Directory_and_Chronicle_1841 — Page 246

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San Hwang Ke.

APRIL,

nation 'three august ones' appears in the Ritual of Chow, which however does not point out their names. The scholars of Tsin, about 246 B. C., are the next, who are found discoursing about the celestial, terrestrial, and human sovereigns. A writer of the Han dynasty, in the preface to his history, speaks of Fuhe, Shinnang and Hwang te as the three sovereigns, but he fails, unfortunately, to give any au- thority for his statement. In the Domestic Sayings of Confucius, all the sovereigns after Fuhe are called te. The author of the note in question, after adducing some further evidences, concludes that the designation 'three august ones' cannot be obliterated, and refers it to the celestial, terrestrial, and human sovereigns, spoken of above; but who these were or whence they originated, he has no means of ascertaining. Thus the question ends with mere conjecture.

The traditions respecting Pwankoo are briefly noticed by our his- torians. They say, "when heaven and earth were first divided asun- der, Pwankoo was born in their midst, able to comprehend the height and depth of heaven and earth, and also the principles of creation : hence the vulgar traditionary saying, Pwankoo divided asunder heaven and earth." Further they say, "Pwankoo was the first who came forth to rule the world." For the production of all the numerous orders of beings, which have appeared on earth, reference is made to

tue keih, or great extreme, identical with le, or reason. The operations in nature which were produced by the far famed but undefinable dual powers, were possessed of this reason, to which as master dominant they were subject. This tae keih produced two principles; the two principles, four forms; and by these operations were commenced; and great was the multitude of beings which then arose!

The celestial sovereign succeeded Pwankoo in the government of the world. Thirteen persons, all of one family name, as tradition goes, constituted this celestial sovereign (or sovereignty), that ruled in undisturbed tranquillity, while the manners of the people enjoyed self-renovation. The names of the ten stems and twelve branches, designed to mark the periods of the year, were now first formed. These names were different from those in use at the present time. The reign of this sovereign was 1800 years.

; ; Next in succession came the terrestrial sovereign, with eleven per- -sons all of the same family name, continuing through another period of 1800 years, during which the sun, moon and stars, night and day, became known.

The human sovereign, with nine persons of the same surname,