Directory_and_Chronicle_1913 — Page 780

PEKING

天順 Shun-tien

The present capital of China was formerly the Northern capital only, as its name denotes, but it has long been really the metropolis of the Central Kingdom. Peking is situated on a sandy plain 13 miles S. W. of the Pei-ho river, and about 110 miles from its mouth, in latitude 39 deg, 54 min. N. and longitude 116 deg. 27 min. E. or nearly on the parallel of Naples, A canal connects the city with the Pei-ho. Peking is ill adapted by situation to be the capital of a vast Empire, nor is it in a position to become a great manufacturing or industrial centre. The products of all parts of China naturally find their way to the seat of Government, but it gives little save bullion in

return.

From Dr. Dennys' description of Peking we quote the following brief historical sketch:–“The city formerly existing on the site of the southern portion of Peking was the capital of the Kingdom of Yan. About 222 B.C., this kingdom was over- thrown by the Chin dynasty and the seat of Government was removed elsewhere. Taken from the Chins by the Khaitans about 936 A.D., it was some two years after- wards made the southern capital of that people. The Kin dynasty, subduing the Khritans, in their turn took possession of the capital, calling it the *Western Residence,' About A.D. 1151, the fourth sovereign of the Kins transferred the Court thither, and named it the Central Residence. In 1215, it was captured by Genghis Khan. In 1264 Kublai Khan fixed his residence there, giving it the title of Chung-tu or Central Residence, the people at large generally calling it Shun Cien-fu. In 1267 A.D., the city was transferred 3 77 (one mile) to the North of its then site, and it was then called. Ta-tu- the 'Great Residence." The old portion became what is now known as the 'Chinese city,” and the terms Northern and Southern city, or more commonly nei-cheng (within the wall) and wai-cheng (without the wall), came into use. The native Emperors who succeeded the Mongol dynasty did not, however, continue to make Peking the seat of Government. The Court was shortly afterwards removed to Nanking, which was considered the chief city of the Empire until, in 1421, Yung Lo, the third Emperor of the Ming dynasty, again held his Court at Peking, since which date it has remained the capital of China.

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The present city of Peking is divided into two portions, the Northern or Tartar city and the Southern or Chinese. The former is being gradually encroached upon by the Chinese, and the purely Manchu section of the capital will soon be very limited. The southern city is almost exclusively occupied by Chinese. The general shape of Peking may be roughly represented by a square placed upon an oblong, the former standing for the Tartar and the latter for the Chinese city. The whole of the capital is, of course, walled. The walls of the Tartar city are the strongest. They average 50 feet in height and 40 feet in width, and are buttressed at intervals of about sixty yards, The parapets are loop-holed and crenelated. They are faced on both sides with brick, the space between being filled with earth and concrete. Each of the gateways is surmounted by a three-storied pagoda. The walls of the Chinese city are about 30 feet in height, 25 feet thick at the base, and 15 feet wide on the terre plein. The total circumference of the walls round the two cities slightly exceeds twenty miles.

The Tartar city consists (Dr. Williams tells us) of three enclosures, one within the other, each surrounded by its own wall. The innermost, called Kin-ching or Prohibited City, contains the Imperial Palace and its surrounding buildings: the second is occupied by the several offices appertaining to the Government and by private residences of officials; while the outer consists of dwelling-houses, with shops in the chief avenues, The Chinese city is the business portion of Peking, but it presents few features of interest to sight-seers, while the enclosure known as the Prohibited City is, as its title denotes, forbidden to all foreign visitors. The numerous temples, the walls, the Foreign Legations, and the curio shops are the chief attractions to the tourist. The streets of the Chinese metropolis are kept in a most disgraceful condition. In the dry season the pedestrian sinks deep in noxious dust, and in wet weather he is liable to be drowned in the torrents that rush along the thoroughfares, where the constant traffic has worn away the soil. 1899 saw the innovation of Legation Street being cleansed, levelled and macadamised

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