[327]To which sounds the languages of the west have been more than once likened by the Chinese. It is only fair, however, to the lettered classes to state that they have a similar contempt for their own local dialects; regardingMandarinas the only form of speech worthy to be employed by men.return to text[328]The occasional analogies to the story of the Cyclops must be evident to all readers.return to text[329]The animal here mentioned is the plain brown deer, orRusa Swinhoii, of Formosa, in which island I should prefer to believe, but for the great distance from Hué, that the scenes here narrated took place.return to text[330]About one sixth of an acre. On old title-deeds of landed property in China may still be seen measurements calculated according to the amount of grain that could be sown thereon.return to text[331]The king here uses the words “ku-t‘u-tzŭ,” which are probably intended by the author to be an imitation of a term in the savage tongue.return to text[332]Fondness for children is specially a trait of Chinese character; and a single baby would do far more to ensure the safety of a foreign traveller in China than all the usual paraphernalia of pocket-pistols and revolvers.return to text[333]Literally, “a million of taels,” the word used being the Buddhist termchao.return to text[334]Here again we have 100chün, onechünbeing equal to about 40lbs.Chinese weights, measures, distances, numbers,&c., are often very loosely employed; and it is probable that not more than 100catties, say 133lbs., is here meant.return to text[335]That is, until the change of the monsoon from S.W. to N.E.return to text[336]SeeNo. XLI.,note 237.return to text[337]Used for pounding rice.return to text[338]A fancy name for the Tung-t‘ing lake. SeeNo. XXXVIII.,note 226.return to text[339]The commentator declares himself unable to trace this allusion.return to text[340]These are bound in between several sharp-pointed stakes and serve their purpose very well in the inland waters of China.return to text[341]This deity is believed to be constantly on the look-out for wicked people, aided by the Goddess of Lightning, who flashes a mirror on to whomsoever the God wishes to strike. “The thief eats thunderbolts,” means that he will bring down vengeance from Heaven on himself. Tylor’sPrimitive Culture,Vol. I.,p.88.return to text[342]SeeNo. V.,note 48.return to text[343]Gambling is the great Chinese vice, far exceeding in its ill effects all that opium has ever done to demoralize the country. Public gaming-houses are strictly forbidden by law, but their existence is winked at by a too venal executive.Fantanis the favourite game. It consists in staking on the remainder of an unknown number of cash, after the heap has been divided by four, namely whether it will be three, two, one, or nothing; with other variations of a more complicated nature.return to text[344]SeeNo. XLVI.,note 271.return to text[345]SeeNo. LIII.,note 288.return to text[346]The virtuous conduct of any individual will result not only in happiness and prosperity to himself, but a certain quantity of these will descend to his posterity, unless, as in the present case, there is one among them whose personal wickedness neutralizes any benefits that would otherwise accrue therefrom. Here we have an instance where the crimes of a descendant still left a balance of good fortune surviving from the accumulated virtue of generations.return to footnote anchor 346return toVol. II.footnote anchor 101return toVol. II.footnote anchor 262[347]One of the six departments of State administration.return to text[348]This seems a curious charge to bring against a people who for a stolid and bigoted conservatism have rarely, if ever, been equalled. Mencius, however, uttered one golden sentence which might be brought to bear upon the occasionally foolish opposition of the Chinese to measures of proved advantage to the commonwealth. “Live,” said the Sage, “in harmony with the age in which you are born.”return to text[349]Only slave-girls and women of the poorer classes, and old women, omit this very important part of a Chinese lady’s toilet.return to footnote anchor 349return toVol. II.footnote anchor 45[350]Alluding probably to the shape of the “shoe” or ingot of silver.return to text[351]SeeNo. XLVI.,note 271.return to text[352]Literally, “One who would make wild geese alight and fish dive down for shame;” or, as the next line from the same poem has it, “a beauty which would obscure the moon and put flowers to the blush.”return to text[353]Slave-girls do not have their feet compressed.return to text[354]Wherein resides an old gentleman who ties together with a red cord the feet of those destined to become man and wife. From this bond there is no escape, no matter what distance may separate the affianced pair. The first go-between, Ku Ts‘ê, was originally seen, on ice, arranging matches with some onebelow:—“Marriage is not a trifling thing—The Book and the Vermilion String!On ice by moonlight may be seenThe wedded couples’ go-between.”—A Thousand Character Essay for Girls.Hence the common phrase “to do the ice (business),”i.e., to arrange a marriage.return to text[355]This proceeding is highly improper, but is winked at in a large majority of Chinese betrothals.return to text
[327]To which sounds the languages of the west have been more than once likened by the Chinese. It is only fair, however, to the lettered classes to state that they have a similar contempt for their own local dialects; regardingMandarinas the only form of speech worthy to be employed by men.return to text
[327]To which sounds the languages of the west have been more than once likened by the Chinese. It is only fair, however, to the lettered classes to state that they have a similar contempt for their own local dialects; regardingMandarinas the only form of speech worthy to be employed by men.return to text
[328]The occasional analogies to the story of the Cyclops must be evident to all readers.return to text
[328]The occasional analogies to the story of the Cyclops must be evident to all readers.return to text
[329]The animal here mentioned is the plain brown deer, orRusa Swinhoii, of Formosa, in which island I should prefer to believe, but for the great distance from Hué, that the scenes here narrated took place.return to text
[329]The animal here mentioned is the plain brown deer, orRusa Swinhoii, of Formosa, in which island I should prefer to believe, but for the great distance from Hué, that the scenes here narrated took place.return to text
[330]About one sixth of an acre. On old title-deeds of landed property in China may still be seen measurements calculated according to the amount of grain that could be sown thereon.return to text
[330]About one sixth of an acre. On old title-deeds of landed property in China may still be seen measurements calculated according to the amount of grain that could be sown thereon.return to text
[331]The king here uses the words “ku-t‘u-tzŭ,” which are probably intended by the author to be an imitation of a term in the savage tongue.return to text
[331]The king here uses the words “ku-t‘u-tzŭ,” which are probably intended by the author to be an imitation of a term in the savage tongue.return to text
[332]Fondness for children is specially a trait of Chinese character; and a single baby would do far more to ensure the safety of a foreign traveller in China than all the usual paraphernalia of pocket-pistols and revolvers.return to text
[332]Fondness for children is specially a trait of Chinese character; and a single baby would do far more to ensure the safety of a foreign traveller in China than all the usual paraphernalia of pocket-pistols and revolvers.return to text
[333]Literally, “a million of taels,” the word used being the Buddhist termchao.return to text
[333]Literally, “a million of taels,” the word used being the Buddhist termchao.return to text
[334]Here again we have 100chün, onechünbeing equal to about 40lbs.Chinese weights, measures, distances, numbers,&c., are often very loosely employed; and it is probable that not more than 100catties, say 133lbs., is here meant.return to text
[334]Here again we have 100chün, onechünbeing equal to about 40lbs.Chinese weights, measures, distances, numbers,&c., are often very loosely employed; and it is probable that not more than 100catties, say 133lbs., is here meant.return to text
[335]That is, until the change of the monsoon from S.W. to N.E.return to text
[335]That is, until the change of the monsoon from S.W. to N.E.return to text
[336]SeeNo. XLI.,note 237.return to text
[336]SeeNo. XLI.,note 237.return to text
[337]Used for pounding rice.return to text
[337]Used for pounding rice.return to text
[338]A fancy name for the Tung-t‘ing lake. SeeNo. XXXVIII.,note 226.return to text
[338]A fancy name for the Tung-t‘ing lake. SeeNo. XXXVIII.,note 226.return to text
[339]The commentator declares himself unable to trace this allusion.return to text
[339]The commentator declares himself unable to trace this allusion.return to text
[340]These are bound in between several sharp-pointed stakes and serve their purpose very well in the inland waters of China.return to text
[340]These are bound in between several sharp-pointed stakes and serve their purpose very well in the inland waters of China.return to text
[341]This deity is believed to be constantly on the look-out for wicked people, aided by the Goddess of Lightning, who flashes a mirror on to whomsoever the God wishes to strike. “The thief eats thunderbolts,” means that he will bring down vengeance from Heaven on himself. Tylor’sPrimitive Culture,Vol. I.,p.88.return to text
[341]This deity is believed to be constantly on the look-out for wicked people, aided by the Goddess of Lightning, who flashes a mirror on to whomsoever the God wishes to strike. “The thief eats thunderbolts,” means that he will bring down vengeance from Heaven on himself. Tylor’sPrimitive Culture,Vol. I.,p.88.return to text
[342]SeeNo. V.,note 48.return to text
[342]SeeNo. V.,note 48.return to text
[343]Gambling is the great Chinese vice, far exceeding in its ill effects all that opium has ever done to demoralize the country. Public gaming-houses are strictly forbidden by law, but their existence is winked at by a too venal executive.Fantanis the favourite game. It consists in staking on the remainder of an unknown number of cash, after the heap has been divided by four, namely whether it will be three, two, one, or nothing; with other variations of a more complicated nature.return to text
[343]Gambling is the great Chinese vice, far exceeding in its ill effects all that opium has ever done to demoralize the country. Public gaming-houses are strictly forbidden by law, but their existence is winked at by a too venal executive.Fantanis the favourite game. It consists in staking on the remainder of an unknown number of cash, after the heap has been divided by four, namely whether it will be three, two, one, or nothing; with other variations of a more complicated nature.return to text
[344]SeeNo. XLVI.,note 271.return to text
[344]SeeNo. XLVI.,note 271.return to text
[345]SeeNo. LIII.,note 288.return to text
[345]SeeNo. LIII.,note 288.return to text
[346]The virtuous conduct of any individual will result not only in happiness and prosperity to himself, but a certain quantity of these will descend to his posterity, unless, as in the present case, there is one among them whose personal wickedness neutralizes any benefits that would otherwise accrue therefrom. Here we have an instance where the crimes of a descendant still left a balance of good fortune surviving from the accumulated virtue of generations.return to footnote anchor 346return toVol. II.footnote anchor 101return toVol. II.footnote anchor 262
[346]The virtuous conduct of any individual will result not only in happiness and prosperity to himself, but a certain quantity of these will descend to his posterity, unless, as in the present case, there is one among them whose personal wickedness neutralizes any benefits that would otherwise accrue therefrom. Here we have an instance where the crimes of a descendant still left a balance of good fortune surviving from the accumulated virtue of generations.return to footnote anchor 346return toVol. II.footnote anchor 101return toVol. II.footnote anchor 262
[347]One of the six departments of State administration.return to text
[347]One of the six departments of State administration.return to text
[348]This seems a curious charge to bring against a people who for a stolid and bigoted conservatism have rarely, if ever, been equalled. Mencius, however, uttered one golden sentence which might be brought to bear upon the occasionally foolish opposition of the Chinese to measures of proved advantage to the commonwealth. “Live,” said the Sage, “in harmony with the age in which you are born.”return to text
[348]This seems a curious charge to bring against a people who for a stolid and bigoted conservatism have rarely, if ever, been equalled. Mencius, however, uttered one golden sentence which might be brought to bear upon the occasionally foolish opposition of the Chinese to measures of proved advantage to the commonwealth. “Live,” said the Sage, “in harmony with the age in which you are born.”return to text
[349]Only slave-girls and women of the poorer classes, and old women, omit this very important part of a Chinese lady’s toilet.return to footnote anchor 349return toVol. II.footnote anchor 45
[349]Only slave-girls and women of the poorer classes, and old women, omit this very important part of a Chinese lady’s toilet.return to footnote anchor 349return toVol. II.footnote anchor 45
[350]Alluding probably to the shape of the “shoe” or ingot of silver.return to text
[350]Alluding probably to the shape of the “shoe” or ingot of silver.return to text
[351]SeeNo. XLVI.,note 271.return to text
[351]SeeNo. XLVI.,note 271.return to text
[352]Literally, “One who would make wild geese alight and fish dive down for shame;” or, as the next line from the same poem has it, “a beauty which would obscure the moon and put flowers to the blush.”return to text
[352]Literally, “One who would make wild geese alight and fish dive down for shame;” or, as the next line from the same poem has it, “a beauty which would obscure the moon and put flowers to the blush.”return to text
[353]Slave-girls do not have their feet compressed.return to text
[353]Slave-girls do not have their feet compressed.return to text
[354]Wherein resides an old gentleman who ties together with a red cord the feet of those destined to become man and wife. From this bond there is no escape, no matter what distance may separate the affianced pair. The first go-between, Ku Ts‘ê, was originally seen, on ice, arranging matches with some onebelow:—“Marriage is not a trifling thing—The Book and the Vermilion String!On ice by moonlight may be seenThe wedded couples’ go-between.”—A Thousand Character Essay for Girls.Hence the common phrase “to do the ice (business),”i.e., to arrange a marriage.return to text
[354]Wherein resides an old gentleman who ties together with a red cord the feet of those destined to become man and wife. From this bond there is no escape, no matter what distance may separate the affianced pair. The first go-between, Ku Ts‘ê, was originally seen, on ice, arranging matches with some onebelow:—
“Marriage is not a trifling thing—The Book and the Vermilion String!On ice by moonlight may be seenThe wedded couples’ go-between.”—A Thousand Character Essay for Girls.
“Marriage is not a trifling thing—The Book and the Vermilion String!On ice by moonlight may be seenThe wedded couples’ go-between.”
“Marriage is not a trifling thing—
The Book and the Vermilion String!
On ice by moonlight may be seen
The wedded couples’ go-between.”
—A Thousand Character Essay for Girls.
Hence the common phrase “to do the ice (business),”i.e., to arrange a marriage.return to text
[355]This proceeding is highly improper, but is winked at in a large majority of Chinese betrothals.return to text
[355]This proceeding is highly improper, but is winked at in a large majority of Chinese betrothals.return to text