Directory_and_Chronicle_1850 — Page 197

1850.

The Shwok Wun, or Etymologicon.

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The last volume, the eighth, contains in a supplenientary form, a critical review of the whole preceding forty sections, prepared for the present edition by Ching Peiyuen and others.

No. 2. Biographical and Chronological Notes.

The Etymologicon furnishes some of the best materials extant for a complete history of the Chinese language and literature. In the absence of such a history, it may assist the general reader better to understand the sequel of this article (Nos. 3, 4. and 5), if a few

short notices of the persons named therein be laid before him.

庖犧

1. Páuhi or Fuhhi Both these forms are used as the proper name of the first monarch who appears in the annals of the Chinese. His reign commenced, according to their chrono- logy, 2552 e. c. To him they give the honor of inventing the Páh Kwá, or system of Diagrams, from whence has arisen the art of writ- ing as it now exists in this country. He was the first of the wú ti or "five rulers."

2. Shinnung shí♬ Divine Husbandman. This was the immediate successor of Fuhhí; he reigned 140 years, and is said to have used knotted cords to record the acts of his government.

3. Hưúngti, or the Yellow emperor. This is the third mo- narch to whom the Chinese consider themselves indebted for their

art divine." He reigned 100 years.

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4. TsángkichIt is to this man that the more direct and immediate invention of writing is usually attributed by Chinese histo- rians. He was Hwangtí's principal minister of state.

5. Siuen wáng E. This sovereign, the eleventh of the Chau dynasty, commenced his reign 827 B. c. He was an illustrious patron of literature and literary men. He flourished nearly three cen- turies prior to the time of Confucius.

6. Sz' chau. Among those men who devoted themselves to literature under Siuen wáng, this man was called the Great His- torian. He is the reputed inventor of the Seal character.

7. Chi Hwáng ti

Translated literally, this title means "the first august emperor," or Augustus the First. At the same time, he was both the destroyer and the patron of literature and literary

The Great Wall was built by his orders.

men.

8. Li Sz'

This was the lord lieutenant of Augustus the First. It was this man who memorialized his master for an act of uni- formity, and wrote a treatise on the character invented by Ts'ángkieh. Cotemporary with Li Sz', under the same

9. Cháu Káu