Bible Encyclopedias
China

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(See SINIM), a vast county of Asia, extending (including its dependencies) from 20º to 56º N., and from 144º 50´ E. to 90º E. Its area is over four and a half million square miles, including one third of Asia, and nearly one tenth of the habitable globe. The empire is divided into three principal parts: first, the eighteen provinces; second, Manchooria; third, colonial possessions. The last includes Mongolia, Sungaria, Eastern Turkistan, Roko-nor, and Thibet. The second is the native country of the Manchoos, the reigning family in China, and includes the territory lying east of the Inner Duarian Mountains, and north of the Gulf of Lian Yung. Thefirst division is China Proper (between 18º and 40º N. lat., including Hainan on the south; and between 98º and 124º E. long.). It is the only part settled by Chinese. "It lies on the eastern slope of the high table-land of Central Asia, and in the south-east angle of the continent, and for beauty of scenery, fertility of soil, salubrity of climate, magnificent and beautiful rivers, and variety and abundance of its productions, will compare with any portion of the globe" (Williams, Middle Kingdom, 1:7). Its estimated area is nearly 2,000,000 square miles, or two fifths of the empire.

"Sang Ching, the 'Three Pure Ones,' is the title of certain three idols found in temples belonging to the Tauist religion and worshipped by Tauist priests. The images are seated side by side. One of them, as some explain, represents Lo-chii, or the 'O'd Boy,' the founder of that religion. Others explain that the three images refer to three different incarnations of Lö-chü There is very little known among the common people about these divinities, and they are very seldom worshipped by them, Tauist priests of both classes universally worship the Three Pure Ones" (Doolittle, Social Life of the Chinese, 1:249).

4. Buddha. — The third religion of China is that of Fo, or Buddha, introduced from India about the year A.D. 65, whic