Directory_and_Chronicle_1875 — Page 807

CHINA.

(TSIN.—KATAI.)

Reigning Sovereign and Family.

Toung-chê, Emperor of China, born April 27th, 1856, the son of Emperor Hien-fung; succeeded to the throne at the death of his father, August 22nd, 1861; assumed the government, by proclamation, February 23rd, 1873. Married October 16th, 1872, to

A-lu-té, Empress of China, born 1857, daughter of Ch'ung-chê, Rector of the Academy of Peking.

Uncles of the Emperor.-1. Prince Tun, born 1802; 2. Prince Kung, born 1811; 3. Prince Chun, born 1815; 4. Prince Fu, born 1827.

The present sovereign is the eighth Emperor of China of the Tartar dynasty of Ta-tsing, 'The Sublimely Pure,' which succeeded the native dynasty of Ming in the year 1644. There exists no law of hereditary succession to the throne, but it is left to each sovereign to appoint his successor from among the members of his family. The late Emperor, on designating his son, a minor, as his Successor, ordered that be should be kept till the time of his majority, under the guardianship of eight high officials, who were to carry on the government in his name. But in consequence of a palace revolution, occurring soon after the accession of the young ruler, November 2nd, 1861, three out of the eight appointed imperial guardians were killed, and the rest banished, while the supreme power was taken possession of by two of the wives of the deceased sovereign, Tzi-an, the first consort,' and Tzi-ssi, the mother of the new Emperor. They associated themselves with Jih-su, Prince of Kung, uncle of the young Emperor, who was nominated head of the Council of ministers, and became virtually Regent of the empire until the assumption of government by the present Emperor, February 23rd, 1873.

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Government and Revenue.

The fundamental laws of the empire are laid down in the Ta-tsing-bwei-tien, or Collected Regulations of the Great Pure dynasty,' which prescribe the government of the state to be based upon the government of the family. The Emperor is spiritual as well as temporal sovereign, and, as high priest of the empire, can alone, with his 'immediate representatives and ministers, perform the great religious ceremonies. No ecclesiastical hierarchy is maintained at the public expense, nor any priesthood attached to the Confucian or State religion,

The administration of the empire is under the supreme direction of the 'Interior Council Chamber,' comprising four members, two of Tartar and two of Chinese origin, besides two assistants from the Han-lin, or Great College, who have to see that nothing is done contrary to the civil and religious laws of the empire, contained in the Ta-tsing-hwei-tien, and in the sacred books of Confucius. These members are denominated "Ta- byo-si,' or Ministers of State. Under their orders are the Li-poo, or six boards of government, each of which is presided over by a Tartar and a Chinese. They are:-1. The board of civil appointments, which takes cognisance of the conduct and administration of all civil officers; 2. The board of revenues, regulating all financial affairs; 3. The board of rites and ceremonies, which enforces the laws and customs to be observed by the people; 4. The military board, superintending the administration of the army; 5. The board of public works: and 6. The high tribunal of criminal jurisdiction.

Independent of the Government, and theoretically above the central administration, is the Tu-chab-yuen, or board of public censors. It consists of from 40 to 50 members, under two presidents, the one of Tartar and the other of Chinese birth. By the ancient custom of the empire, all the members of this board are privileged to present any remonstrance to the sovereign. One censor is to be present at the meetings of each of the six government boards, without taking any part in the deliberation, and others have to travel through the various provinces of the empire to inspect and superintend the administration of the chief public functionaries.

The estimates of the public revenue of China vary greatly, and while they are ated by some to exceed 100 millions sterling, are held by others not to come up to