Durango semi-weekly herald., 1906-05-14
FACTS ABOUT ALL COUNTRIES
CHINA

Area OF China proper, 1,532,42O
square miles; population, 407 1897 300.
Including dependencies. area, 1876
400 square miles; population, 426.337,-
300
Kuan Hgsu. born August 2, 1872,
succeeded to the throne on the death
of his cousin. January ~, 1875. He
assumed the reins of government
nominally in March, 1887, when he
came Of age.- From the time of mis-
marriage, in 1889, up to September,
1898, he was the actual head of China,
but because of his rather erratic ten
dencies toward reform the empress
dowager resumed the power and has
since remained at the head of affairs.
Tsi An, the empress dowager, is a
Manchu, big footed" woman, as
the Manchus never bind the feet OF
their children. Together with large
number of her sex she went to Pekin
10 be presented to the emperor, Hen
Fung, on the occasion of his choosing
his concubines, or secondary wives.
She was highly educated and accom-
plished and pleased the emperor. who
made her one OF his concubines. She
had one son, whom the present en-
peror succeeded to the throne Kuan
Hgsu has no children and there is no
designated successor.
The laws of the empire are laid
down in the collected regulations of
the Using dynasty. Supreme direc-
tion Of affairs rests in q privy coun-
Gil and the administration is under
the direction of cabinet composed
of four members, two of Manchu and
| two of Chinese origin. In addition
| to these there are two representa-
tives of the great college, whose
| duty 1t is to keep a watchful eye
lest something contrary to the civil
and religious laws OF the empire. as
laid down IN theea n8861i6sEeseof n8861i6Es 81 confucius
be enacted.
These two representatives are call.
| ed ministers of state, and under their
direction are eight boards correspond.
Ing to the presidents cabinet.
The privy council meets In the pres.
ence of the sovereign to transact its
daily business between the hours of
4 and 6 a. M.
There are three existing religions
in China-Confucianism, Buddhism
and Taoism. No ecclesiastical heir.
archy is maintained at the public ex-
pense. nor is there any priesthood at
tached to the Confucian religion. al.
though that is the state religion. The
bulk of the people are Buddhists, but
many, to be on the safe side. prac.
tice all three.
Chinas army on peace footing,
until recently, consisted Of. 48,5OO Of
ficers and men. Since J4ban's war
with Russia the army has been great
ly augmented.
Her navy consists of one protected
cruiser, IA other cruisers, 3 seagoing
gunboats. 13 river gunboats, 12 tor
pedo boats, manned by 294 officers
and 5000 men.
SIX hundred and thirteen million,
one hundred and forty thousand dol
lars represents the national indebted.
ness, with interest and other charges
amounting to $30,452,O00.
Her revenues amount annually to
S62.7loOOO. while ner expenditures
are $71,S96,OOO.
emma is essentially an agricultur-
al country, and from time immemorial
1t has been the custom OF the soyer.
eign to initiate the Chinese new year.
which begins in the spring. by turn
ing over few burrows in the sacred
field"
Chinese history dates back to 2637
b. C., when the people were made
into clans or tribes and were ruled
by sovereign. who was chosen by his
subjects as the one most worthy to
rule.
Ihis was followed by the feudal
system. which continued for nearly
20 centuries and was similar to tne
'endal system in Europe in medieval
times. ,A~aE
BY 4OS b. c., China was divided |
INTO seven great states and each state
was contending for the supremacy.
In 221 B. G. the king of Using was
and he assumed the title
ot twang II, or emperor. This enter
prising and far-seeing ruler decided
mat as there was but one sun in the
heavens so there should be but one
'uler In China. and with his reign
he present imperial form Of govern
nent WAS founded.
The reigning dynasty dates from
-643.
The great wall was erected In 214
>, Z. 1t Is about 1900 miles long.
win breadth Of 25 feet at the base
'nd 10 feet at the top. The height
aries from 15 to 80 feet.
Unlike the Japanese. the Chinese