Directory_and_Chronicle_1841 — Page 612

1841.

:

Sacred Instructions of the Ta Tsing Emperors.

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We have omitted to tell the reader, that these volumes are very thin, containing on an average only from sixteen to twenty leaves, and are printed in large elegant characters, so that the oldest officers can read them with ease. The first discourse was pronounced by Teen- ming, more than two centuries ago. This was the first Mantelou chief that aimed at the possession of China. The preface states that he, Teenming, by the prevailing destiny of heaven, had obtained posi session of the empire (this was exceedingly problematical at that time), and he wished to establish it by the virtues of the sages, ruling over it according to the principles of benevolence, filial piety, wis dom, and keeping possession of it by the sword and his own valor. He found the nation in the most wretched condition, and by rescuing the people from their degraded state, gave peace to the universe. A new code of instructions having become necessary, he set to work in good earnest, and the present collection of sermons was thus com- -menced.

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1. I

The first oration is on the subject of piety; which is the most important duty of man. The exordium is as follows:

"A prince is the son of heaven, all the ministers and public func tionaries are his sons, and the people are again. the children of the former. A prince serves heaven as a father, and, never forgetful, thinks with reverence about rendering his virtues illustrious, and looking up receives the gift, i. e. the investiture of the empire. The mi- nisters ought in their turn to view the emperor as their father, and serve him as such, never be rapacious, or play the traitor, protect the people, observe the laws, and take care that there be no treason growing amongst the nation."

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The art of government especially engages his attention, and like Louis Philippe he thinks, that the grand central point, to which all efforts of government should converge, ought to be to establish a lasting peace.

The first requisites to effect this, are a wise prince. and a good minister, who must with united strength coöperate; second to these is the blessing of heaven. Let there be the utmost justice in imitation of the righteous arrangements made by heaven and earth, and there will be prosperity and success, and all the em- pire will submit. People will all enjoy lasting peace, and prosperity will prevail throughout the land. Now when the one man-i. e. the sovereign-loses his virtue, calamity spreads to all regions, and the evil is worse than that wrought by demons. This was instanced on occasion of the emperor Wanleih's attacking a friendly empire, when all the troops brought against the Mantchous were killed.

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