Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1843-05-13
CHlNESL EMPIRE.
THE LITERATi OF CHINA.

are resor,ed 10 by throngs ofambilious students.
AT these examinations, all who choose; except
ing mental servants, their children, or grand
children, inferior poice-ofhcers, called va
Yuh, and theatricals, may attend, These per-
sons are also excluded from obtaining any OF
the above ranks. The prohibition. including
mental Servants, excludes large number OF
persons. If such person, however, becomes
wealthy, the law is often evaded, To super
intend the examinations, two persons, called
IChoo-kaou, are deputed from pekin The
present dynasty, which takes great pains in
training standing army, has introduced SIM
liar examination. land similar titles amongst the
military The whole empire is university,
mighty laboratory of scholars. The happy
men who pass successfully through the sever
al necessary ordeals are honored with 'disiinc-
tons They are Toasted at the expense Of the
nation; their names an! victories are published
throughout the empire; they are eourted and
caressed; and they become. tpsO ,tacfo. eligible
to all The Offices within the gifl Of the sover-
eign. The most learned are appointed 10 The
highest degree Of literary rank, the .Han.lin,'
or membership of The national college All
this means. that the emperor may pluck out
the true talent of the land, and employ it in
the administration of his Government. The
fourteen thousand civil mandarins are, almost
without exception. the beau1 eSpritS---lhe best
scholars of the sealm. The highest literary
graduate is entitled TO wear a white stone
brought from India, called ebay hew,' on the
cap, as distinguishing mark. Tire success
of a library examination is by them termed
'plucking branch Of the fragrant olive de-
noting the attainment Of the rank Of 'keu-jin;'
because that flower is in blossom in autumn
when the examination occurs. Educated sal-
eDt here enjoys its just consideration. All 9TH
er titles TO RESPECT, all other qualifications for
office, are held as nought compared with this.
This, undoubtedly, in connexon with the rigid
enforcement of the doctrine responsibility. is
the true secret of the greatness and prosperity
the stability and repose, of the celestial empire.
For, as Drs Milne truely remarks, they. are the
ambitions who generally overturn.governments
but in China there is road opcu to the amb-
ltious, without the dreadful alternative OF revo-
utionizing the country. 1t is merely required
of man that he should give some proof Of the
possession of superior abilliess certainly not
an unreasonable requisition. In education, the
Chinese glory 10 the inculcaiion of social and
political duties. Their teaching is chiefly by
authority. Hence the great use made OF max
inns These are suspended upon the walls Of
seen and read from early childhood to decrepit
age. They say, Good sayings are like pearls
strung together; inscrbe them the walls Of
your dwelling. and regard them nigh, and day
as wholesome. admoniiions.' The Chinese are
reading people; and the number of their pub
lished works is very considerable. la the de-
parlments of morals. history, biography, the
drama, poetry, and romance, there is no lack
! e ,cnch are The Chinese
| Maleria Medca of Le-she-chan, comprises for
tv octave volumes. OF statistical works the
number is also very large. Their novels are
said to be. many of them. excellent pictures of
the national manners. The'plot is often COM
pick, the incidents natural, and the characters
well sustained. The writings of the Chinese
are exceedingly numerous, and the Variety Of
style is very great. From the days Of Con-
fucius down TO our times, during period Of
more than twenly-three hundred years, there
has been one uninterrupted series of authors.
China is full OF books, and schools. and COL
leges. New authors are continually springing
up, though few of them comparatively gain
much celebrity. The press is active. and the
traffic in books is lucrative and most honora-
bic branch of trade. Individuals have their
! libraries, and the government its collections.
OF these there are catalogues, OF some which
contain simply the titles of bo6is with The
names of their authors: bu, others. in addition
10 the titles and names. give brief notices OF
their contents, inimating in few words what
each contains. Ofihe imperial library at Pc
ken, thereoare catalogues in both these forms. "
CHINESE CEREMONIES.
The following is a specimen Of their cere
mones:---lhe sedan-chair'is one Of the georles
of Chinese rank, ain which the owner is COM
forsbly seated, while he is borne gently along
by coupleof coolies. body-servant is in
attendance, who walks by the side Of lhe.lord-
" chair, having IN MS night hand a lantern
(ir1g lung J. such as is used when walking
out, without which no person can appear 10 the
streets after dark: on il is inscribed the name
and raik Of the owner. The interior OF the
SEDAN is Just large enough for the convenient
reception of a single occupant. InsteS1 Of
pena 5, the sides ale covered with a coloreJ
silk for lighines. = and there is an additional
covering Il oil-cloih, TO be used in case of rain.
Two bearers place the light elastic poles upon
their shoulders; and move; sOmeiimesoa at coz
siderable Speed, with measured tread. and a
very steady motion. The sedan Looks like the
very home Of comfort and repose. The Illus
iTioUs Fdlstan never lonk' mime ease H. mine
ini' more luxurioosy Than the rich Chinaman
= in his Wanted sedan. This vehicle Is much
psed nv the wealthy, aid. affords almost the
only mode Of land-lravelling known. the horse
being rarely, though sometimes employed.
wbeel-csniages are but liiiie gsed in China
especially in the southern and eastern parts
and 10 the vicinity 4 large rivers. where boats
are MAGE 10 serre il their stead. Private gen
\ ha4.r - ~ Er.1s