now written A-jin-Sin The last character formed part of the name of three emperors of the Shang dynasty, viz. π TSOO-SIN whose reign closed 1455 B.C.; 小辛 SEAQU-SIN 1342, and JSIN-SIN 1209 B.C., who were not distinguished by any thing remarkable in their conduct or government. However, to one of them this vessel is supposed to have belonged. Several vessels with the same inscription have been transmitted to modern times.

The Chinese speak of their ancient emperors YAOU, and 堯 舜

SHUN (the former of whom died about 2230 years B.C.), as the most celebrated in their history, who were appointed by Heaven to govern the people; hence they are styled "Te," Sovereigns, or those potentates who dispensed laws according to the principles of Heaven. YAOU was preceded by three other sovereigns, of whom little is known. This family is spoken of as the Woo-tee," five sovereigns,”

who framed just and wise laws.

During the dynasty HEA (the preceding dynasty), the sovereigns professing to cultivate virtue and act in obedience to Heaven, changed the imperial designation to Wang, “king," which preceded their names, as Wang Seang. This intimated that they were “the diffusers of human principles," as being persons inferior to the sovereigns WHANG-TE, TANG-YAOU, and SHUN, who were supposed to be appointed by Heaven. But the sovereigns of the Chow dynasty (900 years later), to shew their veneration for their immediate predecessors,

placed the title after the name, as 武王 Woo-Wang, “Woo, the

king."

The work entitled Ke-le, when treating of the Shang and Chow dynasties, adopts the following European mode of expression," the people of Shang," and "the people of Chow," which mode of speech is thought to confirm the following interpretation of the above inscrip"The people of Sin;" i. e. a vessel set apart for invoking a blessing on the people of the state of Sin.

tion,

This vessel measured, in height, eight Chinese inches and eighttenths; its containing depth was seven inches. Its circumference at the top six inches and eight-tenths; and around the centre four inches. and five-tenths. Its containing capacity was about three English pints, and it weighed three Chinese pounds and twelve ounces.

In high antiquity, besides conferring honorary vessels, it was the usage for the prince to reward the merits of those ministers who had distinguished themselves by inscribing their names and deeds in some public record, which record was denominated Isečh. In the above inscription this character is repeated, implying that the name of the individual to whom the vessel was presented had often been recorded for distinguished merit. The first character was the hieroglyphic mode of writing Sun, “ a grandson or descendant;" the two latter Foo-yih. The compilers of the Pŏ-koo-too here which remark, that Yih seems to be the name of the family, and Foo, is generally rendered " ancestor;" hence they read the inscription, "The grandson having repeatedly caused himself to be

66

father," means

66

recorded on account of meritorious conduct, has had this vase made for his own use when worshipping in the temple of his ancestors." They further remark, that it has been shewn under the first vase, that no fewer than six emperors of this dynasty took the name of YIH, and consequently at this great distance of time it ought not to excite surprise, if we are unable to determine to whom it refers; though, from the ancient form of the characters, there is not the least doubt that it is a vessel of the Shang dynasty.

This vessel, in height, measured eight Chinese inches and ninetenths; its containing depth was seven inches and six-tenths; its circumference, at the mouth, six inches and nine-tenths: round the centre, four inches and one-tenth. It weighed our Chinese pounds and eight ounces; and had the above inscription.

The relief, which is denominated "clouds and thunder," is considered extremely chaste. The first character of the inscription represents a missile weapon raised, and imports, as when on a vase, an admonition against excessive eating and drinking when sacrificing to VOL. I.

T

ancestors.

The last two characters are ▲ Jin Kwei,

the

people of Kwei." The father of CHING-TANG, the founder of the dynasty, was called KwEI. It is conjectured that the people of his native district presented him with this vessel, to be placed in the temple of his ancestors, and that it was afterwards removed to the royal temple of the house of Tang.

This vessel, with its cover, measured in height seven Chinese inches and two-tenths; its containing depth was four inches and sixtenths; its circumference, at the neck, three inches and seven-tenths; round the centre, four inches. It weighed two Chinese pounds and fifteen ounces. The above inscription was on the cover, as well as on the vessel.

The vessel is supposed to have been made by

and presented to his brother

*

TAE-KANG,

YOH-TING, who surrendered

* During the reign of this monarch the celebrated minister E-YUN died, and was interred by his sovereign with imperial pomp. His majesty himself attended, and

offered sacrifice in honour of the minister's eminent talents.

the throne to him about 1656 B.C. About one hundred years later,

there was an emperor named

CHUNG-TING, who also re

signed the throne to his brother

WEI-JIN. It is doubtful

to which of those two persons the inscription refers. If those princes really transferred the throne, as above mentioned, the national designation must have been continued during their lives, for the standard history does not mention the later sovereigns till the death of the former. As the last character is a hieroglyphical form of

a fowl," this vessel should have been classed with the vessels.

Ke,

E

This beautiful vessel measured, in height, nine Chinese inches and eight-tenths; and its containing depth was eight inches and one-tenth. In circumference, at the mouth, it measured five inches and six-tenths; round the centre, seven inches and four-tenths; and it weighed ten Chinese pounds. It had no inscription. This vessel, the Po-koo-too says, has always been considered very beautiful, and very ancient. That part of the relief which forms part of a circle in the centre is