SPECIMEN OF CHINESE SEMEIOLOGY.

81

these medicaments (?) in particular complaints are considered infallible.

The diseases most prevalent in China are Asiatic cholera, fevers, rheumatisms, ophthalmia, leprosy, and cutaneous complaints of all classes. Smallpox is a great scourge, the natives having a peculiar prejudice against vaccination. Inoculation has been practised for a lengthened period; the Chinese practitioners inserting a pledget of cotton which has been previously saturated with the virus, up the nostril: this method is also occasionally adopted in vaccination. Elephantiasis is frequently met with, especially in the north; and in every part of the Celestial Empire the natives may be seen disfigured by, and suffering under, unnatural extuberances and tumours of every size, form, and description. We will conclude this chapter by giving a specimen of Chinese semeiology ::-"If the pupil of

the eye be of a white colour, then the disease lies in the lungs; if red, then it lies in the heart; if yellow, in the spleen; if green, in the gall; if black, in the kidneys; but when the whole eye is of a yellow colour, that can neither be described nor named, then the cause of the disease lies in the middle of the chest."

VOL. II.

G

CHAPTER VII.

Literature of the Chinese-Examination of aspirants for literary honors -Writing of Confucius-Treatise on Filial Duty, or the Seaou-kin— Honors bestowed on the family of the Sage-Period of his death— Number of descendants-A Chinese Novel, entitled Chow-an-se, or the Widower turned Philosopher-Specimen of the Moral Tales of the Chinese-Original Tale, translated expressly for this work.

IN no portion of the known world is education so universally general as it is in China, among the male portion of the community; literature is held in the highest estimation, and literary attainments form a sure passport to the highest offices of the state. Hereditary rank and honors are unknown in China, with the exception of the imperial kindred, and the descendants of the philosopher Confucius; thus promotion, emolument, rank, and the highest appointments, are open to the lowest person of humble birth, should he be able to soar above his fellows in mental qualifications and attainments. This judicious system, adopted by the Chinese monarchy, ensures able and efficient men to fill the various responsible offices of the state; and although the descendants of Tartar blood are frequently selected for these posts, it as frequently occurs, that men of low and obscure origin,

RESPECT PAID TO LITERARY MEN.

83

whose pedigrees cannot even be traced to their grandfathers, are raised above their fellows, as a reward for their talents and good learning.

Although, as before remarked, honors and rank are not hereditary, the families and descendants of men of learning, or transcendent abilities, are treated with the greatest respect, the Chinese valuing and respecting learning before wealth and high birth. In proof of this the descendants of Confucius, (the celebrated sage of antiquity, who lived anterior to the Christian era), meet with veneration from all classes, some of them receiving a pension from the Emperor, as a tribute of respect paid to the memory of their learned ancestor. Learning being held in the highest estimation, the Emperor will frequently ennoble deceased ancestors, in compliment to the attainments of their descendants, and this distinction is highly coveted; the Emperor causes the ennoblements to be entered in the book of merit, in which is recorded the causes for this distinction; in this book are also placed, the various titles and descriptions of the several officers of state and mandarins, the causes of their preferment, with all their actions which merit praise; should a mandarin or public servant misconduct himself, or be disgraced, the reason of his disgrace, with the punishment inflicted, is likewise recorded with punctilious accuracy.

Each province in the Chinese empire has officers who are appointed to examine aspirants for public fame; who go their circuits once, and frequently twice, during the year. Frequently in the larger provinces the number of aspirants will reach eight

thousand, from these the seventy-two, which have the title of Keu-jin are selected; and these Keu-jin must submit to repeated and severe examinations, before they obtain the distinction of being placed upon the books as fit candidates for public offices and preferment. The themes selected by the aspirants must most scrupulously avoid all allusion to politics, or the present dynasty; the test of superiority being the theme, which most closely resembles, in composition and sentiments, the works of the ancient sages and philosophers. All originality, either of idea or composition is crushed, Chinese literati invariably following the beaten track, trodden by their predecessors in the path of literature.

The examinations are conducted on the following plan the candidate is placed in a room, which is closely watched, to prevent books, assistance, or papers, being given, a subject is then proposed to him, from ancient authors, upon this a theme, or poem is written, three being allowed for the composition. Closely and rigidly as the candidates are guarded, imposition is practised, as themes have been conveyed to them which have occupied months in preparation. An instance occurred five years ago, of the son of a petty mandarin of Canton being made a Keu-jin who was almost idiotic, this arose through a large bribe having been administered to the examining officer, who allowed a theme to be given in as the idiot's composition. The lampoons and satires that were published on this occasion were exceedingly clever, the whole number of disappointed literati joining in them.

EXAMINATION FOR LITERARY HONORS.

85

Each candidate adopts a motto or feigned name, which is superscribed to his composition; after the officers appointed have stated who are the successful candidates, a day is fixed upon, when the names of the Keu-jin, are posted against the walls of the office used by the lieutenant-governor of the province; a discharge of guns is heard, out walks in all dignity, surrounded by his attendants, the lieutenant-governor, who bows to the names of the Keu-jin, and walks in again. A feast is then given to the fortunate seventytwo Keu-jin, at which the whole of the provincial authorities, from the highest to the lowest, are present, who load the successful candidates with applause and honors, whilst the themes, with the names, both real and feigned, are sent up to Pekin, for the Emperor's inspection.

If a candidate is unsuccessful the first, second, or third time, he can again present himself, in short no limit is fixed for the number of trials allowed, and many scholars have essayed again and again, until the ebon of their hair has been changed by the hand of time to silver, and have sunk into the vale of years deploring their non-success. When a candidate for public offices is declared to have reached the highest rank in literary attainments, he goes up to Pekin, and is examined in the presence of the Emperor; and if then approved of, the candidate frequently attains, or has conferred upon him, high official posts and honors. Every literary honor confers rank upon the student, until he becomes a mandarin, of which there are several grades, each being distinguished by a peculiar button and robe.