1841.
Chinese History.
9
and bad qualities of men and things are indicated-the first by white marks or small circles, the second by black marks.
The 8th describes their use of marks for indicating sentences or periods, and the clauses or the subdivisions of periods. They say,
詞住而意亦住者句用小於字之旁
tsze choo, urh e yih choo chay, wei keu; yung seaou keuen yu tsze che pang; i. e. "a complete proposition, where the sense also is com plete, makes a period (or sentence); and it is indicated by a small round mark placed at the side of the word (where it terminates):"
訶住而意未住者為讀用小圈於字之中
tsze choo, urh e we choo chay, wei tow; yung seaou keuen yu tsze che chung; i. e. "a complete proposition, where the sense is not complete, makes a clause; and it is indicated by a small round mark placed between the words."
The 9th explains and illustrates the care which has been taken to secure a correct text,-a particular in which Chinese typography is exceedingly defective, especially in all books of light reading.
The 10th and last explains and illustrates the care taken to mark the different readings of the same character when it may chance to have different meanings, distinguishable only by different sounds.
Immediately following these ten rules is a long list of distinguish- ed authors and literati, 178 in number, beginning with Szema Tseen of the Western Han, and closing with one of the later worthies of the Ming dynasty. Their principal works are also given, in notes attach- ed to their respective names. The list is a good one, and might not, perhaps, be out of place in the Chinese Repository; but in case of publication, it would require original notes, which at present we are unable to prepare-and this must be our apology for omitting it.
Next to this list of authors, we have a catalogue of sovereigns, from Pwankoo to Tsungching or Chwanglee, whose reign closed with the late dynasty, A. D. 1643. This list of sovereigns, if practica- ble, shall appear in our next number. After it, the compilers proceed with the main body of their work, commencing with Pwan
koo, who, according to Chinese tradition, yu she, "first appeared in our world."
VOL. X. NO. 1.
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B.