Directory_and_Chronicle_1940 — Page 393

PEIPING

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平北 Pei-ping

天順 Shun-tien formerly Peking (Peiching 京北

Peiping (formerly known as 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. The use of the name 'Peiching' (Peking) was restored by order of the local administration in October 1937. This has not however, been endorsed by the Central Government authorities.

From Dr. Dennys' description of Peiping we quote the following brief historical sketch: "The city formerly existing on the site of the southern portion of Peiping 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 Khaitans, 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 t'ien-fu. In 1267 A.D., the city was transferred 3 li (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 Peiping, since which date it has remained the capital of China."

The present city of Peiping is divided into two portions, the Northern or Inner city and the Southern or Outer. There is now no purely Manchu Section as formerly. The general shape

shape of Peiping may be roughly represented by a square placed upon an oblong, the former standing for the Northern and the latter for the Southern city. The whole of the town is, of course, walled. The walls of the Northern 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 Southern 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 20 miles. The inner- most Section of the Northern city called Kin-ching or Forbidden City, contains the Imperial Palace and its surrounding buildings.

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There is little direct foreign trade with Peiping, but it is growing. In August, 1884, the city was brought into direct telegraphic communication with the rest of the world, by an overland line to Tientsin via Tungchow. The Ministry of Communications has now its own wireless installation. The year 1899 witnessed two other innovations, which would have been regarded as impossible ten years previously, viz., the erection of large two-storied buildings on prominent sites for the Austrian Legation and the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank. These were breaks with immemorial tradition that the feng-shui must resent elevation in houses other than those of the immortal gods and the Son of Heaven. The railway line to Tientsin was opened in 1897.

During 1902 the fortification of the Legation quarter was completed, the railway termini brought to the Ch'ien Men in the Southern city, and the reconstruction of the various Legations was begun. These were slowly brought to completion, and extensive