Mr. Davis's Memoir concerning the Chijiese. 



o 



Fencing the books of Confucius, may fairly be considered as evidence that 

 they carried them from China, at, or some time previous to, the period in 

 question.* The earliest traditions of every country must be listened to 

 with distrust, unless corroborated by circumstantial proof; and the most 

 fastidious native of Japan need not be offended witli the chronology that 

 gives to his country an antiquity of more than two thousand years. 



During the succeeding dynasties of Han (B.C. 200 — A.D. 220), the first 

 of which is called Si, or western, from holding its metropolis in Shen-si, 

 while the latter bears the opposite name of Tung, or eastern, from its court 

 having been removed to Honan, the empire suffered several revolutions. 

 The ambition of the rulers of the different states, as well as of the ministers 

 of the Emperor, gave rise to various wars ; and, in the last days of Han, so 

 little was left of an empire, that the sovereigns of that period are called 

 Choo, or Lord, instead of Hoang-ti. The Tartars, too, by their fugitive and 

 predatory mode of warfare, were the cause of much trouble, and forced the 

 Chinese to propitiate them with alliances and tribute. This impolitic 

 system, which commenced so early, was in subsequent ages carried to a still 

 greater height, and terminated, many centuries afterwards, in the overthrow 

 of the empire, by the Mongol Tartars.! 



The dynasty of Han, however, is a very celebrated period in Chinese 

 history, and learning especially is said to be under great obligations to it. 

 At the present day, the term for a Chinese, in contradistinction to a Tartar 

 is Han-jin, " a Man of Han." Paper and ink, instead of the awkward and 

 cumbrous method of pricking characters on the bark of trees with a stile, 

 are stated to liave been invented during this dynasty, shortly previous to the 

 Christian era :% and it is probable that the rapid progress of Buddhism, or the 

 religion of Fu, which was soon after introduced from India, was in some mea- 

 sure owing to those inventions. The leading tenets of this sect were taught 

 in the Chinese language, while the mere sounds of the characters were used, 



• Allowing tliat this might have happened before the burning of the books, B.C. 200, it must 

 necessarily have been rijter the time of Confucius, B.C. 300. 



f During the learned and polite, but unwariike dynasty of Sung (A.D. 950 — 1281), who were 

 crushed by the Mongols, enormous supplies of money and silk were repeatedly demanded and 

 obtained by the Barbarians. This unwise submission had the natural effect of increasing their 

 insolence, and hastening the ruin of the empire. 



J The art of print ing is not recorded to have arisen until about A.D. 925, a little before the 

 time of Suns. 



