ENCYCLOPÆDIA

BRITANNICA.

China.

CHI

HINA, a country of Afia, fituated on the most eafter

north by Tartary; from which it is divided, partly by Boundaries, a prodigious wall of 500 miles in length, and partly extent, &c. by high, craggy, and inacceffible mountains. On the caft, it is bounded by the ocean; on the west, by part of the Mogul's empire, and India beyond the Ganges, from which it is parted by other ridges of high mountains and fandy deferts; on the fouth, it is bounded partly by the kingdoms of Lao, Tonquin, Ava, and Cochin-China, and partly by the fouthern or Indian fea, which flows between it and the Philippine iflands. There are feveral ways of computing its length and breadth. According to fome of thefe, it is reckoned 1269, 1600, or 1800 miles in length, and as much in breadth however, by the best and lateft accounts, this vaft country is fomewhat of an oval form, the breadth being lefs than the length by little more Divion in than a fourth part. It contains 15 provinces, excluto provin- five of that of Lyau-tong, which is fituated without the great wall, though under the fame dominion. Their names are, 1. Shenfi, 2. Shanfi, 3. Pecheli, which are fituated on the north fide, along the wall; 4. Shantong, 5. Kyan-nang, 6. Che-kyang, 7. Fo-kyen, which are fituated along the eastern ocean; 8. Quangtong, 9. Quang-fi, 10. Yu-nan, 11. Se-chuen, which ftretch themselves towards the fouth and fouth-weft; and, 12. Honan, 13. Hu-quand, 14. Quey-chew, 15. Kyang-fi; which take up the middle part.

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For

a particular defcription of all thefe, fee their proper articles.

Chinele The origin of all nations is involved in obfcurity pretenfions and fable: but that of the Chinese much more fo than to antiqui- any other. Every nation is inclined to affume too high an antiquity to itself, but the Chinese carry theirs beyond all bounds. Indeed, though no people on earth are more exact in keeping records of every memorable transaction, yet fuch is the genius of the Chinefe for fuperftition and fable, that the first part of their history is defervedly contemned by every rational perfon. What contributes more to the uncertainWhy their ty of the Chinese hiftory is, that neither we, nor they ry is themfelves, have any thing but fragments of their ancient historical books; for about 213 years before Christ, the reigning emperor Si-whang-ti caufed all the books in the empire to be burned, except thofe written by lawyers and phyficians. Nay, the more effectually to destroy the memory of every thing con. VOL. VI. Part I.

China.

According to the Chinese hiftories, the first monarch Fabulous of the whole univerfe (that is, of China), was called hiftory of Puon-ku, or Puen-cu. This, according to fome, was the first man; but according to Bayer and Menzelius, two of the greatest critics in Chinefe literature that have hitherto appeared, the word fignifies the highest antiquity. the bigbeft antiquity. Puon-ku was fucceeded by Tienehoang, which fignifies the emperor of heaven. They call him alfo the intelligent heaven, the fupreme king of the middle heaven, &c. According to fome of their hiftorians, he was the inventor of letters, and of the cyclic characters by which they determine the place of the year, &c. Tiene-hoang was fucceeded by Ti-hoang (the emperor of the earth), who divided the day and night, appointing 30 days to make one moon, and fixed the winter follice to the 11th moon. Ti hoang was fucceeded by Gine-hoang (fovereign of men), who with his nine brothers fhared the government among them. They built cities, and furrounded them with walls; made a diftinction between the fovereign and fubjects; inftituted marriage, &c.

The reigns of these four emperors make up one of what the Chinese called ki," ages," or "periods," of which there were nine before Fo-hi, whom their most fenfible people acknowledge as the founder of their empire.

The hiftory of the fecond ki contradicts almost every thing faid of the first; for though we have but juft now been told that Gine-hoang and his brethren built cities furrounded with walls; yet, in the fucceeding age, the people dwelt in caves, or perched upon trees as it were in nefts. Of the third ki we hear nothing; and in the fourth, it feems matters had been ftill worie, as we are told that men were then only taught to retire into the hollows of rocks. Of the fifth and fixth we have no accounts. Thefe fix periods, according to fome writers, contained 90,000 years; according to others, 1,100,750.

In the feventh and eighth ki, they tell us over again what they had faid of the firft; namely, that men beA gan

China.

6

Fabulous history explained.

7

Fo-hi.

gan to leave their caves and dwell in houfes, and were taught to prepare clothes, &c. Tchine-fang, the fift monarch of the eighth ki, taught his fubjects to take off the hair from fkins with rollers of wood, and cover themselves with the fkins fo prepared. He taught them alfo to make a kind of web of their hair, to ferve as a covering to their heads against rain. They obeyed his orders with joy, and he called his fubjects people clothed with skins. His reign lafted 350 years; that of one of his fucceffors, alfo, named Yeou-tfao-chi, lafted more than 300; and his family continued for 12 or 18,000 years. But what is very furprising, all thefe thoufands and millions of years had elapfed without mankind's having any knowledge of fire. This was not difcovered till towards the clofe of this period, by one Souigine. After fo ufeful a difcovery, he taught the people to drefs their victuals; whereas before they had devoured the flesh of animals quite raw, drunk their blood, and swallowed even their hair and feathers. He is alfo faid to have been the inventor of fifhing, letters, &c.

In the ninth period we find the invention, or at leaft the origin of letters, attributed to one Tfang-hie, who received them from a divine tortoife that carried them on his shell, and delivered them into the hands of Tfang-hie. During this period alfo, mufic, money, carriages, merchandife, commerce, &c. were invented. There are various calculations of the length of these ki or periods. Some make the time from Puan-ku to Confucius, who flourished about 479 years before Christ, to contain 279,000 years; others, 2,276,000; fome, 2,759.860 years; others, 3,276,000; and tome no lefs than 96,961,740 years.

Thefe extravagant accounts are by fome thought to contain obfcure and imperfect hints concerning the cofmogony and creation of the world, &c. Puon-ku, the firft emperor, they think, reprefents eternity preceding the duration of the world. The fucceeding ones, Tiene-hoang, Ti-hoang, and Gine-hoang, they imagine fignify the creation of the heavens and earth, and the formation of man. The ten ki or ages, nine of which preceded Fo-hi, mean the ten generations preceding Noah. This may very poffibly be the cafe; for about 300 years before Chrift, fome Jews travelled into China, who might have made the Mofaic writings known there.

What we have now related, contains the fubftance of that part of the Chinese hiftory which is entirely fabulous. After the nine ki or "ages" already taken notice of, the tenth commenced with Fo-hi; and the history, though ftill very dark, obfcure, and fabulous, begins to grow fomewhat more confiftent and intelReign of ligible. Fo-hi was born in the province of Shenfi. His mother walking upon the bank of a lake in that province, faw a very large print of a man's foot in the fand there; and, being furrounded by an iris or rainbow, became impregnated. The child was named Fo-bi; and, when he grew up, was by his countrymen elected king, on account of his fuperior merit, and ftyled Tyent-tfe, that is "the fon of heaven." He invented the eight qua, or fymbols, confifting of three lines each, which, differently combined, formed 64 characters that were made ufe of to exprefs every thing. To give thefe the greater credit, he pretended that

he had feen them infcribed on the back of a dragon- China. horfe (an animal fhaped like a horfe, with the wings and fcales of a dragon), which arofe from the bottom of a lake. Having gained great reputation among his countrymen by this prodigy, he is faid to have created mandarins or officers, under the name of dragons. Hence we may affign a reafon why the emperors of China always carry a dragon in their banners. He alfo inftituted marriage, invented mufic, &c. Having eftablifhed a prime minifter, he divided the government of his dominions among four mandarins, and died after a reign of 115 years.

8

this folftice

and Fo-hi.

After Fo-hi followed a fucceffion of emperors, of Miraculous whom nothing remarkable is recorded, except that in folitice. the reign of Yau, the feventh after Fo-hi, the fun did not fet for ten days, fo that the Chinese were afraid of a general conflagration. This event the compilers of the Univerfal Hiftory take to be the fame with that men- Hypothefis tioned in the book of Jofhua, when the fun and moon concerning flood fill for about the fpace of a day. Fo-hi they will have to be the fame with Noah. They imagine, that after the deluge this patriarch remained fome time with his defcendants; but on their wicked combination to build the tower of Babel, he feparated himself from them with as many as he could perfuade to go along with him; and that, ftill travelling eastward, he at laft entered the fertile country of China, and laid the foundation of that vaft empire. But, leaving these fabulous and conjectural times, we shall proceed to give fome account of that part of the Chinese history which may be more certainly depended on.

As the Chinese, contrary to the practice of almost all nations, have never fought to conquer other coun tries, but rather to improve and content themselves with their own, their history for many ages furnishes nothing remarkable. The whole of their emperors, abftracting from thofe who are faid to have reigned in the fabulous times, are comprehended in 22 dynasties, mentioned in the following table.

China.

10

Incursions

budt.

This table is formed according to the accounts of the Jefuit Du Halde, and is commonly reckoned to be the most authentic; but according to the above-mentioned hypothefis of the compilers of the Univerfal Hiftory, who make rau cotemporary with Joshua, the dynafly of Hya did not commence till the year before Christ 1357; and to accommodate the hiftory to their hypothefis, great alterations must be made in the duration of the dynalties.

The most interesting particulars of the Chinese hi of the Tar-story relate only to the incurfions of the Tartars, who at laft conquered the whole empire, and who ftill continue to hold the fovereignty; though by transfer. ring the feat of the empire to Peking, and adopting the Chinese language, manners, &c. Tartary would feem rather to have been conquered by China, than China by Tartary. Thefe incurfions are faid to have begun very early; even in the time of the emperor Shun, fucceffor to Yau above mentioned, in whole reign the miraculous folitice happened. At this time, the Tartars were repulfes, and obliged to retire into their own territories. From time to time, however, they continued to threaten the empire with invafions, and the northern provinces were often actually ravaged by the Tartars in the neighbourhood. About the year before Chrift 213, Shi-whang-ti, having fully fubdued all the princes, or kings as they were called, of the different provinces, became emperor of China with unlimited power. He divided the whole empire into 36 provinces; and finding the northern part of his dominions much incommoded by the invafions of the neighbouring barbarians, he fent a formidable army against them, which drove them Great will far beyond the boundaries of China. To prevent their return, he built the famous wall already mentioned, which feparates China from Tartary. After this, being elated with his own exploits, he formed a defign of making pofterity believe that he himself had been the first Chinefe emperor that ever fat on the throne. For this purpofe, he ordered all the hiftorical writings to be burnt, and caufed many of the learned to be put to death, as already mentioned. Kitan Tar. What effect the great wall for fome time had in zars settle preventing the invasions of the Tartars, we are not in China. told; but in the tenth century of the Chriftian era, thofe of Kitan or Lyau got a footing in China. The Kitan were a people of eaftern Tartary, who dwelt to the north and north-east of the province of Pecheli in China, particularly in that of Lyau-tong lying without the great wall. Thefe people having fubdued the country between Korea and Kashgar, became much more troublesome to the Chinese than all the other Tartars. Their empire commenced about the year 916, in the fourth year of Mo-ti-kyan-ti, fecond emperor of the 14th Chinese dynafty called Hew-yang. In 946, Mingt-fong, fecond emperor of the 15th dynafty, being dead, Sheking-tang his fon-in-law rebelled against Mingt-fong, his fon and fucceffor, whom he deprived of his crown and life. This he accomplished by means of an army of 50.000 men furnished by the Kitan. Fi ti, the fon of Mingt-fong, being unable to refift the ufurper, fled to the city Ghey-chew; where fhutting himself up with his family and all his valuable effects, he fet fire to the palace, and was burnt to alies. On his death, Sheking-tang affumed the title

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of emperor; founded the 16th dynafty; and changed China. his name to that of Kaut ju. But the Kitan general refufing to acknowledge him, he was obliged to purchafe a peace by yielding up to the Tartars 16 cities in the province of Pecheli, betides a yearly prelent of 300,000 pieces of filk.

This fubmiflion ferved only to inflame the avarice and ambition of the Kitan. In 959. they broke the treaty when leaft expected, and invaded the empire afreth. Thi-vang, the emperor at that time, oppofed them with a formidable army; but through the treachery of his general Lyew-chi ywen, the Tartars were allowed to take him prifoner. On this, Tfi-vang was glad to recover his liberty, by accepting of a mail principality; while the traitor became emperor of all China, and, changing his name to Kaut-fu, founded The 17th dynaity. The Tartais, in the mean time, ravaged all the northern provinces without oppofition, and then marched into the fouthern. But being here ftopped by fome bodies of Chinefe troops, the general thought proper to retire with his booty into Tartary. In 962, Kaut-fu dying, was fucceeded by his fon In-ti. The youth of this prince gave an opportu nity to the eunuchs to raife commotions; especially as the army was employed at a diftance in repelling the invasions of the Tartars. This army was com manded by Ko-ghey, who defeated the enemy in feveral battles, and thus reftored peace to the northern provinces. In the mean time, In-ti was flain by his eunuchs, and the emprefs placed his brother on the throne: but Ko-ghey, returning in triumph, was faluted emperor by his victorious army; and the emprefs being unable to fupport the rights of her fon, was obliged to fubmit, while Ko-ghey, affuming the name of Tay-tfu, founded the 18th dynafty. Nine years after this, however, the grandees of the empire, fetting afide Kong-ti, the third in fucceffion from Taytfu, on account of his non-age, proclaimed his guardian, named Chau-quang-yu, empe. or; who, affuming the name of Kau-tfu, founded the 19th dynafty, called Song or Thong.

Under this monarch the empire began to recover itfelf; but the Kitan fill continued their incurfions. The fucceffors of Kau-tfu oppofed them with various fuccefs; but at last, in 978, the barbarians became fo ftrong as to lay fiege to a confiderable city. Taytlong, fucceffor to Kau-tfu, detached 300 foldiers, each carrying a light in his hand, against them in the night time, with orders to approach as near as poffible to the Tartar camp. The barbarians, imagining, by the number of lights, that the whole Chinefe army was at hand, immediately fled, and, falling into the ambufcades laid for them by the Chinele general, were almost all cut to pieces.

This check, however, did not long put a stop to the ravages of the Kitan. In the year 999, they laid fiege to a city in the province of Peche-li, but Chingtlong, fucceffor to Tay-tfong, came upon them with his army fo fuddenly, that they betook themfelves to flight. The emperor was advised to take advantage of their confternation, and recover the country which had been yielded to them; but instead of purfuing his victory, he bought a peace by confenting to pay annually 100.000 tael (about 34 0001.), and 200,000 pieces of filk. The youth and pacific difpofition of

A 2

Jin trong

1

13

Kitan dri

Tartars;

From this time the Kitan remained in peaceable pofven out by feffion of their Chinefe dominions till the year 1117. the eastern Whey-tfong, at that time emperor, being able neither to bear their ravages, nor by himself to put a ftop to them, refolved upon a remedy which at laft proved worfe than the difeafe. This was to call in the Nu-che, Nyu-che, or Eaftern Tartars, to destroy the kingdom of the Kitan. From this he was diffuaded by the king of Korea, and most of his own minifters; but, difregarding their falutary advice, he joined his forces to thofe of the Nu-che. The Kitan were then everywhere defeated; and at laft reduced to fuch extremity, that those who remained were forced to leave their country, and fly to the mountains of the west.

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Who af

fume the

name of Kin, and

invade Chi.

na.

Thus the empire of the Kitan was totally deftroyed, but nothing to the advantage of the Chinese; for the Tartar general, elated with his conqueft, gave the name of Kin to his new dominion, affumed the title of emperor, and began to think of aggrandizing himfelt and enlarging his empire. For this purpose, he immediately broke the treaties concluded with the Chinese emperor; and, invading the provinces of Pecheli and Shenfi, made himself master of the greater part of them. Whey-tfong, finding himfelf in danger of lofing his dominions, made feveral advantageous propofals to the Tartar; who, feeming to comply with them, invited him to come and fettle matters by a perfonal conference. The Chinese monarch complied but, on his return, the terms agreed on feemed intolerable to his minifters; fo that they told him the treaty could not fubfift, and that the most cruel war was preferable to fuch an ignominious peace. The Kin monarch, being informed of all that paffed, had recourfe to arms, and took feveral cities. Wheytfong was weak enough to go in perfon to hold a fecond conference; but, on his arrival, was immediateThey take ly feized by the Tartar. He was kept prifoner unthe empe- der a ftrong guard during the remaining part of his For prifon- life; and ended his days in 1126, in the defert of Shamo, having nominated his eldeft fon Kin-tfong to fucceed him.

cr.

15

Kin-tfong began his reign with putting to death fix minifters of ftate, who had betrayed his father into the hands of the Kin Tartars. The barbarians in the mean time purfued their conquefts without oppofition. They croffed the Whang-ho, or Yellow river, which a handful of troops might have prevented; and marching directly towards the imperial city, took and Imperial plundered it. Then feizing the emperor and his concity and fort, they carried them away captives: but many of another the principal lords, and feveral of the minifters, preferemperor ring death to fuch an ignominious bondage, killed themtaken. felves. The Kin being informed by the emprefs

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Kau-tfong fixed his court at Nanking the capital of Kyang-nan; but foon after was obliged to remove it to Kang-chew in Che-kyang. He made feveral efforts to recover feme of his provinces from the Kin, but without effect. Ili-tfong the Kin monarch, in the mean time, endeavoured to gain the esteem of his Chinefe fubjects by paying a regard to their learning and learned men, and honouring the memory of Confucius. Some time after, he advanced to Nanking, from whence Kau tfong had retired, and took it: but, receiving advice that Yo-fi, general of the Song, or fouthern Chinefe, was advancing by long marches to the relief of that city, they fet fire to the palace, and retired northward. However, Yo-fi arrived time Progrefs of enough to fall upon their rear-guard. which fuffered the Kin very much; and from this time the Kin never dared checked. to cross the river Kyang. In a few years afterwards the Chinese emperor fubmitted to become tributary to the Kin, and concluded a peace with them upon very difhonourable terms. This fubmiffion, however, was of little avail: for, in 1163, the Tartars broke the peace, and, invading the fouthern province with a formidable army, took the city of Yang-chew. king, having approached the river Kyang, near its mouth, where it is wideft as well as moit rapid, commanded his troops to crofs it, threatening with his drawn fword to kill thofe who refufed. On receiv ing fuch an unreasonable command, the whole army mutinied; and the king being killed in the beginning of the tumult, the army immediately retired.

The

18

khan and

19

From this time to the year 1210, nothing remark- They are able occurs in the Chinefe hiftory; but this year, attacked by Jenghiz khan, chief of the western Tartars, Moguls Jenghizor Mungls, quarrelled with Yong-tfi emperor of the the king Kin; and at the fame time the king of Hya, difgufted of Hya. at being refufed affiftance against Jenghiz khan, threatened him with an invafion on the weft fide. Yong-tfi prepared for his defence; but in 1211, receiving news that Jenghiz khan was advancing fouthward with his whole army, he was feized with fear, and made propofals of peace, which were rejected. In 1212, the Great wallMogul generals forced the great wall; or, according torced by to fome writers, had one of the gates treacherously Jenghizopened to them, to the north of Shanfi; and made in-khan. curfions as far as Peking, the capital of the Kin empire. At the fame time the province of Lyau-tong was almost totally reduced by feveral Kitan lords who had joined Jenghiz-khan; feveral ftrong places were taken, and an army of 300,000 Kin defeated by the Moguls. In autumn they laid fiege to the city of Tay-tong-fu; where, although the governor Hujaku fled, yet Jenghiz-khan met with confiderable refiftance. Having loft a vaft number of men, and being himself wounded by an arrow, he was obliged to raise the fiege and retire into Tartary; after which the Kin retook feveral cities. The next year, however, Jenghiz khan re-entered China; retook the cities which the Kin had reduced the year before; and overthrew