C H I
C H I
The 9th, the dynaſty of Ki-kiu-chi *.
The 10th, the dynaſty of Hi-ouei-chi *.
The 11th, the dynaſty of Yeou-tſao-chi.
The 12th, the dynaſty of Soui gine.
The 13th and laſt, the dynaſty of Yong-tching-chi.
Of theſe ſeven kings, or founders of dynaſties, which remain to be conſidered to complete the number of dynaſties included in this eighth period, nothing is ſaid of thoſe marked * that has any relation to our ſubject.
As to Yeou-tſao-chi, founder of the eleventh dynaſty, whoſe reign, ſay they, laſted more than 300 years, and whoſe family, they add, continued more than 100 generations during the ſpace of 12 or 18,000 years: here is what we find recorded.
Hane-tſee ſays, that, in the firſt ages of the world, animals multiplied very faſt; and that men being but few, they could not ſubdue the beaſts and ſerpents.
Yene-tſee ſays alſo, that the ancients, either perched on trees, or ſtretched in hollow caves, poſſeſſed the univerſe, (Tiene-hia, that is to ſay, China). Theſe good kings (continues he) breathed nothing but charity without any ſhadow of hatred. They gave much, and took nothing. The people did not go to pay their court to them, but all the world ſubmitted to their virtues.
Lopi and Ouai-ki ſay almoſt in the ſame words, that, in the moſt remote antiquity, men ſheltered themſelves in the hollows of rocks, that they dwelt in deſerts, and lived in ſociety with all the other creatures. They had no thought of doing any injury to the beaſts, and the beaſts did not think of hurting them. But in the ſucceeding ages they became too wiſe, which made the animals rebel; armed with claws, teeth, horns, and venom, they aſſaulted man, and man was not able to reſiſt them. Yeou tſao reigned then. He was the firſt who built houſes of wood, in the form of birds neſts; he perſuaded men to retire into them to avoid the wild beaſts. They did not know as yet how to cultivate the earth, they lived on herbs and fruits. They drank the blood of animals, they devoured their fleſh quite raw, they ſwallowed the hair and the feathers. This is what they ſay of Yeou-tſao chi: after him comes Soui gine, founder of the 12th dynaſty.
Soui-gine chi is eſteemed the inventor of fire.
On the ſummit of the mountain Pou-tcheou, ſays an author, are to be ſeen the walls of Juſtice. The ſun and the moon cannot approach them; there is no difference of ſeaſons there, nor viciſſitudes of days and nights. This is the kingdom of light on the confines of Si-ouang mou. A ſaint (a great man) went to make a tour beyond the bounds of the ſun and moon: he beheld a tree, and upon that tree a bird, who made fire come out of it by picking it. He was ſurpriſed at this; he took a branch of this tree, and from thence ſtruck fire; from whence they called this great perſonage Soui-gine.
Other authors ſay alſo, that Soui-gine made fire with a certain kind of wood, and taught men to dreſs their victuals. By this means all diſeaſes, and all diſorders of the ſtomach and bowels were prevented. In this he followed the direction of heaven, and from thence was named Soui-gine.
They ſay further, that, in the days of Soui-gine, there was much water upon the earth, and that this prince taught men the art of fiſhing. He muſt, of conſequence, have invented nets or lines, which invention is after this aſcribed to Fou-hi.
One Long-ma, or Dragon-horſe, brought him a kind of table, and the tortoiſe letters. Soui-gine is the firſt to whom they apply this event, but the ſame thing will be ſaid in the ſequel of ſeveral others.
Soui-gine was the firſt who gave names to plants and animals; and theſe names (ſay they) were ſo expreſſive, that the nature of every thing was known by its name. He invented weights and meaſures for the regulation of commerce, which had been unknown before him.
Anciently (ſays an author) men married at fifty, and women at thirty years of age: Soui-gine ſhortened this period, and appointed that young men ſhould marry at thirty, and girls at twenty.
Laſtly, the Liki ſays, that it was Soui-gine who firſt taught men urbanity and politeneſs.
It now remains to ſpeak of Yong-tching-chi, the founder of the thirteenth and laſt dynaſty of this period.
In his time, they uſed ſlender cords on which they tied various knots, and this ſerved them inſtead of writing. But, after the invention of letters, how could they return again to the uſe of theſe cords, which is ſo limited and imperfect? This evidently implies a contradiction?
We come now to the ninth Ki or period, named Chene-tong. This ninth period will bring us down to the times of Fou hi. It comprehends twenty-one kings, whoſe names are as follow:
| 1. | Sſe hoang, or Tſan hie, | 12. | Hiene-yuene, |
| 2. | Pe-hoang-chi, | 13. | He ſou, |
| 3. | Tchong hoang-chi, | 14. | Kai-tiene, |
| 4. | Tai-ting-chi, | 15. | Tſune-liu chi, |
| 5. | Kouene liene, | 16. | Tcho jong, |
| 6. | Yene-chi, | 17. | Hao-yng, |
| 7. | Tai chi, | 18. | Yeou-tſao-chi |
| 8. | Tching-hoei-chi | 19. | Tchu-ſiang-chi, |
| 9. | Li lou, or Hoei-chi, | 20. | Yne khang-chi, |
| 10. | Sohoang chi, | 21. | Vou-hoai-chi. |
| 11. | Nuei-touane chi, |
Liu-pou-ouei ſays plainly, that Sſe-hoang made letters. This Sſe-hoang, is called alſo Tſang hie. Some hiſtorians place him under Hoang-ti, whoſe miniſter they make him; while others make him a ſovereign prince, and much anterior to Hoang-ti.
The firſt inventor of letters was Tſang-hie, then the king Vou-hoai made them be engraved on the coin, and Fou-hi uſed them in the public acts for the government of the empire. But obſerve, that theſe three emperors were even before Chini-nong; how can it be ſaid then, that letters were not invented till under Hoang-ti? Such is the reaſoning of Lopi, who was quite confounded with theſe fabulous times.
To this criticiſm it may be anſwered, You have told us, that letters had been invented in the reign of Soui-gine, the 12th king of the eighth period; how then can you pretend to give the honour of this invention to
