TOPOGRAPHICAL NOTES. — KINGPO. 147 



Standing to-day near the city of Shaouhing. The date assigned to Yu, B.C. 2205, lies well 

 within the limits of Noah's historic life. 



Ningpo was still standing on its ancient site when, some eighteen hundred years later 

 (about B.C. 210), S. Hwangti visited the place, coming down from Hangchow. He, as is well 

 known to all who study Chinese history, destroyed as thoroughly as he could the classical 

 literature of China and extirpated her scholars, not so much from ignorant vandalism as 

 from an ambitious desire to recreate China, and make its history commence with the 

 inauguration of his own reign and name. 



In the year, A.D. 713, twelve centuries ago, the city was transferred, we know not 

 certainly why, to its present matchless site. It was named Mingchow, after the celebrated 

 range called "The Four Illustrious Hills " (pg BJ jXl). These mountains have their southern 

 base in far-off Taichow, their western branches behind Shaouhing, and the northern and 

 eastern spurs dip into the sea. The whole range, indeed, forms one of the last claws of the 

 outstretched paw of the Himalayan crouching lion, with the Chusan Archipelago at its tip. 

 The title, "Four Illustrious" which is still used of Ningpo, is connected with the legend of a 

 hill in the range, on the top of which there is a natural observatory, with apertures in the 

 rock facing the four-quarters of the heavens for celestial and terrestrial survey. To this 

 day, partly perhaps a freak of local pronunciation, partly a remembrance of the old name, 

 some people call the city Mingpo. 



When the Ming Dynasty came to the throne anxious fears beset the minds of the 

 loyal citizens as to the propriety of continuing to use the name Ming (identified now with 

 the illustrious Imperial family), as the name of their mean city. But the Emperor of the 

 time came to the rescue and suggested a change. "There is a city," he said, "sixty miles 

 to the eastward, named Tinghai ("^ ^), ' Settle the sea.' When the sea goes down the 

 waves are at peace; why not call your city 'Peaceful Wave' (Ningpo m M)?" This was 

 with much fervour of gratitude accepted, and Ningpo it remains. 



It had sprung up meanwhile and grown round the Pagoda of Heavenly Investiture. 

 This pagoda dates from the year A.D. 696, or seventy-six years earlier than the building 

 of the city itself. The following seems to have been generally the order in the foundation of 

 Chinese cities : — First, the luck of the place must be secured; warning away the approach 

 of evil influences by the pagoda, or suppressing such influences by its weight. Then the 

 circuit of the walls was traced and, finally, the houses filled in. Stirring events in the 

 West have coincided with the vicissitudes of the pagoda's history. It was built A.D. 696, 

 Oswy was Bretwalda in Britain. In I107, just as the majestic cathedral of Durham was 

 rising on its wood-fringed island-hill, the pagoda was destroyed. It was restored in 1 145, 

 when the yellow plague was devastating Europe. In 1221, during the reign of one of the 

 Chinese Emperors who strove to suppress Buddhism, it was levelled to the ground and 

 houses were built on the site. In 1285, with the first Edward on the English throne, the 

 pagoda rose from its dust and ashes. In 1327, at the time of our third Edward, it entirely 

 collapsed. In 1330, and again in 1411, it was restored and repaired. In 1413, the year of 

 Agincourt, it was struck by lightning ; and in the stormier days of our Elizabeth it was 

 blown over by a hurricane. In the year of the Restoration it was rebuilt and it stands 

 to-day, stripped of its outer galleries, apparently by fire; but erect and picturesque still, 



