  | CHAPTER I. | | PAGE | | General Divisions and Features of the Empire, | 1-48 | | Unusual interest involved in the study of China, 1; The name China probably a corruption of Tsin, 2; Other Asiatic names for the country, 3; Ancient and modern native designations, 5; Dimensions of the Empire, 6; Its three Grand Divisions: The Eighteen Provinces, Manchuria, and Colonies, 7; China Proper, its names and limits, 8; Four large mountain chains, 10; The Tien shan, ibid.; The Kw?nlun, 11; The Hing-an and Himalaya systems, 13; Pumpelly’s “Sinian System” of mountains, 14; The Desert of Gobi and Sha-moh, 15; Its character and various names, 17; Rivers of China: The Yellow River, 18; The Yangtsz’ River, 20; The Chu or Pearl River, 22; Lakes of China, 23; Boundaries of China Proper, 25; Character of its coast, 26; The Great Plain, 27; The Great Wall of China, its course, 29; Its construction and aspect, 30; The Grand Canal, 31; Its history and present condition, 36; Minor canals, 37; Public roads, De Guignes’ description, ibid.; General aspects of a landscape, 40; Physical characteristics of the Chinese, 41; The women, 42; Aborigines: Miaotsz’, Lolos, Li-mus, and others, 43; Manchus and Mongols, 44; Attainments and limits of Chinese civilization, 46. | | CHAPTER II. | | Geographical Description of the Eastern Provinces, | 49-141 | | Limited knowledge of foreign countries, 49; Topographies of China numerous and minute, 50; Climate of the Eighteen Provinces, 50; Of Peking and the Great Plain, 51; Of the southern coast towns, 53; Contrast in rain-fall between Chinese and American coasts, 55; Tyfoons, 56; Topographical divisions into Fu, Ting, Chau, and Hien, 58; Position and boundary of ChihlÍ Province, 60; Table of the Eighteen Provinces, their subdivisions and government, 61; Situation, size, and history of Peking, 62; Its walls and divisions, 64; The prohibited city (Tsz’ Kin Ching) and imperial residence, 67; The imperial city (Hwang Ching) and its public buildings, 70; The so-called “Tartar City,” 72; The Temples of Heaven and of Agriculture, 76; Environs of Peking, 79; Tientsin and the Pei ho, 85; Dolon-nor or Lama-miao, 87; Water-courses and productions of the province, 88; The Province of Shantung, 89; Tai shan, the ‘Great Mount,’ 90; Cities, productions, and people of Shantung, 355; Flora of Hongkong, coniferÆ, grasses, 356; The bamboo, 358; Varieties of palms, lilies, tubers, etc., 360; Forest and timber growth, 362; Rhubarb, the Chinese ‘date’ and ‘olive,’ 364; Fruit-trees, 366; Flowering and ornamental plants, 367; The Pun tsao, or Chinese herbal, 370; Its medicine and botany, 371; Its zoÖlogy, 374; Its observations on the horse, 375; State of the natural sciences in China, 377. | | CHAPTER VII. | | Laws of China, and Plan of its Government, | 380-447 | | Theory of the Chinese Government patriarchal, 380; The principles of surveillance and mutual responsibility, 383; The Penal Code of China, 384; Preface by the Emperor ShunchÍ, 385; Its General, Civil, and Fiscal Divisions, 386; Ritual, Military, and Criminal Laws, 389; The Code compares favorably with other Asiatic Laws, 391; Defects in the Chinese Code, 392; General survey of the Chinese Government, 393; 1, The Emperor, his position and titles, ibid.; Proclamation of Hungwu, first Manchu Emperor, 395; Peculiarities in the names of Emperors, 397; The Kwoh hao, or National, and Miao hao, or Ancestral Names, 398; Style of an Imperial Inaugural Proclamation, 399; Programme of Coronation Ceremonies, 401; Dignity and Sacredness of the Emperor’s Person, 402; Control of the Right of Succession, 403; The Imperial Clan and Titular Nobles, 405; 2, The Court, its internal arrangements, 407; The Imperial Harem, 408; Position of the Empress-dowager, 409; Guard and Escort of the Palace, 410; 3, Classes of society in China, 411; Eight privileged classes, 413; The nine honorary “Buttons,” or Ranks, 414; 4, The central administration, 415; The Nui Koh, or Cabinet, 416; The Kiun-kÍ Chu, or General Council, 418; The King Pao, or Peking Gazette, 420; The Six Boards (a), of Civil Office—LÍ Pu, 421; (b), of Revenue—Hu Pu, 422; (c), of Rites—LÍ Pu, 423; (d), of War—Ping Pu, 424; (e), of Punishments—Hing Pu, 426; (f), of Works—Kung Pu, 427; The Colonial Office, 428; The Censorate, 430; Frankness and honesty of certain censors, 431; Courts of Transmission and Judicature, 433; The Hanlin Yuen, or Imperial Academy, 434; Minor courts and colleges of the capital, 435; 5, Provincial Governments, 437; Governors-general (tsungtuh) and Governors (futai), 438; Subordinate provincial authorities, 782; Social relations between the sexes, 784; Customs of betrothment and marriage, 785; Laws regulating marriages, 792; General condition of females in China, 794; Personal names of the Chinese, 797; Familiar and ceremonial intercourse: The Kotow, 800; Forms and etiquette of visiting, 802; A Chinese banquet, 807; Temperance of the Chinese, 808; Festivals; Absence of a Sabbath in China, 809; Customs and ceremonies attending New-Year’s Day, 811; The dragon-boat festival and feast of lanterns, 816; Brilliance and popularity of processions in China, 819; Play-houses and theatrical shows, 820; Amusements and sports: Gambling, chess, 825; Contrarieties in Chinese and Western usage, 831; Strength and weakness of Chinese character, 833; Their mendacity and deceit, 834. |
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