CHAPTER VII.

LAWS OF CHINA, AND PLAN OF ITS GOVERNMENT, 380-447

Theory of the Chinese Government patriarchal, 380; The principles of surveillance and mutual responsibility, 383; The Penal Code of China, 384; Preface by the Emperor Shunchí, 385; Its General, Civil, and Fiscal Divisions, 386; Ritual, Military, and Criminal Laws, 389; The Code compares favorably with other Asiatic Laws, 391; Defects in the Chinese Code, 392; General survey of the Chinese Government, 393; 1, The Emperor, his position and titles, _ibid._; Proclamation of Hungwu, first Manchu Emperor, 395; Peculiarities in the names of Emperors, 397; The _Kwoh hao_, or National, and _Miao hao_, or Ancestral Names, 398; Style of an Imperial Inaugural Proclamation, 399; Programme of Coronation Ceremonies, 401; Dignity and Sacredness of the Emperor’s Person, 402; Control of the Right of Succession, 403; The Imperial Clan and Titular Nobles, 405; 2, The Court, its internal arrangements, 407; The Imperial Harem, 408; Position of the Empress-dowager, 409; Guard and Escort of the Palace, 410; 3, Classes of society in China, 411; Eight privileged classes, 413; The nine honorary “Buttons,” or Ranks, 414; 4, The central administration, 415; The _Nui Koh_, or Cabinet, 416; The _Kiun-kí Chu_, or General Council, 418; The _King Pao_, or _Peking Gazette_, 420; The Six Boards (_a_), of Civil Office--_Lí Pu_, 421; (_b_), of Revenue--_Hu Pu_, 422; (_c_), of Rites--_Lí Pu_, 423; (_d_), of War--_Ping Pu_, 424; (_e_), of Punishments--_Hing Pu_, 426; (_f_), of Works--_Kung Pu_, 427; The Colonial Office, 428; The Censorate, 430; Frankness and honesty of certain censors, 431; Courts of Transmission and Judicature, 433; The _Hanlin Yuen_, or Imperial Academy, 434; Minor courts and colleges of the capital, 435; 5, Provincial Governments, 437; Governors-general (_tsungtuh_) and Governors (_futai_), 438; Subordinate provincial authorities, 441; Literary, Revenue, and Salt Departments, 443; Tabular Résumé of Provincial Magistrates, 444; Military and Naval control, 445; Special messengers, or commissioners, 446.