ETHNOLOGY, ETC., OF CHINA. 187 
included thirty-five sovereigns. Civil wars and commotions 
continued throughout a great part of that long period. In 
the course of those wars some of the vassal princes sought 
and obtained the aid of the Tartars against others, and thus 
introduced into the heart of the empire a Power which was 
destined to undermine each in turn, and at a later period to 
conquer the Chinese Empire for itself. 
Contemporaneous with that dynasty there happened the 
accession of Saul (B.C. 1110); of David (B.C. 1070) ; 
the revolt of the Ten Tribes (B.C. 975); the capture of 
Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar (B.C. 586); the- accession 
of Cyrus (B.C. 551); the battle of Marathon (B.C. 490) ; 
and the accession of Alexander the Great (B.C. 336). 
History records with regard to the early monarchs of the 
Chow dynasty that they were ‘impersonations of every- 
thing wise and noble”; also that certain maxims laid 
down by the founder of the dynasty continue at the present 
day to command obedience in China; including such as 
relate to duties of ministers to their sovereigns; of children 
to parents ; brother to brother ; and friend to friend.* 
During that long-continued dynasty oscillations took place 
in respect to the deference to ethical subjects paid alike by the 
classes and by the masses. In the eighth century B.C. religion 
and morality had been relegated to neglect. Then came a 
time, extending over several centuries, when sages and philo- 
sophers who, for “ conscience sake,” had previously to flee to 
mountains and deserts, were recalled, and their counsel sought 
by those m high places. The public mind having been thus 
prepared to receive new systems of philosophy, doctrines 
severally enunciated by two sages who lived contemporane- 
ously during the sixth century B.C. were readily accepted, 
although the principles so taught differed among themselves, 
namely, Lao T’sz, the founder of Yaoist philosophy, and 
Kunetsr, the author of Confucianism. The doctrine of the 
former was said to be dominated by Tao, otherwise “ Reason”’; 
its principles to ignore everything that interferes with selfish 
tranquillity, including the pursuit of business, the desire of 
honours or riches, affection towards those united by blood, 
friendships, and all other earthly ties. No wonder that 
such principles led their disciples to/ indulge in such 
pursuits as those of alchemy, mesmerism, spiritualism, 
et cetera; and subsequently to doctrines of which the 
following, expressed by a Taoist philosopher about the year 
* During the Chow dynasty the use of surnames by the Chinese was 
introduced, 
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