china's place in ancient history : A FRAGMENT. 95 



of Hwangti. The iutrocluction of money dates* from this 

 period, the Chinese term for which, namely, Tsyen, signifies 

 *'the wafer of a fomitain that runs Avithout ceasing." A 

 system of polymetalllsm existed; gold, silver, and copper 

 were in use, and subsequent emperors are said to have 

 permitted the use of foreign coins of gold and silver 

 throughout their dominions. There came also to be used 

 money made of tin, lead, iron, baked earth ; also cowry shells.f 

 To him also is assigned the introduction of written characters, 

 his idea in that respect having been derived from observing 

 the markings on the shells of tortoises ; the systematic 

 rearing and management of silkwormsj ; the manufactm-e 

 of the fibre produced from them into robes of different 

 shapes and colours, were among the numerous advances 

 connected with that reign. 



He created six ko-lau or Prime Ministers§ to assist him in 

 governing his empire He appointed a professor of music, 

 whose duty was to explain the order and arrangement of the 

 different tones. He taught the way of making flutes, fifes, 

 and orgai-is, trumpets that imitated the voice of the dragon, 

 and drums that made the noise of thunder. He divided his 

 country into principalities, in each of which he caused cities 

 to be erected. He introduced the use of wheeled carriages, 

 and the training of horses to draw them. Lastly, he ordered 

 that coffins should be made in which the dead were to be 

 interred. 



Nor were such subjects as in our day pertain to medicine, 

 hygiene, and physiology neglected. It was pointed out that 



* Neither gold nor silver has ever been coined to any great extent in 

 China, although in 1835 and 1856 some attempts were made, 

 t Cyprea moneta. 



X The Silkrcorm Classic was published during the reign of Hwangti, 

 B.C. 2640-2600. The methods of rearing silk worms introduced and 

 described at the very distant date of forty centuries ago is that still 

 followed in China. Only a few months ago the papers of the day stated 

 that a delegate had been sent from France to study that method. 

 § The sujireme government consists of : 

 (a) Ayko, or cabinet. 



{b) Tsing-jin-foo, or board of control of imperial family. The six 

 tribunals are : 



1. Tribunal of selection and degradation of civil officials. 



2. Hoo-poo, board of reverence. 



3. Lepor, board of rites and ceremonials. 



4. Ping-poo, tribunal of wai". 



5. Hing-poo, tribunal of punishments. 



6. Kung-poo, the board of works. (GutslafF, vol. i, p. 39.) 



H 2 



