Edward Harper Parker

Ancient China Simplified Edward Harper Parker

Book Excerpt: ...thou Fu near Sha-shï--First Ts'u conquests of China--Five hundred years of struggle with Ts'in for the possession of all ChinaCHAPTER VEVIDENCE OF ECLIPSES How far is history true?--Confucius and eclipses--Evidence notwithstanding the destruction of literature in 213 B. C.-- Retrospective calculations of eclipses and complications of calendars--Eclipse of 776 B. C.--Errors in Confucian history owing to rival calendarsCHAPTER VITHE ARMY Paraphernalia of warfare--Ten thousand and one thousand chariot states--Use of war-chariots, leather or wood--Chariots allotted according to rank--Seventy-five men to one cart--War-chariots date back to 1800 B. C.--Tartar house-carts--Rivers mostly unnavigable in north--Introduction of canals and boat traffic--Population and armies--Vague descriptions--Early armies never exceeded 75,000 men--The use of flags--Used in hunting as well as in war--Victims sacrificed to drums...