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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[NOVEMBER, 1883.
very likely by Ye-lü C'hu-ta'ai. The letters could not find worthy men to occupy the places are written in a classical Chinese style." of the three (kung) and the nine (k'ing)."
The correspondence begins as follows with a With respect to these circumstances I inquired letter from Chinghiz
and heard, that thou, master, hast pene"Heaven has abandoned China owing to itstrated the truth, and that thou walkest the haughtiness and extravagant luxury. But I, path of right. Deeply learned and much exliving in the northern wilderness, have not perienced, thou hast much explored the laws. inordinate passions. I like simplicity and Thy sanetity is become manifest. Thou hast purity of manners. I hate luxury, and exercise conserved the rigorous rules of the ancient moderation. I have only one coat and one sages. Thou art endowed with tho eminent food. I eat the same and am dressed in the talents of celebrated men. For a long time same tatters as my humble herdsmen.' I thou hast lived in the caverns of rocks and consider the people my children, and take an retired from the world; but to thee the people interest in talented men as if they were my who have acquired sanctity repair, like clouds brothers. We always agree in our principles, on the path of the immortals, in innumerable and we are always united by mutual affection. multitudes. I knew that after the war thou At military exercises I am always in the front, hadst continued to live in Shan-tung at the same and in time of battle am never behind. In the place, and I was always thinking of thee. space of ten years I have succeeded in accom- I know the stories of the returning from the plishing a great work, and united the whole river Wei in the same cart, and of the invitaworld in one empire. I have not myself tions in the reed hut three times repeated. distinguished qualities, but the government of But what shall I do? We are separated by the Kin is inconstant, and therefore Heaven mountains and plains of great extent, and I assiste me to obtain the throne of the Kin). cannot meet thee. I can only descend from my The Sung, to the south, the Hui-ho to the throne, and stand by thy side. I have fasted north, the Hia to the east, and the barbarians and washed." to the west, altogether have acknowledged my "I have ordered my adjutant, Liu Chung-luo supremacy. It seems to me that since the to prepare an escort and a simple cart for thee. remote time of our Shan-yü, a vast empire Do not be afraid of the thousand li. I implore has not been seen. But as my calling is high, theo to move thy sainted steps. Do not think of the obligations incumbent on me are also the extent of the sandy desert. Commiserate the heavy; and, I fear, that in my ruling there people in the present situation of affairs, or have may be something wanting. To cross a river pity upon me and communicate to me the means we make boats and rudders. Likewise we of preserving life. I shall serve thee myself; I invite sage men, and choose out assistants for hope that at least thou wilt leave me a trifle keeping the empire in good order. Since the of thy wisdom (literally spit out a little). Say time I came to the throne I have always only one word to me, and I shall be happy. In taken to heart the ruling of my people;- but I this letter I have briefly expressed my thoughts,
· Palladius states that the gown of Chinghiz Khan, wisdom had reached. He was found (A.D. 207) inhabit. made of simple stuff, was kept as & relic by his succes- ing & reed hut, and was with difficulty persuaded to sors, the Mongol emperors of China.
abandon his hermit's life. - There is some confusion in the position assigned to Chinghiz here proposes that he should descend from these nations.
the throne, and that Ch'ang Ch'un should take his • The Shan-yü were the ancient chiefs of the Hiong. place. she. The use of the phrase, "our Shan-yü," shows that # A Chinese phrase of politeness, meaning that the host Chinghiz claimed the latter as his ancestors.
has worthily prepared himself to receive the guest. The The Ean-kung and the Kiu-king are meant. Since phrase in its literal meaning "fast and wash" would the Chou dynasty, 1122-249 B.C., the three Kung were seem strange from the lips of Chinghiz. Rashidu'd-din the highest councillors of the empire, the nine K'ing reports that it was a rule amongst the Mongole never to occupied different parts of the administration. -
wash or bathe themselves. The Musalmans in Mongolia, • This is an allusion to two examples from Chinese who sometimes infringed these rules were put to death. history, that sages had been invited by Emperors to It seems that the Mongols of the present time follow occupy high charges. Wen-wang. the virtual founder conscientiously these practices of their ancestors. of the Chou dynasty, found an old man fishing in the . He was a deserter from the Kin who entered the river Wei, whose conversation proved so sage that the Mongol service when Chinghiz Khan entered China. prince begged him to enter his service as minister, and Chinghix valued him for his skill in making arrows. took him along with him in his cart. The other allusion Palladius. refers to Chu-ko-liang, who was sought out by Liu Pei, the 10 In ancient times the Emperors used to send a cart founder of the Shu-Han dynasty, whom his fame for for the sages when inviting them.-Palladins.
