| [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 Kwănlun, [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, [92]; Shansí, its natural features and resources, [94]; Taiyuen, the capital, [96]; Roads and mountain passes of Shansí, [97]; Position and aspect of Honan Province, ibid.; Kaifung, its capital, [99]; Kiangsu Province, ibid.; Its fertility and abundant water-ways, [100]; Nanking, or Kiangning, the capital, [101]; Porcelain Tower of Nanking, [102]; Suchau, “the Paris of China,” 103; Chinkiang and Golden Island, [105]; Shanghai, [106]; The Province of Nganhwui, [109]; Nganking, Wuhu, and Hwuichau, [110]; Kiangsí Province, [111]; Nanchang, its capital, and the River Kan, [112]; Porcelain works at Kingteh in Jauchau, [113]; Chehkiang Province, its rivers, [114]; Hangchau, the capital, [115]; Ningpo, [120]; Chinhai and the Chusan Archipelago, [123]; Chapu, Canfu, and the “Gates of China,” 127; Fuhkien Province, ibid.; The River Min, [128]; Fuhchau, [130]; Amoy and its environs, [134]; Chinchew (Tsiuenchau), the ancient Zayton, [136]; Position, inhabitants, and productions of Formosa, [137]; The Pescadore Islands, [141]. |
| [CHAPTER III.] |
| Geographical Description of the Western Provinces, | 142-184 |
| The Province of Hupeh, [142]; The three towns, Wuchang, Hanyang, and Hankow, [143]; Scenery on the Yangtsz’ kiang, [145]; Hunan Province, its rivers and capital city, [146]; Shensí Province, [148]; The city of Sí-ngan, [150]; Topography and climate of Kansuh Province, [152]; Sz’chuen Province and its four streams, [154]; Chingtu fu and the Min Valley, [156]; The Province of Kwangtung, [158]; Position of Canton, or Kwangchau, [160]; Its population, walls, general appearance, [161]; Its streets and two pagodas, [163]; Temple of Longevity and Honam Joss-house, [164]; Other shrines and the Examination Hall, [166]; The foreign factories, or ‘Thirteen Hongs,’ 167; Sights in the suburbs of Canton, [169]; Whampoa and Macao, [170]; The colony of Hongkong, [171]; Places of interest in Kwangtung, [173]; The Island of Hainan, [175]; Kwangsí Province, [176]; Kweichau Province, [178]; The Miaotsz’, [179]; The Province of Yunnan, [180]; Its topography and native tribes, [183]; Its mineral wealth, [184]. |
| [CHAPTER IV.] |
| Geographical Description of Manchuria, Mongolia, Ílí, and Tibet, | 185-257 |
| Foreign and Chinese notions of the land of Tartary, [185]; Table of the Colonies, their subdivisions and governments, [186]; Extent of Manchuria, [187]; Its mountain ranges, [188]; The Amur and its affluents, the Ingoda, Argun, Usuri, and Songari, [189]; Natural resources of Manchuria, [191]; The Province of Shingking, ibid.; Its capital, Mukden, and other towns, [192]; Climate of Manchuria, [195]; The Province of Kirin, [196]; The Province of Tsi-tsi-har, [198]; Administration of government in Manchuria, [199]; Extent of Mongolia, [200]; Its climate and divisions, [201]; Inner Mongolia, [202]; Outer Mongolia, [204]; Urga, its capital, ibid.; Civilization and trade of the Mongols, [206]; Kiakhta and Maimai chin, [207]; The Province of Cobdo, [208]; The Province of Koko-nor, or Tsing hai, [209]; Its topography and productions, [211]; Towns between Great Wall and Ílí, [213]; Position and topography of Ílí, [215]; Tien-shan Peh Lu, or Northern Circuit, [218]; Kuldja, its capital, [219]; Tien-shan Nan Lu, or Southern Circuit, [221]; The Tarim Basin, ibid.; Cities of the Southern Circuit, [224]; Kashgar, town and government, [227]; Yarkand, [229]; The District of Khoten, [230]; Administration of government in Ílí, [231]; History and conquest of the country, [233]; Tibet, its boundaries and names, [237]; Topography of the province, [239]; Its climate and productions, [241]; The yak and wild animals, ibid.; Divisions: Anterior and Ulterior Tibet, [244]; H’lassa, the capital city, [245]; Manning’s visit to the Dalai-lama, [246]; Shigatsé, capital of Ulterior Tibet, [247]; Om mani padmí hum, [249]; Manners and customs in Tibet, [251]; Language, [252]; History, [254]; Government, [255]. |
| [CHAPTER V.] |
| Population and Statistics, | 258-295 |
| Interest and difficulties of this subject, [258]; Ma Twan-lin’s study of the censuses, [260]; Tables of various censuses, [263]; These estimates considered in detail, [265]; Four of these are reliable, [269]; Evidence in their favor, [270]; Comparative population-density of Europe and China, [272]; Proportion of arable and unproductive land, [274]; Sources and kinds of food in China, [276]; Tendencies toward increase of population, [277]; Obstacles to emigration, [278]; Government care of the people, [280]; Density of population near Canton, ibid.; Mode of taking the census under Kublai khan, [281]; Present method, [282]; Reasons for admitting the Chinese census, [285]; Two objections to its acceptance, [286]; Unsatisfactory statistics of revenue in China, [289]; Revenue of Kwangtung Province, [290]; Estimates of Medhurst, De Guignes, and others, [291]; Principal items of expenditure, [292]; Pay of military and civil officers, [293]; The land tax, [294]. |
| [CHAPTER VI.] |
| Natural History of China, | 296-379 |
| Foreign scientists and explorers in China, [296]; Interesting geological features, [297]; Loess formation of Northern China, ibid.; Its wonderful usefulness and fertility, [300]; Baron Richthofen’s theory as to its origin, [303]; Minerals of China Proper: Coal, [304]; Building stones, salts, jade, etc., [307]; The precious metals and their production, [310]; Animals of the Empire, [313]; Monkeys, [314]; Various carnivorous animals, [317]; Cattle, sheep, deer, etc., [320]; Horses, pigs, camels, etc., [323]; Smaller animals and rodents, [326]; Cetacea in Chinese waters, [329]; Birds of prey, [331]; Passerinæ, song-birds, pies, etc., [332]; Pigeons and grouse, [335]; Varieties of pheasants, [336]; Peacocks and ducks, [338]; An aviary in Canton, [340]; Four fabulous animals: The kí-lin, [342]; The fung-hwang, or phœnix, [343]; The lung, or dragon, and kwei, or tortoise, [344]; Alligators and serpents, [345]; Ichthyology of China, [347]; Gold-fish and methods of rearing them, [348]; Shell-fish of the Southern coast, [350]; Insects: Silk-worms and beetles, [352]; Wax-worm: Native notions of insects, [353]; Students of botany in China, [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, [441]; Literary, Revenue, and Salt Departments, [443]; Tabular Résumé of Provincial Magistrates, [444]; Military and Naval control, [445]; Special messengers, or commissioners, [446]. |
| [CHAPTER VIII.] |
| Administration of the Laws, | 448-518 |
| 6, Execution of laws, checks upon ambitious officers, [448]; Triennial Catalogue and its uses, [449]; Character and position of Chinese officials, [451]; The Red Book, or status of office-holders, [452]; Types of Chinese high officers: Duke Ho, [452]; Career of Commissioner Sung, [454]; Public lives of Commissioners Lin and Kíying, [457]; Popularity of upright officers, Governor Chu’s valedictory, [462]; Official confessions and petitions for punishment, [464]; Imperial responsibility for public disasters, [466]; A prayer for rain of the Emperor Taukwang, [467]; Imperial edicts, their publication and phraseology, [469]; Contrast between the theory and practice of Chinese legislation, [473]; Extortions practised by officials of all ranks, [474]; Evils of an ill-paid police, [478]; Fear and selfishness of the people, [480]; Extent of clan systems among them, [482]; Village elders and clan rivalries, [483]; Dakoits and thieves throughout the country, [486]; Popular associations—character of their manifestoes, [488]; Secret societies, The Triad, or Water-Lily Sect, [493]; A Memorial upon the Evils of Mal-Administration, [494]; Efforts of the authorities against brigandage, [497]; Difficulties in collecting the taxes, [498]; Character of proceedings in the Law Courts, [500]; Establishments of high magistrates, [503]; Conduct of a criminal trial, [504]; Torture employed to elicit confessions, [507]; The five kinds of punishments, [508]; Modes of executing criminals, [512]; Public prisons, their miserable condition, [514]; The influence of public opinion in checking oppression, [517]. |
| [CHAPTER IX.] |
| Education and Literary Examinations, | 519-577 |
| Stimulus of literary pursuits in China, [520]; Foundation of the present system of competition, [521]; Precepts controlling early education, [522]; Arrangements and curriculum of boys’ schools, [524]; Six text-books employed: 1, The ‘Trimetrical Classic,’ 527; 2, The ‘Century of Surnames,’ and 3, ‘Thousand-Character Classic,’ 530; 4, The ‘Odes for Children,’ 533; 5, The Hiao King, or ‘Canons of Filial Duty,’ 536: 6, The Siao Hioh, or ‘Juvenile Instructor,’ 540; High schools and colleges, [542]; Proportion of readers throughout China, [544]; Private schools and higher education, [545]; System of examinations for degrees and public offices, [546]; Preliminary trials, [547]; Examination for the First Degree, Siu-tsai; 549: For the Second Degree, Kü-jin, [550]; Example of a competing essay, [554]; Final honors conferred at Peking, [558]; A like system applied to the military, [560]; Workings and results of the system of examinations, [562]; Its abuses and corruption, [566]; Social distinction and influence enjoyed by graduates, [570]; Female education in China, [572]; Authors and school-books employed, [574]. |
| [CHAPTER X.] |
| Structure of the Chinese Language, | 578-625 |
| Influence of the Chinese language upon its literature, [578]; Native accounts of the origin of their characters, [580]; Growth and development of the language, [581]; Characters arranged into six classes, [583]; Development from hieroglyphics, [584]; Phonetic and descriptive properties of a character, [587]; Arrangement of the characters in lexicons, [589]; Classification according to radicals, [591]; Mass of characters in the language, [593]; Six styles of written characters, [597]; Their elementary strokes, [598]; Ink, paper, and printing, [599]; Manufacture and price of books, [601]; Native and foreign movable types, [603]; Phonetic character of the Chinese language, [605]; Manner of distinguishing words of like sound, [609]; The Shing, or tones of the language, [610]; Number of sounds or words in Chinese, [611]; The local dialects and patois, [612]; Court or Mandarin dialect, [613]; Other dialects and variations in pronunciation, [614]; Grammar of the language, [617]; Its defects and omissions, [621]; Hints for its study, [623]; Pigeon English, [624]. |
| [CHAPTER XI.] |
| Classical Literature of the Chinese, | 626-673 |
| The Imperial Catalogue as an index to Chinese literature, [626]; The Five Classics: I. The Yih King, or ‘Book of Changes,’ 627; II. The Shu King, or ‘Book of Records,’ 633; III. The Shí King, or ‘Book of Odes,’ 636; IV. The Lí Kí, or ‘Book of Rites,’ and other Rituals, [643]; V. The Chun Tsiu, or ‘Spring and Autumn Record,’ 647; The Four Books: 1, The ‘Great Learning,’ 652; 2, The ‘Just Medium,’ 653; 3, The Lun Yu, or ‘Analects’ of Confucius, [656]; Life of Confucius, [658]; Character of the Confucian System of Ethics, [663]; 4, The Works of Mencius, [666]; His Life, and personal character of his Teachings, [667]; Dictionary of the Emperor Kanghí, [672]. |
| [CHAPTER XII.] |
| Polite Literature of the Chinese, | 674-723 |
| Character of Chinese Ornamental Literature, [674]; Works on Chinese History, [675]; Historical Novels, [677]; The ‘Antiquarian Researches’ of Ma Twan-lin, [681]; Philosophical Works: Chu Hí on the Primum Mobile, [683]; Military, Legal, and Agricultural Writings, [686]; The Shing Yu, or ‘Sacred Commands’ of Kanghí, [687]; Works on Art, Science, and Encyclopædias, [692]; Character and Examples of Chinese Fiction, [693]; Poetry: The Story of Lí Tai-peh, [696]; Modern Songs and Extempore Verses, [704]; Dramatic Literature, burlettas, [714]; ‘The Mender of Cracked Chinaware’—a Farce, [715]; Deficiencies and limits of Chinese literature, [719]; Collection of Chinese Proverbs, [720]. |
| [CHAPTER XIII.] |
| Architecture, Dress, and Diet of the Chinese, | 724-781 |
| Notions entertained by foreigners upon Chinese customs, [724]; Architecture of the Chinese, [726]; Building materials and private houses, [728]; Their public and ornamental structures, [730]; Arrangement of country houses and gardens, [731]; Chinese cities: shops and streets, [736]; Temples, club-houses, and taverns, [739]; Street scenes in Canton and Peking, [740]; Pagodas, their origin and construction, [744]; Modes of travelling, [747]; Various kinds of boats, [749]; Living on the water in China, [750]; Chop-boats and junks, [752]; Bridges, ornamental and practical, [754]; Honorary Portals, or Pai-lau, [757]; Construction of forts and batteries, [758]; Permanence of fashion in Chinese dress, [759]; Arrangement of hair, the Queue, [761]; Imperial and official costumes, [763]; Dress of Chinese women, [764]; Compressed feet: origin and results of the fashion, [766]; Toilet practices of men and women, [770]; Food of the Chinese, mostly vegetable, [772]; Kinds and preparation of their meats, [776]; Method of hatching and rearing ducks’ eggs, [778]; Enormous consumption of fish, [779]; The art of cooking in China, [781]. |
| [CHAPTER XIV.] |
| Social Life among the Chinese, | 782-836 |
| Features and professions in Chinese society, [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]. |