The Royal Society

A Description of the Plan of Peking, the Capital of China; Sent to the Royal Society by
Father Gaubil, èSocietate Jesu. Translated from the French

Author(s): Father Gaubil
Source: Philosophical Transactions (1683-1775), Vol. 50 (1757 - 1758), pp. 704-726
Published by: The Royal Society
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/105321 .
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[ 7°4 ]
of thePlanof Peking,:
XCs7I.A Deficriptzon
the Cap*tnlof C}lina;J¢estto the Royal
lgylEvther
Society JeEu.
Gautzil,e Societate
the'rench.
7rgz*?j7atecl frcXs
KING CE{E.THECOURT.
ReadJune I. 'N this plan are the inclofurcs of walls,
1758* - whoch form as it were three cities.
The firR is tlze ilmperial palace, or
i1u1?erill Itis called Kooag tcheng K ng tching
city.
or;<Je ka. Thenurxl;lets t I, 17, z I, 1C kin.

24 lnalk tlle great gates of this in-
clofure.
fecond inclofure is SIoang
1'he
tchinge The numbers 3, 18, 30, 86, Efoang tching.
rnark four great gates of this in-
clofure.
The tlaird inclofisre is Kig tching,
or Royal City. The numbers 235, King tching.
IX 99, 146, 173, Ig3, I88, X99, 2II,
mark rline gates of this inclofure. Z
At the four angles eaIt arld weR of the north and
fouth walls is a large pavillion in the form of a for_
trefs. It is a kind of arSenal or magazine of arrows
l;rows, guns, bucklers, cuiraXes, pikes, fmall can-
10S, Cr.
Obferve the angle made by the inclofure iIoang
trhing on the fouth of the gate N°. 84, to the north
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[ 7°5 1
of N°. 260. The inclofure extendsto theeaIl,the¢
to the fouth,andcontinues to the eall, pafl;ngby
N° 3*
1. is the greatgateHien ncen.. As yot;lgo orlto
the north,, I43, 2I4, arethreegatesof a great
courtwithmagnificent walls. Thro'thegate3 yOIl
enteripto a court,whereis the Csymiao N°. 7*
Therearerepofitedthe tabletsof the anceIlorsof the
reigning emperor, and of the illultrious filbjeEts de-
ceafed,who have fervedthe dynally. This miao-
or palaceis a vaR one, and well kept. At regular
timestheemperor,princes,andgreatmen, go thither
to pertorm ceremonles.
e
NQ.9 is theCbetf tan, whereareperformed, at-

regular tsmes, the ceremonies to the ancients,who
havetaughttheartof agriculture.Thispalaceis a
verybeautiful one. 4, 5, 6>arethegatesof a court
wherethereguliandprincesgo frequently to receive
the emperor's orders. Thereare hallsfor theirre-
ception. The mandarins give themtea to drinka
and marktheirnamesin a regiller. When upon
the fixed days they cannotattend,they are re-
quiredto givenoticeof it. It is in thiscourt,that
the tributary princes,or theirenvoys,do homages
andreceivethepreSents of theemperor;whichpre-
Sentsareconfidered asrewards.
N°. I I iS OUznen,thegreatgatewitha beautifut
pavillion height,in whichis a large
of a confiderable
bell*. This gate,withthofetnarked- N°. I 2^]
are-thofeof the greatcourt;whelzcegoingto the
* When the emperorgoes out or comesinto the palace,this

be]lis rung
VOL, 50. 4X northy

[ 706 ]
north, you enterinto the bealltifuland vaR court
TRalbotSen,the gatesand galleriesof which, with
t}}ebalconies,
tnakea fineappearance.In thiscourt,
on thefirStdayof the year, andon otherfixeddays,
the mandarins,accordingto their ranks,perform
the ceremonyto the emperor,who is featedon his
thronein the hall calledTayhotien. This hall is a
-vaRand magnificentone. The princes,miniIters,
and greatmen of the firlEorder,place themfelves
-thereby the emperor. It is in this hall, that the
emperorgivesaudienceto foreignprincesand their
ambaSadors.You go up to thishall by magnificent
IReps.
To thenorthof Cayhotienis a largecourt,whither
the princes,greatmen,miniIlers,andprincipalman-
darins,go in turnseveryday,to receivetheemperor's
orders,or to prefenttheirpetitions.To the nortllof
this court are the apartments of the emperor,the
empreis,the queens,andladies. 'rhe greatgateof
the place, where thefe apartments are, is N. 23.
All thefeapartments arein thefpacecontaitled
vwith_
in the walls, which have this figure1 23 1*
At A is a beautifulgate to the fouth. The wallsof
the inclofureof the apartments of the emperorand
emprefsarehigherthanthofeof the inclofuresof the
queensandladies. In themareorchards, jets d'eau,
floweringIhrubsX anda greatnumberof fmallcham-
bersfor the eunuchs.
To the weflcof the courtCayho{ien is the fine
palace9 ning kong. The emprefs-mother lives
thcreat prefent. Everythingin thispalaceis beau-
tiful. Therearelittlegardensveryneatandwell
kept.

] [ 7°7
kept. At the caR of the Cayhotien is likewifea
fine palace,where-the princeheir, with his court,
reI1ded in the time of the emperorKanghi. It is a
verybeautifulpalace,and highlyornamented.
In the inclofureof Ko7tg tching,orffiekin, there
aretribunals,a greatnumberof magazines,manu-
fadures,the imperialapothecary's ihopandprinting-
houSe;;fchoolsforthe ChinefeandTartarlanguages;
and feveraltemplesof idols, one of which, lately
madefor the lamas,coll immenfefums.
N°. 26, 28, 29, arethe gatesof thegreatinclofure
calledKinchan. It is properlya beautifulpleafure-
houSe,whichthe prefentemperorhas cauSedto be
extremelyembelliShed.Therearein it finegardens
with walksof trees,veryrichandelegant apartments,
halls for the muf1cians and comedians. From the
mountainm, the laRemperor06 the gynaItyMing,
feeingthe city takenby the rebels,hangedhimfelf
on the morningof the Isth of April of the yearof
our Lord 1644. On the day before,the 14th of
April, the emprefshangedherfelfin the eveningin
the palace. The mountainin Kin chanwas made
by arta longtimeago.
At the well of the inclofuren cbanandtpe kin
obServe the greatlaos. 54 is thepeta,or white py_
ramid. This pyramidRandson a fmall mountain,
which n akesan ifand. The prefentemperorhas
built there, in the form of an amphitheatre, I do
not know how many apartmerlts with coveredand
open galleries,well built, andin a goodtalle: the
pointof view is charming,andthe galleries,which
rlln over the lake, are extremelybeautiful. There
are two or three templesof idols. S3 is a fine-
4 X 2 building

f 7o8
buiIdingwith a templeof idols; and in it a Ratue
of Fo of an extraordinary heighe It is of copper,
gilt, and cofi greatfums. 76 is a very beautiful
palacecalledYngtay, with fine gardens,fine halls,
andfinewalks.
55 is the palace,in whichis placedthe tabletof
the emperor£ng hi, grandfather to the prefent
emperor,who at regulartimesgoesthither,in order
to honourthe memoryof that greatprince,one of
the moIt illuIlriousandfortunatefevereignsof the
empireof China.
andchurchof the FrenchJefuits.
8 I iS the houfe-
The houSeRandsin 39° 55' of northernlatitude,or
poilbly fome Secondsmore, and II4° to the eaR
of the obServatory of Paris. This fituation,with
regardto latitudeand longitude,is foundedupona
confiderable- numberof aflcronomical obServations.
By meansof a fcale,whichmaybe made, we harre
the diRancebetweenthis houSeand the otherparts
of the city, nolthandfouth,eaRandweIt; as like-
wife the latitudeand longitudeof all the placesin
the city of Peking.- z+8 is the houSeandchurchof
the Portuguefe Jefuits; 70 the houSeandchurchof
the Portuguefe Jefuits*; I3 I the houSeandchurch
of the Rufllans. A little to the eaI}of N°. I76 iS
a fmallhouSeandchapelfor the Rufllansfettledat
PekingforabovefeventyyearspaI}.
3I iS Kouleou, the Towerof the Drum; 32 iS
_ , g t I I I_ .t. 1.
* In thefetwo houSesareJefu;tsof othernations. They are

becauSetheSehoufiesand churchesdependon
itiled Eaortuguefe,
the milSonof the Jefuitsfounded-by the kingof Portugal.
t tI'herearebeatentherethe fivewatchesof the night The
Iblandis beardthro'the wholecity.
C;hoag

[ 7°9 ]
fRchorg leotw,
the Tower of the Bell; in whichis a
verylargebell+.
179 wasformerlythe palaceof the fourthfon of
the emperorKanghi after the deatll of Kangh.
This princereignedunderthe name of tchgng rOUg
His fon the preCent emperorcauSedthis palaceto be

detnoliShed, andto be reblliltwith an extraordinary
magnificence. In the hall is the tabletof Ybong
tching; andtherearein thispalacegrandapartments
for the emperor,whenhe goesthitherto honourthe
memoryof his father. The emperorhas ereAed
lzerea templeof idolsfor the lama of Thibet; and
thereareapartments for abovethreehundredlama's.
ThefehaveChineSeandTartardifciplesto the num-
berof two hundred. Here are taught,in the Thi_
betan language,calledhere Cangout, the fciences,
arts,mathematics, phyElc,fpirituality,andthe pagan
religion. In thisbeautifulinclofurethereareIlatu-
ariesand painters. This buildingis not at all infe-
riorin beautyandmagnificence to thoSeof thepalace-
of Peking,orto thofe,whichthe prefentemperoris
goingon to eredcin his pleafure-houSes. --
l So Kouehe kienis the imperialcollege. - The
greathall, whereConfilciusis honoured,is a very
beautifulone. Therearelikewifehallsforhonouring
the dificiples
of this pllilofopher
andfeveraleminent
Cliinef-elearnedmen, who have followedhis doc-
trinewith fuccefs. The emperorgoesthitherfome-
timesto performthe ceremonyto Confuciusas ma-
Rer and inRruEtor to the empire. The avenues,
.
;t: Kong ZoZemperorof the laflcdynaRyMgag,builtthefetwo

sourers.
courtsX

[ 7to ]
courts,andapartments, of Kouehekienhavea moft
majeRic appearance.
70 thefmallerobServatory.
I08 the imperial obServatory,builtby Kia hing,
emperor of thelaflcdynaftyMing.
6 thetribunal of mathematics, Kintienkien.
I 37 thetribunal of mandarins, Lypou.
X39 thetribunal ofritesandceremonies $, LypOS.
X33 Pingpou, thetribunal of war.
I 34 Kong pou, thetribunal forpublicvrorks.
Heupou,thetribunal forthefinances.
thetribunal c)fprinces,fJ8ongginfou.
X68 Hgngpov, thetribunal forcriminal cauSes.
I 44 Lifan yuen, the tribunal forforeignnations,
Thibetans, Eleuthians, Rufl:*ans,andindeedfor all
foreigners, whocomeby thewayof Tartaryfrom
theweI}
369 fou fchayuen,thetribunal of the cenforsof
theempire. It has underit theprovoJis andnsare-
shv>ee.
233 thetribunal of Kieovmenti tou,or governor
of theninegates,thatis)ithe;overnor of thecity.
s8S the tribunalof thejudgeof thecity. This
judgeis herecalledFoun. He hasunderhimtwo
judgesnamedSchi hyen. Oneof theIeis thejudge
of the diRriEcalledOuangping hien 193. The
otheriscalledthediRridc ofCayrJ>ng bien18Z. Thefe
diIlIidcs arewithinthecityandwithoutit. Whatis
calleda-tPekingtouJn is calledelfewhere tchifou.
* The tribunalsof the miniRersandgrandmaflers

of theem-
peror'shoufearein the inclofureT%e
kin.

t 7It ]
I28 iS the tribunalof Han lin, or ie chofen
doEorsof the empire. This tribunal,calledHan
lin ysen, is a veryconfiderableone: it hasthe care
of the regiRers for the ChinefehiRory. All the
learnedmen of the empire,and the collegesand
Schools, dependuponthistribunal.Herearechofen
thejudgesandexaminers of thecompofitions forthe
degreesof thelearnedmen; as likewifethofe,who
aremoI}capable of writingverfesandpiecesof elo-
quenceforthe uSeof thepalaceand-emperor.
107Kongyuenis the inclofure, wherethe com-
pofitionsare drawnup for the examination of the
learnedmen. Here are a greatnumberof little
chambers or cellsforthecompoSers, andfineapart_
mentsfor themandarins appointed to preferve good
order,and to preventthofe,who compofe,from
makinguSeof thecompofitions of others.
273 Schouakouting is a pavillion, in whichis a
drum. Mandarins andfoldiers
keepguardhereday
andnight. In ancienttimes,whenanyperfonIwad
notjuIticedonehim, andthoughthimfelfopprelEed,
he wentandbeatthisdrum;at thefoundof which
the mandarins ran,andwereobligedto carrythe
complaint of thepartyoppreffiedto-thegreatmenor
miniIlers.Uponwhichanformation was takenof
the fadt,andjuIlicedone. At prefentthe uSeof
thisdrumis abolifhed;butit hasbeenthoughtpro-
perto preferve thisancientmonument of theChinefe
government.
2 I7 fi ouangmiao is a palace,wherein arethe
tabletsof a greatnumber of theancient emperors of
Chirla. At the timeof the equinoxes tlle emperor
goesthitherto performthe ceremonies to thefedee
8 ceaIed

[ 7I 2 ]
ceafedemperors. See the notes on the fi oUang
mzao, p. 7 2 3a
92) and the continuationof the buildingsto the
north)containthe magazinesof gunpowder,falt_
petre,and nitre. In the cityaremanyothermaga-
sines. I do not namethemhere. They havetheir
numlzers.Thefemagasinesareof cloth,mats?Skins,
oil, wine,vinegar,wood,coal,porcelain,-tea,varnilh,
filk, Sc.
The city is dividedilltO eight quartersfor the
bannieresof the TartarsMantcheou,the Tartars
Mongou,and the ChineSe calledHankun, who fol-
low the TartarsMantcheou,andfubmittedto them
wljen theyenteredChina. SincethattimetheChi-
nefeHan-kunare becomenumerousand powerful.
Thefe eight bannieriesare dividedby this meansas
it wereintotwenty-four;viz. eight of Manzvheouy
eightof Mongou,andeightof Han kun. Eachban_
nieryhasiesofficers,tnagazines,andarfenalvThefe
areprettyfpaciousinclofures,each of which has it
number.
94 is an inclofure,in whicharekepttygers; and
240 an lnclofure,vfherelnareclephants.
65 T)anyuenis an inclofurefor &Ik-worms.
147, t5o} IsI,-are publicgranaries,very well
built. Wsthoutthe gates x46, 173, are many of
thtfepublicgranaries;as alfoin the environsof the
city to the north,fouth,eas4c, andwefl:. The largeIt
andmoItmagnficentare in the city of tong tcheovy
fourFrenchLeaguesto the eaRof Peking.
37) 3 ) 42) 52, 54, 39? 60, 66, 80) 83, 84, 8fa
91, 93, 117,-I 18) IS}s 154, I 56, I60 J6S, 178,
I96} 203} 2 IQa 21 i. 218>- 225) 229> ;30, 50> 55>
26}3

[ 7I3 3
:6t, thefenumbersmarktemplesof idols. Sonze

of thefenumbersmarkhalls for honouringof illuf
triousdeceafedperfons; but of thefe thereareonly
a few. TherearefeveralEmalltxiao, which are not
numbered In the Chinefecity, in the fuburbs,are
manytemplesof idols; and fome even in the em
peror'spalace And almoItall the palacesof the
princeshaveldol emples.
33, 35, 36, 6I, 62, 64, 67t 68, 71, I09, 1z6
28v I33> I34a I35, I j6, I37, t39, 140, 14f, 142$
I44, I80, 182, I85, I93, ffI9, 95j, 533 243}zSIx
552, 553, 234, 555, 559, 560, 567, :68) 269) -a70,
57I, 297, theSenumbersmark ti tribunals,as
well thofe,whichI havealreadymentioned,asmany
otherfubaltern ones,whichdependon em. - There
is one forthe phyrlcians.
IOI, II9? 12I, 124, I25, I:9, I48} I49, IS?
16I?I6l, T66,T72,I74} 75, 176s I95 I94 I95
501, 208, 209, 2I6, 520, 52t, tf4) 32, 237, :58,
239-,z41, 24+, z47) 249, 262a:63, :64* -markthe
palacesof the princesof the blood}who aredivided
into feveralclaXesThg ovang,regulzof the firftor-
der; Kgnovans,,reguliof the fecondorder; Pey 1q
regalxof ehethirdorder;Pey tle, regaliof the.fourtl
order? gottgx or counts,dividedRill fartherinto
otherclafl*es;andIJgangkun, Qr generals of armies)
dividedlikewifeintootllerclaGes.
Someyearsagothe emperorcauSed to be mearured
tlle circumference of the walls of Kitg Zching,of
Hoangtching,and of He kin, Ec. as likewiSethe
brraelthof the Ilreets,the fpacefilled by the ziao,
our three churches}that of t-lleRufllansXpalaces,
Sc. The Chinefecity wasnot meafured A draw
VOL 50. 4-Y ing

[ 7I4 ]
ing of all thls was made at large, and then re
duced to a ftnallerfcale, as it appearshere. I
will not undertakefor the perfeEtexaftnefsof it,
eitlaerin the meafiures or the reduEtion.A11thisis
by a C:hineSe hand. The foot madeuSeof in this
menfuration is to that of Fleanceas tooo to 1016
I 800 of thefefeetmakea Iy. By the fcaleto be
Meenin the finall plan, andfroruthe dimenfions of
the fouthandeaItwallsof Kingtsbgng,maybe de-
duced all the dimenfions. The circun:lference of
the wallsof theChinefecity hasbeenformerlymea-
fu1ed,andwell, by feveralmeafiures; arudthe refult
of themmaybe feenhereby the fcale.
The fouth wall of Dng tchingis from eaIl to
ssreIlelevenly andneara third. The eaftwall frole
northto fouthis nine ly and fome paces. So that
the cityssnotfquare,asfeveralperforls havewritten.
The perfonsemployedby the emperorto meafure
did not think of meafuringthe fpace,which con-
tainsthe honfeand churchof the congregation de
propaga?sda fia'e. ThishouSeandchurcharefituated
to tlle l:outhbetweennumber207 anda fmallbridge
to the weItof nutnberooz.
In the accountsfufficierltmentionhas been.made
of the walls and gatesof the city of Kingtching;
for suhichreaSonst is not neceSaryfor me to fay
anythingconcerning it.
In the year-ofour Lord sz67, the Tartareme
perorKoublay han (in ChineSeY*ueu2chi tCroa)buik
_
* The feetare-diffierent
in China; but 1800 feet alwaysmake
a Iy. Accordingto the meafuresf the footdle1ywillbe greats
st leSar
3
t,he

built. The emperor tt louilt the ChineSe city
715 n r
the city calleeltv fou. It is the principal
partof
t]aeprcSent city of Kingtchig. It contained the
Kif2 chun, a palacel<rgfaya Hoang tcDiZg- TCJe
tin} &c. the walls of the city} an obServatoryXthe
tosvers of tlae Drum and the Bell '3ong lo, em-
peror of the 1aR dynaIty qQy ESiZ7g)made great altera-
tions in the city lzuilt lJy Y^?zen
chi tt{*
In the year I+06 the emperor Nong lo undertook

to build Rronger and higlaer walls and nzore ma:,ni-
ficent gates, to the city; to rebuild the Hog tJiE/g,
the emperor alld empLefss proper habitation, and
the feveral parts of S>/ekigJ -the courts hall of the
throne or of Ry Z.)otie?, the Itou leov, tl> ScSwogg
lecv. ldIe undertook alro to build the Siez ?Z0g
tan and lZien tans which are nomr in the Chinefe city.
On account of the wals with tlle:t:lSartars,the srorks
undertaken by Nong lo were not finiiMed till the year
of our I,ord J42 I. Since that: time, in tlle Kin tr/uin
fome alterations have been made ln the palace) a-sld
a good numbel of new 7Zziozo and palaces have been
in the year of ClriR 1 S44

The gatesandwallsof theChinefecity arenot
all equalin beautyto thofein tIaecityKing tchvg
The Ilreetsarencitlaer
fo broad,norfo wellkeptill
repair. More: than a third of tlle fpace of the C'laineSe
clty is not inllabited. It confiRs only of fields and
g;ardens The fpaces -occup;ed by tlle S*eza-nongtvvS
and the lhefl tax are stali; and lctsveen thefie tsro
there is a lrery broad road In this ChineSe city are
fome r,zolhues for the Mallornetans. The inladhited
part of this city is much more fo tharl the city Gng
tchzng and Hng tr/.inX. In tlle Chinefe city are
vall inns fbr tllofe, wrho come out of the foutherta
4-Y a pro^Jincts

tchi>g do llot run diredly north and Svuthand
[ 7I6 ]
prosZinces tv Peking. II:re ate likeutit^ca curios
InaIlUid&Llle Qf ./iea.Z.! Ci}ileSeglaEs,rich mer-
/9t cAr
chantsof vtromezts ornaxnetlts,of gold, of tlle plant
gin c/.ezZg fo mucll cReemedarid-fo de.X^ llere, of
varxti('ned tea, llufEsof staue, Cc. Tlle
furnst:ure,
bookSellers {hopsare alSoill this city. It is l:obe
remarked,tllat tile walls of tlaeChinefecity aIzd
eaIt and weR, but declinetowat<lsthe nortll-uteR
2° 30', and clS-XalUCIl fo.,tll-Call. lt is FJrobable,
tlaatthe architedsemployedin diredingthe build_
ing of tlCSewallsmadeuSe- of a compafx;alld that
the deciinatiation of the needlewas then what is
mentionedabove.
What I havefaidof the walls of the city is like_
wife to be faid of the wallsof Hoangtchingandof
vlyetng.
4 . .
At the timeof buildingtlle city lUngtching,and

the Chinefecity, the Chinefea{tronomers verywelI
underllood,thatthe rlorthandfouthof the compaSs
wasnotthenorthandfouthof thc heavensat Peking;
they knew, that the needledeclinedto the north_
weIt andfouth-eaIt;bllt that this declinationwas
not confiderable.
Withoutthe gates of the Chinefecity, and of
Kingtching,I markthe fuburbs; which are very
full of peopleandmerchants, andlikefo manycities.
In molSof thefe fuburbsthere are fine templesof
idols.
The Siennongtan in the Chinefecity is almoll
Jix ly in circuie.Thefethreewordsfignify,The hill
of the ancienthufbandmen.
The emperorgoestbithereveryyearin the fpring
to

[ 7I7 ]
to till the ground,andfacr;fices on thathill to hea
ven. The emperor'sapartments therehav^nothirlg
magnificent in them; lJuttlle ceremcnyof plough
ing is a folemnandcuriousone, anddefervesa par-
ticulardefcription.The empnrortills undera fmall
coveringof na.lt. Whenhe hasplougI<ed abouthalf
an hour, he afcendsa largealcove,fiom whencehe
fees the princes,greatmetl,-andmandarins,plough
in the fields, which are not coverXclwith- mats.
While the emperor-isploughing,a goodnumberof
peafantsf1ngancientfongs on the importanceof
ploughing. The emperor,princes,and greatnzens
are dreffiedin the habitof plougll-men,and their
inIlruments of hulbandry areveryneat, and keptilu
a magazine. tTherearegranaries for the grainpro-
ducedby this tillage; and it is carefullylemarked,
that the grainfrom the emperor'stillageis mllch
betterthan thatfrom the labourof others From
thisgrainaremadefeveralcakesfor the variousfa
crificesto Heavenor Changti. The emperorpre-
pareshilllfelffor this ceremonyby falling prayers
to heaven,anda kind of retreat:andthe intention
of it is to keep up a memorialof thofe times, in
whichtheprincesthemfelvestilledthe ground.This
ceremonyis of the higheI}antiquityin China.
Overagainkthe sien nong tan iS the Tvien tan, or
Hill of Heaven,nearten Iy in circuit. Everything
hereis magnificent.The emperorgoesthitherevery
yearat the winterfollliceto facrificeto heaven. He
prepareshimfelfthree days for this ceremonyby
falling, in a palaceof fien tan, calledthe palaceof
,Sing. The hill, on whichtlle emperorfacrificess
is magnificently
adorned.At the fouravenuesare
beautifuS

[ 7IS ]
bCautiful trillmphalarcElesof fiXlemarlule;andt}ae
llill is aScended by elegantIleps In tllis ceremony
areintroduced many ufagescolltraryto the ancient
Chinefedodrinecvncerning the facrificeto 11eaven.
On the dayof the winterfolIliceareaddedthe ho-
novurs paidto tlle fiveplarlets,that is, to theirfpirit.
TheSeceretnonies addedto thefacrificeto laeatenare
not veryancient. TherearelikewiSehonoursto tlle
firIt follndersof the reigningdynafty. At feveral
othertimds tlle eruperor goes to tie>2 tan to perfi(irm
a facrificeto heaven,andto honourhis deceaSed an-
ceRors.
To the nolthof theHill of Heavenis a largeand
higil terrace,on svhichis a moItmagnificent hallin
hon-otlr of Changti, or the fovereignLord, and of
his allcellors. On the frontiEpiece of this hall the
prefentTartaremperorshave cauSedan inScription
to be placedto Sp cai han or the Lordof heaven
To thisTartarinScription anfwersthe ChineSecha-
raderIDen; whiclahas the fame meaningas the
charad:er fien, heaven; and it Elgnifies the Chang
ti, who is intelldedto be honouredin thishall. The
tablet:fbrthe Changti is in a place,whichIllews,
thatthe honourpaidto Changti is of a diflRerent kiild
fromtlle honourpaidto anceftors.
Withoutthe eaIlern,ate of Kingtching,N I4S,
is Ge tan or Hill of the Sun. At the vernal equi-
nox the emperorSendshithera princeor greatrnan
to-honourthe fun,thatis, thefpiritof the fun. This
inclofureJtho'elegantenough,has nothingveryre-
markable;noris the ceremonyveryancient.
Withoutthe northgate of Ki^gtching,at N°*
, is ;ti tar) or the Hill of the Earth. At the
fummeg

[ 719 ]
fammerfolRicetheemperorgoesthitherto facrifice
to the earthon thehill. Mar.yof thelearned nuen
at prefentdiIlinguiShthisfacrificein thefi t.n from
in thefien tan. But, accordinC
tlle facrifice to the
dodcrine of Confucius, thefacrificeto the earthlaas
thefatneobjedc asthe facrificeto heaven. In both
thefupreme LordChangti is to be honouled.I do
notknow,whethertheemperor adheres to the pure
dodrineof Confucius, andvvhether he doesnot prc-
tendto honourtheearth,orfpiritof tlseearth,by
performing a facrifice,wllichoriginally hadfor its
objeEtthe Changti, as we ale affiured by C8onfucius.
tRheinclofureof fi zan is a Yafl; c)ne; lDut is not at
all equalin beautyto thefien taa
Without the we{terngate of Kingtching, N°.
AIl7 iS Y>eran, the Hill oftheMoon. At tlle
autumnalequinoxthe emperorfendsthsthera prince
or greatman to hollourthe moon, or Epilitof the
moon. This ceremonyis not veryancient. Tllls
inclofureis a neatone, andprettylarge.?
Betweenthetwon:orth gatesof vKing
zchZzg,N--.
183 andI88, iS a vall eEplanade fortheexercifeof
the troopsbothhorSe andfoot.
To thenorthof thiseEplanade aretwo beautiful
templesof idolsforthelamas. TheSetwo moraC-
teriesareveryelegant.The emperor andtheTaletars
Mongovlayoutgreatfumson thefetwomollaIleries
andthetwotemplesof thelamas.
Intheyear1T I I beforeChrilt,Ououang,founder
of the dynaRy Scheou,nominated hisbrother
ilFchao
kangprinceof Yer. Xenis the ancientnatneof a
prettyextenfivecountryin whichPekingIlands.
Thisprinceof Nenbuilta citythere,a leagueand
half

[ 720 l
11alffouth-weflc of the city Kingtchitzg.This city
was callcdYenkizg,or the courtof l&n. It became
aftervvards conf1derable; andthe prillceof Nenvery
powerfulin the cc)untry of PercbaliandLevotong.
311the year 222 beforeChriRthe emperorC>nchi
/voang deRroyed the powerof the princesof Nen the
deScendants of T2chao korg,and feized their domi-
nions. Tlle founderof the dynaRyHan defEroyed
tlaepowerof the familyof TXnchi hoang. In the
r:imeof the dynallyUn, before:the ChriRianara,
andof the dyna{lyHan, the cityof Nenwas an im-
portantgovernment, on accountof theneighbourhood
of the Tartars. Sotnetime after the dyna{lyHan
ieveralTartarprillcesSienpi nladethemfelves maIters
of the countryof Nen. Duringthe dynaItyof Tang
the cityof Ee72 wasItilla confiderable one. Afterthe
deltrudionof thatdynallytheTartarsKi tarn * made
themfelvestnaIteIsof Tartary,andthe provincesof
(XXhaZ6f Percheli,andLeaotong. Their powerwas
formidableto the CllineSe. TheircourttVAS in the
city of EeBt, svhichtl ey adornedandin}arged.TheSe
1artarsIad, like the ChineSeemperots,tribunals;
one for the mathematics, and anotherfor hiItory+*
Tley hadlikewifefomeilluItrious princes,andkept
fomecorrefpondence with the Caliphs.
The TartarsNuntchedeilroyedthe power of
Levo. Theircourtwasalfoat Een; andtheymade
it as magnificent and largea city as Pekingis now.
The Mogol TartarsdeRroyedthe empireof the-
. .
* This poweris calledin Chinathe dynaflyLeao.

lanz
t There is extant, in the ChinefeandTartarMantcheou
guages,-anhiflcory of KxsnS
of the.d-naPry
Nuntvhe

[ 72t ]
Nigntche or Kin. Theircourt was at firA at Eenw
but the TartarMegol empelorKoublay demolsfhed
tllat city, and built what is now called KiEg tching
at leaR KingtcDing is a good part of the city built
by Koublqy, which was fome 0 larger. The emr
peror's palace was likewife larger
Thiscity Kingtchxng is that, ssrhicll -Marco I?aule
calls Ca)nbaluCaris khanX Brhichfignifies a kif2g,
andbal-is a corruption of an old M-ogol szorcl laZgaX
or balahwhich f1gnifies a city: whence is formed
the word bvZgaWan
in Mogol or Mongou, whicil fig
nifiescity. Khanbalu or khanbalou,fignifies the
royal city. KX tchxng, inthe time of Marco Paulo
was the capital of the empire of China. The Per
fians and Arabians, from the Mongou word khae
balotl,or khan-balgaJiwn,
or kbanbalga, fbrmed the
word kbaxbalik or khanbalek, which figntfies alSo
the toyal city. Thw name was given by the ealtern
people to the city of CaifAngfou,
tlle capital of Honars
and to that of Naxktag,the capital of Kianggan, at
the time vwhen thefe cities were the court of princesX
This name was alfo given to the -cities of Tartary
when fome powerful princes kept fometimes their
court there. Wllat I fiaveremarked concerning the
words khanbalik,khanbalekX khdnbalgaXAco-is to
be applied to the words ordoalik, ordoubalik. Ordo}
or orda&t, or orto, fign;fies 1oyal, imperial, in the MQ_
gol or Mongou language. So ordov balik fignifies a
co(lrt,a royalcity; andthefewordsare in fadcthe
names-offomeold-citiestwheretheMogolorMos
gOIlkingskepttheircourts.
VOL. 5O. z
-
KEMARKS

[ 72t2 ] :
g EMARKS onN°. 5, Fankingfahang;whichi8

the foreignclailcal booksare
the placewhe1*e
kept.
Schangf1gnifiesmagasine,orlargeplace,wherw
anythingis contained.Fanfignifies Itranger orfo-
reigner;andkingfignifies book.
a clafl:1cal
The Jewsof CazJong fou, the capitalof HonanX
thatthey-conceivedw
firI}toldtheJefuitnziffilonaries,
thatthe HebrewBiblewas preferved at Pekingin
theplacecalledFankingtchang.Thefefirkmifl*lo
nariesnegledredto -makea fearchfor it at Peking,
or didnotthirlkof it. Butit didnoteScape theat-
tentionof FatherBouvet,a FrenchJefuit,whowent
to Pan kingtchang. The antientplace,wherethe
foreignbookswerekept,had been-deIlroyed;and
thoSe booksremoved intoa neighbouring where anzaoX
therewerebonses. FatherBouvetwentto thisazia

withtwootherFrenchJefilits;but theyfoundonly
the ILoran^, of the claIllcalbooksof the
fragnlents
Indians,and the claElcalbooksof the latnas; the
wholein bad condition.FatherBonvetthought9
thathe iiawin an old cofferChaldee,Syriac,and.
tIebrewcharafters.The bonsewouldnotIhewthe
place,whereFatherBouvetthoughtthat he had
feenthoSe- chara&Crs,which,on returning to the
miao) werenot found. The emperor hadordered
the bonzesto ffieweverythingto FatherBouvetv
X11the clailealbookswereafterwards removed to
the palace;the tniaowas demolifhed;md there
remained nothingbutthenameof Fanking{changO
WhenI paifedthro'Caifong fou,$the Jews, in the
prefmce->

723 ] f
prefenceof FatherGosani, who fervedazeas lnter-
preter,affuredme, thatI {houldfind the Biblein
the Eas kingtcSpang.TheSeJews had not lDeenat
Peking. Whattheyfaidwas in confequence of what
t}ey had beentold by old Jews, who vveredecPaSedv
Whell I arrivedat Peking, I made inquiriesmyfelf}
aIldcauSedinquiriesto be made by others; but I
couldnot findthe Bible. It is not yet an hundred
yearsfincetherewere at PekingfomeJewi{hfami-
lies; which afterwardsturnedMahometans. A
Mahometan,who was a man of parts,aXuredme
feveraltimes, that the Biblewas in the poiSeffi1on
of
the Mallometanshere, whofe arlceItorswereJews.
But when, in confequence of whathe faid, inquiries
weremade, nothingwas found. This Mahometan
informedme likewifewthat he had madeinquiries;
but if he haddonefo, his refearches-proved unfuc-
cefiful.
REMARKS on the Ti ouangmiao, NQ.2t7
I. The emperors,whofe memoryis honoilred
there, are
The emperorsCotzhi, ChinNong, Hoangti.
The enzperorsChaohao, T@chouen hiu, S) co, Yvo
Chunx
The emperorru, the fourlderof the dynaRyESa,
andthirteenotheremperorsof that dynaRy.
The emperorSchingtang,the founderof t-hedy-
naflcyChangXand twex five emperorsof thatdy
naRyF
The emperorOuouang,the founderof the dy-
rlaflcyTcheou,and thirty-oneemperorsof that dy-
naflcy.
4Z 2 The

[ 724 J
Ttxe founderof the dynaftyHan, arldtwenty
emperorsof that dynaIlyywho arc called weilern
Han, ea-IlernHan, andlaterHan.
The founderof the dynaflcy Cang,and fourteen
emperors of thatdynaIty.
The founderof the dynaRySong,arsdthirteen
ernperorsof thatdynafly; whichis calledthe north-
ernSongandehefouthernSong.
Gentchiskhatn, or teznougin, the founderof the
dynaItyruen, is the dynafiyof the Mongolor Mo-
gol Tartars. Befidesthe founderof this dynaRyy
thereareten otheremperorsof this dynafiy,whofe
memoryis honouredin the fi oaang niao. The
four firRemperorsof this dynaRyyviz. Gentchis
khan,Ogotay, Koueyyessou,and Mengko, rtigned
in the northernprovinces,andhadnot conquered all
China. The emperorCobilay, orKoublay, in Chinefe
fiuenchitMov,completedthe conquei}of China.
The four.derof the dynaRyMing, andthe eleven
emperorsaf this dyna-Pty.
The emperorOgotay,the fecondof the dynafly
Xatn,completedthe-deiRrudionof the dyIlaI'cy of
the eaIlernTartars,calledKin. lt reignedto the
northas long as the dynaflcy- Sangreignedto the
fouth. In thefi ouangm-aois honoured -theme-
moryof thefounderof this dyn&y Kin, andfour
otheremperors of it.
The.founder of eheTartardynaRyKindeIlroyed
thedynaflcyof theTartars Ki tan, catledLeaoe
which
conquered a greatpartof NorthChinaandTartary.
Itlthefg ovangmiaoiS honoured thememoryof
thisTartardynaRy Leao, andfiveot-he£ emZrorsof
the TartarsKi tst, whofe countrywas in that o£
Parinin T=taryyamongthe Mongouor Mogols.
7 Coxtinua-

[ 725 ]
of theRemarksontheTi ouangmiao.
Continuation
2. In thepalace of Peking,andelfewhere,there
aregreathalls,in vnhichhonoursare paidto the
memoryof the deceaSed emperors of the reIgning
dynaItyof theMantsbeou.TLefirSandfecondem-
perorreignedin EaItTartarJr.The emperor Chua
tchi beganto reigninChina. If we reckonthepre-
fentemperor in the number,therearefix emperors
Mantcheou.FatherCouplet,and others,aremif
takenin reckoning onemore. This crrorwas QC-
cafioned bytheyearsof the reignof ty hong,the
fecondemperor,havinghad two names Father
Couplet}and othersX took the two namesof the
yearsof thereignfbrthe nameor titleof thetwv
emperors.
3. In the fi avang miao is honouredthetnemory
of fome.illulltiousperfons i-nthediiSerent
dynaRies.
The-I*ame is donein the hall, wherehonouris paid
to thememory of thedeceafed emperors
Monzcheov*
andtherearetheretabletsforfo manyillukrxcsus per-
:fonsamongthofeemperors
4* In the ti ouangmiaoare place;dnone afsthe
emperorsof the dynaiRy
HiXnbeforeChriil, norany
of thofe betweenthe dynaRses
CangandHas, nor
of thofeof the five fmalldynaRiesafterehatof
Sing. Befidesin eachdynaRy the£earefomeeln-
perorsywhofetabletsarenotplacedin thefi ouang
tniao. The reigningdynaRyhas not thoughtit a
dutyto pay honoursto thofeemperors, bllt con
fideredthemasunworthythepompoustitleof C+r
rJeaor Sonsof Seavenv
5. Tht

. . . , .
[ 726 ]
S Slle TaltarsSie^s
fi, vXlocanzW
fro.ffttlecon-
fints of Lsaotoslgand Mongolor WIogolTartary,
hadhordsnamedCop4. One of tllcie hordsmade
themfelvesma{tersof Tartary Levotongaandof fe-
rreralnorthernprovincesof China. This Tartar
powerhasthe ¢hinefenameof Ouey. It has pro-
ducedIeveralgreatprinces The yearof ChriR386
is reckonedthefirItof thatdynally$, whichreigned
altove18o years. I do not linowsvhytlle reigning
dynailyhas notglaced the name of any of thefe
emperorsin the z ouang#tao
6. If we fuppofe,firll, that all thetbooksof the
hiRoryof ChinaIhouldbe loR, or the contentsof
themIhouldnotbekllownin Europe; andfecondly,
that the catalogueof the emperors,who are men-
tioned in the fi suangmiao, ffiouldfall into the
handsof fome-European critics; it is probable,that
fucha cataloguewould occafionmanyfalfe reafon_
ingswith relationto the fuccefllon of the emperors,
who havereignedin China. :
* Of whichdynaRythereis extant-averycurioushiPtory.
XCVII.


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A Description of the Plan of Peking, the Capital of China; Sent to the Royal Society by

Father Gaubil, èSocietate Jesu. Translated from the French

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or;<Je ka. Thenurxl;lets t I, 17, z I, 1C kin.

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PfZo. rans.ZoZ,.Z.TAB..p. jo4 .

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y./bbb fifltvB3 ozzsXy

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NQ.9 is theCbetf tan, whereareperformed, at-

* When the emperorgoes out or comesinto the palace,this

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* In thefetwo houSesareJefu;tsof othernations. They are

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His fon the preCent emperorcauSedthis palaceto be

;t: Kong ZoZemperorof the laflcdynaRyMgag,builtthefetwo

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* The tribunalsof the miniRersandgrandmaflers

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:6t, thefenumbersmarktemplesof idols. Sonze

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In the year I+06 the emperor Nong lo undertook

in the year of ClriR 1 S44

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At the timeof buildingtlle city lUngtching,and

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* This poweris calledin Chinathe dynaflyLeao.

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g EMARKS onN°. 5, Fankingfahang;whichi8

therewerebonses. FatherBouvetwentto thisazia

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