CHINA. 



377 



institutions of the country have been subverted, 

 strangers have sat upon the throne, and ruled with 

 an iron hand: but the empire has always returned 

 to its former state, and the nation has become what 

 it was before the change. 



"The fundamental principle here, (says the Rev. 

 C. Gutzlaff,) as in other despotic states, is to sac- 

 rifice individual happiness to the welfare of the 

 whole, and to dispose of this according to the plea- 

 sure of the autocrat. In China, these proceedings 

 are subject to invariable rule. Long experience 

 has taught the governors to follow the same line 

 of conduct, certain of success ; whilst the people 

 have been accustomed to submit without murmur- 

 ing. China is the beau-ideal of despotism, under 

 the endearing name of a paternal government. 

 The great spring by which the institution is to be 

 kept in motion is filial piety, changed towards in- 

 feriors into affectionate kindness, and towards su- 

 periors to veneration and obedience. To strengthen 

 the hands of government, a strong line of demar- 

 cation has been drawn between its officers and 

 the people : from the highest minister to the mean- 

 est soldier, all are by their situation interested in 

 upholding the throne arid defending the prince. 

 Being entirely dependent on the peror, having 

 all to hope for and to fear from him, and nothing 

 to expect from the nation, the attachment of those 

 employed by the government to the existing order 

 of things is lasting. As they are, moreover, the 

 richest and most intelligent order, and the sove- 

 reign lords of the country, they naturally present 

 a very formidable front to every aggressor. Scholars 

 can look only to the court for honours and emo- 

 luments : the nation does not remunerate their 

 studies nor labours. There are no Longmans nor 

 Murrays in Pekin ; there are no rich landholders 

 or merchants who could prove a check upon these 

 united powers. Any man who has amassed con- 

 siderable property, and wishes to enjoy it with 

 security, buys a nominal rank, and thus virtually 

 enlists himself on the side of government.' Mean- 

 while, the higher orders and great officers of the 

 state are under a perpetual state of surveillance ; a 

 sword is for ever suspended over their heads, each 

 man is endeavouring to rise upon the ruin of his 

 rival. Bribery, lies, misrepresentations, mutual 

 accusations, and every species of craft and cunning, 

 are the order of the day among the mandarins ; but 

 they are thus kept in check, and the emperor 

 gains a perfect knowledge of each man's character 

 and proceedings. There are six boards, called Lich 

 Poo, at Pekin, to which all matters of importance 

 are referred ; but they do not appear very success- 

 ful in their transactions. The great task of the 

 board of public works is to keep the Yellow River 

 from inundation, which they never have been able 

 to do ; while the board of foreign affairs confines 

 its attention to keeping the Mongols in proper 

 order, and to preserve the frontiers against inroads ; 

 but they are not more fortunate. Yet, founded on 

 dispute and ignorance, arid supported by craft and 

 cunning, without a virtue to exalt, without patri- 

 otism to secure, without religion to ennoble and 

 purify, this immense empire not only preserves it- 

 self in outward security and inward tranquillity, 

 but flourishes and extends. It was never before 

 so large as it is now." 



China seems indeed to be at the zenith of its 

 glory ; for neither to the east or west, the north or 

 south, can any increase of territory be made. It 

 has most to apprehend from the wild and lawless ' 



nomades of the north ; yet the threatening position 

 which Russia has taken in the north, and England 

 in the south, will doubtless check the depredatory 

 habits of these tribes ; and, though unintentionally, 

 these two powers are the strongest bulwarks of 

 the Chinese empire. The Chinese possess great 

 advantage over other ancient nations in not con- 

 sidering labour degrading, of whatever description 

 it might be, and in avoiding the division into castes. 

 Every one is at liberty to choose for himself the 

 occupation best suited to his constitution and 

 habits, and no one is degraded because he belongs 

 to a certain class of society. Generally, the Chin- 

 ese may be considered as an agricultural people, 

 whose density of population exceeds the means of 

 their subsistence ; hence many individuals are with- 

 out provision. Industry becomes a necessary and 

 constant habit, whilst the least intermission of it 

 leads to misery. Thus ground down to the earth 

 by the most urgent bodily wants, every thought is 

 absorbed, and there Is no time nor inclination for 

 mental or spiritual improvement. Hence the vast 

 number of beggars, vagabonds, and the thousands 

 who are constantly perishing for want of suste- 

 nance. The food, clothing, dwelling, and whole 

 mode of life amply bespeak the stern necessity by 

 which they are controlled. Those classes who are 

 above want are too deeply dyed with the national 

 spirit not to show themselves as Chinese by their 

 grovelling desires. Sensual inclinations operate 

 instead of want ; their habits degenerate into 

 sloth, because they are under no necessity to 

 engage in labour, and the length of their nails is 

 used t indicate their exemption from menial occu- 

 pation. 



"Another great and powerful agent (says Gutz- 

 laff), in moulding the Chinese character is religion. 

 Without taking a partial view of this subject, it 

 must be confessed that the Confucian doctrines 

 neither engage the affections, nor purify the heart. 

 Taouism, a mere theoretical and mystical system, 

 is ill suited to a people who are obliged to study 

 practical usefulness in every thing. The Chinese 

 have too much common sense to believe the mon- 

 strous fables of Buddism and embrace its idolatries 

 to its full extent. Still the outward ceremonies 

 are faithfully observed, while the great mass of the 

 people show perfect indifference about the tenets, 

 or turn every thing religious into ridicule.* Who- 

 ever wishes duly to observe the aberrations of the 

 human mind, the uncontrolled sway of the passions, 

 and the total absence of conscientious scruples, has 

 only to live among the Chinese. They consider 

 that alone to be a crime which is punishable by 

 law. Moral obligations do not exist; the most 

 sordid self-interest directs all their actions ; and 

 public opinion, which exercises a most powerful 

 sway among Christian nations, is a thing entirely 

 unknown in China. There is no fear of God in 

 their hearts, and therefore no adequate restraint 

 upon their innate vices. Money with the Chinese 

 is the very idol which all, without distinction, 

 worship. Their thoughts, conversation, and con- 

 stant pursuits" centre in acquiring the ' mammon of 

 unrighteousness.' It is the national spirit, the 

 public sentiment, and the chief good of high and 



* " They have invented a praying- machine, into which the 

 prayers to be recited are thrown, written on a slin of paper: 

 as these structures are in the shape of windmills, tlie wind, of 

 course, puts them -n motion, and every rustling- of the paper 

 ii ;i pr.iyer ; so thiit tlie number of ejaculations may be multi- 

 millions, without any exertion <m the p;irt of the de- 

 v,.tr." dtit.rlnff. 



