CHAPTER XLVI. MODERN CHINA AND JAPAN. SECTION I.-CHINA UNDER THE MING AND MANCHU Ming As before remarked, the sixteen Chinese Emperors belonging to the native Ming dynasty, which ruled China after the expulsion of the Dynasty. Mongol Tartars, in 1368, were mostly able sovereigns. Toward the middle of the fifteenth century the Tartars renewed their invasions of China, but were repulsed. During the reign of the Emperor SHITSUNG, A. D. 1522-1567, the Manchu Tartars invaded China, but were driven back. The Manchus seem to have originated ages ago by the commingling of the Mongols and the Tungouse in the country afterward called Manchuria, which is north of China proper and east of Mongolia. Portu Dutch Intercourse with China. During the long reign of Shi-tsung, in the fifteenth century, began the intercourse between China and Europe by the trading ventures of guese and the Portuguese, who established themselves on the Chinese island of Macao. In 1604 the Dutch sought to open a direct trade with China by sending three vessels to that country, but these Dutch vessels were not permitted to enter any Chinese port. In 1622 the Dutch made a second effort to open a trade with China, but again they were resisted; whereupon they endeavored to enter the Chinese Empire by force, but were driven off. The Dutch, however, effected a lodgment on one of the Pescadore Islands, which afterward they relinquished for the more important Chinese island of Formosa. In the meantime several wars had taken place between the Chinese and the Manchus, and the Chinese reduced the Manchus to subjection. Finally the Emperor of China caused the King of Manchuria to be assassinated an act which so exasperated the Manchus that they renewed the war with the Chinese. The last Chinese Emperor belonging to the Ming dynasty was HWAE-TSUNG. Very soon after this Emperor's accession the King of Manchuria led his army toward the Chinese frontier and issued a proc ChinoManchu Wars. Manchu Invasion. CHAPTER XLVI. MODERN CHINA AND JAPAN. SECTION I.-CHINA UNDER THE MING AND MANCHU Ming As before remarked, the sixteen Chinese Emperors belonging to the native Ming dynasty, which ruled China after the expulsion of the Dynasty. Mongol Tartars, in 1368, were mostly able sovereigns. Toward the middle of the fifteenth century the Tartars renewed their invasions of China, but were repulsed. During the reign of the Emperor SHITSUNG, A. D. 1522-1567, the Manchu Tartars invaded China, but were driven back. The Manchus seem to have originated ages ago by the commingling of the Mongols and the Tungouse in the country afterward called Manchuria, which is north of China proper and east of Mongolia. Portu Dutch Intercourse with China. During the long reign of Shi-tsung, in the fifteenth century, began the intercourse between China and Europe by the trading ventures of guese and the Portuguese, who established themselves on the Chinese island of Macao. In 1604 the Dutch sought to open a direct trade with China by sending three vessels to that country, but these Dutch vessels were not permitted to enter any Chinese port. In 1622 the Dutch made a second effort to open a trade with China, but again they were resisted; whereupon they endeavored to enter the Chinese Empire by force, but were driven off. The Dutch, however, effected a lodgment on one of the Pescadore Islands, which afterward they relinquished for the more important Chinese island of Formosa. In the meantime several wars had taken place between the Chinese and the Manchus, and the Chinese reduced the Manchus to subjection. Finally the Emperor of China caused the King of Manchuria to be assassinated—an act which so exasperated the Manchus that they renewed the war with the Chinese. The last Chinese Emperor belonging to the Ming dynasty was HWAE-TSUNG. Very soon after this Emperor's accession the King of Manchuria led his army toward the Chinese frontier and issued a proc ChinoManchu Wars. Manchu Invasion. China's Internal Troubles. Li-tseching's Rebellion. His Capture of Pekin. Hwae tsung's Desperation. Suicide of the Emperor and the Empress. Li-tseching's lamation declaring that he had been divinely commissioned to rule the Chinese Empire. In the midst of this Manchu invasion, China was distracted by rebellions in different parts of her Empire. Bands of robbers infested the roads, placed themselves under favorite chiefs and bade defiance to the imperial army. One of these rebel chiefs was Li-tse-ching, who marched into the provinces of Shensi and Honan, where he put to death all the mandarins and gained the favor of the common people by freeing them from the payment of taxes. Multitudes flocked to his standard, and whole battalions of the imperial army deserted to him. Li-tse-ching then considered himself sufficiently powerful to declare himself Emperor of China. He therefore led his army to Pekin and contrived to convey a number of his men in disguise into the capital, who were to open the gates to him when he appeared before the city at the head of his army. Shortly afterward the rebel chief entered Pekin in triumph at the head of three hundred thousand men, while the Emperor Hwae-tsung shut himself up in his palace and devoted himself to superstitious ceremonies. When the Emperor found himself betrayed and deserted by his own troops and servants, and saw that he was unable to escape, he resolved to kill his own children and to commit suicide rather than incur the disgrace of being taken captive by his rebellious subjects. Hwae-tsung accordingly conducted his beloved empress into a private and distant part of the gardens without saying a word. She at once comprehended his silent emotions of agony and despair; and, after embracing him tenderly, she retired into the woods, where she suspended herself by a silken string. The Emperor hastened to follow her in suicide. After cutting off the head of his young daughter with his cimeter, he hanged himself on another tree. His Prime Minister, his queens and his faithful eunuchs soon followed his example. Hwae-tsung had left behind him a written request that the conquerBrutality. ing rebel leader should be satisfied with the destruction of the imperial family and not inflict any cruelty on the people. When the self-immolated Emperor's body was laid before Li-tse-ching, as he was seated upon the throne, the brutal wretch treated the corpse in the most shameful manner. He also beheaded two of the dead Emperor's sons and his Ministers, the eldest son making his escape. Woo san-kee's While the princes and nobles of the Empire submitted to the usurper Attitude. Li-tse-ching, there was a celebrated general who alone refused to acknowledge the usurper. This was Woo-san-kee, who commanded the Chinese army stationed on the frontier of Manchu Tartary. This general resolved to avenge his dead sovereign and to punish the usurper. Li-tse-ching march against him with a powerful army. |