Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 627

1842.

History of the Ming Dynasty.

605

houris, with their relations and the eunuchs contest precedence, and strive for the advancement of their creatures; a crowd of syco- phants press around the throne, and blacken the character of the most deserving; princes of the blood with fair princesses, and thou- sands of officers besieging the palace, all defaming each other's cha- racter, and stepping into office over their fellows, play their part in the drama, and render the whole work to a foreign reader as tire- some as a Punch and Judy after the fair. The centre is the great emperor, who is looked to decide every quarrel and settle every claim. Such are the general outlines of the history of Ming, and we guess, ttha when another dynasty shall drive the present rulers from the throne, the tale to be told of Tsing will vary but little.

But

In the chapter on astronomy, we find notes on the solar and lunar eclipses, the phases of sun and moon, and a general account of the heavenly bodies, with such a host of constellations that even Herschel would fain confess, that he had never discovered half so many. the truth is, that the Chinese having followed their Mohammedan guides, found themselves out of reckoning, and therefore changed the calendar, according to the suggestions of the Jesuits. The pre- sent detail contains the journal kept by the imperial astronomers for more than two centuries, and a description of many things found in a nautical almanac.

The next part treats upon the five elements, water, fire, wood, metal, and earth. The reader is perhaps curious to know what they have to do with an historical volume. The mystery is soon explain- ed, when it is known, that these substances are by Chinese historians supposed to rule the world, and by their mutual relations, their hos tile positions, and their growth and decrease, occasion all the revolu- tions that occur in this sublunary world. But the great emperor, when he chooses, can influence them by his virtuous conduct, and avert their malevolent influence. If he on the other hand is refrac- tory, these fearful engines of pantheistical power are let loose by heaven upon the country. Consequently, the object of this part of the history is to give an account of all the devastations occasioned by the exuberance of water and fire. This is intelligible enough; but what harm can wood do? We must tell the reader, that this element, according to the chroniclers, exists in the life-giving principle, and in its production of monsters, as a sheep with eight legs and two heads, or a millet stalk growing to the height of a tree, exhibits its malignant intentions. As for metal, it is a most wonderful principle, and does its mischief, principally by absenting itself:-France dur