History of Corea, ancient and modern : with description of manners and customs, language and geography

Preface

The author was matle painfully aware, at an early stage of his residence among the Chinese, of his own all but total ignorance of this “ peculiar people,” who are a world to and in themselves ; and he knows that this ignorance is characteristic of his countrymen. Books •written by travellers to China abound ; but a 'vdsit to the Celestial Empire no more entitles a man to write on this people than the knowledge of simple arithmetic warrants a man to enter the arena of the most abstruse problems of mathematical astronomy. Travellers relate the odd, the grotesque ; for this only is sufficiently notable to make it impossible to escape their passing notice. But the knowledge that the Chinese wear “ tails,” are olive-eyed, eat birds’ nests, and consider bears’ paws the greatest delicacy, no more explains this people than beefeating accounts for the history of the English ; for it is not from the eccentricities of a people we can understand them, but by our knowledge of those principles which they esteem most highly, and which they are always ready to praise, though perhaps slow to practice ; — for it is only a small minority in any country which is found honestly endeavouring to embody in their life, up to the measure of their ability, those principles of right conduct which are all but universally professed by that country. This knowledge we can acquire only from the national and every day life of a people.

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PREFACE.

An excellent summar}’, from which to glean some knowledge of the Chinese, is the “ Middle Kingdom ” of Dr. Williams ; but to one ignorant of the Chinese people, it is but a skeleton sketch, needing flesh and colour to make it a Imng picture. Dr. Legge’s noble work in his translation of the Chinese classics provides a more thorough and satisfactory means of judging this people, for those who are willing to take the pains to draw inferences, to learn the cause from the effect, and from philosophical principles to search out the national life producing those principles. But this is again the work of but a feAv ; for general readers must have all the thinking done for them.

The present work is an attempt to show what China is, by drawing, from Chinese national history, as life-like a representation as the author is able to present of the exact position in the human family which Ave must assign to the Chinese people. This representation should unfold all the A’arious shades of character Avhich go to make up the Chinese people, — the noble and the base, the mean and the honourable, — and should picture the unselfish patriot, as Avell as the man who acts only with the vieAV of advancing his own private iutei'ests ; for all these AA-ill be found in China as in Britain. As Philosophy or Liteiuture and Government are, and have ahA’ays been, indissolubly Avedded together in China, AA^e should also thus see Chinese philosophy exhibited in actual life, and be able to reveal the causes and explain the process of political revolutions in that country. But as it Avould require scores of A’olumes to detail Chinese universal history, the author believed his purpose Avould be most effectually accomplished by giAung an account of the rise and progress of the reigning dynasty of China, from its earliest daAvn to the zenith of its poAver. But in preparing materials for this histor}', it Avas found so inextricably blended Avith the history of

PKEFACE.

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Liaotung, where it originated, and this again so indissolubly connected with Corea, that it is deemed advisable to give the history of Corea and Liaotung in a separate and introductory form, and to make it as complete as can be done from the authorities at the disposal of the author. This plan was all the more readily adopted, because the recital of the Chinese ancient history, centering around Liaotung, will suffice to show as much of the past of China, as will prepare the reader for more easily comprehending its present, and approximately forecasting its future.

That future is yet to wield a mighty influence for good or for evil upon the whole world. The political throes of ancient China burst up the old Roman empire ; and those who know the internal state of China, are aware that changes are going on which will make her power more actively felt by the world at large than ever before. The main condition for the manifestation of that power, is either Truth, which shall teach the Chinese mutual trust,— or a Napoleon, who shall compel united action. Christians are especially bound to interest themselves more in this China, so that when she does appear in her awakened Samson strength, it may be as a Christian power. China is still weak, but at the present moment she is assuming a bold attitude on the borders of Russia; and has compelled Russia to agree to cede over to her Eastern Turkestan, which the Russians had declared “ inalienably ” annexed.

In preparing this volume on Corea for the public, the author had to follow one of two courses, — either to cast the principal material at his disposal into the smallest possible bulk, and to give a few essays on the past history of the countries illustrated, or to present those materials in fuller detail, to be more literally exact if less interestingly written ; and he has chosen the latter.

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PEEFACE.

The author would recommend the reader to begin with chapter X, and to become somewhat familiar with the Corean people, before beginning their past history under the chapters, — Chaosien, Gaogowli, Sinlo, and Co)xa. Chapters II, III, and IV, are given not only because the Hienbi belonged to the country called Liaosi, but because they present a true picture of the world of China, which has often been represented as a country whose history is so uniform and quiet ; no wars, no passions ! The condition of China represented in those chapters, and in others of this volume, though not a chronic, is one of frequent and periodic occurrence.

The two maps, given in the beginning of this volume, are intended to show the relative positions of States, Provinces, and Cities, in Corea and Liaotung. The illustrations are inserted to enable the reader to see modem Corean costumes, and must by no means be supposed to index the intellectual portion of the Corean’s person, for the paintings are by an indifferent Corean artist. When names of China proper are given, it were well to consult a Chinese map, which is sure to be accessible to all readers. And as the names of Chinese are neither very euphonious to the ear, nor attractive to the eye, — and as they are useful only to differentiate individuals, so much only of the name is used as wdl suffice to distinguish the various actors from each other.

Introduction

Aborigines — Sisbun — Chaosien — Savages — Immigrants — Bird’s-Eye-Yiew

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Chapter I.— Chaosien

Boundaries — Original Inhabitants — Savages — Civilisation — Nine Yi — Tsin Great WaU — Chaosien Defeated — Han Conquest of Ch. — Protracted Siege — Division of Ch. — Mahan — Chunhan — Their Customs — Whi — Tiny Horses — Wojoo — Wo or Japan — Amazons — Chinese Troubles and Emigration — Liaotung Faithful — Disorganisation — Universal Anarchy — Tatars — New Dynasty — Drunkenness — Liaotung Selfish — Emperor of Woo — Treachery — Revolt and Flight of Woo Eklles — Woojoo Cash —

Wei against Liaotung — Liaotung Conquered 9

Chapter Ii.— Iiienbi

Huns — Jang Slain — Geographical — Battles — Chinese Weakness — Bao's Integrity — He Dies — Duty — Hienbi Revolt — JIurdered Father-in-law — Hienbi Divided — Moyoong Kwei — An Imperialistic Hun — Quarrelling Ministers — Moyoong Han — Literary Refugees — Chinese Cancer — Triple Alliance — Kwei’s Successful Stratagem — Liaotung under Kwei — Kwei a Chinese Magnate — Moyoong Dissension — Increasing Civilisation — Dwan Hienbi against Moyoong — Liaotung Revolts and is Recovered — Duke Yin Defeated and Forsaken — Fratricidal War . . . .35

Chapter Iii.— Yen Wang

King Whang and Prince Stone Tiger — Dwan Swamped — Prussia and Austria — Stone Tiger Defeated — Brave Gwan — Title of Yen Wang —

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CONTENTS.

His Capital Loongchung — Enormous Conscription — 3Iind against Matter — Casus Belli — Yen or Moyoong against Corea or Gaogowli — Coreans Defeated, and their Dead King a Hostage — An Army of Wolves and Foxes — Curious Wooing — Yiiwun Hienbi Defeated by Yen — Fooyii— Stone Tiger an Emperor — He and MTiang Die — Terrible Massacre of Bearded Men — Yen into China — Night Surprise — Wei and Yen absorb Chao or Jao — And then Quarrel — Homeric Chief — Yen Annexes Wei — Three Months’ Cannibalism — Faithfulness . . .69

CHAPTER IV.— IMPERIAL YEN. Moyoong Becomes Emperor — Dwan Finally Absorbed — Chin Fights Tsin

A King ■with a Temper — The Poor Doctor — The Brave Old Archer — A Powerful Dream — Mixed Blood — Yen Pushes South — Young Yen Emperor and Gun’s Discontent — Yen Dissension — Loyang Falls — The Hun Dai Wang — Go as Commander — He Dies, and Yen begins to Ebb — Opium — China and Yen — China and Tsin — Tsin against Yen — Chin supports Yen — Tsin severely Defeated — Yen Ruled by Women — Prince Woo’s Flight — Yen Taunts and Defeats — Yen Speaks and Chin Acts —

Yen Capital Falls — Yen Collapse — Chin Ambition — A Million of Soldiers — Chin Ruined — Yen Re-established — Two Yen Kingdoms — They Fight — The Hunnish Wei — Yen shrinks before Wei — Corea Growing — Wei in the North, Sung in the South — Feasts and Fights — Treachery in Yen — Corea to the Rescue — Yen King a Fugitive — Is Conceited and Murdered — Sung Revenges him — Skill versus Bravery — Cotemporary with Britannia Bomana — “Sweetness and Light” — Effeminate Luxuriousness — Danger Ahead — Inevitable end of Luxurious Selfishness 65

CHAPTER Y.— GAOGOWLI.

Origin of Corea — Fooyii and its Customs— Gaogowli— Position and Customs — Growing Audacity — King Goong — Fooyii Interferes — Gaogowli Defeated — Gaoli Increase — Baiji and Sinlo— Baiji repels Wei— Seventeen Emperors — Niri Dynasty — Corean King Dies of Fear— His Son Bolder — Chinese Army and Navy against Gaoli — Baiji suffers — Emperor Yang — Huge Preparations against Gaoli — Shantung Famishing — Stores — Enormous Army — Chinese Xerxes — Corean Fabius — Frightful Defeat — Second Campaign — Collapse and Silent Retreat — Rebels in China — Turks besiege Emperor Yang — His Brave Daughter — Yang’s Libraries and Literary Work — Great Wall — Suicidal Conquest .... 122

CONTENTS.

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CHAPTER VI.— SINLO. Page

Origin of Tang Dynasty — Learning Fostered — Lovely Tribute — Chinese Spy — Annexing Spirit — The famous Aristocrat, Gaisoowun — King- Slayer and Maker — Shantung Poverty — Sinlo begs Chinese Aid — New Corean Expedition — Imperial Example — Daring Spy — Gaimow Falls — Bisha or Haichung — Liaotung City and Horse-head Hill — Burning Tower — Baiyen City — Furious Charge — Generous Conqueror — Gaoli Provinces — Corean Host — Conceited Commander — Hiio Yingwei — Innumerable Spoils — Emperor’s Exultation — Corean Spy — Stubborn Citj' — A Great Mound — Gallant Coreans — Emperor Mourns — Redeemed Captives Dancing — Desultory Warfare — Ship-Building — Rest — Kitan against Corea — Baiji Attacked — Baiji’s Patriot Priest — The Famous Empress — Biter Bit — Japan and Baiji — A Tall Soldier — ^ililitary Rewards — A Fatal Comet — Rigorous Rule — A Terrible Man — Aggressive War — Military Glory — Historical Novel — A Wonderful Bird — The , Magic Sword — The Staff and the Sword — Centipedes and Gold-Birds . 147

Chapter Vii.— Kitan

Origin — Turkish Strife — Chi against Kitan — Great Wall Rebuilt — Troublesome Kitan Chastised — Great Wall Again — Gaoli Crushed, Kitan Rises — Buddhist Revival — Mogo — “ Old Wife ” Commander — Turks Attacked — Kitan King-maker — A Clever Chinaman — The Remarkable Career of An Looshan — Turkish Chinese Officers — The “Forbidden” Apartments — China Broken Up — Census of China — Abaoji and Liao — A Strong-Blinded Woman — Election of Chief — A Dashing Charge — The Iron Dynasty— A Chinese Traveller — Dog- Kingdom — The Oinos — Spirits versui Spirits 196

Chapter Viii.— Nujun

DjTiastic Titles — Their Meaning — Bohai — Rival Mogo — Extension of Bohai — Niijun Helps Corea — Sung and Niijun — Fishing Expedition — A Proud Youth — Independent Niijun — Origin of Civilisation — Agooda Aggressive — Gold Dj-nasty — Kin Overflows — Liao Famines — Two Kings — Son of Heaven — Liao Struggles — And Dies — Peking Falls — Sung changes Masters — Tribute — Incompetent Emperor — Liao Ends and Agooda Dies — A Blushing Prince — Great Wealth and Small Wisdom — The Cunning Jack — Kin Cross Yellow River — Shansi Falls —

A Bravo Officer — Hallam’s Mistake — Insane Emperor — Vacant Throne — SouTHEUN- ScNts — Extent of Kin— Universal Mutual Security — Origin of Kin — The Name China 229

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CONTENTS.

CHAPTER IX.— COREA. Page

Repeopling — The Buddhist Priest — Growth of Gaoli — Eastern Pearls — Questionable Friendship — Medical Professors — Mongols or Munggoc — Corea against Japan — Another Brave Buddhist — The “Bright” Dynasty — Corean Revolution — Modem Capital — Eastern Vikings —

A Lava City — The Neutral Territory — Japanese Romanists against Corea — A Remarkable Japanese Slave — Chinese to the Rescue — Japanese Retreat — Manchu Conquest of Corea — Reconquest — Corean Isolation — Jesuits — First Corean Converts — Romanists Murdered — Reasons —

M. De Bellonet Dethrones Corean King — The “ General Sherman ” —

“ Our Boys” — Corean Future — Important Treaty with Japan — Opium 261

Chapter X.— Corean Social Customs

The People — Houses — Kang — F ood — Dress — Birth — Small-Pox — Education — Social Grades — Marriage — Death. — Mourning Rituai, — Dying — Dressing Body— Bedding — CofiBning — Complete Mourning — Offerings — Absent Relations — Grave — Funeral — Sacrificial Offerings — Spirits Offering: First, Second, and Third — Food Offerings — Second and Third Sacrificial Offerings — End of Heavy Mourning — Change of Garb — Second Funeral — Informing Ancestral Temple — Sorting Grave — Beautiful Theory 299