So wrote the old poet, Drayton, of robin Hood and his merry men-traditions of whose deeds yet abound in the neighbourhood of Sherwood Forest. In their days, the cross-bow was the English national weapon, and it continued to be so till the introduction of artillery and matchlock guns, consequent upon the discovery of gunpowder; when the bowmen of England, as a part of the national army, became gradually extinct, though archery is still cultivated, and, no doubt, always will be, as an agreeable and graceful amusement as we have stated already, the bow continues in use, in China, as a military weapon; and, in our engraving is seen a bold Chinese archer, smiling with perfect complacency on all around him.
Amongst that nation, archery has, from the remotest times, been always held in high estimation; and to be a good bowman was the great object of the majority of the male population of the empire. But archery is now, we are informed, beginning to be “looked upon rather as an elegant accomplishment for gentlemen and military men-like fencing among some Europeans – than as a measure of defence or offence in actual warfare” recent hostilities having shown the superiority of the European fire-arm, in warfare, to the bow.
Shooting well with the bow on horseback, is still, however, regarded as a high achievement in archery; and some of the Chinese books on tactics give very precise descriptions for the acquirement of skill in this part of the art, whether it is resorted to for the purposes of war, or merely for amusement.
The Rev. W. C. Milne, who was, for many years, a missionary amongst the Chinese, thus describes a review of archers, at which he was present, in 1843. As our former remarks upon the Chinese army have reference chiefly to the Tartar part of it, we will here introduce few particulars relative to the national branch of the military force of the vast empire of China.
The character of a people, it has been remarked, may be judged of from their amusements. If so, the Chinese should be a military people, and very fond of war; for, on the Chinese stage, by far the most attractive spectacles are those which relate to battles, and the mock combats of the actors meet with the most enthusiastic applause. But fond as the Chinese may be of mimic, they cut no great figure in real war.
In ancient times, we are told, they called their soldiers “flying dragons,” and “scudding clouds“. In our own days, they rather resemble the latter than the former, for though they have a Chinese word equivalent to our epithet “brave” (from whence the term “braves”), stamped on their jackets, they are more famous fur scudding’ from the field, than for showing the fierceness usually attributed to the fabulous animal. But if not very fond of fighting, the Chinese like the military profession. So far from there being any necessity to enrol soldiers by compulsion, or bounty money, leave to enter the army is eagerly sought after as a favour, and as an addition to the man’s means of livelihood.
The Chinese soldiers are, in fact, little more than a militia, or armed police. Since the fall of the Ming dynasty, A.D. 1545, the Tartar troops have been chiefly engaged in suppressing the constantly-recurring domestic insurrections, and also in the occasional “little wars” that have taken place with the Meao-tse-a hill tribe, who, though living in the midst of China, have always preserved their independence.
The military duties of the Chinese soldiers, we are informed, have been almost entirely restricted to periodical gatherings, when they underwent a species of training, and were inspected and reviewed by their commanders. Their field-days consisted in tumultuous and disorderly marches in the train of their mandarins, or in sham fights, conducted (as were their theatrical performances) with the din of gongs, and other noisy instruments.
This was united with the practice of the bow and the sword. “Reviews’ occasionally took place, which consisted, principally, in the examination of their matchlocks, their swords, and arrows, and, when they had any, of their helmets or padded armour.” They make great demonstrations when training; tearing and stamping in their exercise,” as one writer describes it.
Besides these stated periods for discipline, occasionally the Chinese “braves” are employed to aid the civil magistrates as policemen, to act as custom- house officers at the military stations, along the roads, rivers, and canals; and also to mount guard at the city gates. A periodical writer says, that, “in show and appearance, they resemble the valiant supernumeraries who represent, in provincial theatres, the armies of Richard or Rolla. Their helmets are made of paper; their boots of a coarse satin; and their uniform consists of a wadded gown and a quilted petticoat. Instead of a military salute, they acknowledge the presence of an officer by falling on their knees, and, in warm weather, they ply their fans as assiduously as any dowager- duchess in an opera-box in July.”
Their dress appears to vary in different parts of the empire; for another author tells us, that “the uniform of a Chinese soldier consists of large, coarse, blue nankeen trowsei’s, and a red tunic with white facings.” A third says-they clothe and arm themselves after their own fashion, and “their dress is usually that of the people in general, except that they have the words ‘brave’ and ‘robust’ painted or stitched upon the backs of their jackets, and ‘valour’ in front; they wear, also, a peculiar cap.” Their pay is 4d. per day, and they have no allowance of rice, as the Tartar soldiers have. “To every body of troops a certain number of standard-bearers is attached, whose duty it is to carry the colours, and wave them: but no feeling of honour seems to actuate the Chinese soldier with regard to his colours; for, in the rout, down they go, and sauve qui peut is the cry.”
A few words as to the Chinese artillery. The Chinese have known the use of cannon for more than 200 years, as there is authentic mention of the casting of cannon by the Jesuits, in 1636, at the request of the emperor, when the empire was threatened by the Manchu. And, in the first attack on Canton, the landing party, which was sent on shore after the English had opened their fire, found, in one of the forts upon the river, from which the garrison had been expelled, a battery of six bronze pieces of artillery, of the calibre of 161bs., which were stamped, near the touch-hole, with the imperial cipher, surrounded with Chinese characters and arabesques; in the midst of which was a cross, in relief, and, below the cross, the date of 1697.
Investigation proved that these cannon had been made during the time of the Emperor Hong Hi, who, born in 1653, died in 1723; and in whose reign Pere Bosino, a Jesuit, superintended the cannon-foundry at Nanking. But, though cannon have been so long in use, no improvement appears to have been made in their construction; and the Chinese do not know how to use them with effect. They make their guns, both for land-service and for the war-junks, of enormous weight, in comparison to their calibre; notwithstanding which, they frequently burst.
Some guns, captured in the second campaign of the opium war, though only 42-pounders, weighed seven tons. The carriages are so constructed, that they can neither alter the direction nor the elevation of their guns, but are obliged to fire them off point-blank: they have very little knowledge of engineering. Their fortifications are of enormous thickness, but, from the want of a firm cement, they are not strong. They use a hand-grenade and rockets in their defence; but the latter are perfectly contemptible. Some of the artillerymen are, however, very expert in the use of a sling, from which they project a stone, with a good force and a tolerable aim.
The military of the empire are superintended by the Court of Ping-poo, or “Military Tribunal,” or “Tribunal of Arms,” at Beijing. Through this court all orders to both army and navy are issued, commissions granted; levies made; magazines, garrisons, towns, and fortresses, kept in repair and supplied; and the soldiers furnished with arms. The orders of this superior court are carried out by four inferior ones, for different parts of the empire.
Source: China, in a series of views, displaying the scenery, architecture, and social habits, of that ancient empire. Drawn, from original and authentic sketches, by Thomas Allom. With historical and descriptive notices by the Rev. G. N. Wright.
