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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    Prince, but let them be very careful not to enter too nice- ly into Particulars, nor be afraid of exceeding my In¬ tentions by being too liberal. Pie had a great Opinion of Judicial Aftrology : One Day, after having fat up all Night obferving the Stars, and perceiving fome Revolution in the Hea¬ vens, he fent for two of his Cohos ; My Life is at an end, fays he ; you have been Witnejfes of all I have fuf- fePd from my Enemies during the twenty Tears I have refided in the Oriental Palace -, you have Jupported me by your Fidelity and Union, receive therefore this Token of my Friendfhip ; fpeaking thefe Words, he gave each of them a Seal, on which was en grav’d thefe two Charadters, Tchong tching, which fignifies, faith¬ ful and upright Minifier \ they took this Mark of Diftindtion with Tears in their Eyes, and ever after fign’d their Difpatches with this Seal: From that time the Emperor lay in a languifhing Condition, and a Courier was difpatch’d to his Son, who kept his Court at Nan king, with an Account of it, but he had not the Comfort to hear the laft Words of his Father, he dying before his Arrival. This Prince died at the Age of forty-eight, in the forty-fecond Year of the Cycle, this Year being reckon’d in the Reign of his Son Suen tfong, contra¬ ry to the Cuftom of China, which includes that of the Emperor’s Death in the Years of his Reign. Suen tfong, the Fifth Emperor, reigned ten Tears. SUEN TS O N G publifh’d an Edidt in the be¬ ginning of his Reign, forbidding to confer the De¬ gree of Licentiate on any of the Learned under the Age of twenty-five Years. Soon after his Uncle revolted, and being taken Prifoner in an Engage¬ ment, was condemn’d to perpetual Imprifonment. The Tartars were alfo punifh’d for making an Ir¬ ruption into the Empire ; Suen tfong commanding his Army in Perfon gave them Battle, and intirely rout¬ ed their Forces. The