Purchas his pilgrimes. part 3 In fiue bookes. The first, contayning the voyages and peregrinations made by ancient kings, patriarkes, apostles, philosophers, and others, to and thorow the remoter parts of the knowne world: enquiries also of languages and religions, especially of the moderne diuersified professions of Christianitie. The second, a description of all the circum-nauigations of the globe. The third, nauigations and voyages of English-men, alongst the coasts of Africa ... The fourth, English voyages beyond the East Indies, to the ilands of Iapan, China, Cauchinchina, the Philippinæ with others ... The fifth, nauigations, voyages, traffiques, discoueries, of the English nation in the easterne parts of the world ... The first part.

[ 20]

§. IIII. Their Moneyes, Apparell, Persons, Trades, Wealth, Learning, Marriages, Superstitions, Rites, and Opinions.

* 1.1THere is in this Kingdome great store of Timber; for proofe whereof wee need no more but to see the multitude of Barges laden therewith so good cheape as it is. And there∣fore I thinke a man may build a ship with all things necessary thereunto, three parts of [ 30] foure better cheape then in our Countrey.* 1.2 They vse not Gold, though there be much to be bought, but all is Siluer, which they doe not coyne in Money, but cast it in Barres, and when they would buy any thing, they cut it and weigh it in certayne fine Weights like the Ro∣mane Weights in our Countrey: and therefore euery body that will buy or sell, carryeth one of those Weights with them. Great store of Siluer commeth out of forreine Countreyes. But the chiefe Mas••e of it is out of the Mynes of the Kingdome it selfe, as also the Gold. When they buy or sell, they try the Siluer of how many Kiliates it is: and one is worth more, another lesse, according to the goodnesse thereof. It was very necessary for the Chinois to weigh and try their Siluer, and not to coyne it into money: for otherwise there would haue beene a thousand de∣ceits,* 1.3 wherein the Chinois are very cunning. They vse Brasse Money, wherein also they try that [ 40] which is true or false: for in all sorts there is deceit and mixture. They haue the best Porcelane that hitherto hath beene found, which is exceeding good cheape, and in such plentie, that besides all the Kingdome of China doth furnish it selfe thereof, they send forth as many ships ladings as they will.

For their Apparell, though they haue great abundance and cheapnesse, yet in goodnesse they may not compare with our Countrey. There is much Silke and that very good, but they know not how to dresse it. They make good Damaskes, razed Veluets, Taffataes, and other sorts: but the colours, though at the first sight they seeme reasonable, are quickly lost and fade away. The ordinary apparell of the common people is of blacke cloth made of Cotton, or of certayne shags of Silke, which are very great, farre greater then a flocke, which only serue for this pur∣pose, [ 50] and are very warme. Persons of Honour weare commonly an outward Garment of Silke which they vse in Visitations, and other like Actions: And there are many which alwayes goe abroad apparelled in Silke, but not in such great number as that Booke setteth downe, whereof I made mention before. All men, euen to the very Souldiers, weare their apparell long downe to the in-step of the foot, with very broad sleeues, open before, and fastened to the sides beneath the arme. They be so well contented and pleased with their manner of apparell, that they think there is none in the World comparable to theirs. And in very truth they bee graue and modest, and especially those of the Mandarins, which differeth from all others, sauing the Bonzi, which shaue their Beards and Heads. All the men and women let their Hayre grow long, and the men trusse it vp, and wind it on a knot on the top of their crowne. They weare certayne Nets on [ 60] their heads like Coyffes, made very cunningly of Horse-hayre: and in the Summer time many weare Caps and Hats of the same. There are many sorts of Caps or Hats (for I know not what their seuerall names are) according to the state of euery one. The basest sort which the com∣mon people vse ordinarily is round. Their shooes, are of the same stuffe that their Garments are

of, very commonly of Silke made with many faire borders and knots. It is a discourtesie for a man to be seene (especially before any man of Worship) without a Cap on his head. They great∣ly esteeme for the most part things of our Countrey, and they are very deare. And some pieces of Silke which the Portugall Merchants brings, especially Veluets of three Piles, are far more dearer then their owne. All woollen cloth is much esteemed and very deare, likewise Cham∣blets, and fine Linnen-cloth, which they bring from India are very deare. Looking-glasses, and all things made of Glasse, and many other things, which in our Countrey are very good cheape, are here deare, and in great estimation.

The Chineses haue commonly little Beards, small Eyes, and Noses, and all of them haue black [ 10] Eyes, so that they much maruelled at the colour of mine, which are * 1.4 of Gray or Iron colour (which they neuer saw) and they find many secrets in them, and very commonly they say, that these eyes of mine know where stones and precious things are, with a thousand other Myste∣ries, so that they thinke they haue Letters in them. To paint an euil-fauoured man, they paint him in short apparell, with a great Beard, Eyes, and Nose. They are commonly all white, yet not so white as those of Europe: and therefore to them we seeme very white. The Learned men are very graue, of very good capacitie, and appeare outwardly very modest and graue.

There are Arificers of all Arts that are in our Countrey, and very many with the selfe-same manner forme of Instruments. Euery man is free to follow what Trade he will,* 1.5 without being bound to follow his Fathers Trades, as diuers times I haue heard it spoken when I was in Europe: [ 20] and those which will may study, forsake, or change that course of life. They worke very good cheape: but in cunning and excellencie ours most commonly excell them much, though in some things they be very skilfull.

The seruice of young men and maydes is easie and good cheape, because there is great store of people, so that a yeares wages is not aboue two Duckets, and meate and drinke,* 1.6 without appa∣rell. As there are many poore people that haue many Sonnes and Daughters, it is a very ordi∣nary thing to sell them, and this the cheapest thing in China. For a youth of twelue or fifteene yeares without any naturall blemish will cost not past twelue or fifteene Rials of Plate, and in time of Dearth much lesse, and it is a common thing to buy them for seruice; though they vse them well, and marry them at their time.

[ 30] Although the abundance and riches of this Kingdome be very great, as the people also is: yet there is no body that is very rich,* 1.7 neyther in any state of people may they compare in this point with our Countrey. You shall not find in China, which is able to spend twenty thousand Duc∣kets of Rent, how neere of Kinne soeuer he be to the King, and very few, and those easie to bee numbred that can spend ten thousand Duckets, and the ordinary is no more which they possesse then that which their Lands and Offices yeeld them, which is not great.* 1.8 But though it bee true that those of our Countrey possesse much more Siluer, considering the cheapnesse of things in their Countrey, all commeth to one account.

There are very few of the poore people idle, because all of them commonly take paines,* 1.9 and earne their liuing. Though the multitude of the Nation be so many, and the Kingdome so great, [ 40] yet the surnames of all the Kingdome are not aboue three hundred, and all of one syllable.* 1.10

There are some, though very few, which may be called Knights,* 1.11 which for seruice to the Kings in some necessities haue giuen them Offices in succession: but the common vse is not to haue any Nobilitie by Descent in China; neyther can any man say,* 1.12 I am of a better House then you. But the honour and Nobilitie dependeth wholly vpon Learning, and to obtayne degrees and Offices of Mandarins. And therefore an House which now is in Office, and his Father bee one, if he haue a Sonne a Doctor, which is made a Mandarin, he is honourable,* 1.13 and the honour continueth as long as the Learned men and Mandarins doe liue. There is no man, neyther Kinsman nor not Kinsman of the King which hath euer a Village of his owne that payeth him Tribute: but all men pay it to the King; and hee giueth stipends and wages to the Mandarins, [ 50] so that they receiue nothing of particular men by right, though they extort much continually by oppression.* 1.14

Commonly the Chinois doe marry from fifteene to eighteene and twentie yeares, and all of them doe marrie one Wife that is chiefe; and this is their lawfull Marriage.* 1.15 On the day of their Marriage, when the Bride doth passe to the House of her Husband, shee carrieth openly before her through the streets all the things which she bringeth with her, and all her house-hold stuffe: But besides her they may marrie (I say they may keepe and doe keepe as many as they are able) as many Wiues as they will, which for the most part they buy: and afterward when they will,* 1.16 sell them away againe. They may not only not marrie with any Kinswomen of their Wiues, but with none of that surname, though they haue no shew of Alliance. The sonnes of the Concu∣bines [ 60] doe likewise inherit, and there is little or no difference in their state and honour, to be the Sonne of the lawfull Wife or of the other, neyther make they any question of it.* 1.17

The thing wherein the Chinois are most obseruant, Ceremonious and Superstitious is in their Burials, Funerals, and Mournings:* 1.18 for herein they shew their obedience and loue to their Pa∣rents, whereof their bookes are full. It is a very ordinary thing to haue great respect to their Fa∣ther

and Mother, and the disobedient are grieuously punished. Many graue men and Manda∣rins begge leaue of the King to leaue their Offices which they haue, and to goe home to keepe their Father and Mother company, yeelding for a reason that they be old, and that they would goe to serue them. And it is a Petition in the sight of all men so iust, that they grant it very v∣sually.* 1.19 When the Father or the Mother dieth, all the Sonnes and Daughters (from the King to the meanest Peasant) doe mourne for three yeares. The mourning colour, which among vs is blacke Bayes, among them is white Linnen, whereof they make all their apparell euen to the Cap. The first monethes they weare a very rough Sack-cloth, girded with a Coard, like the bare-footed Friers. And though he be neuer so great a Mandarin, without any exception (saue only the Mandarins of the Warre) assoone as hee heareth newes of the death of any of his Pa∣rents, he is to leaue his Office and Dignitie, and all other Employment whatsoeuer of Gouern∣ment [ 10] and Examinations of obtayning his degree, and is to goe home for three yeares to burie his Father or Mother (and to mourne and bewaile them. The graue men which haue an house for this purpose, doe not straitway burie their dead, but keepe them two or three yeares in the house,* 1.20 in a Chamber which they keepe for this Office, and it is not the worst in the house: and very vsually or euery day they go thither to make them a thousand Ceremonies and Reuerences, and to burne Incense, and other sweet sauours, and to set ouer the place where they be laid, meate to eate; and at seuerall times, many of those Bonzi doe meet, and with great Ceremonies begin their Seruice and Prayers, and their Sonnes, Kinsefolkes and Wiues make lamentation. The Mandarins do not only leaue their Offices,* 1.21 and change their Weeds, but also all the things which [ 20] they did vse. Many sit not in Chaires, but vpon low Stooles: they visit, or suffer themselues to be seene very seldome: they change euen the very Paper wherein they write, wherein they haue a piece of another colour, in token of mourning: when they name themselues in their Letters, they vse not the name which they did at other times, but others proper to the partie, as when he nameth himselfe, hee calleth himselfe disobedient, signifying, that by his disobedience to his Parents he did not preserue them aliue.

They vse no kind of Musikce, and many change their ordinarie Diet into courserfood. Vpon the Funerall day they prouide great company:* 1.22 many Kinsfolkes and Friends meete together, all clad in white, with many Bonzi, (according to euery mans abilitie) which sing with dolefull In∣struments. And by their apparell which they weare, and their time in singing, hee that knew [ 30] them not, would take them for Clerkes reuested, singing plaine Song; for they much resemble them.* 1.23 They make many Beeres with men, of Paper or of white Silke, many Banners and other Ensignes. The place whither the Corps goeth is adorned with many figures: the Corps is put into a very great Coffin. This Nation holdeth a great part of their felicitie, for them and their Successours to consist in these things of their Funerals, especially in two, the Coffin or Chist wherein the Corps is to be layed, and the place of their buriall. The stuffe to make the Coffin of,* 1.24 wherein themselues are to bee buried, and the making of the Coffin, they leaue not to others to doe after their deathes, neither then may the body looke for much cost to make one of these Coffins, neither in this (as a thing of great importance) will they trust, no not their owne Sons: but they themselues at leisure seeke some kind of Wood that is least corruptible, and Plankes [ 40] which are commonly foure, sixe, or eight fingers thicke: which because they bee so thicke, and the Chists or Coffins very closely shut they can keepe their Corps in their Houses without any euill smell. Some spend in making their Coffin seuenty, eighty, and an hundred Duckets. They hold it for a felicity to be able to get one of these that is good; on the contrary for a great dis∣grace, not to haue a Coffin to burie himselfe in, and they are very few which faile in that one point.

* 1.25The Sepulchre and place thereof is the thing for choosing whereof they vse great Sorcerie or casting of Lots, and doe it with great heedfulnesse, and with the helpe of some that are skilfull in this Art. For they hold opinion, that in making a good choice of the place dependeth a great part of their owne good fortune and of their Posteritie. And oftentimes they are a yeare in re∣soluing [ 50] whether it shall looke toward the North, or to any other part. And therefore the grea∣test and most contentious Sutes which are in China, are about places of Burials. These places of Burials are alwayes without the wals in the fields, or Mountaynes wherein they build Vaults very well made and strong of Bricke, stone, or other matter, wherein they lay the Coffin, and then close it vp very surely:* 1.26 And afterward now and then they come thither to performe cer∣tain Ceremonies, & to bring things to eat. They hold it very vnluckie to burie a dead man in the Citie: and if they know it, though he were the greatest man that is in China, they will not suf-him to bewaile his dead Friends much, especially those which are women. There are many which beleeue the passing of the soules from one bodie into another: and therefore after the death of their Father and Mother,* 1.27 they will neuer kill any liuing beast, yeelding for a reason [ 60] why they will not doe so, lest some of them should be their Mother or Father, or some other other person. And likewise many of them fast, because, that whereas some of them bee poore; they desire afterward to be borne againe in a rich and honourable Family.

Although it bee true that the most part of them beleeue not in Idols, and it offendeth them

not to speake euill of them, yet commonly all of them at a certaine time of the yeare doe them some reuerence, because it is the custome, though in no sort they worship them as Gods:* 1.28 and those which put most confidence in them, burne Paper, Incense, and sweet smels vnto them, and kill beasts before them. Their Bookes of these Idols speake of Hell, and in many places, or in a man∣ner in all the Cities there is set vp a portraiture of Hell made with bodily shapes, and many De∣uils, as vglie as wee paint them. It is very well set foorth, but badly beleeued: for it serueth only there for a bugbeare. And if any beleeue that which the Idols say of Hell,* 1.29 that it is a place of torments, they say, that after so many yeeres be passed, all men come out againe, and are trans∣formed into some beast. Those which beleeue in the Idols, come before them to cast lots to know what things shall come to passe: howbeit I haue not heard in all China,* 1.30 that there was any an∣swer [ 10] of a Diuell in an Idoll, as is in other parts, in regard of the small beliefe that they haue in them, and the lewdnesse of the Bonzi that serue them. Their houses wherein they set them,* 1.31 whereof as yet I neuer saw any good one, are commonly verie filthy and stinking.

And besides this consulting of Idols,* 1.32 the Chinois are much giuen to Diuinations to know things to come, and whether they shall haue good or bad fortune; whether they shall haue that which they desire or no: and there bee an infinite number of these South-sayers, and all of them prat∣lers, mumblers, and cooseners, whereby they deceiue many. And though the Chinois be of good vnderstanding, and know that these fellowes know nothing, and euery foot doe take them in lyes: yet for all this, there are verie few that when any occasion is offered, doe not consult with them. And though they seeme to bee but few, yet some of them are in league with the Deuill, [ 20] as oftentimes wee gather by certaine things.

Many of these graue men of China, haue commonly two follies, wherein they doe erre more then in other things. The first is, that they perswade themselues that they can much prolong their Liues; and for this purpose they vse a thousand inuentions, and take many medicines,* 1.33 which indeed rather doe shorten their dayes. There are many Masters and Bookes of this follie, which vsuallie are graue and rich men. There are many that make themselues very old folks, whom the people follow like Saints to learne some rule of life of them, wherein they put all their felicitie. Many doe not beleeue that we are so old, as we say we be, and that we doe dissemble: but that in deed we bee an hundred yeeres old, and that we know this rule to liue for euer, and that we doe not Marrie because wee would liue long. The other follie is, that they perswade themselues that [ 30] they are able, and goe about to make Siluer, whereof likewise there are many Bookes.* 1.34 They vse for this purpose many Hearbs, and Quick-siluer, wherein they spend that little Siluer which they haue, and remaine beggers, but not perswaded but that it is fecible, but that it was not their good lucke, and good fortune: and to obtaine this, many of them fast many yeeres.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Timber plenty
• * 1.2

  Much Gold to be bought in China.
• * 1.3

  Brasse money vsed in China.
• * 1.4

  Sarcos la••. ferruginei.
• * 1.5

  Trades.
• * 1.6

  Seruants cheape. Sale of chil∣dren vile.
• * 1.7

  None very rich.
• * 1.8

  Yet as rich as ours very rich.
• * 1.9

  Few idle.
• * 1.10

  Surnames.
• * 1.11

  Knights.
• * 1.12

  Nobilitie on∣ly in Learning.
• * 1.13

  No Lord but the King.
• * 1.14

  Extortion.
• * 1.15

  Marriage.
• * 1.16

  Polygamie.
• * 1.17

  Inheritance:
• * 1.18

  Funerals and mournings.
• * 1.19

  Three yeares mourning in white Linnen.
• * 1.20

  Keeping the dead at home.
• * 1.21

  Other Fune∣rall Rites.
• * 1.22

  Funerall day.
• * 1.23

  Funerall Fi∣gures.
• * 1.24

  Coff••n.
• * 1.25

  Buriall place.
• * 1.26

  Vnluckie to burie in the Citie.
• * 1.27

  Transition of soules.

  Metempsuchi∣call Supersti∣on,
• * 1.28

  Idolatrie.
• * 1.29

  Of Hell. See in Pinto.
• * 1.30

  Lots.
• * 1.31

  Wicked Bonzi.
• * 1.32

  Diuiners and diuinations.
• * 1.33

  Studies to pro∣long life.
• * 1.34

  Bookes of Al∣chimie.