China's EuUrs.
BY A. BLAND, OF M THE Chinese are traditionally divided into four classes —
scholars, farmers, labourers and merchants, the first-named being by far the most influential, if not the most useful, section of the nation. Those scholars who have graduated in the examination halls enjoy certain privileges and occupy a position which enables them to powerfully control the public mind and also to aid or thwart, as they may be inclined, the rulers in the management of public affairs. The
majority are poor, for they consider it beneath the dignity of their position to engage in trade ; often they wait years in the forlorn hope
of obtaining official employment, although scarcely one in a score succeeds in doing so. In the illustration there are seated half-a-dozen of the more for- tunate ones, officials of varying ranks, each with his pipe in hand,
EI-HIEN, SHEN-SI.
whilst behind stand a number of assistants and subordinates. Eachhas a stone or metal button on the top of his hat, which advertiseshis rank, as also the embroidered bird or animal upon the breast ofhis robes. None of them have yet attained to the highest offices, butto the left of the table (our right), in the place of honour, sits a Tao-tai, the most important official outside the capital of the province. Tohis left is a Fit, or prefect ; seated at the other side of the table is amilitary official, and next to him a Hsien, or district magistrate. Of the latter there are over twelve hundred in office in China, theeighteen provinces being divided into as many districts, and each in his respective district has full scope to distinguish himself as civil andcriminal judge, sheriff, coroner, treasurer and tax commissioner. Healso conducts the preliminary examinations of aspiring graduates ; atstated times he repairs to the temple, to worship the gods in his
CHINA'S MILLIONS.
official capacity. Needless to say, he cannot adequately fulfil each of these offices, but provided he preserves order, forwards his quota of the taxes to the provincial capital, and fees his superiors as required, he may exercise his authority much as he pleases. Poetically, the magistrate is " the father and mother of the people." The latter are never particularly anxious to make his acquaintance, for whatever may be left undone, the system in vogue, which allows the official a mere nominal salary, miserably insufficient to meet even the working
expenses of his office, compels him to give his attention to other ways
and means of making up the deficiency during his brief tenure of
office. Provided he is not over-exorbitant, the people meekly ac- quiesce, regarding their troubles as a necessary evil. The Fu referred to is a higher official, being the head of a prefec- ture comprising several Hsien, or districts,* whilst two or three prefec- tures are sometimes united and made subject to the rule of a Tao-tai, or intendant, who takes a general oversight of the whole of the civil officials in the entire district. Of higher rank are the Provincial Treasurer and Judge, and higher still the Governor. These latter reside in the capital of the province and are directly responsible to the throne. Such, in brief, is the system of provincial government
which prevails in China, and in which is bound up the interests of not less than three hundred millions of our fellow-creatures. Happily, Christian Missionaries have now access to all parts of the empire, and as they seek to bring spiritual liberty and blessing into the lives of the people, they find little to hinder in the present system
of government. Not a few officials are in some measure beginning to understand and appreciate these efforts, and in times of riot some
have promptly taken steps to secure the protection of Missionaries. One pleasing instance occurred a few months ago. A Missionary, with his wife and two lady workers, residing in one of the inland
provinces, were placed in circumstances of the utmost peril, the Mission house being surrounded by an angry mob. At the risk of his
life the magistrate broke through the mob, and the precious lives of the Missionaries were saved. Notwithstanding the charges of oppression and cruelty brought against Chinese officials generally, we
must in fairness acknowledge that many of them endeavour to rule equitably, and rightly discharge their duties. The scholars generally are inveterately opposed to Missionary
work. Perpetually looking into the past ages, and claiming to find perfection in their sages and their teaching, they naturally regard every innovation with a jealous eye, and thus spurn the proffered Gospel, although there are some bright exceptions, for which we
praise God. Amongst others, we may instance a provincial graduate,
who for some years has been a valued pastor and preacher of the Gospel in the same province as that in which the officials in our illustra- tion hold office. " Not many wise after the flesh are called," it is true
still let our interest be stimulated and our prayers ascend on behalf of the officials and scholars of China that many of them may be saved. The above sketch but touches the fringe of the subject of the compli- cated system of government in China; a few words should, however,
be added respecting the Emperor who is at the head of the whole. Wells Williams remarks, "that if the possession of great power and
being the object of almost unbounded reverence can impart happiness, he may safely be considered as the happiest mortal living." In the assumption of high-sounding titles he rivals even the Pope of Rome. He is "The Son of Heaven," "The Celestial August One," etc. Heis addressed as " The Sire of Ten Thousand Years." To see him is to see "the Dragon's face." He sits upon " the Dragon's seat," and
administers the government of "all under heaven," as the vicegerent
of heaven itself. Throughout the empire temptes are dedicated to
his honour, each containing a tablet inscribed with the Emperor's name, and thither the officials repair at stated seasons to do him
homage. Not only is he sole ruler, he is the head of religion —he
alone worships at the Temple of Heaven, prostrating himself at the
winter solstice upon its marble pavement as sole representative of the nation. His edicts not only concern the living, they confer titles of honour upon the dead, and the large majority of the gods of China owe their existence to the patents issued by the Emperor. One of the most
popular gods, for instance, whose image is worshipped in every town
of the Empire, was originally a warrior who distinguished himself in the wars of the three rival kingdoms about two thousand years ago. Eventually he fell into the hands of his enemies, and was put to death. Years later an emperor was pleased to deify him as "god of war," and forthwith temples were everywhere dedicated to his honour. Succeeding emperors have added their quota of gods, new ones still " come newly up," whilst the older ones are occasionally flattered by
being made the recipients of additional titles and honours. The present Emperor was born in 1871, and four years later succeeded his cousin, who had died without issue. His personal name, Tsai-tien, is considered too sacred to be spoken ; hence he is known to the people by his national designation, Kuang-su, or "Illustrious Succession." He is the ninth Emperor of the present
dynasty, which was founded by the Manchus in 1644, ar>d according
to reliable records the 248th that has occupied the throne of China
since the days of the great Yu, who ruled 4080 years ago.