According to the Book of Rites, the Emperor and the Royal Princes had to go to the chase whenever politics allowed them any leisure. As for the people, the chase was a military exercise, which they took after harvest-time. The book of verses mentions stalking in carriages. Emperor Chuang-Ouong, after having reconquered the territory, used to hunt in his carriage with his feudal princes, so as to see which of them were likely to become the bravest soldiers. Holidays were selected for hunting excursions. There was also at that time a special government department, whose duty it was to see to the preservation and propagation of certain kinds of animals.

In the winter it was the wolves that were hunted, in the summer the deer, in the spring all other kinds of animals. Birds were hunted in the autumn. Bows and arrows were used, and the sportsmen had reached to such a degree of skill in archery, that they could transfix a leaf at the top of a tree. A celebrated hunter, named Kia-Kieng, only shot with a bow, which was so strong and tough that it needed a force of three hundredweight to stretch the string. One day he was asked to shoot at a buffalo at a distance of one hundred paces. His first arrow grazed the animal’s back, tearing away a few hairs; the second grazed its belly. The archer was told that that was not good shooting. He said that it was just his superiority that he knew how not to pierce the animal. “But if you like,” he said, “I will do so.” His third arrow killed the buffalo.

With every shooting-party were taken an eagle and dogs, the latter wearing golden bells round their necks. At an official chase the Minister of War himself stood up on a high platform, and a large standard was displayed at his back. The hunters, who were always accompanied with a noisy orchestra, and standard-bearers carrying flags of every colour, pursued the quarry, as soldiers pursuing an enemy.

Excess in all being a fault, many official hunters, owing to the encouragement held out by the State, gave themselves up entirely to this sport, totally neglecting all public business. In consequence of this, the Censors and other reasonable people advised the sovereign to moderate the laws, preferring to deprive themselves of their pleasure in the interest of the commonwealth. The chase was accordingly somewhat restricted by law, and began to be neglected.

An Emperor of the dynasty of the Liangs, noticing when he was out one day shooting that a flock of wild duck had settled down in the field before him, drew his bow, and was just about to let fly, when a peasant passed in his line of fire. In spite of the cries of the attendants the peasant walked on his way, deaf and blind to their cries and their signals. Meanwhile the birds flew away. The Emperor was very angry, and spoke of shooting the peasant. One of his ministers who was out sporting with him, said, “Don’t kill a man because game is wanting. A king must not be as savage as the beast that he hunts.”

His Majesty, recovering from his anger, smiled, and took the arm of his councillor to re-enter his carriage. When he had reached home empty-handed he said, “I have had a very successful day, for instead of bringing home a good bag, I have had a good lesson.”

Under the present dynasty the Court used to go out to the chase from time to time, and men of letters used to take part in these excursions. Whenever a member of the Academy of Han-Lin shot a stag, he at once received a decoration of peacock’s feathers. Since about thirty years, however, this institution has been neglected, as we have only had minors on the throne. But as the reigning sovereign has reached his majority, it is probable that before long he will return to these pleasures, which are as useful as they are agreeable.

There are no game-laws in China. Everybody has the right to shoot wherever game is to be found. It is quite usual for a landowner to see sportsmen walking about his estates with their guns on their shoulders, doing as if they were on their own lands. The golden pheasant is found in great quantities in China. It is one of the favourite pastimes of Europeans who live in China to shoot these splendid birds. Amongst other feathered game that we possess in China, I may mention woodcock, snipe, quail, wild duck, and wild goose. In the way of fur we have stags, deer, roes, rabbits, and hares; besides foxes, wolves, bears, panthers, and tigers. Imitators of Nimrod will find plenty of sport in China.