110 SURGEON-GENEEAL SIR C. A. GORDON, M.D., K.C.B., ON 



were severally brought at the date in question has persisted 

 down to our own time. But notwithstanding- the advances so 

 made, it occupied one of the most distracted and calamitous 

 periods in the annals of the Chinese empire, political and 

 warlike troubles arising on the one hand from combinations 

 among the feudal princes,* on the other from invasions 

 threatened and actual by the Tartars, the rebellious wars 

 continuing at intervals during the long period of five hundred 

 years.f At length the turbulent potentates were reduced, 

 but in the general condition of anarchy prevailing the 

 reigning emperor at the time was defeated at the head of 

 his army by the Tartars, who " growing more daring by 

 repeated successes, and profiting by the internal divisions of 

 the country, no longer confined their inroads to sudden 

 invasions, but carried on a regular war of plunder against 

 the defenceless Chinese."^ Finally, the thirty-fifth eniperor§ 

 under the irresistible pressure of events abdicated, and retired 

 into private life. With him the dynasty came to an end. 



Among the more important events connected with the 

 Chow dynasty, the following are selected in chrono- 

 logical order, namely : — A colony of Chinese took posses- 

 sion of Corea-ll Sea-going ships were constructed: long 

 voyages, even across the Indian Ocean, and as far as to 

 Egypt, undertaken.^ Metal money brought into use, such as 

 continues current at the present day,** i.e., cash. Palaces and 

 numerous public buildings erected.jt At a later datejt 

 mining for copper is for the first time mentioned, and also the 

 €oining therefrom of money. The use of family names was 

 introduced during the same period. §§ 



With regard to the general conditions of the people, very 

 little transpires in available literature. That little indicates 

 that they were partial to athletic exercises, and to games, some 

 of the latter requiring great mental calculation. Luxury had 

 increased among them ; they rode on horses, sat on chairs, 



* See GutslaflPs Hist, of China, vol. i, p. 202. 



+ Eead Historical Account of China, by Hugh Murray, 1836, vol. i, p. 59. 



X China opened, by Gutslatf, 1838, vol. i, p. 315. 



§ ChAvang-seang-wang, b.c. 245. He reigned one year only. 



II Sent by Wu Wang, founder of the dynasty, B.C. 1122-1115. 



•T B.C. 1113. (Pauthier, p. 85.) See Note 3. 



** B.C. 1115-1078. See Du Halde, vol. i, p. 331. 



+t B.C. 1001-946. Xi Namely, B.C. 571-519. 



§§ In England the uise of surnames dates from 12th century a.d. 



