Directory_and_Chronicle_1910 — Page 705

CHINA

REIGNING SOVEREIGN AND FAMILY

Hseun Tung, the Emperor of China, is the son of Prince Ch'un, brother of the late Emperor Kwang Sü, and was called to the throne on the death of the Emperor Kwang Su on the 14th November, 1908. At the time of his accession the Sovereign was barely three years of age.

The present sovereign is the tenth Emperor of China of the Manchu dynasty of Ta-tsin (Sublime Purity), 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, Kwang Sü, like his predecessor, died childless. Twice during his reign an heir-apparent had been proclaimed and shortly afterwards deposed. The proclamation of the present Sovereign as the successor of the Emperor Kwang Sü was made as the latter lay dying, in compliance with what the document described as "the benign mandate" of Her Majesty the Empress Dowager, and at the same time Prince Ch'un, the child-Emperor's father was appointed to act as Regent during the Sovereign's minority.

GOVERNMENT and ReveNUE

The fundamental laws of the Empire are laid down in the Ta-tsing Huei-tien, or Collected Regulations of the Great Pure Dynasty, which prescribe the government of the State as 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 Manchu 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 Huei-tien and in the sacred books of Confucius. These members are denominated Ta Hsio-sz, or Ministers of State. Under their orders until recently were the Boards of Government, each of which was presided over by a Manchu and Chinese. The establishment of Constitutional Government having been decided upon, and the reform of the official system being recognised as a necessary preliminary measure, these admini- strative Boards have been re-arranged and increased from seven to twelve in accordance with an Imperial Edict promulgated on November 6th, 1906. The Chun Chi-chu or Grand Council of State and the Grand Secretariat were undisturbed by the Edict, but the Boards or Ministries are now constituted as follows:-(1) The Wai Wu Pu, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; (2) Li PuMinistry of Civil Appointments; (3) Min Cheng Pu, Ministry of the Interior; (4) Chih Tu Pu, Ministry of Finance; (5) Li PuMinistry of Rites and Ceremonies; (6) Hsueh Pu, Ministry of Education; (7) Lu Chuen Pu, Ministry of War; (8) Hai Chuen Pu, Ministry of Marine; (9) Fa Pu, Ministry of Justice; (10 Nung Kung Shang Pu, Ministry of Agriculture, Works and Commerce; (11) Yu Ch'uan Fu, Ministry of Posts and Communications; and (12) Li Fou Pu, Ministry of Outer Dependencies. With the exception of the Wai Wu Pu, each Board has only one President and two Vice-Presidents, and no distinction is now made as between Manchu and Chinese Independent of the Government, and theoretically above the central administration, i.e., the Tu-cha Yuan, or Board of Public Censors. It consists of from 40 to 50 members. By the ancient custom of the Empire, all the members of this Board are privileged to present any remonstrance to the sovereign. One censor must be preseut at the meeting of each of the Government Boards. Provincial Councils were established, in October 1909. Their duties are purely consultative, the actual Govern- ment remaining in the hands of the officials.

111

The amount of the public revenue of China is not known, and estimates concerning it vary greatly. The Imperial Maritime Customs receipts form the only item upon which exact figures are obtainable, and these for the year 1907 amounted to Tls. 32,901,8 5. Mr. H. B. Morse, Commissioner of Customs and Statistical Secretary to the Inspectorate-General of Customs, in 1907, computed the revenue of the Imperial Government at Taels 102,924,000, and the imperial expenditure so far as is known

Page 705Page 706

730