The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-07-13

mluibVCi vi IuDHC WO1kb anu medub VI OOi0luu-
nicstion, in particular of canals. Emperor YU,
who divided China into nine provinces, con-
stTucted great water works two thousand years
before Christ In Shantung there we're planta-
tons of mulberry trees, and every province was
already classified and properly taxed, according
TO the quality OF the soil and the development
of agriculture. How recent, compared with
China, does our Northern European civilization
appear Not older than the conquest of Gaul
by the Romans, whose disciples its inhabitants
became. Should we, then, wonder that the
Chinese, whose civilization was several thou
sands OF years older, and which, moreover
originated among themselves, looked down upon
whatever was foreign as something rude and
unpublished?
Feudal tenures and vassals are mentioned
under the first and second dynasty, but their
origin Is rather obscure. Yu already convoked
an assembly OF the empire, whose 10, 600 princes.
probably only petty noblemen, assisted. We
We obtain clearer idea of its organization
under the third dynasty of the Tsheu ll22 B. @.
AT first the number of the tiefs was very large,
1t is said 1878, and the fefs we're very small; Tor
even the founder of the second dynasty pos
sessed originally but 70 Ii. Later the number
OF the ieis diminished and their extent in
creased and In the sixth century B. @. there
were only 1885, Under the third dynasty the
land belonging to the Emperor, or the crown
lands, amounted to 1000 LII, or about 2500 gee
graphical square mlles. The Emperor possessed
the hundTed-fold of the greatest vassels, the
highest vassals the double OF the medium, and
the menium the double of the petty. Thus it
seems to have been at the beginning of the
Tsheu dynasty, but later all this cbanged for
China passed through all the Inconvenience
of the Holy German Empire and the modern
Japan.
ihe Imperial domain was directly admins.
tered by the Emperor, but in the feudal tenures
he had only the right to appoint number OF
the highest functionares. At first the vassals,
although succeeding AS heirs of their predeces-
soIs, were obliged to solicit the investiture.
From time to time they had to present them
at rho narf
paid visits to their territories. The hierarchy
of tunctionar1es was in the good olden times
very precisely determined. In the TSheu-R
there has been preserved to us what we may
call "a State and Court MANUAL of ancient
China which fills two large volumes, and of
which Mr.. Plath gives full extracts. The Impe.
rial tunctlonares by strange system were
divided into those of Heaven, Earth, Spring,
Summer, Fall, and Winter. The Imperial
household ministry were called those of Heaven
because the Emperor is the son of Heaven; the
rnancial ministry we're those of Earth, because
taxes are paid IN this wOrld the mnietry of
public worship were called those of Spring,
because the great religious festivals took place
at that time of the year; the ministry of war
were called those of Summer, because the mill
tary exercises were practlSed at that season of
the year; the ministry OF justice were called
that of Fall, because in autumn the criminal
executions were performed; and the ministry OF
commerce were called that of Winter, because
the public works were executed at that season
of the year.
1t seems that in ancient China the frequenta-
ton of school was obligatory, but at present, as
IN the United States, it is entirely voluntary. 1t
is probable that the higher branches OF instruc-
tion in ancient aristocratc China we're accessible
only to the sons OF tunctiOnaries and, in gene
raj. there existed a separation according to
castles. However, this point is not certBin. In
the times OF Meng-tseu, at least, there no longer
existed any restriction in regard to the public
employments The payment OF the functiona-
ries consisted In the produce of the SOIL and
the highest officer of principally received
only tithe, just like the owner OF fef.
Feudal monarchies cannot be of TOO long
duration. They soon assume other forms. In
England, France, and Spain, The power of the
nobility was broken by the Crown, and out of
the feudal monarchy arose absolute monarchy.
On the contrary, in Germany the Imperial
power decayed, and the vassals became sove-
reigns. In japan we observe the same process,
and ancient China passed through II also
under the Third of the Tsheu dynasty. Six
hundred years were necessary 10 achieve this
transition; for it began in 842, or according to
others, 7Sl b. G. and ended in 248 with the
Tsheu.
The decay of the Imperial power was not
brought about by quarrels as TO succession,
although sometimes these occurred when nc
Legitimate descendant existed, or when father
gave preference to a younger or q more beloved
son. However, the great Difference paid to
paternal authority, as already observed,
protected the Chinese dynasties against tht
worst consequences of polygamy, and, as
or brother in the absence OF direct male issue.
The decline of Imperial power began wheT
on the one side the Crown domains, which
| originally were a hundred-told the size of the
| largest fiefs, were more and more diminished
| by reckless donations, and by donations in favo
| OF newly created mobiles; and when the differen
vassals, by conquest or annexation OF barbarian
| territories, increased their power. Under veal
| Emperors the feudal tenants rarely presente
themselves for lnvestlture. Later the NOR
| powerful vassals combined their strength
attacked the weaker ones, and took their land
| from them. Finally the Emperor conferred upo
one of these great teudal barons-who, by tn
military organization of his under vassals wa
enabled to maintain an army OF thirty thousan
men-the guardianship of the empire. An
when the territorial independence of the vassal
| had become fact, one endeavored to devou
the other, and struggle began tor hegemony
In the last period there existed but sewers
particular States, and the question arose whic
of them would absorb the Others. But ho
China arrived at her unity we do not lear
from the present work OF Mr. Piath, who is (
devote to TINS interesting point special labor
which, we hope, Will soon be rendered public