If the Hungleague proceeded from these clans, it is certain that Budhism influenced it largcly, 

 as will be easily recognized in many of its rites. 



It is probable, in this case, that the Budhists were also the first who made a political 

 league of the fraternal clans. Admitted at first with open arms by the Chinese government, they 

 were afterwards severely persecuted by some of the Emperors. Of these, Wu-tsung ( l ) was one 

 of the most cruel persecutors. 



In the year 845 of our era he issued a rescript against the Budhist religion, ordering all the 

 small wayside temples to be destroyed. He destroyed about forty thonsand temples and for- 

 ced over two hundred thousand priests and nuns to return to the lay-state. 



The officers charged with the execution of this mandate, confiscated the properties of these 

 monks for the benefit of the state, and restored the governmental buildings with the materi- 

 als from the destroyed temples. This cruel persecution incensed the priests highly. Those of 

 the convent on the „five-terrace-mountain" ( 2 ) joined immediately the army of Yen-chau\ the offi- 

 cers of the army, however, were forbidden to receive them, and they were ordered back to 

 their respective domiciles. ( 3 ) 



It is also a remarkable fact, that the founder of the ifi^-dynasty called himself the Hung- 

 hiiglit [f) and had been in his youth a Budhist priest. 



The Hungleague, however, did not appear as a regular political body, before the Tartar sway. 

 Barbarians as the Tartars were in comparison with the Chinese, they trampled upon the Chi- 

 nese nationality in the most insulting manner. They forced the whole nation to adopt the 

 dress of their conquerors, and to let their hair grow long and plaited into a cue. 



z/Many are the changes," remarks Davis, //whichmay be made in despotic countries, without 

 the notice or even the knowledge of the lower portion of the community; but an entire alte- 

 ration in the national costume affects every individual equally, from the highest to the lowest, 

 and is, perhaps, of all others, the most open and degrading mark of conquest." 



Another reason for the resistance against the Tartar sway, was the fearful immorality they 

 brought into China, especially the vice for which, once, two cities were destroyed, and which 

 is common amongst the Mongols and Tartars, as it is with most nomad tribes. Amongst them, 

 sensuality is sanctiüed by religion ( 5 ), a feature never observed in the old religion of the Chi- 



o se m 



( 2 ) 3L S l-U Tllis tem P le lies 40 chinese miles NE from the Wu-tai-hien ( JÊ. ||| JU ) in tIie 

 prefecture of Thai-yuen I ~h* fiff ÏM- ) 



( 3 ) Hist. Gen. de la Chine. T. VI, pp. 489—490. 



( 4 ) $C $C Hung-wu. 



( 5 ) We have seen a representation of two figures, accoraplishing the mysteiy of copulation, cut in wood , taken 

 away from a Lama temple in the neighbourhood of Peking, Gespare also: E. Swinhoe. Narrative oi' the 

 Xorth-China Campaign of 1860, pag. 363. 



