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ARTICLE VIII.

THE CHINESE EMPIRE.

By REV. Rurus W. CLARK, Portsmouth, N. H.

The Middle Kingdom: a Survey of the Geography, Government, Education, Social Life, Arts, Religion, &c. of the Chinese Empire and its Inhabitants. With a New Map of the Empire and Illustrations, principally engraved by J. W. Orr.—By S. WELLS WILLIAMS, author of "Easy Lessons in Chinese," English and Chinese vocabulary," &c., in two volumes. New York and London. Wiley & Putnam, 1848. pp. 590, and 614.

AMONG the benefits conferred by our foreign missionaries, not only upon the general interests of human learning, but also upon the people to whom they are sent, and the missionary enterprise itself, the accurate and full compilation of information, such as is embodied in this and similar works, is not the least important. In order to quicken the churches, secure the adoption of plans of systematic benevolence, and awaken a general interest in the great missionary work, there needs to be a knowledge of foreign countries widely disseminated. The interest felt in the welfare of a distant people, will be, cæteris paribus, in proportion to the knowledge we have of their condition, wants, habits, and the facilities afforded for introducing among them the arts and blessings of civilization. And just the kind of knowledge that we need for this purpose, as well as to subserve the general interests of literature, is furnished by Medhurst, Williams, Gutzlaff, and Abeel, in regard to China; by Smith and Dwight in regard to Armenia: by Dibble in his history of the Sandwich Islands, &c. &c. When men visit these countries simply as travelers, diplomatists, merchants or geologists, they furnish us with information only in the particular department in which they feel the deepest interest. The traveler will give us a view of the external features of the country, its scenery, mountains, lakes, rivers; its works of art. with some account of the manners and habits of the people. The diplomatist will describe its government, courts, and jurisprudence. The merchant will inform us respecting the commerce of the country, its resources, amount of traffic, and articles of export; while the naturalist will confine himself to his favorite science. But the intelligent missionary, whose object is a philanthropic one, will give us a comprehensive view of everything of interest relating to the people among whom he dwelis. He will especially let us into their inner life, and spread out to view their intellectual

and moral condition. He will show how their social and political institutions grow out of their character as a people, while at the same time he gives a due degree of attention to other depart

ments.

Mr. Williams' work, affords a striking example and confirmation of these remarks. In his first volume he gives a view of the general features and geography of the empire; the extent of the population; the natural history, laws and government of China; the state of education; the structure of the Chinese language, with an account of their classical and polite literature. In the second volume we have a description of the architecture, dress, industrial arts, commerce, science, history, chronology, and religion of this strange people, with a view of their social condition and the missionary efforts which, at different times have been made in the Empire. The information given upon these interesting points, he has obtained from personal observation and experience, as well as from the most authentic sources within his reach. The latter he has evidently consulted with great diligence and candor; and the results of his labors are here presented to the world in an attractive and substantial form. Upon some points he may be rather too diffuse, and some sentences might have been grammatically improved:-but in addition to the literary merit of the work, its great charm lies in the fact, that it bears the marks of a truly Christian author.

With regard to the general scientific and historical writings of our missionaries, it may be safely affirmed, that we have been for the last half century, more indebted to them for a knowledge of foreign countries, than to any other class of writers. Being, for the most part, men of thorough education, sound judgment, industrious and patient habits-ready to any work of toil or sacrifice for the good of others; having the benefit of long residence among and familiar intercourse with the people whom they describe, they enjoy peculiar facilities for such a service. And as the missionary enterprise continues to enlist the talents and acquisitions of the church in its service, we shall look more and more to our missionaries for full and reliable information repecting foreign countries, especially the heathen world. For no motive but the highest form of benevolence-nothing but the spirit of the gospel could induce men of refinement, learning and taste, to exclude themselves from the advantages of civilized society, and dwell for a long series of years, or for life, with rude, ignorant and barbarous tribes.

But the value of the contributions of our missionaries to the cause of learning, is also strikingly seen in what they have done to improve the languages and literature of heathen nations. In some cases they have reduced languages to a written form; in others greatly facilitated their acquisition, and in numerous instances

translated valuable English works. In confirmation of this, we would refer to the literary labors of Dr. Morrison and the Rev. W. Milne in China; to the translation of the Bible in the language of the Indians in 1663, and also of other Christian books, by the celebrated John Elliot: to the valuable translations made by our Sandwich Island missionaries, and to the numerous publications issued from the Smyrna press, in the Armenian and ArmenoTurkish languages.

Dr. Morrison, besides his Chinese Bible, dictionary and grammar, translated into the Chinese language, the Assembly's Catechism, the Liturgy of the Church of England, and published in 1817, under the title of a "View of China for Philological Purposes," a work on the geography, chronology, festivals, &c., of that country. He also published a tract on Redemption, a synopsis of Old Testament history, a small volume of Dialogues in English and Chinese, and several essays upon religions subjects. From the press connected with the mission at Malacca, there have been issued, besides Bibles and tracts, "a periodical called the Indo-Chinese Gleaner, edited by Dr. Milne; a translation of the Faw Books, by Mr. Collie; an edition of Piemare's Notitia Linguæ Sinica; a Life of Milne, and a volume of Sermons by Dr. Morrison. The number of volumes printed in Chinese was about half a million.”

From the Smyrna press there had been issued up to July, 1846, in the Armenian and Armeno-Turkish languages, sixty-eight different works, a list of which may be found in the appendix of the Annual Report of the A. B. C. F. M. for the year 1846. Among them we find the following: Abercrombie or Mental Culture; Worcester's Astronomy; D'Aubigne's History of the Reformation; A translation of the Bible into Armeno-Turkish; Lives of the Patriarchs and Prophets; Natural Theology; Pilgrim's Progress, and the Young Christian. The Psalms have been published in four different dialects. Two editions in ancient Armenian, 3,000 copies in 1841 and 2,000 in 1846. Another in Eastern or Ararat dialect of modern Armenian, 5,000 copies. Another in Western or Constantinople dialect of the modern Armenian and another in Armeno-Turkish.

But our limits will not allow us to take a full survey of what our missionaries have done in this department. Nor is it possible to calculate the benefits which a future generation will reap from the introduction of a Christian literature into so many languages which have heretofore been the vehicles of the worst forms of error and superstition. Millions will rise up to pronounce their blessing upon those noble, philanthropic and devoted men, who, amid so many privations and discouragements-amid such a variety of self-denying duties connected with their missions, and with no hope of earthly reward, and nothing to stimulate them but

their love to God and man, were enabled to master their languages, and infuse into them the elements of spiritual life.

In reading the account which Mr Williams has furnished us of the middle kingdom,' the conviction will be deeply impressed upon every mind, that the Chinese people have many strong and peculiar claims upon the attention, sympathy, and benevolence of the Christian community. Notwithstanding their characteristic exclusiveness, vanity, and tenacious adherence to their customs, and institutions, there are features in their present condition which render the prospect of their evangelization peculiarly hopeful.

Among the considerations which entitle them to especial regard, we refer, in the first place, to the vast extent of their population. Upon this subject greatly conflicting opinions have been advanced by different writers. While some have taken the ground that the censuses which from time to time have been taken, were in the main correct, others have strenuously disputed their accuracy. Malte-Brun says, that "cool and impartial men rate the population of China, properly so called, at 150,000,000." In the Encyclopedia Americana, it is stated, without however, any reference to authorities, that China Proper has only 146,280,000; but the tributary States, and those under its protection, swell the total to 240,000,000.

Mr. Williams, however, thinks that the population, as estimated by the Chinese, is not over-stated; and the missionaries now on the ground, in their communications, speak of the population as 400,000,000. Chinese authors refer to between twenty and thirty estimates and censuses of the population made between the years 1393 and 1812, inclusive. Of these, the four deserving of

most credit are those of 1711, 1753, 1792, and 1812.

"From 1711 to 1753 the population increased 72,222,602, which was an annual advance of 1,764,824 inhabitants, or a little more than six per cent. per annum for forty-two years..... From 1753 to 1792, the increase was 104,636,882, or an

1 The reason our author assigns for giving his work this title is, that this is the meaning of the most common name for the country among the people themselves. The country, as we have long known, has several names, the most of which indicate the ignorance of the people with reference to their geographical position, and their importance among the nations. "One of the most ancient is Tien Hia, meaning Beneath the Sky,' and denoting the world; another, almost as ancient is Si Hai; i. e., [all within] the four seas; a third, now more common than either, is Chung Kwoh, or Middle Kingdom, given to it from an idea that it is situated in the centre of the earth; Chung Kwoh jin, or men of the Middle Kingdom, denote the Chinese. The present dynasty Tsing, calls the empire Ta Tsing Kwoh, or Great Pure Kingdom. It is sometimes called Tsing Chaw, i. e., [land of the] Pure Dynasty. The term so frequently heard in western countries, for China-the Celestial Empire-is derived from Tiew Chaw, i. e., Heavenly Dynasty; meaning the kingdom which the dynasty appointed by heaven rules over; but the term Celestial, for the people of that kingdom is entirely of foreign manufacture, and their language could with difficulty be made to express such a patronimic." Vol. 1, pp. 3, 4.

annual advance of 2,682,997 inhabitants. During this period the country enjoyed almost uninterrupted peace, under the vigorous sway of Kienlung, and the unsettled regions of the South rapidly filled up. From 1792 to 1812 the increase was 54,126,679, or an annual advance of 2,706,333. At the same rate the present population is over 450,000,000; but no one supposes there has been that increase; nor are there any data from which to make even the least guess of the present population of the empire. The Chinese have overflowed the bounds of their possessions on all sides, under the patronizing policy of their monarchs, especially in Manchuria, Mongolia, Ili, and towards Thibet, while the emigration towards the Indian Archipelago is also large."—Vol. I. P. 214.

Among the reasons given by our author for believing that the country is able to support the highest population ascribed to it, we refer to the following:--

According to the last census, taken in 1812, there were 268 persons to a square mile. But in Great Britain and Ireland, the average, according to McCulloch, was, in 1831, 212 to a square mile. In France it was, in 1846, 223; in Holland, in 1838, 214; in Lombardy, in 1839, 260; and in Belgium, in 1836, 321 to the square mile. In England and Wales, out of the 29,000,000 of acres of land under cultivation, only 10,000,000 are devoted to grain and vegetables, the other two millions being fallow-ground and used for hop beds, &c.

"If the same proportion between the arable and uncultivated land exists in China as in England, namely one fourth, there are about 650 millions of acres under cultivation in China; and we are not left to conjecture in this case, for by a Report made to Keinlung in 1745, it appears that the area of land under cultivation was 595,598,221 acres; a subsequent calculation places it at 640,579,381 acres, which is almost the same proportion as in England.

Estimating it at 650 millions, for it has since increased rather than dimin ished, it gives one acre and four fifths to every person, which is by no means a small supply for the Chinese, considering that there are no pastures or meadows for horses, sheep or oxen in the country."-Vol. I. p. 218.

It has been estimated that eight men can be supported from the amount of land required for the sustenance of one horse; and since the number of horses has been reduced in England, by the introduction of railroads, from a million (the number in 1830) to 200,000; if one half of the land now used for pasture, should be cultivated for grain, "and no more dogs and horses raised than a million of acres could support, England and Wales could easily maintain a population of more than four hundred to the square mile, supposing them to be willing to live on what the land can furnish." Now it appears that,

"The greatest part of the cultivated soil in China is employed in raising food for man,-woollen garments and leather are little used, and cotton and mulberry occupy but a small proportion of the soil. There is not, as far as is known, a single acre of land in the empire sown with grass seed, though the sedge in the marshes and grass on the hills are collected for fodder or fuel; and, therefore, almost no human labor is employed in raising food for animals, which will not also serve to sustain man. Horses are seldom used for pomp

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