The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-06-20
she;r remarkable adventures, preservation and res
torxtion.

k-rsupg ching OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. iose
Oboe yuen.chang (caled afterwards Hung-woo)
the grandsire of the Ming line Of princes, was the
son of q common laborer Of Keang nan, who served
during his youth as scullion in the vans heo TEN
pie From thence he entered the army, in which he
very soon, by talent and merit, rose to distinction
Having acquired great name and established his
Sortnne, by marriage with lady Of rank, he became
The captain of band Of robbers Successful robbery
Including piracy, extorton, and bribery has always
been popular in China rs in some other countries
that might name, the difference In public opinion
with regard to it, being only as to the mode IN which
Nc robbery should be perpetrated provided, also,
that il is done on large scale, and In some cases.
concealed until its object is effected The operations
of tbe Chinese chiefain were open and above board.
His severe discipline effected order among
his followers, and converted them into good soldiers
He encountered other chiefs, who then contend
cd for the possession of provinces and routed them
N pitched battles. Having subjected several pro-
vnces he declared his intention of driving the Mon
goi Taras out OF the country, and overtrowing the
Yuen dynasty, which had been established by the
Mongo chief Kublai-khan, grandson of the renowned
ccnqneror Gengis-khan Whilst planning campaigns
as ainst the Mongols, Chooyuen-chang issued edcts
for the consolidation of his government and thus ad
vsnced with firm step towards the possession OF su-
preme power He defeated the Mongol armies, took
nearly the whole Of the imperial family prisoners, and
in 1865 he became Emperor of Chiua and thus founded
the Ming or bright dynasty. He took the name OF
Hung-woo ascending the throne, (his ancestral
name being Tae-tsoo) His reign was happy one;
be granted universal toll ration to religious sect, and
stu ed only to benefit his nation Few emperors of
China equalled It's great man, and no patriot
kae, with little eff lsion of blood delivered his
country from foreign bondage He died in 1899,
soienuy taking leave of his ministers, and appoint
ing his grandson as his successor.
Keen-wan, much against the wishes of the
sons Of Hung.woo, acceded TO the throne IN 1879,
when only sixteen years Of age This prince
was remarkable for his afabfity a1i ilial piety,
but his reign was unpropitious. The late En-
peror had given large provinces to his sons,
but they were jealous OF their young nephew who
was placed over them, and they rebeled. One o.
bRen was siezed by the ministers of Keen wan and
bsnished; another killed HIMSELF another lost his
possessions, and was sentenced TO end his days in
exile; another, the Prince Of Yen, took up arms
az ainst his nephew, aad after defeating several
armies sent against him, he marched directly to
Eankin, the capital traitor opened the gates to
the victorious prince, who adopted the name OF
Yung-la, and acted in the capital with the savage
fury Of tyrant The Empress was burnt in the
palace, while Keen.wan, expelled from the throne,
wandered about for considerable time, and at
enl died in obscurity Zone account says ne turned
monk, wandered about for forty years. and died in
prison)
The reign Of Yung-lu was bloody and revengeful
numbering all those who supported his predecessor.
He transferred the court from Nankn to Pekin,
which last city has since remained the capital of the
empire. lie carried OF several Successful campaigns
in Tartary, and has also the credit Of having sub
jected Tunkin and Cochin China. Thus the arms OF
tile Ming dynasty became formidable to the barba-
rans. He promoted literature, by giving TO the i'm
perial college new impulse, but confined the labors
Of the privileged scholars to the stady of ancient
writings. He died in 1926, and was succeeded by
HuDghe, his son, q weak bat benevolent prince,
friend Of the people and patron of scholars. He
lived but year in the exercise of sovereign
power. His son, Seuen-tih, reigned ten years. He
was lover Of peace and good statesman. Against
the Tartars, however, the safety of China required
him to wage war, in which he was successful. The
imperial palace burnt down at the end OF
his reign, which was considered as an evil omen,
portending the downfall of this dynasty.
Seuen-tih died in 1886, leaving the throne to his
son. Ying tsung then only eight years Of age, whose
mother was appointed regent during tie minority
Az long his wise and excellent mother lived, the
administration was vigorous. But his preceptor,
man Of great talent, exercised an injurious influence
over the young prince. Having induced his pupil to
engage il a ruuons war with the Tartars, the whole
Chinese army was routed, and the young emperor
taken prisoner During bis captivity his brother
KIngte, was placed on the throne and refusing TO
retire when Wing tung released, still filed the
throne for ght years. Not being ambitious, Ying
ts.Ng retired into private Hfe and again assembled
tae throne on his brothers death, in Ass.
Ying tsung died in l466, and was succeeded by
his son, Ching hwa, who defeated the Tar
tars, and suppressed a formidable rebellion
in one Of the provinces. He was the
first of the line who studied the absurd doctrine OF
Buddhism, an idoatrous religion introduced from
India. From him the decay Of the Ming dynasty is
dated Having been reared among women and
ounuchs, he became q complete child of the palace,
and gave the eunuchs great power which caused gen.
eral dissatisfaction; he died Of grief account Of the
death of his wife, in 1885, and left the country in
miserable state. He succeeded by his son, Hung
che whose reign was marked by famine, rebellion,
aud frequent nroads Of the Tartars. The votares OF
Buddhism had become numerous and influential in Chi
ma; they stirred up rebellion which even threatened
te subverae Of the regning prince He died in 1906,
wien his son and successor, Ching-tih, was only
fifteen years of age. Great power given by this
sovereign to the eanuchs, who plundeTed the people
a. caused several rebellions The peasantry of two
provinces marched in battle array to the capital, to
sesk relief. The Tartars, on the other hand, were
powerful and their inroads endangered the safety of
Tie empire.
Ching died in 1922, leaving no children, and
vas succeeded by his cousin Kea-ssing, whose first
act was general amnesty for all political offences
He was supersttious poet, who studied literature
and the revees Of the Taou sect, whilst the country
was beset with enemies on all sides. His bgotted
generation for the Buddhist and Taou sects soon