that these characters were, in all probability, scratched with a stylus on bamboo tablets, and that previous to this there was no such thing as a history on a general and comprehensive plan ; in fact, nothing beyond mere local annals in the style of the Spring and Autumn.
Since the Historical Record, every dynasty has had its historian, their works in all cases being formed upon the model bequeathed by Ssu-ma Ch'ien. The Twenty-four Dynastic Histories of China were produced in 1747 in a uniform series bound up in 219 large volumes, and to- gether show a record such as can be produced by no other country in the world.
The following are specimens of Ssu-ma Ch'ien's style :
(i.) "When the House of Han arose, the evils of their predecessors had not passed away. Husbands still went off to the wars. The old and the young were employed in transporting food. Production was almost at a stand- still, and money became scarce. So much so, that even the Son of Heaven had not carriage-horses of the same colour ; the highest civil and military authorities rode in bullock-carts, and the people at large knew not where to lay their heads.
"At this epoch, the coinage in use was so heavy and cumbersome that the people themselves started a new issue at a fixed standard of value. But the laws were too lax, and it was impossible to prevent grasping persons from coining largely, buying largely, and then holding against a rise in the market. The consequence was that prices went up enormously. Rice sold at 10,000 cash per picul ; a horse cost 100 ounces of silver. But by and by, when the empire was settling down to tran- quillity, his Majesty Kao Tsu gave orders that no trader
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