Ancient China Simplified | Page 4

the
Wardens of the Western Marches, or Princes of Ts'in, did in turn to the
imperial dynasty of Chou--The Shang dynasty had in 1766 B.C., for
like reasons, supplanted the Hia dynasty-No events of great interest
recorded in limited area of China before 771 B.C.--Decline of the
imperial power until its extinction in 250 B.C.--The Five Tyrant or
Protector period--Natural movement to keep pace with political
development--Easier system of writing-- Development of trade and
industry--Living interests clash with extinct aspirations--From 722 B.C.
to 480 B.C. is the period of change covered by Confucius' history
CHAPTER III
THE NORTHERN POWERS The state of Tsin in Shan Si--In 771 B.C.:
its ruler escorts the Emperor to his new capital--Only in 671 B.C. does
Confucius mention Tsin--Divided from Ts'in by the Yellow
River--Important difference between the sounds Tsin and
Ts'in--Importance of the whole Yellow River as a natural
boundary--The state of Ts'i also engaged in buffer work against Tartar
inroads--Remote origin of Ts'i-Ts'in, Tsin, and Ts'i grow powerful as
the Emperor grows weaker--The state of Yen in the Peking plain--The
founder of Yen immortalized in song--Complete absence of tradition
concerning Yen's origin--Its possible relations with Corea and
Japan--Centre of political gravity transferred for ever to the
north--Tartar movements in Asia generally 800-600 B.C.--Never was a
Tarter empire--Reason for using the loose word "Tartars"--Race
divisions then probably very much as now--Attempt to classify the
Tartars in definite groups--Ch'wan unknown by any name--Nothing at
all was known in China of the north and west: _á fortiori_ of Central
Asia
CHAPTER IV

THE SOUTHERN POWER The collapse of the Emperor led to
restlessness in the south too-- The Jungle country south of the River
Han--Ancient origin of its kings--Claim to equality--Buffer state to the
south--Ruling caste consisted of educated Chinese--Extension of the
Ts'u empire-- Annamese connections--Claims repeated 704
B.C.--Capital moved to King-thou Fu near Sha-shï--First Ts'u
conquests of China--Five hundred years of struggle with Ts'in for the
possession of all China
CHAPTER V
EVIDENCE OF ECLIPSES How far is history true?--Confucius and
eclipses--Evidence notwithstanding the destruction of literature in 213
B.C.-- Retrospective calculations of eclipses and complications of
calendars--Eclipse of 776 B.C.--Errors in Confucian history owing to
rival calendars
CHAPTER VI
THE ARMY Paraphernalia of warfare--Ten thousand and one thousand
chariot states--Use of war-chariots, leather or wood--Chariots allotted
according to rank--Seventy-five men to one cart--War-chariots date
back to 1800 B.C.--Tartar house-carts--Rivers mostly unnavigable in
north--Introduction of canals and boat traffic--Population and
armies--Vague descriptions--Early armies never exceeded 75,000
men--The use of flags--Used in hunting as well as in war--Victims
sacrificed to drums--A modern instance of this in 1900 A.D.
CHAPTER VII
THE COAST STATES The coast states in possession of the Yang-tsz
delta--The state of Wu really of the same origin as the imperial dynasty
of Chou-- Comparison with Phoenician colonists--Wu induced by Tsin
to attack Ts'a-Ancient name was _Keugu_--Wu falls into the whirl of
Chinese politics--Confucius and his contemptuous treatment of
barbarians-Lu, in South Shan Tung, the place where Confucius held
official posts--Great Britain and Duke Confucius--Five ranks for rulers

of vassal states--Sacking of the Ts'u capital by Wu in 506 B.C.--Wu's
vassal Yüeh turns against Wu--Uviet the native name of Yüeh--Bloody
wars between Wu and Yiieh--Extinction of Wu in 483 B.C.--Yüeh was
always a coast power--Reasons for Confucius' endeavours to
re-establish the old feudal system
CHAPTER VIII
FIRST PROTECTOR OF CHINA The first Hegemon or Protector of
China and his own vassal kingdom of Ts'i--Limits of Ts'i and ancient
course of the Yellow River-- Absence of ancient records--Shiftings of
capital in the ninth century B.C.--Emperor's collapse of 842 and its
effect upon Ts'i-- Aid rendered by Ts'i in suppressing the
Tartars--Inconsiderable size of Ts'i--Revenges a judicial murder two
centuries old--Rapid rise of Ts'i and services of the
statesman--philosopher Kwan-tsz-- The governing caste in
China--Declares self Protector of China 679 B.C.--Tartar raids down to
the Yellow River in Ho Nan-Chinese durbars and the duties of a
Protector--Ts'in and Ts'u too far off or too busy for orthodox
durbars--Little is now known of the puppet Emperor's
dominions--Effeminate character of all the Central Chinese orthodox
stales--Fighting instincts all with semi- Chinese states--Struggle for life
becoming keener throughout China
CHAPTER IX
POSITION OF ENVOYS Sanctity of envoys--Rivalry of Tsin north and
Ts'u south for influence over orthodox centre--The state of CHÊNG
(imperial clan)--The state of Sung (Shang dynasty clan)--Family
sacrifices-- Instances of envoy treatment--The philosopher Yen-tsz: his
irony-- The statesman Tsz-ch'an of CHÊNG--Ts'u's barbarous and
callous conduct to envoys--Greed for valuables among high officers--
squabble for precedence at Peace Conference--Confucius manipulates
history--Yen-& and Confucius together at attempted assassination
CHAPTER X

THE SECOND PROTECTOR Death of First Protector and his
henchman Kwan-tsz, 648-643 B.C.-- Ts'i succession and Sung's claim
to Protectorate--Tartar influence in Ts'i--Ts'u's claim to the
hegemony--Ridiculous orthodox chivalry--Great development of
Tsin--A much-married ruler-- Marriage complications--Interesting
story of the political wanderings of