Volume 1

The general history of China. Containing a geographical, historical, chronological, political and physical description of the empire of China, Chinese-Tartary, Corea, and Thibet. Including an exact and particular account of their customs, manners, ceremonies, religion, arts and sciences ... / Done from the French of P. Duhalde ... [by R. Brookes].

  • Du Halde, J.-B. (Jean-Baptiste), 1674-1743.
Date:
1741
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The general history of China. Containing a geographical, historical, chronological, political and physical description of the empire of China, Chinese-Tartary, Corea, and Thibet. Including an exact and particular account of their customs, manners, ceremonies, religion, arts and sciences ... / Done from the French of P. Duhalde ... [by R. Brookes]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    îcheou, and Tchi bien. In the larger Cities there is al¬ ways one Tchifou, and generally two Tcbi bien, who have each a diftinét Jurifdidion over their proper Di- Itriéts. In Peking there are fix principal Courts of Judicature, befides one proper to that City, which is the Capital of the Empire ; this has the Name of Chun tien. Under this there are two other Tribunals of the two Hien, or Cities of the third Rank, one of which is call’d Tai hing, and the other Hen ping. In the Provinces there are other Cities, whofe Tri¬ bunals are named Ouei9 and their Mandarins have the Title of Ouei cheou pel ; and thefe are Officers of War, who have commonly no Jurifdidlion out of the City. There are another Kind in the Villages; and thefe generally take Cognifance of nothing, out what relates to certain Perfons who are deftiifd by their Rank and Birth to Offices of State. All thefe Tribunals depend upon a Viceroy, and four other General Officers, who are his Affiliants when Occafion requires ; as for Inftance, in Caufes re¬ lating to the Revenue and Civil Matters, the Trea- furer-General5 or Pou tching fe is concern’d ; if it be a criminal Affair it is refer’d to the Lieutenant-Cri¬ minal, Ngan tcha fe -, if it regards Offices, Salt, &V. they have recourfe to the Ten tao ; in ffiort, if it re¬ lates to Pro vffions which are gather’d by way of Tri¬ bute, they apply to the Leang to. But befides thefe Affairs, which are eiîèntial to their Tribunal, the Peo¬ ple may have recourfe to them in Caufes of all Kinds, becaufe the inferior Courts depend upon them, and they are by their Office hereditary Counsellors of the Vice¬ roy. It is in this Quality that they are oblig’d, fe¬ ver al times in a Month, to be prcfent at the Tribunal of this chief Mandarin, where they are to declare their Sentiments concerning the principal Transitions of the Province. As the Officers in the Army depend in fome fort on the Viceroy, they are obliged, under great Penal- B 2 j ties.