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THE CHINA REVIEW.
twenty volumes. There is a large edition, containing extensive historical notices, costing over one hundred taels, which is exposed for sale in the shops of Canton.
These works are exceedingly interesting and important, not only as affording a re- pository for preserving the traditons of an ancient civilization, but as being in fact the best and safest commentary upon the classics, manners and customs of Ancient China, just as the study of the present cus- toms in Bible lands best illustrates the meaning of the sacred writers. The laws and customs of any people are exceedingly difficult to change. This is doubtless more true of Oriental than of Western nations. As this comparison is suggested, it will be important to remember that the ancient history of China corresponds with that of Babylon, Egypt, Greece, and Rome, whose eivilization has been inherited by the present nations of Europe and Amerisa. The languages, literature, laws and customs have vital connection with those Empires and Kingdoms of Antiquity. As for China the inheritance is much more direct, and the connection much more intimate.
With these introductory remarks attention is now called to the work in the order in
which it is found. The following is the translation of the Prefaec, which will in a measure explain itself. The style is concise and difficult, but the meaning and spirit of it are best represented by a literal translation.
Preface to the Collected Statutes of the
Manchu Dynasty.
"From the sacrifices to Heaven, and those in the Imperial Ancestral temples, and the affairs of the Imperial Court, to those of the thousand and hundred states-the people of the border provinces, and dependent coun- tries that which cannot be disregarded- that which is the pattern for both the founders and heire to dynasty--that which is to be taught, put into practice and which cannot be changed,--is not all dependent upon the collected statutes ?
"But what sages have enacted, or the in- telligent have transmitted, the Government put into practice; that which is to be observed-it is impossible that in regard to this there should be no addition or aubstraction. What is important is, that the motive for addition or substraction should be to conserve--so that which is contained in the work should be fixed and unobange- able, and not any thing made up by poste- rity.
"Upon every accession to the Throne, as the several sages appeared, the ceremonies and music were put in order. During the 23rd year of Kanghi (1662) styled the sage and benevolent Emperor' commands were first given to establish the Collected Statutes. It is to be kept in mind that when the Empire was first established it was the work of our three Imperial Ancestors. Tai Tsò 太祖 (Tin Ming 1616 天命), Tái Tsung 太宗(Tin Tsang1627 天聰> and Shai Tso
(Shun Chi 1644
They are the Imperial Ancestors from whom the Empire has been inherited.
"It was impossible that there should be no transmission, but there were all the time
enactments.
“During the 5th year of Yung Ching
Our Imperial Father, styled the Il- lustrious Emperor,' commands were given to the Privy Council to finish this work, to examine and reduce to order the sections.
**Since indeed for several generations there had been peace, and further Our Imperial grandfather (Kang-hi ) enjoyed a long reign (60 years), his teaching was per- fected by long practice. It was impossible not to hand it down, only there was no leisure for the transmission, and how much less may it be said for enactments ?
"When it came to us reverently to receive the Imperial dignity, it was with care, and attentive diligence, and altogether with the intention to make the statutes conform to the statutes of Our Ancestors. Opening the book to put it into practice, we did not dare to swerve from it a foot or an inob,
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW OF THE CHINESE EMPIRE.
"Now just as the great expedition to the West (the conquest of Ili) has successfully terminated, it is happily possible to ful$1 the intention of Our Anoestore, and all the local officials, the official regulations, depart- ments and districts, military eamps, soldiers' stations, attendance at Court, taxation, coinage, all the great affairs of government, including that under the direction of the six Boards, there is of all nothing that is not included. Moreover Our Imperial Father earnestly sought the way of Government during thirteen years, and the great principles and minute matters established by him cannot fail to be transmitted and handed down to posterity.
"Orders were given to a Committee of offi- cials to prepare drafts, one after another, in order that by night they might be examined and sorrected by our own hand. Saying, in regard to the past, to write out in full all the original discussions and old usages, copying every page, would be to confound statutes with usage. But usage may be
made to conform to circumstances, while statutes cannot be changed. In the present instance if usage is appended to the statutes, hereafter usage would introduce confusion into the statutes. Should this be done? There should therefore be a distinction between the Statutes and usage, each a class by itself, mutually each supporting the other. Every one of all the officials answered, 'If the net hang upon the line there will be nothing wanting.' (This great principle includes everything necessary; and in the proper order.)
"But we do not dare to act by ourselves alone, since the Statutes now arranged are the Statutes of Our Imperial Father, and earnestness in attending to this matter re- quires that, we do not stop at mere trans- mission without any enactments at all. Because of the determination that it is im- possible not to transmit, it is necessary still more to manifest the intention of not daring to be careless in the matter. He who examines the Statutes ought to understand
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clearly and know the sources from which the government is derived and not to follow any- thing doubtful. That which, from time to time is revised by every Court (each Emperor in succession) is something derived from Antiquity.
"If the rule of the Government is the heart rule' (rule of equity), the intent and the expression (lit. within and without) will be correspondingly complete, when fully understood, it will be approved by heaven and men. When enlarged to its full extent, it will embrace the present and the past as it has been said in the Jade Tablets. When the Kwan Tsui (the first of the Odes) is made the foundation, then the rules of Excellent Government (ie. of the Chau Ritual) may be practised; from this again may be discovered the origin of the several statutes and the root of the great ritual. Would we dare not to be earnest? Would we dare not to be earnest in matters which concern our descendants the officials and the people?
"Imperial Rescript of Kin Lung
in the Spring of Káp Shan (29th year of Kin Lung, 1764)."
The Emperor Kin Lung is perhaps the most illustrious of many illustrious names in the list of the rulers of the present dynasty. A very partial acquaintance with Chinese History is sufficient to establish the high character of the rulers of the Manchu dy- Busty, as compared with those of all, native and foreign, who have ruled over this vast Empire in former ages. The author of the above preface was a man of strong mind and much cultivation. His image occupies a prominent place in the Temple of 500 gods in the Western Suburbs of Canton. There are many fine points in this elaborate com- position, which was doubtless the product of the Imperial mind, but the translation of course gives only a very inadequate idea of the original. How delicate the modesty, and yet how dignitied his reference to his ancestors! He takes his proper share of the
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