Directory_and_Chronicle_1850 — Page 160

1850.

Notice of Japan in the Hai-kwoh Tú Chi.

137

himself of the cause of these incursions. The Japanese showed no respect for the Emperor's commands, but continued their raids as be- fore. Tribute was frequently tendered, but as the proper document never came with it, it was always rejected.

In the 20th year of this monarch (1386), Kú Teh-hing, the Marquis of Kiánghiá,* was directed to proceed to Fuhkien, and Tangho, Duke of Sinkwoh, to Chehkiáng, to put in order the defenses of the coast. The former province was called upon to furnish a hundred vessels, and Kwangtung a double contingent. It fell at this time that Hú Wei- yungt was projecting his rebellion, and he applied to Japan to aid him therein. The king commissioned Jü-yáu, a Budhist priest, to put himself at the head of some four hundred troops, who, he was to give out, were bearers of tribute; and the present he sent was a large mass of wax, in which were concealed arms and gunpowder: but by the time these reached China, Hú Wei-yung was overthrown, and on the affair coming to light, it was determined to break off all intercourse with Japan, and to devote especial attention to the protection of the coast [against its hostility]. Subsequently, when the memoranda of the founder of the dynasty were drawn up, Japan was added to the number of unconquered states, fifteen in all.

At the beginning of the reign Yungloh (1401), tribute was sent, and the proper address with it; and the pirates of Tui-ma and Tai-chí having just then been plundering the inhabitants of the coast, the Em- peror wrote to command the king of Japan to seize them. The latter thereupon sent forth his troops, captured them all, bound fast their leaders, twenty in number, and delivered them up. From this time whenever tribute was transmitted to China, such pirates as had been

* Haw of Kiánghia, i. e. Marquis of Kiánghiá; kung of Sinkwoh, i. e. Duke of Sink woh. The five titles of Chinese nobilities, kung, hau, peh, isz' nán, are explained to be indicative of certain qualities in those to whom they were given; kung had regard to the public good; hau, expelled for their virtues waited for better times; pak were bright men of intelligence ; taz' were capable of training others: and nám of sustaining important and responsible duties. Bridgman's Chrestomathy, page 592. The first three, kung, kau, and pek, exist. ed under the Hia and Shang dynasties, some two thousand years before the Christian sera. In the time of the latter, there were four pek hau over the East, West, North, and South. Wan-wang, for instance, the father of Wa-wang, who founded the succeeding dynasty of Chau, was peh hau of the west; under the control of each of these were 200 chú hau. The titles tsz' and nám do not ap- pear to have been granted till the accession of Wu-wáng; he made a fresh par tition of the Empire, dividing it into 800 small states, B. C. 1100. Kiánghiá was in Hapeh, Sinkwoh in Kiángsa. Under the Ming, the revenues of thece fies reverted in part to the holders of the titles.

+ Hu Wei-yung, an intriguing minister of high rank under the founder of the Ming, was convicted of sedition, overthrown and beheaded about 1379

VOL. XIX. NO. 111.

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