Table Of ContentAlexander Wylie.
Chinese Researches
BY
ULIEIXlAII^rDIEIE^ W i r L 3-
工卫
Author of Notes on Chinese Literature, &c.,
SHANGHAI；
1897,
3)S
7 〇 35
。
9 0 1 8 7 3
P R E F A C E .
The publication of this volume has been long delayed.
Some years passed after Mr. Wylie's death before it was
decided to issue a selection of his essays. As only fragments
of time, from a busy life, could be given to the examination
of the boxes full of “papers ’’ and “manuscripts ’’ which
Mr. Wylie had written, niany months passed before this
preliminary work was done. When the Essays to be pub
lished had been selected, considerable time and labour were
absorbed in preparing them for the press. It was then found
that the book could not be printed in England, and two
efforts to get it published in China failed. But when the
Rev. W. Muirhead, D.D., of Shanghai, was in England, he
generously took charge of the manuscripts, and undertook
to carry the book through the press when he returned to
China. It is to his kindness its publication is now due.
Only by dividing the manuscripts between two printing
establishments could the work of printing be completed in
a year. This accounts for the want of continuity in the
numbering of the pages.
The Essays chosen for publication have been selected
in order to show the great variety and wide scope of the
Authors researches and attainments. The number of
Essays still in manuscript is sufficiently large to fill two
volumes of similar size to this. I intended to publish a fuller
biography of the distinguished Author, but special circum
stances compelled me to abandon this, and Dr. Muirhead
has therefore republished my little sketch of Mr. Wylie's
life and Mr. Cordier's paper read at the meeting of the Royal
Asiatic Society in London.
JAMES THOMAS.
London,
November .
、1897
C O N T E N T S .
The Value of Mr. WylieJs Chinese Researches, by J. Edkins.
Biographical Sketch by Rev. James Thomas, 1-6.
Life and Labours of M. Wylie, by M. Heuri Cordier, 7-18.
---〇>〇---
Part I.—LITERARY.
Lecture on Prester John, 19-43. Nestorian Missions in
Tartary and China. Heard of in Europe A.D. 1145, 20. Letter 〇£
Prester John to Greek Emperor, 22. Letter of Pope Alexander
II , 25.* Genghis, 26. Romish Mission, 27. Rubruquis, 28.
Abyssinian Mission in search of Prester John, 36. East India
Company, 37. Manuscripts in India Office, 39. Missionaries in
Tibet, 41. Col. Yule's remarks, 42. China ruay yet solve the
problem who was Prester John, 43.
Buddhist Relics, 44-80. Buddha's life, 45. King Asoka,
47. Relics, 48. Heuen-chwang, 49. Max Mullets remarks, 49.
Twenty-five places iu India where Heueivchwang found relics, 50.
King Kanishka, 52. Heuen-chwang at Kapila, 54. At Buddha
gaya, 58. Teeth of Buddha, 61. Fa-hien, 63. In Ceylon, 65.
Tooth destroyed by the Archbishop, 65. The Tooth at Gandy, 67.
Teetli in China, . Skull bone excrescence of Buddha, 69. Hair
68
and Nails, 72. Marrow of Buddhas bones, 73. Impression of feet,
76. Death-knell of Buddhism, 80.
The Bible in China, 81-109. Teaching of Confucius, 81.
Moji's Universal love, 83. Mencius, 83. Buddhism, 84. Tauism,
85. Chu-hsi, 85. The Bible replaces these systems, . Chinese
86
apathy, . Chinese earnestness, . Syrian inscription, . First
86 86 88
Translation of Bible, 89. Iba Wahab's testimony, 90. CarpiniJs
testimony, 91. PoloJs tes-timony, 92. Translation by Monte Corvino,
* Page 24 fails to connect with page 25 hy a few words, owing to the
loss of the manuscripts ia the course of publication.
CONTENTS.
93. Romanist Versions, 94. Manuscript in British Museum, 9G.
Version by J. Basset in Library of Propaganda, 97. Marsliman, 79.
Bible Society Versions, 98 Morrison, 99. Dyer^ labours, 102.
Delegrates Version, 103. Bridgman and Culbertson, Goddard,
1
Gouri^s Russian Versions, 104. Mundaria Versions, 105. Agency
for circulation of the Bible, 106.
Secrkt Societies in China, 110-146.—White Lily, 110. Triad
Society, 111. Clauses in Penal Code, 112. Heaven and Earth
Society at Singapore, lli. Triad Society Seal, 124. Triad Society
in Hongkong. Seal, 129, 131. Explanation of symbolism and
characteristic verses, 136. Pure Tea Sect, 144. Other illicit as
sociations, 145. "
Competitive Examinations, 147-150.
Part II,—HISTORICAL.
Israelites in Chixa, 1-23. B^njaiuin of Tudela in 12th
century, 1. The Hien-kiau, 2, Yaou-kwan’s vie'v, Objections to
Too-yiiJs statement, 4. Reasons for regarding the Hieivkiau as the
Jewish religion, 5. Account of the Ivai-feng Fu synagogue, .
6
Roman Catholic visitors, 7. Heaven was used by the Jews in
China for God, . Cliinese medical statements on the Hien-kiau,
8
the Manicheans, the Parsees and the Syrian Christians, 9. Marco
Polo, 17. Ibn Batutu, A.D. 1346, 17. Jules Aleni at Ivai-fen^ Fu,
19. Gozani, 20. Inquiries made by the London Society for the
Propagation of the Gospel among the Jews, 21. Yau-kwan states
that the Hien-kiau is Parseeism, 22. View of Su-ki-yii, 22.
Nestoriax Tablet in Si-ngan Fu, 24-77.—Doubts on its
genuineness, 25. A new translation of the inscription, 25-3(
Passages from Chinese authors comment on tlie inscription, 35
5
45. Schism of Nestorians in 5th century, 45. Missions of NestoHans
in eastern countries, 45. Nestorian Churches in China, 46. His
torical and geographical allusions in the inscription explained, 47.
Tlie country Ta-tsin is Syria, 50. Po-sze is Peisia, 53. Si-ngan
Fu is Ivumdan, 54. Criticism on the dates mentioned, 64. Doc
trinal points, 67. Portions of Syriac Bible found in China, 69.
JSenmann's ohjnctions met, 69 to 75. Yisit of Arabian travellers,
A.D. 77.
CONTENTS. 3
Note on the Advance of a Chinese General to the Caspiait, 78.
Subjugation of Corea.—Translated from the Tsien-han-shooy
80. Treaty of vassalage with Corea, B.C. 194-180. Invasion of
Corea, about B.C. 109, 82. Conquest, B.C. 10S, 85*
Knowledge of a AVeekly Sabbath in China, . The character
86
Mih, ^S^cret,^ iu a Fuhkien almanac, remarked on by Dr. Car-
stairs Douglas, .
86
pART III.—SCIENTIFIC.
The Mongol Astronomical Instruments in Peking, 1. The
instruments made by the Jesuits, 2. Observatory liuiit, A.D. 1279,
2. Life of Ivo Show-king, 3. He invented seventeen astronomical
instruments, . Instruments at Nanking and at Ping-yang, 15.
8
Eclipses recorded Chinese Works, 29-105,—Appendix,
is
Eclipse of A.D. 1220 observed in Mongolia, 106.
List of Fixed Stars, 110-139.
Asbestos in China, 141-154.
Magnetic Compass in China, 155.—Known to Yih-hing, 8th
century, 156. Known to Sheu Ts(un-chung, 11th century. Maguetic
variation at Peking and various cities known, A.D. 1600.
Jottings on the Science of Chinese Arithmetic, 159.—Dates
from B.C- 2637. Arithmetic studied, B.C. 2300. Chow-pi, B.C.
1100. Tlie square on the hypotenuse of a right angled triangle was
known to be equal to the squares on the sides. References to
ancient arithmetic in the classical work Cliow-li, 164. The ancient
arithmetic republished, B.C. 100. Swan-king, third century, 165.
Other aritlimetical works, 166. Indian arithmetic iu China, 166.
Arabian arithmetic, 167. Calculation by bamboo tallies very
ancient. By the abacus from about A.D. 1350, 168. Local value
marked by strokes, B.C. 5u〇, 169. Remarkable advance of Chinese
arithmetic in the lltli and 12th centuries, 169. Analysis of works
on arithmetic, especially tliat of Tsin Kew-chaou, 169. Advance
made in the Tien-yueu arithmetic by Li-yay, 182. Horner’s method
for solving equations of all orders anticipated, 185. Mathematics
taught by the Jesuits, 190. Logarithms taught, 103. Li Shau-lan,-
about A.D. 1856, published a new method of calculating loga-
rithniSy 193. Tai-heu has itnented another method, 194.
4
CONTENTS.
Part IV.—PHILOLOGICAL.
Essay on Chinese Language and Literature, by 礅
JCordier,* 195-237. Introduction to a Grammar of the Manchu
Language, 239. The Suh-shin and Wu-kih, 240. The Mo-ho, Kie-
tan and Liu-chin, 241. Liao dynasty, 242. The liaDie Neu-chin
changed to Neu-chih, 243. Kin dynasty，245. Rise of the Mon
gols under Genghis, 247. Kin dynasty ended, A.D. 1234, 247.
The Neu-chih on the Amoor River, 248. Relations with the Ming
dynasty, 249. Noor-ha-chib, founder of tlie Manchu imperial line,
born at Hing-king，A.D. 1559, 250. His manifesto on declaring war
with the Ming, 251. The Ta-tsing dynasty, 253.
Origin of the Manchu Character, 253.—Writing of the
Liao dynasty, 254. This writing was the basis with Chinese of
the Neu-chih writing, 254. Neu-chih writing during the Ming
dynasty, 254. Origin of Manchu in Ouigour，255. Syriac and
Oaigour syllabary alphabet compared, 256. Mongol and Arabic
compared, 258. Baschpa Mongol writing, 259. Triumph of Oui-
gour writing over that of Baschpa，260, Galik writing，260.
Tata the later name, 261. Invention of Manchu writing, A.D.
1599, 261. Langles* Manchu Alphabet, 263. The Manchu Syllabary
of Ta-haij 264, Alphabetic elements of the syllabary，265. Man
chu running hand, 266. The sauae document in ordinary hand, 267.
Seal of Hoo-kwang Examiner, 268. Seal of Shanghai Superintendent,
269. Seal of Shanghai city ruagistrate, 270.
THE VALUE OF MR. WYLIES CHINESE RESEARCHED
As a friend of many yeai's, whom I first knew in 1848, and who
during the interval from that year till he died in 1887, proved
himself to be one of the most learned of Scotland’s sons in
the Far East, I have always watched his career with unfailing
interest. He told me in 1848 that the winter before he had
studied Manchu with Sir Harry Parkes, and soon he and I began
to study Mongol and Manchu together. He had a passion for
acquiring languages, and a strong power of memory, which was
much strengthened by the interest he felt in the history of the
Jews and Christian missions in Asia generally, in the remarkable
story of Bible versions, and in the history of literature and of ma
thematics. He went beyond every one else—French, English, Dutch
or German—in his knowledge of Chinese mathematical literature.
Biot, father and son, were able mathematicians, but their guides the
Jesuits in Peking never studied the Sung dynasty mathematics, and
in the Ming dynasty this branch of literature had been neglected
in Peking by native scholars. Biot, father and son, were therefore
at a disadvantage in their researches on Chinese mathematics
and astronomy. Wylie studied the Sung dynasty arithmetic with
the help of Li Shan-lan, a native mathematical author of high
attainments. In 1852, after five years in China, he showed that;
Hornei^s method for solving equations of all orders published in
1819, was anticipated by Chinese mathematicians in the 14th
century, that is, five hundred years before. The shortness of the
time Wylie had spent in the country when he reached this result,
shows how his mind moved with freedom among the abstractions
of the higher mathematics. This rare faculty fitted him to become
the translator of works on the Differential and Integral Calculus
2 THE VALUE OF 3fE. WYLIE'S CHINESE RESEARCHES.
into Chinese. It is also a most valuable proof of the equality
of the intellectual gifts of the Chinese with those of European
nations. Wylie showed that they possess the necessary power
to become senior wranglers in a competition for the highest
mathematical prizes with the gifted youth of Europe. In historical
research he was greatly aided by his habit of unwearied reading
in Chinese history and mediaeval literature. He had a passion for
buying books, when books at Shanghai were unusually accessible on
account of the rebellion. He possessed the bibliographical faculty
in a high degree. This is shown in his Notes on Chinese Literature,
in his Memorials of the Protestant Missionaries, in his Life of Sea
Kwang-ki, and in his Catalogue of the London Mission Library at
Shanghai. In historical research he was one among such as Legge,
Medharst, Douglas, Mayers, Palladius, Bretschneider, Parker,
D. Jk Macgowan, Bushel], S. W. Williams, Schlegel, Von Groot,
Hirth, Giles, Eitel, Chalmers, Martin, Faber, Yon Mollendorff,
Chavannes and others. Among these names Legge has shown the
widest knowledge of the classics of the Chinese, and AVylie the most
extensive acquaintance with their literature. But Wylie, with all
his assiduity and calmness of judgment, was not infallible. Foi' in
stance the Hien-kiau, of the Tso-chwen and later books, is really the
Persian religion and not Judaism, and Yaou-kwan was right ia
saying in the Se-ke-ts^ung-yu that the Hien-kiau was the Persian
religion, because that religioa at anearl time had human sacrifices.
)7
Nordic! Wylie remark when writing his article on the Sabbath that
the character mit: denoting Sunday in the Fukien calendar, is really
Mithras, the sun god of the Persians.
Ten years have gone since he passed away, and all those who
knew him, and consult his works with advantage, unite in wishing
that tliis selection from the more valuable of his shorter productions
should be printed as a monument to an indefatigable student and a
good and able man. As a collection of researches it will serve
many an important purpose. Wylie had an ineradicable conviction
that in the depths of Chinese history a iuass of important facts are
hidden. He was no doubt right. His example of successful in
vestigation， continued through a long period of years will， it is hoped,
stimulate men of the new generation to follow him eagerly in the
path of useful inquiry traced in this volume.
