Glimpses of the Orient : or, The The manners, customs, life, and history of the people of China, Japan, and Corea

Preface

One of the results of the recent contention between two of the oldest nations on the face of the earth, has been to arouse the liveliest curiosity concerning these strange realms and peoples.

So far as the war itself is concerned, that has passed into history, but the general public has as yet very shadowy ideas of the " Flowery Kingdom " and the " Land of tlie Mikado ; " and scarcely any knowledge of the " Hermit Nation," beyond its name.

The great political events of different countries, their customs, arts, sciences, literature, religion, and typography, have always had a special attraction for the well-constituted mind. An intelligent curiosity is often a rich endowment, and in no way can a laudable spirit of inquiry be so legitimately gratified, as by a study of the history of remote countries ; such as is presented in this work.

Commerce and religion, alike, prompt us to regard all men as brethren. The whole world is becoming knit together into one great family. Electricity brings to us daily, and with the rapidity of thought ; — news from all lands.

But these communications do not speak in the same way to all. To many, these communications are all but valueless, for notwitlistanding a genuine wish for extended knowledge, they know little or nothing of the countries of which they read, and as a consequence, news of them, or, from them, is neither intelligible nor interesting. It is imperfectly understood, and forgotten nearly as soon as read.

On the other hand, to the man of culture, all is intelligible and clear, and the information acquired takes its place in his wellordered mind, and is added to his store of knowledge.

Especially in America, no one can afford to be ignorant of the history and conditions of other lands. The uninformed man cannot take a proper position in an intelligent community ; he feels

VI PREFACE.

afraid to express himself, and is humiliated and rendered unhappy by a sense of his inferiority.

It is with the view of putting it in the power of every inhabitant of this country to enroll himself in the well informed class, that the following work has been complied.

The intelligent reader will perceive that it is not a mere, bald record of dry details, but that, while no fact of importance has been oniitted, it seizes more particularly on such salient events as are typical of the periods and countries described, and by exhibiting these in fuller detail, gives the reader an insight into the lives of the people described, as well as showing the productions, industries and resources of each land, with its modes of government and present political situation.

China, the " Middle Kingdom," is a land of contradictions. Japan, the "Day's Beginning," has a history that is more like a romance than a series of facts. Corea, " The Land of Morning Calm," is quaint, picturesque and little known. The interest in these remote empires is absorbing ; fantastic peoples, gorgeous temples, streets ablaze with kaleidoscopic coloring, grotesque objects, massive idols ; pass in glittering panoramic effect.

Hong Kong, the "Red Harbor ; " Canton, with the " Temple of Five Hundred Gods ; " Pekin ; the Grand Canal ; the Great Wall; — are followed by Nagasaki, the beautiful; Yokohama, modern and commercial ; Tokio, with the imperial palace ; Fuji- Yama, the sacred mountain : the wonderful inland sea ; colossal Paik-tu, the "ever white" mountain; Ping- Yang, "Peaceful Quiet;" and other scenes and objects of surpassing beauty and grandeur, are portrayed in such vivid colors, and with such marvelous fidelity to detail, that the reader must indeed be strong of will, who can lay aside this fascinating volume.

The aim has been to overlook nothing that the reader will desire to learn concerning the countries treated, and to advance the great cause of popular education. To the young, the work will prove of inestimable value, since for them it must possess such interest as to lead them from the vicious literature of the day, and inculcate a desire for wholesome reading and an ambition to be well informed.

PART I. CHINA, THE CELESTIAL laNGDOM

CHAPTEE I.— History from the Earliest Times to First Contact ■with European Civilization .....

CHAPTEE II.— History from First Contact with European Civilization to the Outbreak of the War with Japan .

CHAPTEE III.— The Chinese Empire, its Geography, Government, Climate, and Products .....

CHAPTEE IV.— The Chinese People, their Personal Characteristics, Manner of Life, Industries, Social Customs, Art, Science, Literature, and Eeligion ....

PART n. JAPAN, THE ISLAND EMPIRE.

CHAPTEE v.— History from the Earliest Times to First Contact

with European Civilization ..... 187

CHAPTEE VI.— History from First Contact with European Civization to the Present Time — How the United States Opened Japan to the World ..... 223

CHAPTEE VII.— The Japanese Empire, its Geography, Government, Climate, and Products ..... 265

CHAPTEE VIII.— The Japanese People, their Personal Characteristics, Manner of Life, Industries, Social Customs, Art, Science, Literature, and Eeligion . . . 283

PART m. COREA, THE HERMIT NATION.

CHAPTEE IX. — History from the Earliest Times to the

CHAPTEE X.— The Kingdom of Corea, its Geography, Government, Climate, and Products . * ... 858 viu TABLE OF CONTENTS.

CHAPTEE XI.— The Coreans and how they Live, their Personal Characteristics, Industries, Social CustOEQS, Art, Science, Literature, and Keligion . . . .

PART IV. THE WAR BETWEEN JAPAN AND CHINA.

CHAPTEE XII.— Causes of the War, Condition of the Three Nations at the Outbrealf of Hostilities, and the Preparations for the Impending Struggle The Result . . 3t

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

Chinese Emperor, King of Corea and Chinese Officials,

Chinese Musician,

Chinese Idea of Creation,

Emperor Shun Plowing,

View from Summer Palace, Peking,

Chinese Temple,

Image of Confucius, .

Manchoorian Ministers,

Great Wall of China,

Buddhist Priest,

Chinese Archers,

Cninese Writer,

Chinese Cannoniers, .

Ancient Chinese Arch,

A Chinese Lodging House, .

Chinese Priest,

Man of Swatow,

Chinese Paper-Making,

Chinese Peasant, Peiho Distrirt,

Battle of Crickets,

Chinese Mandarin,

Gate at Peking,

Opium Smokers,

Chinese Miners,

Chinese Farm Scene,

Chinese Tea Farm,

Chinese Street Scene,

Chinese Farmer,

An Imperial Audience,

Preparation of Vermicelli, ,

Chinese Ladies,

Palanquin of a High Official,

The Governor of a Province,

Chinese Protected Cruiser Chih-Yuen,

Punishment by the Cangue,

Flogging a Culprit, .

Port Arthur— Transports Entering the Inner Harbor,

Port Arthur— Japanese Coolies Ke moving Chinese Dead,

A Typhoon,

Bandaging the Feet, .

The Seat of the War,

The Punishments of Hell, .

Chinese Cart, .

School Boy,

Chinese School,

Chang Yen Hoon, . ,

PAGE

(ix)

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

Chinese School Girl, .

Chinese Artist,

Chinese Barber,

Porter's Chair,

Female Types and Costumes,

Buddhist Temple,

Temple of Five Hundred Gods, at Canton

Japanese Musician, .

The Miliado and His Principal Officers

Japanese God of Thunder, .

Japanese God of Biding,

Japanese Peasantry, .

Japanese God of War,

Tolcio Types and Costumes,

Japanese Musician, .

Japanese Silli Spinner,

Colossal Japanese Image, .

Japanese Female Types,

Shinto Temple,

Japanese God of Wind,

Daimios of Japan,

Sketch Showing Development of Japanese Army

Buddhist Priest,

Japanese Junk,

Old Time Japanese Ferry, .

Scenes of Industrial Life,

Japanese Bell Towers,

Image of Buddha,

Japanese Samurai or Warrior of the Old Time

Japanese General of the Old Time,

Japanese Bridge,

Baptism of Buddha, .

Woman of Court of Kioto, .

Chinese Coolie,

Japanese Gymnasts — Kioto,

Formosan Type,

Entrance to Nagasaki Harbor,

Fuji-yama,

Japanese Idols,

Japanese Jugglers, ,

Japanese Court Dress, Old Style,

Dressing the Hair,

Child Carrying Baby,

Japanese Batli,

Japanese Couch,

Geisha Girls Playing Japanese Musical Instruments,

Japanese Alphabet, New,

Japanese Alphabet, Old,

Shinto Priest, .

Street Scenes, .

Groop of Ainos,

Eats as Rice Merchants,

Corean Landscape,

Pagoda at Seoul,

Corean Soldiers,

Old Man in Corea,

Corean Mandarins,

Map Showing Japan, Coreu and Part of China,

171 175

311 313 316

343 353

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

Coreaa Bull Harrowing,

. 361

Corean City Wall,

. 362

Gate of aeoul, .

. 365

Corean Magistrate and Servant,

Statesman on Monocycle,

. 373

Corean Brush Cutter,

. 374

Porters With Chair, .

. 375

Corean Boat, .

. 381

Corean Eggseller,

. 383

Corean Band of Musicians, .

. 387