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.

§. II. Of their Characters and writing downward: their studies, Ethikes, Astrologie, Physike, Authentike Authors, Degrees how taken both Philosophicall and Militarie.

* 1.1NOw, for their more liberall Arts, and Literate-degrees, this Kingdome differs from all others: in which their Learned beare principall sway. The China words are Mono∣syllables, not one otherwise, howsoeuer two or three Vowels sometimes are conioy∣ned [ 10] into one Diphthong, to speake after our manner; for they haue not Consonants nor Vowels, but diuers Characters for so many things, and as many of them, as there are Words, so that a Word, Syllable, Letter, are the same; and when we ioyne diuers Syllables to make one Word, it is after our fashion, because they signifie the same thing; with them each Syllable is a seuerall word.* 1.2 And although the number of things and Characters seeme the same, yet doe they so compound them together, that they exceed not seuenty or eighty thousand: and hee which knoweth ten thousand of them, hath the most necessary: to know all is in manner for any one man impossible. Of these Characters the sound is often the same, the figure and signi∣fication differing: so that no Language is so equiuocall; nor can any Speech bee written from the Speakers mouth by the Hearer, nor can a Booke bee read to the Hearers vnderstanding, ex∣cept [ 20] they haue the Booke before them,* 1.3 by their eyes to distinguish the equiuocations which their eares cannot. Yea, in speaking accuratly, the Hearer often vnderstands not without repe∣tition and writing either with Inke, or water on the Table, or forming the Characters in the aire; and this most happens in the most elegant and polite discourses (the stile of Bookes and Inkhorne-dialect of their learned,* 1.4 wholly differing from the vulgar Idiome.) This equiuoca∣tion and paucity of sounds is in some sort eased be Accents, which are fiue, and not easie to di∣stinguish; by which of one Syllable (as wee account it) they make it with differing tones fiue fold in differing signification: and there is no Word which is not pronounced with one of these Accents.* 1.5 Hence is the Language so difficult as none else in the World for Strangers to learne to speake and vnderstand; which importunate labour of ours hath yet attayned. The reason I con∣ceiue [ 30] to be that they alway haue laboured to adorne their writing more then their speech, their eloquence still consisting in writing and not in pronunciation,* 1.6 as Isocrates is commended a∣mongst the Greekes.

This multitude of Characters, as it is burthensome to the memory, so it hath this commo∣dity,* 1.7 the commerce with diuers Nations of different Linguages by community of writing; Ia∣pon, Corai, Cauchinchina, the Leuhiees, vnderstanding and reading the Characters, each into his owne Language, which the other vnderstand nothing at all. Each Prouince also hath its owne, and all haue one common Tongue besides, which they call Quonhoa, or the Court Language (the Magistrates being all forrainers, and none bearing Office in his Countrey Prouince) vsed in their Courts, and by the Learned: this onely did ours learne, nor is the other vsed by the ciuiller or [ 40] learneder in conference, except priua••ly by Countrey-men: yea, children and women learne this Court-speech. I heare that the Iaponians haue an Alphabet also of Letters after our fa∣shion, besides these Characters; but in China they haue none, so that from their Cradle to the extremest age they are learning their Characters, as many as professe Learning: which how∣soeuer it takes vp time from better Sciences, it doth it also from idle youthfull vanities. Hence also riseth a kinde of writing with them, in few Characters expressing that which would cost vs long discourses.* 1.8 Their course of writing is from the right hand, the line downward, ours contrary from the left and side-wayes.

* 1.9Of all the noblest Sciences they are best skilled in morall Philosophie (naturall, they haue ra∣ther obscured) and being ignorant of Logicke, they deliuer those Ethicke precepts in confused [ 50] sentences and discourses without order by meere naturall wit. Their greatest Philosopher is called Confutius,* 1.10 whom I finde to haue beene borne 551. yeeres before the comming of Christ, and to haue liued aboue 70. yeeres, by example as well as precept exciting to vertue, accounted a very holy man. And if wee marke his sayings and doings, wee must confesse few of our Eth∣nike Philosophers before him, and many behinde. But with the Chinois, his word is authori∣tie,* 1.11 and no speech of his is called in question; the Learned, yea the Kings also, euer since wor∣shipping him, not as a God, but as a Man; and his posteritie are much esteemed, the head of that familie inheriting by grant of Kings a title of great honour, with immunities and re∣uenues answerable.

They haue some knowledge also of Astrologie, and the Mathematikes: In Arithmetike and [ 60] Geometry antiently more excellent, but in learning and teaching confused. They reckon foure hundred Starres more then our Astrologers haue mentioned, numbring certaine smaller which doe not alway appeare.* 1.12 Of the heauenly Apparances they haue no rules: they are much busied about foretelling Eclipses, and the courses of Planets, but therein very erroneous; and all their

skill of Starres is in manner that which wee call Iudiciall Astrology, imagining these things below to depend on the Starres. Somewhat they haue receiued of the Westerne Saracens, but they confirme nothing by Demonstration, only haue left to them Tables, by which they rec∣kon the Eclipses and Motions:* 1.13

The first of this Royall Family forbad any to learne this Iudiciall Astrologie, but those which by Hereditary right are thereto designed, to preuent Innouations. But he which now reigneth mayntayneth diuers Mathematicians, both Eunuches within the Palace, and Magistrates with∣out, of which there are in Pequin two Tribunals, one of Chinois, which follow their owne Au∣thors, another of Saracens which reforme the same by their Rules, and by conference together. [ 10] Both haue in a small Hill a Plaine for Contemplation where are the huge Mathematicall Instru∣ments of Brasse before mentioned: One of the Colledge nightly watcheth thereon as is before obserued. That of Nanquin exceeds this of Pequin, as being then the Seat Royall. When the Pequin Astrologers foretell Eclipses, the Magistrates and Idoll Ministers are commanded to as∣semble in their Officiary Habits to helpe the labouring Planets, which they think they do with beating brazen Bels, and often kneelings, all the time that they thinke the Eclipse lasteth,* 1.14 lest they should then bee deuoured (as I haue heard) by I know not what Serpent.

Their Physicke Rules differ much from ours; they examine the Pulse alike.* 1.15 They succeed well in their Prescriptions, which vsually are Simples, Herbs, Rootes, and the like. They haue for it no publike Schoole, but each learnes it of his owne Master, yet in the two Royall Cities [ 20] Degrees of this Art are giuen after Examination, but cursorily and without any respect acquired by his Degree, because all may practise which will. Neyther doth any study Mathematickes or Physicke, which is in any hope of the Ethike glory, but such as want of wit or meanes hath de∣terred from studies more sublime. Contrariwise, that Ethike Science is the Ladder of China fe∣licity. Confutius brought into order the Bookes of foure former Philosophers,* 1.16 and wrote a fift himselfe, which fiue Bookes hee called Doctrines: in which are contayned Morall and Politike Rules, Examples of the Ancients, Rites and Sacrifices, diuers Poems also and the like. Besides these fiue Volumes, out of Confutius and his Disciples are brought into one Volume, diuers Pre∣cepts without order, Similes, Sentences Ethike, Oeconomike, Politike: this Booke for the foure parts is called the Foure Bookes. These nine are the ancientest China Bookes, whence the [ 30] others most what are taken, and contayne most of their Characters. And the ancient Kings en∣acted that they which professe Learning, should take the foundations of their Learning from those Bookes, not only to learne the proper sense of the Text, but to bee able on the sudden to write fitly of any sentence, for which cause that Tetrabiblion is learned without Booke. Neyther is there any Vniuersitie or publike Schoole (as some of ours haue affirmed,* 1.17 the Masters or Profes∣sors whereof haue vndertaken to read and expound those Bookes; but euery one gets a Master at home at his owne choice and cost (of which there is a huge multitude.) In this Science are three Degrees bestowed on them which offer themselues to be examined and are iudged meete.* 1.18 That Examination is almost wholly in Writing. The first Degree is conferred in euery City in that place which is called the Schoole, by some learned man designed to that Office by the King,* 1.19 who [ 40] is by that place called Tihio; the Degree is termed Sieucai. A threefold Examination is premised. First, at his comming to any City of his Prouince, all that stand for that degree in that City, and the confining limits thereof resort thither and are examined by those Masters which are set ouer the Bachelours till they haue attayned further Degree, mayntayned by the Kings stipend. In this Examination euery one is admitted, perhaps foure or 5000. assembled to that purpose. The second is by the foure Gouernours of the City (for none are admitted to Gouernment but the Learned) which present out of all that number 200. of the better Writers to the Tihio, and he in a third Examination chuseth 20. or 30. of the best, which he entituleth Bachelors: their Ensignes are a long Gowne, a Cap, and Boots, which none else may weare,* 1.20 & in all places they are much respected as in a ranke aboue the vulgar Citizens, and enjoy also diuers Priuiledges, being in manner subject [ 50] only to the Masters aforesaid and the Tihio, other Magistrates scarsly medling with them. This Tihio not only hath authority ouer these new created Bachelors, but ouer those which were made before to re-examine them: and these according to their writing hee diuideth into fiue rankes; the first he rewardeth with some publike Office in the City, the second with some infe∣riour honour, the third he neyther rewards nor punisheth, the fourth he causeth to be publikely whipped, the last he degradeth and maketh againe Plebeians. The second Degree is called Kiugin, and may be compared with our Licentiates, and is conferred but once in three yeares, and that in the Metropolitane City about the eight Moone with greater Majesty.* 1.21 And the degree is not conferred to all, but to a certayne number of the worthiest, according to the dignity of each Pro∣uince: Pequin and Nanquin haue each 150. Cequian, Quamsi, and Fuquian 95. others fewer. Only [ 60] Bachelors, but not all, are admitted to this Examination, the Tihio sending out of each City or Schoole 30. or at most 40. of the best, which number yet ariseth in some Prouince to 4000. of those Examinates or Probationers for this second degree. A little before the eighth Moon (which often fals in September, the Pequin Magistrates present to the King 100. of the most esteemed Philosophers in the Kingdome, who thence pricketh or nameth thirty, for each Prouince two,* 1.22 to

take charge of the Examination of these Candidates. One of these two must bee of the Hanlin Colledge, the Collegians whereof are most famous thorow the Kingdome. The King doth not name them till that nicke of time when they must presently packe to their Prouince, diligently guarded also that they speake with none of that Prouince till the Act or Commencement be past. In the same Prouince also are chosen the best Philosophers to assist these two Examiners.* 1.23 In eue∣ry Mother City is a huge Palace built for this purpose, compass••d with high wals, with many sta∣tions for the Examiners separate from noyse; and foure thousand Cels or Studies besides in the midst of the Palace, wherein is a stoole and table for one man, that none may see or confer with any other.

When the Examiners sent by the King, and those of the Prouince are come thither, they are presently shut vp in their stations before they can speake with other men, or with each other, [ 10] during all the Examination time. Night and day, meane-whiles the Magistrates and Souldiers guard the Palace from Colloquies.* 1.24 Three dayes (the same thorow the Kingdome) the ninth, twelfth and fifteenth of the eighth Moone, from morning to night are appointed for their wri∣ting, the doores being shut. A light refection prouided the day before is giuen to the Writers at publike cost. When the Bachelors come to the Palace, they are thorowly searched whether they haue any Booke or Writing with them, and are admitted only with the Pensils which they vse in writing, their Plate, Paper and Inke; these also and their Garments searched to preuent all fraud, which found causeth the twofold punishment both of losse and sence. When they are ad∣mitted,* 1.25 the doores shut and sealed, the two Royall Examiners out of the Tetrabiblium propound three Sentences for so many Theames to euery of them; and foure out of the fiue Bookes of Do∣ctrines [ 20] for so many other Theames. These seuen Writings must bee made for elegance of words and weight of Sentences according to the Precepts of China Rhetoricke;* 1.26 neyther must any Writing contayne aboue 500. Characters. Two dayes being passed for the Examinationn of these; the next day out of the Chronicles, or other three Cases of Politie are propounded, wherein each which three Theames or Writing expresse their minde, or Libel-wise admonish the King what were fittest to be done. The third day three Law Cases, such as happen in the Magistrates, Offices are propounded, for each thereof to expresse his Sentence. These in great silence, each in his appointed Cell, hauing written their Theames, subscribed with their owne, their Fathers, Grand-fathers and great Grand-fathers names, and sealed so that none but men appointed may reade them, offer them to certayne Officers, which before the Examiners [ 30] see them;* 1.27 cause them to bee transcribed by certayne thereto appointed: which Copies to be distinguished from the Originals are written in Red Inke, without the Authors names (the Originals laid vp safely) that none might by the hand or name know the Authour. In this Ex∣amination the Assistants first reiect the worst & present vnto the two Examiners twice so many as are to be chosen Licentiates; as if one hundred and fifty are to bee chosen, three hundred are tendered to passe their last scrutinie: who first lay by the best, so many as are to bee elected (and thence take the first, second, and third, and set them accurately in order, and then conferre them with the Originals, thence taking the names which they cause to bee written in great Cubitall Letters, in a huge Table, which they expose about the end of the eighth Moone in great [ 40] concourse of Magistrates, and applause of the new Elects Friends and Kindred. The Priui∣ledges and Ornaments of this Degree are more then of the former,* 1.28 and if they intend to pro∣ceed no further, they are hereby capable of very good Magistracies. After the Act, the Kings Examiners publish a Booke of their proceedings, the names of the Graduates and their principall Writings, especially his which is as the Elder Brother (they call him Quiayuen) and whose Theames were best liked. The Bachelors of other Prouinces may not here be admitted; some on∣ly except of the Kings Schoole in Pequin and Nanquin.

* 1.29The third Degree is like our Doctorship, called Cin-su, which is conferred euery third yeare also, but onely at Pequin, and alway is the next yeare after that Commencement of Licen∣tiates. Only three hundred chosen ou•• of the whole Kingdome obtayne it, although the Li∣centiates [ 50] of euery Prouince are admitted to the Examination.

This Act is in the second Moone on the same dayes that the former and in like forme, sauing that the diligence is greater, as for a greater degree, and the Colai, the chiefe Magistrates of the Kingdome are Examiners.* 1.30 The Doctors being pronounced in the same Palace, where the Li∣centiates vse to bee; all of them in the Kings Palace, before the chiefe Magistrates of the Court (yea anciently the King was wont to bee present) make a Theame, according to the iudgement whereof, the order of the Magistracies which they are to beare, is declared, being distributed in three Rankes.

Hee that in Examination of Doctors had the first place, hath in this second Examination the third place without question: but hee which hath the first or second enioyeth a great dignitie [ 60] during his life, besides the greatest Offices in the Common-wealth; and might (compared with ours) bee as a Duke or Marquesse, if it were Hereditary. These Doctours presently haue their peculiar Vest,* 1.31 Cap, Bootes, and other Ensignes of Magistrates, and are pre∣ferred to the best Offices, such as the Licentiates may not attayne, and are as the prime men of the Kingdome.

Those Licentiates which are rejected from the Doctorship,* 1.32 if they meane to proceed no fur∣ther, are preferred to Magistracie▪ but if they list still to stand for that degree they betake them∣selues home to their Bookes afresh, till the third-yeare-examination returnes, so that some stand ten times, continuing so long priuate to become more publike. A Booke is also published of them and of their successe. Another is yearely set forth contayning the Names, Countrey, Pa∣rents, Offices of all the Doctors; and where they gouerne, whereby a man may know how any hath risen or descended all his life, as is there vsuall after their merits. It is remarkable also how the Licentiates and Doctors of the same yeare respect one the other as Brethren euer after, and loue the Friends also of their Colleagues, and honour their Examiners as Fathers.* 1.33

They vse to grant at the same times and places the same Titles (in the Moone following) to [ 10] Military Professors, but with lesse pompe, because Souldierie is of no such reckoning with them, and few stand for them. This Military tryall is three-fold, in the first they shoot nine Arrowes on Horse-backe running; in the second they shoot as many at the same ma••ke standing: and hee which hath hit the Marke with foure on Horke-backe and two Arrowes on foot, is admitted to the third tryall wherein they haue some Theame of Military matters propounded,* 1.34 and the Iudges examining this Triple tryall out of the whole number pronounce about fifty Licen∣tiates in euery Prouince. And when the Doctorall Act is at Pequin, one hundred of the choice of these after a Triple Examina••ion are made Military Doctors. These Doctors are more easily admitted to Military Prefectures (but scarcely without Bribes) then the Licen∣tiates. Both the Philosophicall and Military, ouer their doores, set vp in great Letters this [ 20] their new attayned dignity. All the Examiners, whether of Mathematicall, or Military, or Philosophicall degrees, are of those Philosophers, without assistance of any Captaine, Ma∣thematician, or Physician, as if thereby they were inabled to all things.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Cap. 5. Monosyllable Language, as also our proper English is al∣most wholly.
• * 1.2

  70000. Chara∣cters.
• * 1.3

  Equiuocations
• * 1.4

  Fiue Accents.
• * 1.5

  Hardnesse of China Speech.
• * 1.6

  Eloquentia fine eloquio.
• * 1.7

  Many Nations and Langua∣ges haue the same Chara∣cters.

  Court Lan∣guage.
• * 1.8

  Their writing.
• * 1.9

  Morall Philo∣sophie.
• * 1.10

  Confutius. His heroike honours.
• * 1.11

  Mathematikes.
• * 1.12

  Phoenomena.
• * 1.13

  Colledges.
• * 1.14

  Eclipses.
• * 1.15

  Physicians.
• * 1.16

  Confutius his fiue Bookes. Tetrabiblion.
• * 1.17

  No Vniuersity.
• * 1.18

  Degrees.
• * 1.19

  Tihio the Pro∣poser.

  Sieucai a Ba∣chelors de∣gree, or as Ma∣ster of Art with vs.
• * 1.20

  Ornaments. Their Priui∣ledges.
• * 1.21

  The second degree, Kiugin, as Licen∣tiates or Ba∣chelors in Di∣uinitie, if we compare them with ours.
• * 1.22

  Examin••rs▪
• * 1.23

  Palace of ex∣amination.
• * 1.24

  Dayes of Ex∣amination.
• * 1.25

  Theames gi∣uen.
• * 1.26

  Seuen writings
• * 1.27

  Care to auoid corruption.
• * 1.28

  Creation and Priuiledges.
• * 1.29

  Third degree as of Doctors called Cinfu.
• * 1.30

  Colai.
• * 1.31

  First and se∣cond place gloriou.
• * 1.32

  Ambition will be highest or nothing.
• * 1.33

  Military de∣grees.
• * 1.34

  Threefold tryall.