proficiency in archery was as much insisted on as in the days of Edward
III with us; and even down to a few years ago Manchu Bannermen, as they
came to be called, might be seen everywhere diligently practising the
art--actually one of the six fine arts of China--by the aid of which
their ancestors had passed from the state of a petty tribal community to
possession of the greatest empire in the world.

The term Bannerman, it may here be explained, is applied to all Manchus
in reference to their organization under one or other of eight banners
of different colour and design; besides which, there are also eight
banners for Mongolians, and eight more for the descendants of those
Chinese who sided with the Manchus against the Mings, and thus helped to
establish the Great Pure dynasty.

One of the first cares to the authorities of a newly-established dynasty
in China is to provide the country with a properly authorized Penal
Code, and this has usually been accomplished by accepting as basis the
code of the preceding rulers, and making such changes or modifications
as may be demanded by the spirit of the times. It is generally
understood that such was the method adopted under the first Manchu
Emperor. The code of the Mings was carefully examined, its severities
were softened, and various additions and alterations were made; the
result being a legal instrument which has received almost unqualified
admiration from eminent Western lawyers. It has, however, been stated
that the true source of the Manchu code must be looked for in the code
of the T`ang dynasty (A.D. 618-905); possibly both codes were used.
Within the compass of historical times, the country has never been
without one, the first code having been drawn up by a distinguished
statesman so far back as 525 B.C. In any case, at the beginning of
the reign of Shun Chih a code was issued, which contained only certain