The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-06-02

1t was under the House Of Han that a be-
ginning was made In the institution OF civil
service examinAtions-a system that has
continued to dominate the Chinese intellect
down TO our own time. 1t was not fully
developed, however, until the dynasty OF
Tang. Meanwhile beiIes-lettres made a
marked advance. The poetry Of the Han
period is more finished than had been that
Of the Chou epoch. Prose composition also
became vigorous and lucid. Sienna Teien.
the Herodotus Of China, was born In the
Han epoch. A glory TO his country. the
treatment which SEe-ma Teien received at
the hands of his people exposes their bar
barism. He had recommended L-llng as
a suitable commander to lead an expedition
against the Mongols. As it happened. Id
ling surrendered to the enemy, and Sze-ma
Ts'ien. having been his sponsor, was liable
TO suffer death in his stead. Being allowed
an alternative. he chose 70 submit to the
disgrace of emasculation in order that he
might live to complete his monumental
work, a memorial better han sons and
daughters. A pathetic letter Of the unfor-
tunate General, who never dared TO return
to China, is preserved among the choice
specimens Ol DTObo COLhpODiIOhs
W. should add that. not content with the
Great Wall for their northern limit nor
with the Great River" for their southern
boundary, the Hans attempted to advance
their frontiers in both directions. In the
north they added the province Of Kansuh
and in the other direction they extended
their operations as far south as the borders
OF AMMAN; but they did not make good the
possession OF the whole OF the conquered
territory. Szeohuen and Human. however.
were added to their domain. The latter
provinces seema to nave served as q penal
colony rather than an integral portion OF
the empire. A poem written by an exiled
statesman ZOO B. g. Ia dated from Chang
sha, the capital Of Human. In the south
the savage tribes by which the Chinese were
opposed made a deep impression upon the
character of the people. but left no record
in history. Not 30 with the more powerful
foe encountered in the north. Under the
title OF Shanyu this potentate was a fore
runner OF the Grand Khan OF Tartary-
claiming equality with the Emperor Of
China and exchanging embassies on equal
terms. His people. known as the Hiunghu,
are supposed TO nave been ancestors OF the
Huns, who in the fifth century OF u era
invaded and came nigh 10 c%onquerng the
Roman Empire.
The majestic structure erected by the
Tsins and consolidated by the Hans began
to orumble at the beginning Of it's fifth GEN.
fury Of existence. In 221 A. d. it's frag-
ments we're represented by three cities, each
OF which claimed to be the seat OF empire.
The Stete OF Wei was founded by Tsao Tsao
- -. "a. z.ut.,I m, Ia pann the rnafHann
lis of the Hans. Tsao had the further adj
vantage as Mayor OF the palace Of holding
in his power the feeble Emperor Hwang-Ti.
the last Of the House OF Han The State OF
WI, embracing the provinces OF kiangsu,
Kiangsi and Cheh Chehking, was estab-
lished by Stun KEN, a man Of distinguished
ability who secured a full share Of the Han
patrimony. The third State was founded
by Liu Pi, a scion OF the imperial house.
whose capital was at Ching Tu-fu in Szech-
uen. The historian is here confronted by
a problem like that OF settling the apostolic
succession Of the three popes who existed
at the beginning Of the fifteenth century,,
and he seems to have decided in favor OF the
last named potentate. whom he designates
az the Later Ham mainly on the ground
OF blood relationship,
The Ministe' Chu-Koh LANG to WHOM,
the son Of Liz Pi was conided was the
most versatile and inventive genius Of
Chinese antiquity. His career exemplif1es
the truth Of the assertion that many a great
statesman and discoverer may, owing to
unfgvorable circumstances, live n die in
private life. As the founder Of the House
Of Chou discovered in an old fisherman a
counsellor OF State who paved his way to
the throne so Liu Pi. King OF S~zechuen,
found Chu -koh LANG in a humble cottage.
where he was hiding himself in the garb OF a
peasant. Three times the king visited that
thatched hovel" before he succeeded in per-
suadinR it's occupant to commit himself to
his uncertain fortunes. From that mo-
ment, however, Chu-koh Liang served him
as eyes and ears, teeth and claws. with a
skill and fidelity which have o the ap-
plause Of China throughout succeeding
ages. Among other things he did for Liu ri
what Archimedes did for Dionygius OF SYRIA
cuse He constructed military engines.
which appeared 20 wonderful TO contempt
raries that, as tradition has il, he made
horses and oxen out Of wood-that is 10
say, he evolved a traction power out Of ma
terial previously unused. Although no
single invention can be mentioned as having
been unquestionably derived from Chuh-
koh LANG. there lie no doubt that he wa the
first man OF his age in intellect and il such
arts and sciences as we're known TO his time.
The author OF a Chinese romance WHICH has
a historical basis-the author lived as late
as the end OF the thirteenth century A. D.
frequently speaks OF Chuh-koh Liang's use
of gunpowder either 10 terrify the enemy or
TO serve for signals, In this romance. how
ever, Runpowder 10 never used to throw a
cannon ball. II ia probable enough that
g%unpowder was known TO the Chinese OF
that date. for Arab writer's speak Of gun
powder under the designation Of Chinese
snow" meaning doubtless the saltpetre,
which forms a leading ingredient. The
Chinese had been dabblng In alchemy for
many centuries and IL IL scarcely possible
thai they should have failed 10 hit on soms
such explosive. According to d.. Martin,