This description must be taken as answering to the tones spoken by the native writer from whom it is taken.
[ [1] 平聲平道莫低昂
上聲高呼猛烈强
去聲分明哀遠道
入聲短促急收藏
10. The terms used by the Chinese to describe sounds in reference to tones, are such as—
高 低, kau tí, high and low (key of the tone).
陰 陽, yun yáng, high and low (key of the tone).
緩 急, wén‘ kih, slow and quick (time of the tone).
平 仄 ping tsáh, even, deflected. 仄 is further divided into 上 去 入 záng‘, k’ü‘, zeh, rising, departing, entering.
To these we add to express quantity apart from tone:—
長 短 dzáng, ’dön,[1] long and short (time in reference to the syllables).
These terms include all the principles, on which our arrangement of natural tones has been made: thus—