
 scandals which were current about her, she replied, 
 " I have read in the books of holy men that everyone's 
 actions should correspond with his thoughts. I have 
 read also that a benefit received should be returned 
 manifold." She also reminded him of the abuse of the 
 emperor's name that had occurred in the making of a 
 false mandate, and sent him back with a refusal to 
 alter her conduct.
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 SHUEY-GUWIN shortly after went to see Kwo-khe-tzu, 
 and confessed to him that the stranger was in his 
 niece's house, and, to stay the anger of the latter, 
 promised to send, in a stealthy way, one of his female 
 servants to hide in the house of Shuey-ping-sin, 
 where she would doubtless discover that young lady 
 tripping in her conduct. In fact, this servant could 
 only bring back news that the lady was never in the 
 room of her guest, but busied herself in the hall with, 
 out, giving orders to the servants. Kwo-khe-tzu said 
 that only silly people could be thus taken in, and went 
 to the che-hien, and asked him that one of her maids 
 should be sent for, and that, by putting her fingers to 
 the torture, she be made to confess. The magistrate, 
 however, would not go this length, for, said he, there 
 must first be lodged a petition, stating on what account 
 an examination is required ; but to pacify the wrath of 
 Kwo-khe-tzu, he said he had in prison a fellow clever 
 at entering houses, and that he will get him to hide
 
 THE PLEASING HISTORY. 143 
 
 himself away in the house of Sheuy-ping-sin, and upon 
 his information petition might be laid. This man 
 managed to get into the hall and hide himself on one 
 of the roof beams. Here he saw an elaborate feast set 
 out, and gone about with all due ceremonial solemnity, 
 given by Shuey-ping-sin in honour of the recovery of 
 Tieh-chung-u. In the hall she had erected a screen, 
 on her own side of which was no lamp placed ; on the 
 other side, where her guest was to sup, the table was 
 brilliantly lighted. The proper speeches and rites, 
 slightly altered to suit the romantic occasion, were 
 spoken and gone through ; and in answer to enquiries 
 from the lady, Tieh-chung-u told some of his history, 
 and began to sec in their proper light the events of 
 his stay in the monastery. He swore vengeance 
 against the che-hien, threatening to shame him before 
 all the inhabitants of the city, then carry him to the 
 viceroy for his dismissal ; but the young lady dis- 
 suaded him, asking him to consider the degeneracy of 
 the times. " There are only two words in our days by 
 which both the people and the mandarins regulate 
 their conduct, and those are riches and power. The 
 che-hien saw my father was disgraced, and the father 
 of Kwo-khe-tzu advanced : what wonder then if he was 
 afraid to offend the youth ? " She pointed out how 
 much labour it had cost the che-hien to get his position,
 
 144 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 and how dreadful the loss of it must appear. At her 
 speech Tieh-chung-u stood astonished, yet was con- 
 vinced of its propriety. He confessed that his own 
 actions had hitherto been rash, and the result of the 
 natural heat of his temper rather than of motives more 
 subject to reason. He thanked her for the beauty of 
 her instructions, and said that he would depart 
 to-morrow, and forget the che-hien altogether. In 
 reply, she said that she had brought him here on 
 account of his illness, and he being now well, she could 
 but leave him to his pleasure, but that he might stay 
 a couple of days to talk over those good subjects on 
 which they had discoursed. The hot wine being now 
 produced, he drank a glass of it, telling her that he 
 Was travelling with his father's approbation, and would 
 be glad of the advice of one so ingenious and wise as 
 herself as to where he should go. She replied, " You 
 may travel through the world in pursuit of knowledge, 
 but if you will be truly wise, you had best remain at 
 home. At court there can be no want of learned 
 men, why then fatigue yourself by travelling in other 
 countries : better go back to your father, who can get 
 you a place in the emperor's service." ' He compli- 
 
 1 As the only knowledge in request in China is that of 
 morality, and government, history, rites and literature of 
 their own empire, knowledge cannot be promoted by travel,
 
 THE PLEASING HISTORY. 145 
 
 mented her on her judgment. " What you have said to 
 me to-day hath awakened me from a lethargy in which 
 I have been buried since the hour of my birth." All 
 this and much more having passed between them, the 
 youth began to think he had drunk enough, and was 
 fearful of staying longer lest he should be guilty of any 
 ill manners. 
 
 Shan-yeo now descended stealthily from his beam, 
 and next morning presented himself to the che-hien, 
 and related to him everything he had heard or seen, 
 including the vengeful words of Tieh-chung-u, and the 
 gentle persuasion to forgiveness of Shuey-ping-sin, and 
 how their discourse was carried on with great respect 
 and courtesy, and without anything secret or clandes- 
 tine. Whereupon the che-hien praised the goodness 
 and understanding of the lady, yet paused, in his un- 
 belief that a young lady beautiful and blooming as a 
 rose and a youth shining as crystal could act so ; but 
 Shan-yeo was positive in the re-affirmation of his story. 
 The che-hien, reflecting on the remarks as to riches 
 and power, determined to alter his own evil courses, 
 
 and is only to bo attained by a severe application to their own 
 private studies. Hence the character of a hard student is 
 greatly respected among them. One of their doctors, from his 
 recluse life, was called by way of honour, Pi-hu, or the doctor of 
 the shut door. 
 
 K
 
 146 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 and have regard to his reputation and safety. So, -when 
 Kwo-khe^tzu called on him later on, he showed him 
 the spotless character of Shuey-ping-sin, and, advising 
 him to give up all thoughts of marrying her was glad 
 to see him depart
 
 HAPTEK VII. 
 
 SHUEY - GUWIN, seeing how the land lay, and still 
 anxious to possess himself of his brother's property, 
 determined now to hurry on a marriage between Tieh- 
 chung-u and his niece. He went to see his niece, 
 and after the usual compliments had passed, he brought 
 the conversation round to the wisdom and learning of 
 the lady and the manliness of Tieh-chung-u, whom, he 
 declared, was made for her alone, and sent directly 
 by Heaven. " Heaven, uncle, made Confucius, and 
 endowed him with perfect wisdom and understanding : 
 why then was he not an emperor, but only a private 
 philosopher and teacher of the people ? Heaven also, 
 in olden times, made a woman of the most exact 
 beauty and the most refined understanding : why was 
 she not married to the emperor? On the contrary, she 
 married a person of low rank. All these things are 
 under the dominion of chance, and are governed by 
 fancy. Tieh-chung-u is indeed worthy of all praise ;
 
 148 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 but if you mention marriage, you are wide of the 
 
 mark." Shuey-guwin, beginning to dilate on all that 
 
 had passed between them, she told him that these 
 
 very incidents, all so well meant, must exclude all 
 
 thoughts of marriage. Shuey-guwin went off in a huff, 
 
 but on settling down, he repaired to the lodging of 
 
 Tieh-chung-u, and, having apologised for not calling 
 
 on him sooner, said he had now called with the view 
 
 of arranging a marriage with his niece. Tieh-chung-u 
 
 refused to hear him on the matter for a moment, and 
 
 was making ready to depart, when a messenger from 
 
 the che-hien arrived with an invitation for him to go 
 
 to the house of the latter. He refused at first, but on 
 
 the che-hien himself coming up to press his suit, he 
 
 consented to go. The che-hien, though from different 
 
 motives, was of the same mind as Shuey-guwin as to 
 
 the marriage ; but Tieh-chung-u would not hear of 
 
 it, alleging that it would be a proceeding without 
 
 regularity and order. They then saluted in the proper 
 
 manner, and Tieh-chung-u went his way. 
 
 Shuey-ping-sin sent a servant to him. with a present 
 of silver, who took back his compliments to her 
 mistress. "With the silver he bought a mule for his 
 journey, and Siou-tan followed him on foot. At a 
 turning on the road, as he journeyed to the village of 
 Tong-shun, a young man, followed by a woman, ap-
 
 THE PLEASING HISTORY. 149 
 
 peared. In visible fear and confusion, they endeavoured 
 to bide themselves in the wood. Tieh-chung-u, seeing 
 them thus suspicious, stopped them, and was told that 
 the woman was the concubine of a man in the next 
 village, who, being old, she wished to leave. The man 
 he let go. To the woman he said, " Come, I will see 
 you home." " I am afraid to go home," said she ; " but 
 would rather serve and follow you." He smiled at the 
 offer, and sent her on ahead. When they had pro- 
 ceeded above a mile, a rush of villagers came on them, 
 crying, " Here she is ! here she is ! " Two of their 
 number went back to tell the old man of the recovery, 
 while the rest informed Tieh-chung-u that he must go 
 with them to the mandarin. He was taken before 
 the mandarin, who was glad to see him, because, on 
 account of the poverty of the district, he seldom had 
 a good subject to squeeze ; but Tieh-chung-u spoke up 
 to him with great freedom. The mandarin threatened 
 to take him to a higher court, but in the meantime put 
 him in charge, as a prisoner, of the old man, the owner 
 of the concubine, who treated him well, and indeed 
 was very suspicious of the girl. They drank a cup of 
 wine together, and the prisoner was shown to a com- 
 fortable bed, the girl being concealed near it, as 
 arranged by her owner, who made up his mind to 
 watch them during the night. As he expected, but
 
 150 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 perhaps not altogether wished, he saw the girl's 
 attempt to embrace his prisoner, as he lay in bed, 
 brusquely put aside, and convinced himself that her 
 flight was of her own contriving. Next morning the 
 che-hien of Tse-nan appeared in the village, and Tieh- 
 chung-u was released. The che-hien then requested 
 Tieh-chung-u to come home and spend a day or two 
 with him. He consented, and they went home, where 
 a fine feast was spread for them, during which the 
 che-hien cunningly introduced the fair Shuey-ping-sin 
 into the conversation. The youth candidly confessed 
 the impression made on him when first he saw her in 
 the court ; but since she had been good enough to treat 
 him in her house with the tenderness of a sister, 
 suspicion had been caused, which would be raised again 
 by marriage. He therefore could not think of pro- 
 posing. On his departure the che-hien presented him 
 with twelve shoes of silver, and advised him to go 
 home to his parents, take up his studies, and in time 
 become a great doctor. The youth thanked him, and 
 went on his way, thinking on the lovely Shuey-ping- 
 sin. " I will go," he said, " home, will study and pass 
 the examination. This will satisfy my father and 
 mother. Perhaps I will make a name, and it may be 
 that Shuey-ping-sin will hear of it." 
 
 Shuey-ping-sin, on her side reflected ; when she heard
 
 THE PLEASING HISTORY. 151 
 
 of the youth's departure, how he had got into trouble 
 for her sake, but yet that he had been brought round, 
 and was all right again ; from which she drew satis- 
 faction, interrupted alone by her fears of some new 
 attack from Kwo-khd-tzu.
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 SHORTLY after this, a great mandarin, a Grand Visitor 1 
 from Peking, arrived in the town, and having listened 
 to the story of Kwo-khe-tze, and being friendly with 
 his father at court, at once ordered the che-hien to 
 have the long-desired marriage carried through. The 
 che-hien, using as much freedom of speech as he 
 possibly dared adventure on to so high an official, 
 dissuaded him from the project ; but his advice was 
 put aside, and the marriage ordered to go on. Word 
 was then sent to Shuey-ping-sin, ordering her to 
 appear in court for the marriage. She at once sent a 
 petition with her servant to Peking, and on the 
 day appointed she herself, all properly dressed, and 
 with a dagger concealed in her sleeve, repaired to the 
 audience of the Grand Visitor. On the first day of 
 his audience,' he received about fifty suitors, who came 
 
 1 Grand Visitor or censor, a representative of the Board of 
 Censors, or Inspecting Department of the Central Government 
 of Peking.
 
 THE PLEASING HISTORY. 153 
 
 to present their petitions. Compliments were ex- 
 changed, and they were told to come back in a few 
 days, and all went away except a young woman who 
 remained on her knees, The servants bade her depart. 
 She did not obey them, but, rising, went nearer to the 
 tribunal, and then cried aloud, "I am the daughter 
 of one under condemnation. For this reason I did 
 not get up and depart. Not daring to hide myself or 
 fly from justice, I came here this day to end my life. 1 
 By this means I shall neither disobey your excel- 
 lency's orders, nor yet offend my own honour. I am 
 now," proceeded she, " in my seventeenth year. My 
 mother being dead, and my father at a distance, I 
 remain alone in my house a poor, helpless maiden, 
 observing the laws of virtue and modesty, as it becomes 
 a young lady to do. While I thus pass my time in 
 innocence, suspecting no harm, I have been treacher- 
 ously persecuted by a youth named Kwo-khe-tzu, 
 who hath contrived a hundred ways to ensnare me, 
 all which I have still endeavoured to avoid. For 
 some time past he hath foreborne to trouble me ; but 
 there is lately arrived a mandarin of great power and 
 
 1 Suicide in China is not considered disgraceful. Instances 
 of suicide which have been carried out by individuals, rather 
 than be forced into breaking the law or disobeying the imperial 
 edicts, being erected into the spiritual guardians of classes or 
 localities, are common in China.
 
 154 A LITTLE HISTORY Of .CHINA. 
 
 rank, who was his father's pupil. With this gentle- 
 man hath Kwo-khe"-tzu lodged a petition, and obtained 
 his favour, insomuch that the first thing he did after 
 his coming was to do violence to my inclinations, 
 commanding me to marry this young man, contrary to 
 all reason and law ; for he hath obtained no licence 
 of father or mother, neither hath any mediator or 
 bridesman interposed. Two orders have been delivered 
 out for that purpose. These I could not oppose, as 
 being a young woman, lone and friendless ; b\it when 
 I saw them, I was even bereaved of my life with 
 apprehension and fear. Finding at length there was 
 no other remedy, I sent my servant with a petition to 
 Peking, with orders to strike on the emperor's drum. 
 He hath accordingly been gone three days. This pro- 
 cedure, I imagine, you can never pardon, and am there- 
 fore come here with a firm resolution to end my life 
 in your presence." 
 
 The Grand Visitor, alarmed at the petition being 
 sent to Peking, argued with her, and, as the result of 
 their discussion, acknowledged the justice of her case. 
 He examined a copy of her petition, saw that it was 
 well done, then told her that he would take care that 
 she would not be further molested ; and they agreed 
 to send a messenger to overtake the petition. This 
 was effected, and the Grand Visitor issued a paper of 
 declaration, containing all the wants and desires for
 
 THE PLEASING HISTORY, 155 
 
 peace of Shuey-ping-sin, and threatening any person 
 presuming to act contrary to his order. 
 
 " This," she said to her uncle, " is not to frighten 
 men, hut monkeys." She gave presents to the servants 
 who brought this order, and explained to her wonder- 
 ing uncle how it was the mandarin changed his mind. 
 " AVhere is the difficulty in this matter? He was then 
 but just arrived, and esteeming me a poor silly girl, 
 thought it was of no consequence what became of me. 
 Then he only regarded Kwo-khe-tzu ; but being now 
 better informed, and finding that, should he persist 
 to offer me injustice, it would endanger his office, he 
 hath altered his measures." 
 
 "Your father," said Shuey-guwin, "is not at home 
 to protect you. What can you do of yourself 1 Can 
 he be afraid of you ? " 
 
 She smiled and said, "Uncle, you must ask no 
 farther questions. In a few days you will be better 
 informed." 
 
 Kwo-khe'-tzu could hardly believe the story. He 
 ordered his chair and went off to see the Grand 
 Visitor. That officer pretended to be busy, and unable 
 to see him. This pretence he kept on occasion of 
 other visits, until Kwo-khe'-tzu gave it up in 
 disgust.
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 TWENTY days after, the Grand Visitor called Kwo- 
 khe-tzu to the yamun, and, taking him to an inner 
 apartment, explained the position of affairs to him, 
 and refused to have anything further to do with his 
 marriage scheme^ But Kwo-khe-tze is still deter- 
 mined to persevere, and again seeks out Chun-kee 
 for counsel. Chun-ke'e suggests that he should send to 
 Peking to get his father's sanction to the suit, and 
 at the same time request his father to send a mes- 
 senger to the banished father of Shuey-ping-sin, to 
 get his consent also to the match. At Kwo-khe-tzu's 
 request, Chun-ke'e himself undertakes the mission. 
 
 Tieh-chung-u took to his studies, living in seclusion 
 in a suburb of Peking; but hearing one day that 
 his father had resigned, he made a journey into 
 town to see him. On arrival, he was glad to hear 
 that the resignation had not been accepted. On his 
 way into town he had overtaken the servant of 
 Shuey-ping-sin, who was carrying her petition to 
 court, and stopped to speak to him. Learning the
 
 THE PLEASING HISTORY. 157 
 
 nature of his errand, he bade the servant come on 
 to his father's, and he would see to the proper 
 delivery of the petition; but the servant never 
 arrived, for the reason we know. Tieh-chung-u, 
 fearful of some misadventure, and that Shuey-ping- 
 sin might through it be now at the mercy of Kwo- 
 khe'-tzu, made up his mind to go at once to her 
 house. On his arrival at the door, he found the 
 order of the Grand Visitor posted up. lie was so 
 far satisfied, and departed. On his way he was met 
 by Shuey-guwin, but declined to stay to talk with 
 him. Shuey-guwin tracked him to his lodgings, then 
 went straight with the news to Kwo-khe'-tzu, and 
 together they hatched this plot: A message was to 
 be sent to Tieh-chung-u as if from Shuey-ping-sin, to 
 say that he must come at night to meet her at her 
 garden gate. At the place and time Kwo-khe'-tzu 
 would have some roughs ready to seize and beat him 
 severely. 
 
 The boy with the false message reached Tieh-chung-u, 
 but having had his ears well cuffed, he confessed who 
 it was who had really sent him, and he was sent back. 
 Other tricks were tried, but failed. At last Kwo-khe'- 
 tzu said, " I will go myself and call upon him to- 
 morrow, then he cannot but return the visit ; and when 
 he does, I will have some lusty fellows near at hand, 
 then provoke him to a fight." Tieh-chung-u, at first
 
 158 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 suspecting trickery, determined not to return the visit, 
 but then he thought to himself : " Kwo-khe-tzu is the 
 son of a great mandarin ; he has done me a great 
 honour in calling on me ; I will be thought rude if 
 I do not return the call." He determined then, to 
 call early in the morning, expecting that Kwo-khe-tzu 
 would not be up, and that he would therefore simply 
 have to leave his card. Kwo-khe'-tzu, however, had a 
 servant in the hotel watching him, from whom he 
 learned of the arrangement as to the morning, and 
 was up and ready and smiling to receive him. Tieh- 
 chung-u was invited into the inner hall, tea was pro- 
 duced, and he was invited to stay for a week ; but he 
 said he must be off at once, and in the end consented 
 to stay to breakfast. Shuey-guwin then dropped in. 
 Suspicion was averted by the friendly manner of the 
 two father-in-law and son-in-law, and they drank 
 some wine together. Tieh-chung-u rose to withdraw, 
 but the young mandarin Whang just then entering the 
 door, he was induced to take another cup of wine with 
 him. Again, when he was about to go, another man. 
 darin entered, . greeted him in a most friendly way, 
 and the company would not hear of his leaving. The 
 second mandarin would, he said, certainly feel affronted 
 if, Tieh-chung-u having drunk with Whang, he would 
 not also honour him in the same way. Then another 
 mandarin came rollicking in, in a fighting humour, and
 
 THE PLEASING HISTORY. 159 
 
 the same programme was gone through. More drinks 
 were suggested, but Tieh-chung-u, now feeling the 
 effects strongly, refused, and a quarrel arose. On a 
 signal from Kwo-khe'-tzu seven or eight of his lusty 
 fellows came rushing in. Tieh-chung-u, who was now 
 become sober, perceived their designs against him. 
 First of all, taking up the mandarin Chang, he threw 
 him on the ground. He then tried to wrench a leg 
 from the table to use against his enemies, but unable 
 to get it away, he took up Chang again from the 
 ground, and telling them, that he would brain this 
 fellow against the first that offered to approach him, 
 said that he wanted nothing but to retire quietly. On 
 the appeal of poor Chang, this was allowed him. He 
 took Chang out with him to the gate ; then, setting 
 him on his feet, sent him back with a message to his 
 friends, that, if it had not been for their fathers' 
 sakes, he would have lamed a few of them.
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 WHEN Tieh-chung-u returned to his lodging, he found 
 there a horse waiting him for his journey, which had 
 been sent by Shuey-ping-sin. She also had sent her 
 advice to him to go with his story to the Grand 
 Visitor. He went, but the Grand Visitor was not in 
 judgment, so he struck the drum, and the servants of 
 the yamun coming, took him bound before the Grand 
 Visitor, who, having heard the drum, repaired to his 
 official seat. \ Tieh-chung-u having presented his 
 petition was unbound and complimented, and at the 
 request of the Grand Visitor, who was a friend of the 
 
 1 The seat of justice. In each yamun or court-house in 
 China there is a judgment-seat, which is occupied by the judge 
 when it is convenient for him to hear petitions. In cases of 
 urgency a petitioner may strike the drum, which is fixed at the 
 outer gate of the court-house, and thereby call the judge to his 
 seat, when the petitioner is taken bound to him. As the 
 petitioner may possibly disturb his lordship, the drum is only 
 appealed to when the matter is urgent, and the petitioner 
 confident in the goodness of his case,
 
 THE PLEASING HISTORY. 161 
 
 fathers of the rascally young mandarins, waived a pro- 
 secution against them. He declined the invitation 
 of the Grand Visitor to stay a week with him, but 
 accepted a present from him. He Sent back the 
 horse and a complimentary message to Sheuy-ping- 
 sin, and, accompanied by his servant Siou-tan, went 
 homewards. 
 
 Kwo-khe"-tzu and his companions determined to 
 pursue their enemy, raised a body of a hundred men, 
 and set out after him ; but finding he had some time 
 left his lodging, they desisted. They then turned to 
 the Grand Visitor to lodge a complaint against him of 
 rebellion ; but the Grand Visitor, knowing the story 
 already, dismissed them with a warning. Kwo-khe"- 
 tx.u was greatly chagrined, but as eager as ever. 
 
 Chun-kee, in the performance of his mission, now 
 found himself at court before the father of Kwo-khd- 
 tzu, who, having read his son's petition and heard from 
 Chun-kee the story of the various attempted weddings, 
 agreed at last to send a letter to the father of Shuey- 
 ping sin, requesting his agreement to a marriage with 
 his son, and charging Chun-kee with the duty of de- 
 livering this letter to the exiled mandarin, who was 
 beyond the Great Wall. 
 
 Chun-kue arrived at the residence of the father of 
 Shuey-ping-sin and delivered his message, but the 
 latter refused to give any permission without his
 
 162 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 daughter's consent, and refused to be prevailed upon. 
 Chun-kee, finding it would be in vain to persist, went 
 back to Kwo-sho-su, who was very much enraged at 
 the refusal, and determined to have revenge. 
 
 Now the fault for which Shuey-ping-sin's father 
 had been banished was the choice of a general, Hu- 
 hiau, who was given the command of troops against 
 the Tatars. This general was a man of energy, so 
 eager for his work that he had neglected to pay 
 complimentary visits to the other mandarins, and 
 they resented this by hindering his work against 
 the Tatars. In the circumstances he attained no 
 brilliant success, and indeed the mandarins reported 
 that his expedition was a failure. He was imprisonedi 
 and Shuey-ping-sin's father was banished. Some new 
 difficulties had arisen with the Tatars, and Kwo-sho-su 
 now blamed the father of our heroine and his general, 
 Hu-hiau. The general was brought to trial. It so 
 happened that on the day of the trial Teih-chung-u 
 arrived at Peking, where he had not been since his 
 return from Shan-tong. On arrivaLhe learnt that his 
 father had gone to the trial. He followed him, and 
 found that Hu-hiau was already condemned, bound, 
 and waiting for execution. Then going to the place of 
 punishment, he was struck with the sight of Hu-hiau, 
 whom he found waiting for his sentence, which was to 
 be executed at three quarters of an hour after noon.
 
 THE PLEASING HISTORY. 163 
 
 There was a great crowd of spectators, through the 
 midst of whom the youth forced his way to get nearer 
 to the condemned person. He perceived him to be 
 young, but of a bold and dauntless aspect : his look 
 wild and fierce, as that of a tiger ; his eyes fiery ; his 
 throat large, yet long like a crane's ; his body strong 
 and well set.
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 TIEH-CHUNG-U wondered what this strong man had 
 done. " Sir," said he, " of what have they accused 
 you, who seem to be so valiant a person ? How is it 
 that you have been beaten in war ? " At this he flew 
 into a rage, and said, " A man can die but once, and 
 it matters not in what manner -he dies. But I that 
 have strength to carry the weight of ten piculs, and 
 am master of eighteen different weapons, how should 
 I be beaten by anyone? What have I lost? Tis all 
 falsely laid to my charge. This I solemnly declare. 
 However, I must die; be it so." Tieh-chung-u asked, 
 if he were released, would he go against the enemy^ 
 Hu-hiau said it was only his duty. Tieh-chung-u, after 
 asking the time, went to the three mandarins who had 
 passed the sentence upon Hu-hiau, but had done it 
 merely to gratify their superiors, and were glad to see 
 a person appear in his vindication. The President of 
 Crimes, Kwo-sho-su, after a short time discovered he 
 was the son of the Supreme Viceroy, upon which he
 
 THE PLEASING HISTORY. 165 
 
 cried to have him bound. Tieh-chung-u cried out 
 to hear him first. They discussed the matter. His 
 father replied, " What business is it of yours what he 
 was, or what he can do 1 " Then he ordered him to 
 be bound and put in prison. The two other mandarins 
 desired his imprisonment to be deferred for a moment, 
 and, calling him, said, " You show a good intention 
 and sound principle in what you say, but you must 
 consider that things must be carried on according to 
 justice, and not with so much precipitation. Hu-hiau 
 has been a year in prison, and Shuey-keu-ye" as long 
 in banishment. The former of these is condemned. 
 The mandarin Kwo-sho-su hath already informed his 
 majesty of the sentence of death passed. How then 
 is it possible to recall it?" Tieh-chung-u said what 
 they had done was for their own interest, and not the 
 country's, and that in former times it was frequent 
 for mandarins to oppose injustice, or to refuse to do 
 anything in prejudice of their country. "Wherefore 
 do you study law and justice, if you act subservient 
 to higher powers?" The two other mandarins said 
 nothing, but his father asked him if he were mad, 
 saying, " The sentence is passed : Hu-hiau must die." 
 Tieh-chung-u now bethought himself, and offered to 
 be security for Hu-hiau's performing of such actions 
 as shall merit a pardon. The prisoner was then sent 
 back from the scaffold to prison, and Tieh-chung-u
 
 166 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 drew up a petition on his behalf ; and himself then 
 had a chain fixed round his neck, and was sent to 
 prison with the general. The two mandarins tneu 
 drew up a petition to acquaint the emperor, who 
 answered their petition, saying that, as the want of 
 men of valour to serve in the war without the Wall 
 was urgent, and as Tieh-chung-u had offered himself 
 as security for the good behaviour of Hu-hiau, he 
 would suspend his execution, and give him a sword 
 to put to death anyone who should disobey his 
 command. If he did not obey, his punishment 
 would be heavier; if he behaved well, and came off 
 with success, he should exalt him, " Shuey-keu-ye* 
 recommended and assisted him, Tieh-chung-u offered 
 himself for his security : therefore, if he doth not 
 behave well, I shall call to account these two persons." 
 The order was carried by a mandarin to Hu-hiau, 
 whom, together with Tieh-chung-u, they took out of 
 prison. On their release they returned thanks to 
 the two mandarins, then took up their abode at 
 the house of the Supreme Viceroy, and prepared to 
 set out. Being well equipped, Hu-hiau set out for 
 the seat of war, and had not been gone long, when, by 
 the brilliant success of his arms, he restored peace 
 and tranquillity everywhere. The emperor advanced 
 him to a higher command, restored Shuey-keu-ye to 
 his former office, and would have made Tieh-chung-u
 
 THE PLEASING HISTORY. 167 
 
 doctor of law, bub the young man would not have any 
 such distinction until he gained it by learning. 
 
 The mandarin Kwo-sho-su was so disappointed that 
 he was ashamed to appear in public, and begged to 
 lay down his office, under pretence of indisposition. 
 Shuey-keu-ye was then made President.
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 PERHAPS it was the message of Kwo-kh6-tzu that 
 started it, but certain it was that the new President 
 was now thinking about arranging for the marriage of 
 his daughter, the fair Shuey-ping-sin, so he went to 
 visit the Supreme Viceroy and his son. He saw the 
 former, and told him that he had heard so much that 
 was so creditable about Tieh-chung-u, that he would 
 like him for a husband to his daughter. The next 
 day Shuey-keu-ye* called again, and this time had the 
 pleasure of seeing the young man, and of compli- 
 menting him on his instrumentality in restoring him 
 to office. 
 
 They talked of several matters, and at last approached 
 the question of the marriage, which Tieh-chung-u 
 declared that he must decline. On his way home the 
 President could not but reflect on the engaging aspect 
 of Tieh-chung-u, and how proper a husband he would 
 make for his daughter, and was puzzled to account for
 
 THE PLEASING HISTORY. 169 
 
 his refusal. But all the parents had now agreed upon 
 the match, and the father- of Tieh-chung-u, choosing a 
 fortunate day, 1 sent a present to the father of the young 
 lady, for which Shuey-keu-ye" returned thanks, and at 
 the same time he sent a letter to Tieh-chung-u, con- 
 gratulating him on the marriage which his parents had 
 made for him. Tieh-chung-u was greatly surprised, 
 and having gone to his parents, told them all that had 
 passed between Shuey-ping-sin and himself. They 
 admired his delicacy, but told him he must now banish 
 such considerations from his mind. In the meantime 
 he was to go back to his studies, and at the proper time 
 they would call on him. He went off half resigned 
 on seeing the anxiety of his parents in the matter. 
 Shuey-keu-ye", having got the marriage question settled 
 to his satisfaction, was anxious to see his home 
 once more. The emperor consented to let him retire 
 
 i Fortunate day. The Chinese are in the habit of getting 
 fortunate days appointed before starting on any enterprise, or 
 carrying through important social events. On the fixing of 
 those clays the people employ sometimes Tafiist priests, some- 
 times candidates who have failed in taking the degree in 
 celestial literature. The chief mandarins and the emperor have 
 the days fixed by the Board of Celestial Literature, or, as it 
 is sometimes called, the Board of Mathematics.
 
 170 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 for a year, and sent out orders to the mandarins to 
 entertain him as he made his journey homewards. He 
 set out, accompanied by many high mandarins to see 
 him off. 
 
 "When the news reached Tse*e-nan, the mandarins 
 flocked to the house of Shuey-keu-ye to compliment 
 his daughter on the news. She would hardly believe 
 it, as she still remembered the deceit of Kwo-khe-tzu. 
 They told her how Tieh-chung-u had saved Hu-hiau 
 from execution, and how it was in consequence of this 
 that her father was restored to office again. Shuey- 
 ping-sin reflected on all she had heard. She could not 
 but admire the youth who had on so many occasions 
 assisted her. 
 
 " The service he has done me is great, but nothing 
 to what he hath done my father. His virtue and 
 generosity demand of me the most grateful acknowledg- 
 ments. Miserable am I, that I cannot yield him my 
 love." 
 
 Shuey-ping-sin expected to see her father every day, 
 and at last she was informed of his approach. All the 
 mandarins of the city went out to meet him, and at 
 noon he came home. She met him in the hall, and 
 nothing could equal the joy of both. 
 
 Shuey-keu-ye, delighted to see his daughter again, 
 looking so beautiful and so accomplished, assured her
 
 THE PLEASING HISTORY. 171 
 
 that all his troubles and trials had not made him 
 unhappy, and that if they had, seeing her again in 
 good health would have raised him from depths of 
 misery. At last he told her that he had chosen a son- 
 in-law, and so great was his wisdom and ability that he 
 had not thought it necessary to ask her consent first. 
 As he goes on to describe his choice, Shuey-ping-sin 
 divines that he is speaking of no other than Tieh- 
 chung-u, and she declines the proposal, and does so to 
 the surprise of her parent, in much the same terms 
 used by Tieh-chung-u. On pressure, she confides to 
 him the whole story of her adventures. He is charmed 
 by her delicacy and nice sense of honour. 
 
 " If your stoiy is true," says he, "you have not an 
 equal, any more than Tieh-chung-u. Heaven seems to 
 have created you both for each other. I have engaged 
 to see your marriage performed, so you must not think 
 anything amiss in it." 
 
 Tieh-chung-u meanwhile had prosecuted the studies 
 with so much success, that he had passed his examina- 
 tion as doctor of law in his twenty-second year. The 
 year of Shuey-keu-y^'s retirement had now drawn to a 
 close, and the emperor issued an order for his return 
 to court. Tieh-ying wrote to him, entreating him to 
 bring Shuey-ping-sin along with him. Shuey-keu-ye* 
 told his daughter that she was uow grown up, and
 
 172 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 that she should accompany him to court. So they set 
 out for Peking, and arrived there in about a month. 
 After he had performed his first duty of waiting on the 
 emperor, all the great officers, and Tieh-ying among 
 them, came to visit him. Tieh-ying sent his son also, 
 whose favour in the eyes of the fair Shuey-ping-sin 
 had hy no means abated.
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 THE wrath of Kwo-khe"-tzu duriug this period may 
 well be imagined. Thinking his own chance now 
 quite past, he determined to do what he could to pre- 
 vent the nuptials of Tieh-chung-u with Shuey-ping- 
 sin. With his father's aid, he induced the eunuch 
 Chow to arrange for the marriage of his ugly niece 
 with Tieh-chung-u, and with this in view the eunuch 
 had just now called on Tieh-ying. At the same time 
 Tah-quay, the great mandarin, sent Kwo-sho-su to 
 Shuey-keu-ye" to ask for him his daughter in marriage. 
 The two parents confided these visits to one another, 
 and concluded that the immediate marriage of their 
 children was necessary, and they were now informed 
 that the Board of Mathematics l had been asked to 
 name a fortunate day for celebrating the wedding. 
 Shuey-ping-sin assented that the ceremony should be 
 
 i Board of Mathematics, another name for the Board of 
 Celestial Literature.
 
 174 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 gone through, and that it should be declared abroad 
 that they were married, but that she should remain at 
 home in her present state. Then, on the appointed 
 day, Tieh-chung-u went to the bride's house in state, 
 and after the usual ceremonies were over an entertain- 
 ment was prepared for the guests. 
 
 As it was evening, the rooms were lighted up. 
 Shuey-ping-sin, on entering, received her lover with 
 easy cheerfulness, thanking him for all his kindness 
 towards her. Her manner impressed him, and he 
 returned her salutations with the same calm joyful- 
 ness. 
 
 They performed the usual ceremony of bowing their 
 heads down to the ground, after which they sat down 
 and drank tea ; then, retiring to different tables, drank 
 three cups of wine to each other. Then they agreed 
 they should live separately till everything was cleared 
 up. They retired to different rooms, so that their 
 marriage was no otherwise completed than as to out- 
 ward appearance and belief of it. Tieh-chung-u, 
 although he had not completed his marriage with 
 Shuey-ping-sin, was still greatly in love with her. 
 
 The eunuch and Tah-quay were greatly chagrined 
 on hearing the news of the wedding ; but the former, 
 learning after some time that Tieh-chung-u had not 
 taken his bride home, managed to introduce a spy into 
 the house of the bride's father, who discovered that
 
 THE PLEASING HISTORY. 175 
 
 Ticli-chung-u and Shuey-ping-sin occupied separate 
 bedrooms. He concluded that the marriage ceremony 
 was no more than a feint to hinder the union between 
 Tieh-chung-u and his nfece. One day, as Tieh-chung-u 
 was returning from court, the eunuch met him, and 
 desired him to speak with him in his house, saying the 
 emperor desired him to write some verses on pictures 
 which he greatly valued, and which were now in the 
 eunuch's house. 
 
 Refreshments in the form of tea were introduced, 
 and the eunuch endeavoured to engage the young man 
 in general conversation. He, however, pressed for 
 the production of the pictures. One of them was at 
 length produced, and Tieh-chung-u soon executed his 
 task of the verses. Just as they were finished, Kwo- 
 sho-su entered. He expressed his great admiration for 
 the verses, and, greatly to the disgust of Tieh-chung-u, 
 refreshments and general conversation were introduced. 
 The eunuch then told Tien-chung-u that he had 
 another matter on hand. Having a niece, of no great 
 beauty indeed, of eighteen years of age, cheerful and 
 pleasant, and for whom he desired to make a match 
 with Tieh-chung-u, he had got the consent of his 
 father, and also of the emperor, who had given these 
 two pictures to ratify the contract. Tieh-chuug-u 
 endeavoured to hide his disgust, but informed him that 
 he was already twice married. The eunuch smiled,
 
 176 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 saying, " You must not deceive me with a feint like 
 this, while you have not taken the lady home to your 
 house, nor consummated the marriage, and you must 
 obey the mandate of the emperor." The mandarin Tai 
 had also arrived, and he and Kwo-sho-su assisted the 
 eunuch in his arguments. At last, in the pretence of 
 taking Tieh-chung-u to the other picture, he led him 
 into an inner apartment, the door of which was 
 immediately shut by two women servants. In a recess 
 was the niece of the eunuch, looking plain enough, 
 but all decked in silks and jewellery. The women 
 servants persuaded him towards her. Probably it was 
 because his mind was somehow filled with the making 
 of verses on pictures that he uttered these lines : 
 
 " I have seen her figure; it is finely trick'd out with ornaments. 
 But her mouth is as wide as the sea ; her head as high as a 
 
 mountain. 
 May the demons look upon her, and bring her to shame ! " 
 
 And he upbraided the servants for their tricks. " This 
 girl," said he, " is not only ugly, but shameless." The 
 young lady resented this. The women, enraged with 
 his contempt, endeavoured to pull him before her, but 
 rather than fight with women, he took a chair and 
 sat down. On hearing the disturbance, the eunuch 
 entered, asked him again to comply ; but he still 
 temporised and argued, asking to be shown the 
 emperor's patent. While this was going on, a message
 
 THE PLEASING HISTORY. 177 
 
 came from the court, that the general Hu-hiau had 
 arrived from the wars, with many prisoners and 
 tribute-laden embassies, and that Tieh-chung-u was 
 ordered to the banquet to be given to him. 
 
 The other picture was now brought in by the 
 eunuch, thinking that he might thereby delay Tieh- 
 chung-u. But he ordered the picture to be brought 
 at once, finished the verses in a minute, and was free 
 of the snare, to the great chagrin of the eunuch and 
 Kwo-sho-su, who could not but remark on the great 
 ability of this young man ; but their heads were still 
 filled with further plots. 
 
 M
 
 CHAPTEK XIV. 
 
 As to the marriage question, Tieh-chung-u resolved to 
 take the advice of his parents, and bring his bride 
 home. They were delighted to hear this, and a lucky 
 day was named for the event. Kwo-sho-su, hearing 
 of this, and thinking it would baulk the designs of 
 his son, beseeched the Censor Vang-yo to issue an 
 accusation against Tieh-chung-u and his bride. It set 
 forth that " of the five things that pertain to human 
 nature, one of the first is marriage. It ought therefore 
 to be observed with due care and attention, and with 
 all the ceremonies." It then went over the story of 
 Tieh-chung-u being for days alone in her house with 
 Shuey-ping-sin, and alleged that the parents were 
 now patching up an irregular marriage. The case was 
 sent to the Tribunal of Kites, but the eunuch was 
 impatient, and applied to the Grand Eunuch, who 
 had it presented directly to the emperor. On the 
 instigation of the emperor, the Tribunal of Rites sent 
 the accusation to the che-hien of Tse-nan, the town
 
 THE PLEASING HISTORY. 179 
 
 where the first events took place. The old che-hien 
 had been removed, and that office was now filled by 
 "Wey-phey the same person to whom the bride had 
 been restored by Tieh-chung-u. 
 
 Kwo-sho-su had informed his son Kwo-khe'-tzu of 
 the remit to the che-hien, and instructed him to 
 bribe that officer. Wey-phey accepted the gold, but 
 applied to the clerks of the yamun for the official 
 records of the case, and sent the correct account of it 
 to the Tribunal of Rites. Kwo-sho-su, indignant that 
 a young official should act in this way, again applied 
 to his friend the Censor Vang-yo, who presented 
 a petition against Wey-phey to the emperor, who 
 ordered him to be summoned before the Tribunal of 
 Crimes at Peking. Wey-phey arrived, bringing with 
 him the letter of Kwo-sho-su to his son, the present 
 of gold, the bonze, and the spy. The Tribunal of 
 Crimes sent their report to the Tribunal of Rites, who 
 in turn sent it on to the emperor. 
 
 " This is a rare incident," said the emperor. " If 
 this report be true, we have in our realm a most 
 excellent person." 
 
 The eunuch Chow threw doubts on the report, 
 declaring it to be against nature and all likelihood 
 that these two young people should have such 
 opportunity, and yet remain chaste. The mandarins 
 about the emperor's court believed the story that
 
 180 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 Tieh-chung-u had rescued the young lady, and that he 
 was in her house only to be nursed ; but whether their 
 conduct afterwards was as pure and unblemished as 
 stated they could not determine. Tieh-chung-u and 
 Shuey-ping-sin, as well as their fathers, presented 
 petitions to the emperor, containing a true account of 
 their conduct. The former che-hien was appealed to, 
 and declared that, so far as he knew, there was 
 nothing but truth in the statements contained therein. 
 
 Shuey-ping-sin stated, in reply to the Emperor, 
 "Though I was afraid of Kwo-khe-tzu, yet, when 
 called upon to return benefits so great as these I had 
 received from Tieh-chung-u, I no longer regarded 
 fame or report." 
 
 The emperor laughed, and said, " In the beginning, 
 when you hardly knew Tieh-chung-u, you took him in, 
 without regarding the murmurs and reproaches of the 
 world. Afterwards, when you were commanded by your 
 father to marry him, why did you continue in separate 
 apartments 1 " 
 
 She replied, " The murmuring at first was but small, 
 and I knew would easily cease together with my 
 acquaintance with that gentleman ; but now that a 
 more serious connection was going to take place 
 between us by means of a regular marriage, there was 
 danger of our incurring a disgrace and infamy that 
 would terminate only with our lives. But your
 
 THE PLEASING HJ STORY. 181 
 
 Majesty hath summoned me into your presence, and 
 with great shame and trembling I am come to appear 
 before you." 
 
 The emperor expressed his admiration of her 
 ingeneous modesty and diffidence, and sent her to the 
 empress, whose ladies would examine her, and report 
 on that part of the case. They returned the reply 
 that, however tempted she may have been, there was 
 no doubt of her purity. The empress gave her tea, 
 and treated her with great favour. The emperor then 
 delivered his judgments. Kwo-sho-su was degraded, 
 and received fifty strokes. Vang-yo was degraded of 
 his rank three degrees, and fined three years of his 
 salary. Kwo-khe'-tzu was to receive a hundred strokes, 
 and be banished twenty leagues from his native place. 
 Shuey-ping-sin was held up as a young maid of great 
 virtue and fortitude, and was made a duchess. Tieh- 
 chung-u was created a magistrate of approved capacity 
 and a minister of state. The emperor became brides- 
 man between them, gave them a present of a hundred 
 pieces of gold, and appointed to them ten royal vests 
 out of his own wardrobe. The mandarins Shuey- 
 keu-ye and Tieh-ying were exalted three degrees, as a 
 mark of the good education they gave their son and 
 daughter. Wey-phey and the pao-che-hien were also 
 advanced. The newly-married couple were honoured 
 by the emperor and empress, were married before
 
 182 A LITTLE HISTORY OF CHINA. 
 
 them, and were accompanied home by all the great 
 mandarins in their fine clothes, amid the applause and 
 acclamations of the people. Thus did Shuey-ping-sin, 
 after all her troubles, at length attain to her highest 
 glory, which gave occasion to the following verses : 
 
 " The roses till they are opened yield no fragrance, 
 The precious stones till they are ground cast no lustre, 
 Time of great cold occasions frost and ice ; 
 So doth adversity diligence in virtue." 
 
 Kwo-sho-su received his own punishment with 
 resignation, but when he saw the punishment passed 
 on his son, he was overwhelmed with an affliction not 
 to be expressed. 
 
 Husband and wife lived together in the greatest 
 harmony, serving the emperor with all sincerity. 
 Both Tieh-chung-u and Shuey-ping-sin afford a striking 
 example of virtue and integrity. May their fame be 
 spread abroad for ever ! 
 
 THE END.
 
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