Nov. 24, 1881] 
NATURE 
83 
sixty-one years he ruled his vast dominions with vigour 
and success. His biographers, the Jesuit missionaries, 
whom he treated with unusual consideration, represent 
him as a Chinese Admirable Crichton—man of letters, 
savant, philosopher, politician, philanthropist, and warrior. 
In his early years he showed the utmost ardour for study, 
and the love of learning continued with him until his death. 
When the Jesuits taught European astronomy he did not 
hesitate to place himself under them as a student. He 
has left-behind him works on most branches of human 
knowledge, extending over a hundred volumes. The 
fourth part contains his observations on natural history 
and physics. It was translated into French by Pére 
Amiot, and partially published at Paris towards the end 
of the last century in the A/émozres concernant les Chinois, 
and is to be found in the fourth volume of that series. We 
here extract and summarise a few of the Imperial opinions. 
To use the words of the translator, “If our scholars find 
nothing to learn there, they will at least see that there is 
not so much ignorance amongst foreign nations as is 
generally believed.”” We follow the Emperor’s language 
as far as possible. 
Earthquakes.—Some years ago, when reading for instruction, 
as well as to foster my love of truth and reason, I had the 
curiosity to examine into the causes of earthquakes. One writer 
says that they come from air confined in the bowels of the 
earth, seeking to burst its prison and make an aperture for itself. 
An earthquake hardly ever extends more than ten leagues in 
area, although its effects may be felt over a hundred leagues, 
The manner in which a shock is felt on the surface depends on 
the nature of the ground through which it is transmitted. When 
the air [within the earth] is exhausted by a great shock there is 
no danger of another for some time; but a weak shock is almost 
always the prelude to another. In the dynastic history of Song 
it is stated that earthquakes are produced by the struggles of the 
Yang? against obstacles within the earth; while another work 
attributes them to the efforts made by the Yang and Yin to 
separate from each other. The countries north-west of China 
are very subject to earthquakes, ten years scarcely ever passing 
without one. The reason of this is that these districts contain 
vast sandy tracts where there is little rain, and the air within the 
earth is therefore keener and more vigorous. Earthquakes, on 
the other hand, which take place in countries adjoining the sea 
are less violent, for the earth is humid, and softens the air. 
People accustomed to the sea assert that there is no wind before 
an earthquake, and that at such times experienced pilots get as 
far off from the land as possible. This shows that the shocks 
are caused wholly by air. 
Volcanoes.—An ancient writer states that a certain mountain 
in Yunnan was called the fire-mountain, because flames came 
from an opening in it. Some modern critics have accused this 
historian of lying ; but volcanoes do certainly exist. They are 
mentioned in the records of the Song dynasty, and in other 
books. In the couutry of the Mongols flames are thrown up in 
many places. The fertility of the svil is much increased by 
these fires, for the people sow their grain near them, and reap 
a bountiful harvest in a few months. 
form of the Earth.—It seems evident from tradition and 
records that the North Pole has always remained in the same 
position, But what i. the shape of the earth? Europeans, who 
are great travellers, say that it is round, and astronomy confirms 
this. One philosopher says that it is very old, and compares it 
to the yolk of an egg. How many things there are which we 
do no: understand, but which will be known to future ages! We 
know the extent of our knowledge from ancient books, and so it 
will be with posterity from our books. 
The Mariner's Compass.—The magnetic needle always declines 
a little. It cannot point directly to thesouth. This declination 
is uncertain, and does nut depend always on the country. In 
the twenty-seco:.d year of my reign (1683) it declined three 
degrees at Peking, but only two and a half at present. The 
declination may be towards the east in one province, and 
towards the west in another. One of the Song letters says that 
this depends on the manner in which the needle is magnetised ; 
but then why should the same needle vary in different years ? 
* Fang and Vin, the dual powers which, united, Chinese philosophers 
regard as forming, directing, and modifying all things: the male and female 
principles. 
Moreover, each compass should haye its own declination, and 
there should be some which do not decline at all. Can it be 
that there is some accidental cause which is peculiar to each 
country? I believe Europeans say the needle turns towards the 
north ; the ancients say that it is towards the south. Which is 
right? Neither party says why, and therefore no more is learned 
from one than from the other. However the ancients are the 
earliest recorders, and the more I see the more convinced I am 
that they understood the workings of nature, 
Sound and Tones,—Nothing is apparently more simple than 
the theory of sound; but nothing is really more difficult or com- 
plicated. Sound conveys to the mind the developed ideas of 
others. The pleasure derived from music is half way between 
that felt at the art and the grosser voluptuousness of the senses. 
People possess ears without reflecting why, or what services they 
render and pleasures they procure. For myself, I have always 
been struck with the manner in which the tone of voice expresses 
the most varied emotions of the mind. It is not necessary to 
see the face, or even to hear the words spoken; the tone alone 
is sufficient to tell how the speaker is moved. It is with the 
voice as with beauty, the impressions made by it vary according 
to the person. ‘There are people whose voices go straight to the 
heart, and are sufficient of themselves to inspire frieadship or 
love. This fact, it is certain, is part of a theory of which we as 
yet know little. I have read many works on the theory of 
echoes, The ignorant account for them by fables, and the 
learned give rules I think the vibrations of two loud chords 
struck in unison should serve to explain the reason of echoes 
heard in valleys and from the walls of buildings, 
The simpler the laws of nature and the more sublime, the 
farther they are from our comprehension ; my own thoughts are 
most frequently those of doubt. I turn away from those who 
pretend to explain everything and wait for an explanation of the 
concord of the cords of the 4¢zg! with the flute, the different 
sounds of a hundred instruments, and the numerous voices that 
find their way into the air, bearing to our ears an indefinable 
sense of harmony. Awaiting this I say to myself with the 
ancients, ‘ That which is nearest us is most remote from our 
comprehension.” My ignorance on these matters has never 
troubled me, because it is no obstacle t» that great duty to flee 
the evil and do that which is good. 
Climate.—The effect of climate on the inhabitants of a country 
as well as on its productions is very great. The men of the 
south are women compared with those of the north. Vigour of 
body imparts yigour of mind. When our court was in the 
south the increase of riches consequent on its sojourn there 
caused luxury, effeminacy, and a corruption of manners which 
almost changed the men into women, so enslaved and delicate did 
they become in this prosperity. Now that it is in the north, 
they have become firmer, more active, and more regular. Natu- 
ralists and astrologers are equally mistaken when they judge of 
the character, genius, inclinations, and customs of men according 
to climate and the stars. My Tartars are Tartars, as regards 
manner of life, as much in the southern provinces as in the 
north, and people from the south retain their habits when they 
come to the north. The hi tory of each province exhibits savazés, 
literary men, arti-ts, warriors, and monsters alike. Man is man 
everywhere, and there is often as much difference between the 
people in one town as between those in provinces distant from 
each other, Levu-chi has truly said, ‘‘No climate tames the 
tiger, or gives courage to the rabbit.” 
Winds. —The proverb says that the wind which blows is the 
same a hyndred leagues away, but the rain which falls is not 
the same ten leagues off. Why should this be? One can only 
reason on facts after knowing them, and I know that the state- 
ment respecting ihe wind is not always correct, for there have 
been different winds at the same time in the provinces of Pechili 
and Shantung, which adjoin each other. It scems to me that 
winds depend on the nature of a country, One writer says that 
they depend on the motions of the stars, and that therefore they 
never cease, although at one time they may be more violent than 
at another, according as they are more or less impelled towards 
the earth. Moreover, the change in the direction of the wind 
comes from the same cause. ‘The air being confined between 
the earth and the higher spheres, escapes where it can; and 
possibly the difference between a high and a low wind may be 
explained in this way. Another ancient writer says that the 
quarter from which the winds come depends on the season, and 
that they pass directly from one cardinal point to another. All 
1 King, a sort of dulcimer made of glass or stone. 
