China

China

The Project Gutenberg EBook of China, by Demetrius Charles Boulger
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Title: China
Author: Demetrius Charles Boulger
Release Date: October, 2004 [EBook #6708] [Yes, we are more than
one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on January 17,
2003]
Edition: 10
Language: English

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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHINA ***

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CHINA
BY DEMETRIUS CHARLES BOULGER
WITH A SUPPLEMENTARY CHAPTER OF RECENT EVENTS BY
MAYO W. HAZELTINE
[Illustration: THE EMPEROR RECEIVING THE DIPLOMATIC
CORPS _China Frontispiece_]

I DEDICATE THIS SHORT HISTORY OF CHINA TO SIR
HALLIDAY MACARTNEY, K.C.M.G. AS A SLIGHT TRIBUTE OF
PERSONAL RESPECT AND ADMIRATION FOR ONE WHO HAS
MAINTAINED THE RIGHT OF CHINA TO BE TREATED BY THE
GOVERNMENTS OF EUROPE WITH THE DIGNITY AND
CONSIDERATION THAT BECOME A GREAT EMPIRE.
IF TO LORD MACARTNEY WE OWE THE FIRST SUCCESSFUL
ATTEMPT TO OBTAIN AUDIENCE OF THE EMPEROR OF
CHINA ON THE SAME CONDITIONS AS THOSE ON WHICH
FOREIGN AMBASSADORS ARE RECEIVED AT EUROPEAN
COURTS, TO SIR HALLIDAY MACARTNEY A SCION OF THE
SAME FAMILY CHINA OWES MUCH OF THE SUCCESS THAT
HAS ATTENDED HER DIPLOMACY IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES

CONTENTS

CHAP.
I. THE EARLY AGES
II. THE FIRST NATIONAL DYNASTY
III. A LONG PERIOD OF DISUNION
IV. THE SUNGS AND THE KINS
V. THE MONGOL CONQUEST OF CHINA
VI. KUBLAI AND THE MONGOL DYNASTY
VII. THE MING DYNASTY
VIII. THE DECLINE OF THE MINGS
IX. THE MANCHU CONQUEST OF CHINA
X. THE FIRST MANCHU RULER
XI. THE EMPEROR KANGHI
XII. A SHORT REIGN AND THE BEGINNING OF A LONG ONE
XIII. KEEN LUNG'S WARS AND CONQUESTS
XIV. THE COMMENCEMENT OF EUROPEAN INTERCOURSE
XV. THE DECLINE OF THE MANCHUS
XVI. THE EMPEROR TAOUKWANG
XVII. THE FIRST FOREIGN WAR
XVIII. TAOUKWANG AND HIS SUCCESSOR
XIX. THE SECOND FOREIGN WAR

XX. THE TAEPING REBELLION
XXI. THE REGENCY
XXII. THE REIGN OF KWANGSU
THE WAR WITH JAPAN AND SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
THE FUTURE OF CHINA

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
_Frontispiece_--The Emperor Receiving the Diplomatic Corps Hong
Kong Canton--The Flower Pagoda Kang, the Reformer

PREFACE
As China has now fairly taken her place in the family of nations, it is
unnecessary to elaborate an argument in support of even the humblest
attempt to elucidate her history. It is a subject to which we can no
longer remain indifferent, because circumstances are bringing every
day more clearly into view the important part China must play in the
changes that have become imminent in Asia, and that will affect the
security of our position and empire in that continent. A good
understanding with China should be the first article of our Eastern
policy, for not only in Central Asia, but also in Indo-China, where
French ambition threatens to create a fresh Egypt, her interests coincide
with ours and furnish the sound basis of a fruitful alliance.
This book, which I may be pardoned for saying is not an abridgment of
my original work, but entirely rewritten and rearranged with the view
of giving prominence to the modern history of the Chinese Empire,
may appeal, although they generally treat Asiatic subjects with
regrettable indifference, to that wider circle of English readers on
whose opinion and efforts the development of our political and

commercial relations with the greatest of Oriental States will mainly
depend.
D. C. BOULGER, April 28, 1893.
CHAPTER I
THE EARLY AGES
The Chinese are unquestionably the oldest nation in the world, and
their history goes back to a period to which no prudent historian will
attempt to give a precise date. They speak the language and observe the
same social and political customs that they did several thousand years
before the Christian era, and they are the only living representatives
to-day of a people and government which were contemporary with the
Egyptians, the Assyrians, and the Jews. So far as our knowledge
enables us to speak, the Chinese of