Directory_and_Chronicle_1895 — Page 567

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和瑞 Sui-ho

CHINKIANG-NANKING

STARKEY, E., Commission Agent

Agency

Palatine Fire Insurance Company

Equitable Life Assurance Soc. of U.S.A. Sun Life Assurance Co., of Canada

WU CHOU SHAN BUNGALOW

Trustees-H.B.M. Consul and Com-

missioner of Customs

Tai-chang

WADLIEGH & EMERY, General Commission

Merchants

E. C. Wadliegh (New York) D. A. Emery

H. A. Emery

Yü Ching and others

NANKING

This city owes its present name, "Southern capital," to having been many times the capital of the Empire, the last occasion being in the Ming dynasty at the commencement of the 15th century. It is also known as Kiang Ning Fu, being the chief city of the prefecture of Kiang Ning, and the seat of government for the provinces grouped under the designation of Kiang Nan. In official documents it is not considered proper to call the city Nanking, since the Government acknowledges but one capital. Besides Kiang Ning Fu, an elegant Chinese name commonly used is Kin Ling or "golden mound." From the 5th or 6th century B.c. to the present there has been a walled city at this place. Nanking is not yet an open port, although it is specified in the French Treaty of 1858 as one of the Yangtsze ports to be opened to trade, and its formal opening can doubtless be claimed at pleasure by the French Government.

Nanking is situated on the south bank of the Yangtsze, 44 miles beyond Chinkiang and 191 from Shanghai. From the river little can be seen of it except the long line of lofty grey brick walls which encircle it. The walls have an elevation varying from 40 feet to 90 feet and are from 20 to 40 feet in thickness. They enclose a vast area, being 32 miles in circumference, a large portion of which is wilderness or cultivated land. The inhabited portion lies towards the south and west, and is several miles from the banks of the river. Whatever of architectural beauty or importance belonged to Nanking perished or was reduced to a ruinous condition at or before its occupation by the Taiping rebels. The world famous Porcelain Tower, the most beautiful pagoda in China, was completely destroyed during this period of its history, and now only broken. and scattered bricks remain of the structure that was once the glory of Nanking. It stood outside the walls on the south side of the city. The celebrated mausoleum of the Emperor Hung Wu, founder of the Ming dynasty (who died in 1398), with other tombs and monuments, known as the Ming Tombs, are just outside the eastern walls. There are many other interesting ruins in or near the city, including the remains of Hung Wu's Palace. Nanking was first brought into notice among Europeans in 1842, in which year the first British Treaty with China was signed here. During the Taiping rebellion no place suffered more. It was first taken by assault by the Taipings on the 19th March, 1853, and after sustaining a prolonged siege was recaptured by the Imperial forces on the 19th July, 1864, a fatal blow to the rebels.

·

Although Nanking has recovered to a small extent from the prostration which attended its ill-treatment during the rebellion, it has never yet attained any commercial importance. The only foreign residents at present are the missionaries and the English professors in the Naval College, opened here in 1890. A large pile of buildings has been erected for the accommodation of this institution, and a dozen teachers and instructors are employed, including three foreigners. The Arsenal and Powder Mills, for many years in charge of foreigners, are now entrusted to native direction. They are situated just outside the South Gate. The missionaries support two hospitals besides several schools. As the seat of the viceregal government and by virtue of its historic associations Nanking still possesses some importance, and will no doubt, when opened to foreign trade, regain a degree of its lost prestige.