After leaving Ningpo, Mr. Smith Proceeded to Chusan, which place he left on the 9th of December, [1845,] and arrived at Foo-chow-foo on the 15th. Of this city Mr. Smith has forwarded the interesting account which we now give.
Situation – Population – Commerce
Foo-chow, the second largest of the five ports open to foreign trade, is situated in 26°7′ N. latitude, and in 119°15′ E. longitude. The amount of its population, in the absence of all authentic statistics, can at best be only a subject of uncertain conjecture. Its apparent extent of space, covered with houses, is about twice the size of Ningpo, three times that of Shanghai, and nearly five times that of Amoy. The lowest estimate I have heard reckoned it to contain a population of more than half a million. I should myself be inclined to place it at about 600,000, a number which will not be considered excessive, when we remember its eight and a half miles circuit of walls, and the small proportion of space unoccupied with buildings. Though it is the capital of Fokien Province, it is a city, on the testimony of the high officers of the local Government, of little trade with the interior, and of decreasing commercial importance. Nor is the extent of its commerce with the other ports along the coast of China of any considerable importance, its trade with maritime parts being checked by hordes of pirates, who, more or less, for centuries have been the scourge of an unwarlike people, and the terror of a weak Government. Of the prospects of a foreign trade with Europe I am but little qualified to form an opinion.
Condition and Literary Character of the People
The numerous sedan-chairs, with two, and sometimes with four bearers, which impede the way at every hundred yards, are a fair proof of the existence of considerable wealth in the city; though by far the greater part of the population, as in other Chinese cities, are immersed in the lowest poverty, earning, in compliance with the sternest conditions of human nature, a scanty subsistence by the sweat of their brow.
The neighbouring villages are entirely agricultural, scattered over the plain to the encircling hills; those situated on either bank of the river, toward the sea, being addicted to frequent acts of piracy and lawlessness.
Though the question, how far Foo-chow is a literary place, is one difficult for a casual visitor to investigate, the following facts, supplied to me by an intelligent Chinese with whom I became acquainted during my stay, will show that it enjoys no mean reputation in this respect. Previous to my arrival, the public examinations of the siutsai, or students of the first degree, and processions of successful scholars, had excited a temporary interest. It appears, that of the siutsai degree, conferred twice in every three years, there are about 8000 in the whole province of Fokien, of which 2000 belong to Foo-chow. Of the küjin degree, conferred once in the same period of time, there are about 1000 throughout the province, of whom 360 belong to the capital. Again, the tsintsz’, of whom only about 360 are made at each quinquennial examination at Peking, from the eighteen provinces of the empire, and beyond which step of literary distinction promotion is so rare that only thirty persons are raised to the highest degree of Hanlin at each triennial examination, from the whole of China, there are estimated to be 200 in the province of Fokien, 60 of whom belong to the city. In Foo-chow there are also 5000 literary students, who have not yet gained a degree, and who earn their livelihood by tuition and similar pursuits; a few, also, being employed in subordinate situations in the public Government offices. The siutsai are said to obtain promotion to political offices, if supported by the influence of the private wealth. The küjin, without such influence, have generally to waite ten or twelve years. The tsintsz’ immediately gain appointments, as the sure reward of their rare distinction. A system of social equality, which thus holds out to the offspring of the meanest Chinese peasant the hope of becoming the instrument of family aggrandizement, and which naturally summons the predilections of all in its favour, may be deemed, without doubt, as divulging the real secret of their national cohesiveness and duration through so vast and unprecedented a period of time, amid the frequent change of their dynasties, and ruin of surrounding empires. Though their classic literature, except as a means of distinction, and as a road to political preferment, exercises no very powerful influence on Religion, strictly so called, nor imposes any form of religious belief, but rather inculcates the wisdom of abandoning such subjects of uncertain speculation; yet it is easy to perceive that such a system of philosophical atheism as here has entwined itself around all their national associations, and has become deeply imbedded in the very soul of the thinking inhabitants, will to the propagation of the Gospel oppose a gigantic obstacle, against which it will be needful to bring all the advantages which a patient study of their own classics, combined with the literature of the West, can confer on those humble and persevering men, to whom belongs the high privilege of extending the Kingdom of Christ among this morally and spiritually unenlightened nation.
Temples
There is a remarkable scarcity of large and handsome temples in the city. There is, however, on of some little attractions to visitors about half-way between the south and west gates, close outside the city wall, and nearly opposite to the Consulate hill. There is also a famous Buddhistic monastery, called the Yung-tsiuen shi, about half-way up the Kushan range, about eight miles, in a south-western direction, from Foochow. There are about 100 priests on the endowment, of whom about 60 are generally resident in the temple. There are several intelligent men among their number.
Character of the Local Authorities
The disposition of the present Local Authorities is said to be, on the whole, liberal, and increasingly favourable, to foreigners. The city gates are closed soon after sunset; and so rigid are the regulations of a garrison city, that not even the Tartar General can be admitted into the city after they are once closed. Of all the officers of the Local Government, the acting Governor of the province far exceeds the rest in the varied extent of his information and liberality of his views. With reference, also, to the full toleration of foreign religions, his ideas are far in advance of the generality of his countrymen. In his intercourse with the British Consul he has alluded to the more prominent events of modern European history, and shown his general acquaintance with the whole cycle of European politics; as, for instance, the difficulty of governing Ireland on account of Popery, the revolt of Belgium from Holland, the separation from Britain and Spain of their Colonies in North and South America, the ambitious career of Napoleon, and the closing victory of Waterloo. He also seems to have heard of the excitement in England consequent on the discussion of the Maynooth grant. For hours together he will converse on geography, and has pasted the Chinese names over an expensive American atlas, presented to him by one of his subordinate officers from Canton; in addition to which, he will soon also possess a globe promised him by the Consul. The Consul’s lady, at his request, drew for him a map of the world, coloured respectively according to the divisions into British, French, and Russian territory. Shortly after the receipt of it, he sent a note, inquiring why Affghanistan had been omitted, and whether is had become amalgamated with Persia, or was no longer an independent kingdom.
Facilities for the Residence of Foreigners
As regards the residence of individual foreigners, there is no reason to believe that any great difficulty will be experienced in renting commodious houses. The partial difficulty which exists at present arises more from a desire of extortion, a want of friendliness, and a general distrust of foreigners, than from fear of the Authorities, or deep-rooted aversion in the minds of the people. Large and expensive houses may be obtained without much difficulty, even at the present time. A Missionary, unmarried in the first instance, or, if married, unaccompanied for the first few months by his family, might easily find a lodging in some of the temples within the city, either on the Wushih shan, or on the no less agreeable and salubrious site of the Kiusin shan, till his increasing acquaintance with the local dialect, and the increasing confidence of the people, should prepare the way for the residence also of Missionary families.
Missionary Aspect and Claims
This leads me to the last and most important point of view in which Foochow is to be regarded – the nature and degree of its eligibility as a Missionary Station.
To most minds the obvious disadvantage of its present inaccessibility will readily present itself. To this must be added the fact, that the people have never yet been impressed with the superior power or civilization of foreigners. There is also a spirit of suspicious distrust naturally prevalent among the inhabitants toward a race of strangers hitherto unknown. And lastly, the local dialect, partaking of all the difficulties of the Fokien dialect in other parts, is here considered to be doubly barbarous and difficult of acquirement. All these difficulties, however, are either temporary, or surmountable by those general habits of energy and perseverance which are indispensably necessary for usefulness in every part of a country so peculiar as China.
On the other hand, we behold in Foochow claims of no ordinary kind. With a population of more than half a million of idolaters, and as the capital of a province opening important channels of intercourse with surrounding places, it occupies a prominence inferior only to Canton among the newly-opened ports of China. It is free from the deteriorating effects of an extensive foreign commerce, and the irritating effects of the late war; the people never having witnessed the advance of invading armies before their peaceful homes.
The disposition of the Authorities, and the apathetic indifference of the people, alike encourage the belief that there exists no such jealousy of proselytism as is likely to throw interruptions or annoyances in the way of Protestant Missionaries. What gives to Foochow its highest and paramount claim is the fact, that, while every system of superstition has here its living representatives, Protestant Christianity is alone unrepresented in this vast city; and while every point along the coast accessible to foreigners has been occupied by Missionary Labourers, the populous capital of Fokien is destitute of a single Evangelist of the pure and unadulterated faith of the Gospel. And lastly, as regards security of residence, I feel assured that if past experience permitted me to indulge the hope of ever attaining in this climate such a measure of physical strength as to become an efficient Missionary Labourer in this part of the Lord’s vineyard, there is no city in China in which I should cherish greater confidence in the absence of persecution, and immunity from interruption, than in the city of Foochow.
Here, then, a new sphere of usefulness lies open, where no institution of caste operates to divide man from man; where no Priesthood wilds a general influence over the fears or respect of the people; where no form of Religion, strictly so called, threatens to oppose our progress; where the principal obstacles with which we shall have to contend are those national traits of apathy, indifference, and sensuality, which everywhere, alas! are deeply rooted in the nature of fallen man, and form the chief barrier to the reception of pure and vital Christianity.
On this part of the subject Mr. Smith thus enlarges, in a Letter dated Jan. 14, 1846 –
It was no common trial to my mind, as I gazed, from the summit of a neighbouring hill, on the populous city of Foochow, teeming with its moving masses of living industry, to reflect that here 600,000 immortal souls, spell-bound by idolatry or atheism, in the capital of one of the largest provinces of the empire – a garrison city, with the full provincial staff of Mandarins; the seat of a Viceroy having two provinces under his jurisdiction, and comprising the two other free ports of Ningpo and Amoy within its limits; with 2500 literary graduates, and 5000 literary students and candidates for degrees resident in the city – should nevertheless be destitute of a single Evangelist of the pure faith of Christ, and that no effort should yet have been made to convey to them the inestimable blessings of the Gospel. And within a few minutes of that time, and in the same vicinity, there were not wanting painful evidences to show that, even in such a spot, error was in advance of truth, and the various forms of superstition had their representatives. Placing a copy of the Gospel in the hands of an aged Bonze, and then, with their usual facility of assent, gave utterance to the Buddhistic notion, that after death “the good will ascend to heaven’s temple, and the wicked descend to earth’s prison.” Only at a few yards’ distance a Taouist Priest received a Christian Tract, and, as if to prove the unimportant nature of such subjects, or the universal skepticism of his mind, made the latitudinarian remark, that the principles of Religion were everywhere the same. At but a short distance, again, a Chinese Roman Catholic, by hereditary profession, after receiving a Christian book, drew forth a medal, suspended from his bosom, and inscribed with the images of Joseph, the Virgin, and John the Baptist, and said that the sight of it recalled to his mind the good things which he read in his holy books. A Roman-Catholic Priest, a Spaniard, has been residing for a year at Foochow, under the terms of the imperial edict of toleration. Even the Mahomedans have their six Priests, and twenty-four Fakeers, or religious beggars; so that, humiliating fact! with an imperial edict of universal toleration beckoning us forward, Protestant Christianity is the only Religion unrepresented in this vast city!
Situation – Population – Commerce
Foo-chow, the second largest of the five ports open to foreign trade, is situated in 26°7′ N. latitude, and in 119°15′ E. longitude. The amount of its population, in the absence of all authentic statistics, can at best be only a subject of uncertain conjecture. Its apparent extent of space, covered with houses, is about twice the size of Ningpo, three times that of Shanghai, and nearly five times that of Amoy. The lowest estimate I have heard reckoned it to contain a population of more than half a million. I should myself be inclined to place it at about 600,000, a number which will not be considered excessive, when we remember its eight and a half miles circuit of walls, and the small proportion of space unoccupied with buildings. Though it is the capital of Fokien Province, it is a city, on the testimony of the high officers of the local Government, of little trade with the interior, and of decreasing commercial importance. Nor is the extent of its commerce with the other ports along the coast of China of any considerable importance, its trade with maritime parts being checked by hordes of pirates, who, more or less, for centuries have been the scourge of an unwarlike people, and the terror of a weak Government. Of the prospects of a foreign trade with Europe I am but little qualified to form an opinion.
Condition and Literary Character of the People
The numerous sedan-chairs, with two, and sometimes with four bearers, which impede the way at every hundred yards, are a fair proof of the existence of considerable wealth in the city; though by far the greater part of the population, as in other Chinese cities, are immersed in the lowest poverty, earning, in compliance with the sternest conditions of human nature, a scanty subsistence by the sweat of their brow.
The neighbouring villages are entirely agricultural, scattered over the plain to the encircling hills; those situated on either bank of the river, toward the sea, being addicted to frequent acts of piracy and lawlessness.
Though the question, how far Foo-chow is a literary place, is one difficult for a casual visitor to investigate, the following facts, supplied to me by an intelligent Chinese with whom I became acquainted during my stay, will show that it enjoys no mean reputation in this respect. Previous to my arrival, the public examinations of the siutsai, or students of the first degree, and processions of successful scholars, had excited a temporary interest. It appears, that of the siutsai degree, conferred twice in every three years, there are about 8000 in the whole province of Fokien, of which 2000 belong to Foo-chow. Of the küjin degree, conferred once in the same period of time, there are about 1000 throughout the province, of whom 360 belong to the capital. Again, the tsintsz’, of whom only about 360 are made at each quinquennial examination at Peking, from the eighteen provinces of the empire, and beyond which step of literary distinction promotion is so rare that only thirty persons are raised to the highest degree of Hanlin at each triennial examination, from the whole of China, there are estimated to be 200 in the province of Fokien, 60 of whom belong to the city. In Foo-chow there are also 5000 literary students, who have not yet gained a degree, and who earn their livelihood by tuition and similar pursuits; a few, also, being employed in subordinate situations in the public Government offices. The siutsai are said to obtain promotion to political offices, if supported by the influence of the private wealth. The küjin, without such influence, have generally to waite ten or twelve years. The tsintsz’ immediately gain appointments, as the sure reward of their rare distinction. A system of social equality, which thus holds out to the offspring of the meanest Chinese peasant the hope of becoming the instrument of family aggrandizement, and which naturally summons the predilections of all in its favour, may be deemed, without doubt, as divulging the real secret of their national cohesiveness and duration through so vast and unprecedented a period of time, amid the frequent change of their dynasties, and ruin of surrounding empires. Though their classic literature, except as a means of distinction, and as a road to political preferment, exercises no very powerful influence on Religion, strictly so called, nor imposes any form of religious belief, but rather inculcates the wisdom of abandoning such subjects of uncertain speculation; yet it is easy to perceive that such a system of philosophical atheism as here has entwined itself around all their national associations, and has become deeply imbedded in the very soul of the thinking inhabitants, will to the propagation of the Gospel oppose a gigantic obstacle, against which it will be needful to bring all the advantages which a patient study of their own classics, combined with the literature of the West, can confer on those humble and persevering men, to whom belongs the high privilege of extending the Kingdom of Christ among this morally and spiritually unenlightened nation.
Temples
There is a remarkable scarcity of large and handsome temples in the city. There is, however, on of some little attractions to visitors about half-way between the south and west gates, close outside the city wall, and nearly opposite to the Consulate hill. There is also a famous Buddhistic monastery, called the Yung-tsiuen shi, about half-way up the Kushan range, about eight miles, in a south-western direction, from Foochow. There are about 100 priests on the endowment, of whom about 60 are generally resident in the temple. There are several intelligent men among their number.
Character of the Local Authorities
The disposition of the present Local Authorities is said to be, on the whole, liberal, and increasingly favourable, to foreigners. The city gates are closed soon after sunset; and so rigid are the regulations of a garrison city, that not even the Tartar General can be admitted into the city after they are once closed. Of all the officers of the Local Government, the acting Governor of the province far exceeds the rest in the varied extent of his information and liberality of his views. With reference, also, to the full toleration of foreign religions, his ideas are far in advance of the generality of his countrymen. In his intercourse with the British Consul he has alluded to the more prominent events of modern European history, and shown his general acquaintance with the whole cycle of European politics; as, for instance, the difficulty of governing Ireland on account of Popery, the revolt of Belgium from Holland, the separation from Britain and Spain of their Colonies in North and South America, the ambitious career of Napoleon, and the closing victory of Waterloo. He also seems to have heard of the excitement in England consequent on the discussion of the Maynooth grant. For hours together he will converse on geography, and has pasted the Chinese names over an expensive American atlas, presented to him by one of his subordinate officers from Canton; in addition to which, he will soon also possess a globe promised him by the Consul. The Consul’s lady, at his request, drew for him a map of the world, coloured respectively according to the divisions into British, French, and Russian territory. Shortly after the receipt of it, he sent a note, inquiring why Affghanistan had been omitted, and whether is had become amalgamated with Persia, or was no longer an independent kingdom.
Facilities for the Residence of Foreigners
As regards the residence of individual foreigners, there is no reason to believe that any great difficulty will be experienced in renting commodious houses. The partial difficulty which exists at present arises more from a desire of extortion, a want of friendliness, and a general distrust of foreigners, than from fear of the Authorities, or deep-rooted aversion in the minds of the people. Large and expensive houses may be obtained without much difficulty, even at the present time. A Missionary, unmarried in the first instance, or, if married, unaccompanied for the first few months by his family, might easily find a lodging in some of the temples within the city, either on the Wushih shan, or on the no less agreeable and salubrious site of the Kiusin shan, till his increasing acquaintance with the local dialect, and the increasing confidence of the people, should prepare the way for the residence also of Missionary families.
Missionary Aspect and Claims
This leads me to the last and most important point of view in which Foochow is to be regarded – the nature and degree of its eligibility as a Missionary Station.
To most minds the obvious disadvantage of its present inaccessibility will readily present itself. To this must be added the fact, that the people have never yet been impressed with the superior power or civilization of foreigners. There is also a spirit of suspicious distrust naturally prevalent among the inhabitants toward a race of strangers hitherto unknown. And lastly, the local dialect, partaking of all the difficulties of the Fokien dialect in other parts, is here considered to be doubly barbarous and difficult of acquirement. All these difficulties, however, are either temporary, or surmountable by those general habits of energy and perseverance which are indispensably necessary for usefulness in every part of a country so peculiar as China.
On the other hand, we behold in Foochow claims of no ordinary kind. With a population of more than half a million of idolaters, and as the capital of a province opening important channels of intercourse with surrounding places, it occupies a prominence inferior only to Canton among the newly-opened ports of China. It is free from the deteriorating effects of an extensive foreign commerce, and the irritating effects of the late war; the people never having witnessed the advance of invading armies before their peaceful homes.
The disposition of the Authorities, and the apathetic indifference of the people, alike encourage the belief that there exists no such jealousy of proselytism as is likely to throw interruptions or annoyances in the way of Protestant Missionaries. What gives to Foochow its highest and paramount claim is the fact, that, while every system of superstition has here its living representatives, Protestant Christianity is alone unrepresented in this vast city; and while every point along the coast accessible to foreigners has been occupied by Missionary Labourers, the populous capital of Fokien is destitute of a single Evangelist of the pure and unadulterated faith of the Gospel. And lastly, as regards security of residence, I feel assured that if past experience permitted me to indulge the hope of ever attaining in this climate such a measure of physical strength as to become an efficient Missionary Labourer in this part of the Lord’s vineyard, there is no city in China in which I should cherish greater confidence in the absence of persecution, and immunity from interruption, than in the city of Foochow.
Here, then, a new sphere of usefulness lies open, where no institution of caste operates to divide man from man; where no Priesthood wilds a general influence over the fears or respect of the people; where no form of Religion, strictly so called, threatens to oppose our progress; where the principal obstacles with which we shall have to contend are those national traits of apathy, indifference, and sensuality, which everywhere, alas! are deeply rooted in the nature of fallen man, and form the chief barrier to the reception of pure and vital Christianity.
On this part of the subject Mr. Smith thus enlarges, in a Letter dated Jan. 14, 1846 –
It was no common trial to my mind, as I gazed, from the summit of a neighbouring hill, on the populous city of Foochow, teeming with its moving masses of living industry, to reflect that here 600,000 immortal souls, spell-bound by idolatry or atheism, in the capital of one of the largest provinces of the empire – a garrison city, with the full provincial staff of Mandarins; the seat of a Viceroy having two provinces under his jurisdiction, and comprising the two other free ports of Ningpo and Amoy within its limits; with 2500 literary graduates, and 5000 literary students and candidates for degrees resident in the city – should nevertheless be destitute of a single Evangelist of the pure faith of Christ, and that no effort should yet have been made to convey to them the inestimable blessings of the Gospel. And within a few minutes of that time, and in the same vicinity, there were not wanting painful evidences to show that, even in such a spot, error was in advance of truth, and the various forms of superstition had their representatives. Placing a copy of the Gospel in the hands of an aged Bonze, and then, with their usual facility of assent, gave utterance to the Buddhistic notion, that after death “the good will ascend to heaven’s temple, and the wicked descend to earth’s prison.” Only at a few yards’ distance a Taouist Priest received a Christian Tract, and, as if to prove the unimportant nature of such subjects, or the universal skepticism of his mind, made the latitudinarian remark, that the principles of Religion were everywhere the same. At but a short distance, again, a Chinese Roman Catholic, by hereditary profession, after receiving a Christian book, drew forth a medal, suspended from his bosom, and inscribed with the images of Joseph, the Virgin, and John the Baptist, and said that the sight of it recalled to his mind the good things which he read in his holy books. A Roman-Catholic Priest, a Spaniard, has been residing for a year at Foochow, under the terms of the imperial edict of toleration. Even the Mahomedans have their six Priests, and twenty-four Fakeers, or religious beggars; so that, humiliating fact! with an imperial edict of universal toleration beckoning us forward, Protestant Christianity is the only Religion unrepresented in this vast city!
(First published in the Church Missionary Record of August 1846, by Bishop George Smith.)
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