474 PROCEEDINGS. 
literature had been known in China at so early a period, China must 
also have been known to Persia and Babylon, but not even a trace 
of China had been discovered in any ancient record of any country. 
They were told of bronze-casting during the Shang period. But it 
had first to be shown that bronze was known in China at the time. 
The character for copper did not occur in the ancient Classics, 
nor even in the Four Books. The phrase “three metals” was found 
several times, but only commentators of the Han time told them 
that gold, silver and copper were meant, other commentaries said that 
it referred to three kinds of gold. Dr. Edkins told them that some 
bronze relics from the Shang period were still preserved, but forgot 
to give the evidence. That some Chinese authors said so was not - 
sufficient reason ; they needed to know on what ground the assump- 
tion was based. Dr. Edkins himself mentioned the gradual elevation 
of the soil in the plains of North China from an accumulation of 
dust ten to fifteen feet in historical times within 1,000 to 1,500 years, 
which was corroborated by General Mesny. They could consequently 
not expect any ancient bronzes to be found near to the surface. 
Ancient graves must now be 20 to 30 feet below the ground. 
Whatever was found nearer to the surface could not belong toa- 
period n.c. He (Dr. Faber) had examined several Chinese works 
on antiquities and found none of them satisfactory. The Chinese 
had no test .of any value by which to determine the age of any 
bronzes, even of later times, They had a theory that bronze which | 
had been for 1,000 years in the ground assumed a blue colour, 
and if for 1,000 years in water a green colour, Chinese critics, 
however, were aware that the same colours might be produced 
artificially in a short time. The Silver Island bronze referred to, 
of which he had the pleasure of seeing a rubbing at Dr. Edkins’, 
could not possibly belong to 800 or 900 B.c. but might be referred — 
with more probability to the Ming period 2,000 years later. The 
famous Yiian Yiian, who defends its age, shows his own disqualifica- 
tion for judging bronzes by stating that the polished appearance of 
the burner was due to a peculiar composition of the bronze: No trace ie 
of atmospheric influence on this bronze for 2,700 years!—Other 
Chinese authors are well aware of the innumerable counterfeits and — 
