Ancient China Simplified

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Ancient China Simplified

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Title: Ancient China Simplified
Author: Edward Harper Parker
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ANCIENT CHINA SIMPLIFIED

[Illustration: Tripod of the Chou dynasty, date 812 B.C. In 1565 A.D. it
was placed by the owner for safety in a temple on Silver Island (near
Chinkiang), where it may be seen now. Taken (by kind permission of
the author) from Dr. S. W. Bushell's "Chinese Art," vol. i. p. 82.]

ANCIENT CHINA SIMPLIFIED
BY EDWARD HARPER PARKER, M.A., (Manc.)
PROFESSOR OF CHINESE AT THE VICTORIA UNIVERSITY OF
MANCHESTER LONDON

PREFACE

Boswell once remarked to Dr. Johnson that "the history of England is
so strange that, if it were not well vouched as it is, it would be hardly
credible." To which Johnson replied in his usual style: "Sir, if it were
told as shortly, and with as little preparation for introducing the
different events, as the history of the Jewish kings, it would be equally
liable to objections of improbability." Dr. Johnson went on to illustrate
what he meant, by specific allusion to the concessions to Parliament
made by Charles I. "If," he said, "these had been related nakedly,
without any detail of the circumstances which generally led to them,
they would not have been believed."
This is exactly the position of ancient Chinese history, which may be
roughly said to coincide in time with the history of the Jewish kings.
The Chinese Annals are mere diaries of events, isolated facts being
tumbled together in order of date, without any regard for proportion.
Epoch-making invasions, defeats, and cessions of territory are
laconically noted down on a level with the prince's indiscretion in
weeping for a concubine as he would weep for a wife; or the Emperor's
bounty in sending a dish of sacrificial meat to a vassal power by
express messenger. In one way there is a distinct advantage in this
method, for, the historian being seldom tempted to obtrude his own
opinion or comments, we are left a clear course for the formation of our
own judgments upon the facts given. On the other hand, it is
unfortunate that what may be called the philosophy of history has never
been seized by the Chinese mind: the annalists do not trouble
themselves with the rights and aspirations of the masses; the results to
general policy that naturally follow upon increase of population,
perfecting of arms and munitions of war, admixture of foreign blood
with the body politic, and such like matters. The heads of events being
noted, it seems to be left to the reader to fill in the details from his
imagination, and from his knowledge of contemporary affairs. For
instance, suppose the reign of Queen Victoria were to begin after this
fashion:--"1837, 5th moon, Kalends, Victoria succeeded: 9th moon,
Ides, Napoleon paid a visit: 28th day, London flooded; 10th moon, 29th
day, eclipse of the sun"; and so on. At the time, and for many
years--possibly centuries--afterwards, there would be accurate general
traditional, or even written, information as to who Victoria was; why

Napoleon paid a visit; in what particular way the flood affected
England generally; from what parts the eclipse was best visible, etc.
These details would fade in distinctness with each successive
generation; commentators would come to the rescue; then
commentators upon commentators; and discussions as to which man
was the most trustworthy of them all.
Under these circumstances it is difficult enough for