An epitome of the reports of the medical officers to the Chinese imperial maritime customs service, from 1871 to 1882 : with chapters on the history of medicine in China; materia medica; epidemics; famine; ethnology; and chronology in relation to medicine and public health / compiled and arranged by C.A. Gordon.

Date:
1884
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An epitome of the reports of the medical officers to the Chinese imperial maritime customs service, from 1871 to 1882 : with chapters on the history of medicine in China; materia medica; epidemics; famine; ethnology; and chronology in relation to medicine and public health / compiled and arranged by C.A. Gordon. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    He gave as a subsidy to a neighbouring prince of Pe tche li 300,000 pieces of silk per annum. This arrangement subsequently led to proti'acted wars. Although the Tartars of that province had acquired the more luxurious habits of the Chinese they nevertheless remained hardy. Tsi Wang, second emperor. A defective commissariat led to the defeat of his 937. armies and to the downfall of the Heoutssin dynasty, called also ' the Later Tsins.' Kaotsou, first emperor of the seventeenth, or Heou Han, or Later Han, dynasty. 938. The art of printing dates from about this period. According to Da Halde, it took place a.d. 926 to 933; according to Morrison, in 935; to M. Abel Retnusat, in 952. Yenti, second emperor. Addicted to pleasures, and by his habits alienated the people; so much so that Kwo Wei, a successful general, was elected in his stead, 941. and the Heou Han, or Later Han, dynasty ended. Taisow, i.e. Kwo Wei, first emperor of the eighteenth dynasty, named Heou Chow dynasty. He visited the tomb of Confucius. According to some authors, the 944. Mahomedans first appeared in China during this reign. Chitsong, second emperor. Devoted to science ; brave; accomplished as a military commander. In his palace he kept a plough and a loom, to remind him of the station and hard labour of his ancestors. In times of scarcity, he supplied the poor with rice from the public granaries; he melted all the statues of idols to make the metal 950. into money, as the latter had become very scarce. Congti, third emperor. Deposed by the founder of the Sung dynasty, and thus ended that of the Heou Chow. Taitsow, first emperor of the nineteenth dynasty, named Sung. Of great judgment, diligent, frugal, clement, affable. He left open the four gates leading to his palace, 9G4. that, ' like his heart, it should be always open to his subjects.' He banished luxury from the empire and from his court. He conferred royal titles upon his ancestors. He showed great consideration to his troops, ' ordered an examination for the officers of the army like that for men of letters/ and promoted them according to ' selection' for fitness. He gave orders to prevent pillage and murder in the city of Nanking after its capture; he then sent 100,000 measures of rice to be divided among its people. Provincial governors were deprived of the power of life and death; thus ' the liberty of the subject' was accorded. Successful in war, many provinces were added to his dominions. From 908 to 970 there was no fixed capital city. 9G7. Taitsong, second emperor. Learned himself, he patronized learned men. His own library contained 80,000 volumes. He granted exemption from taxation to the descendants of Confucius. He divided his empire into fifteen provinces. 1004. Chintsong, third emperor. He remitted a large portion of taxation; liberated prisoners; was himself devout. He showed weakness towards the Tartars, whom he defeated; gave encouragement to magic and to other superstitions. [The porcelain works in Fauliang hien, east of the Poyang Lake, were first established at this time. The invention of porcelain dates from the period B.C. 185 to a.d. 85.] He had a census made, and found that 21,076,965 persons were able to cultivate the lands. 1013. The learned, magistrates, eunuchs, bonzes, and those who live on the rivers in 1014. floating towns, were not included. A kind of militia was established, to which the people had so great an aversion that some persons mutilated themselves in order to 1022. avoid serving in it. The arts of women and men who pretended that they could see