Old Books about China

Title: A Peep at China in Mr. Dunn's Chinese Collection; with Miscellaneous Notices Relating to the Institutions and Customs of the Chinese, and the Commercial Intercourse with Them.
Author: By E.C. Wines.
Printed for Nathan Dunn
Year Published: 1839

"We will close this very imperfect notice of the Chinese criminal law, with the following testimony of an able writer in the Edinburgh Review. He says: "The most remarkable thing in this code is its great reasonableness, clearness, and consistency; the business-like brevity and directness of the various provisions, and the plainess and moderation of the language in which they are expressed. It is a clear, concise, and distinct series of enactments, savouring throughout of practical judgement and European good sense. When we turn from the ravings of the Zendavesta, or the Puranas, to the tone of sense and of business of this Chinese collection, we seem to be passing from darkness to light, from the drivellings of dotage to the exercise of an improved understanding: and, redundant and minute as these laws are in many particulars, we scarecely know any European code that is at once so copious and so consistent, or that is nearly so free from intricacy, bigotry and fiction."

page 89-90

Wow. That is quite a description of Chinese law. I wonder if today's Chinese law is as good as it was back then!?!

"The population of China has been variously estimated. Lord Macartney states the number of inhabitants at 333,000,000; Dr. Morrison's son at 360,000,000. It is well known that the learned doctor's own estimate was only 150,000,000, but he stated to Mr. Dunn, two years before his death, that he was then convinced that the highest number ever given did not exceed the true one. Wherever the truth may lie, it is certain that every part of the Empire teems with life."

page 94

I love that. Every part of this empire is teeming with life. True. So true.

"%u2026when Rome was still an infant, and the Grecian philosophy among the things to be, China had produced a sage, second only, in the long catalogue of heathen philosophers, to the illustrious and pure minded Socrates."

page 97

This puts China and her history in perspective with the rest of the west. Wow!

The book can be found here.

Title: Sketches in and Around Shanghai, Etc
Author: John D. Clark
Year published: 1894

Interesting quotes:

"A visit to Shanghai City is a very great interest to a foreigner when he has a Chinese friend with him who knows everything about the place, and although most foreigners here have been in it once or twice, there are very few who can say that they have seen everything in it that is acutally worth seeing, for many a one may only take a listless walk through some of its streets, pick up a few curios at the stalls, and getting disgusted with the whole place, leave it as soon as he can possibly find his way out, which is rather difficult to do sometimes, and vow that he will never go with its walls again."
pg. 11 chapter 2

Good grief, why do you even come to Shanghai with that kind of attitude? I can just see this guy in the OLD TOWN totally lost, with a guide book, cursing the old Chinese people looking at him. FUNNY!

"Our object being to give a few specimens of what are to be seen in the Foreign Settlements here; and as they are the English signboards put up over Chinese shops, the letters painted by Chinese, it is not surprising that some of them are fearfully and wonderfully made. Foreigners in Shanghai even have some curious signboards, as, for instance, one, which has certainly the name of a foreigner on it, to be seen in Rue du Consulat, French Concession. Of course at all the Chinese shops, there are the usual oblong tablets with Chinese inscriptions, but we must leave them out of consideration, as we can't read Chinese and don't want to."
pg. 80 chapter Anglo-Chinese Signboards

My how times have changed. Since Chinesepod and the push to learn Chinese, there are no more foreigners like this guy, right? Or maybe there are%u2026

"Another queer signboard is to be seen just after passing the small bridge at the top of the Rue du Consulat. The proprietor of the business is evidently not well up in English. On a board placed over a small dirty creek ditch, appears in large letters:
KUNG WOO HUH KEE
YUNG HON
SHEEI AND LAMB
"Sheei" is intended for "Sheep." It does not mean that Mr. Kee is either a sheep or a lamb, but simply that he sells these meek creatures. The signboard is painted on both sides; on the reverse side he spells Sheep thus: "Shee."
pg. 88 chapter Anglo-Chinese Signboards

Over a hundred years ago, the funny signs in English were there. Amazing!

"The Chinese policeman are paid about ten dollars a month and they consider their occupation a splendid one."
pg. 89 chapter The Chinese Policeman

I wonder how this has changed?! Anybody know a modern day policeman's salary?

"There is not nation on the earth that loves so much to hear themselves talk as the Chinese. They make night hideous by their talking, and in summer, when we are forced to keep open our windows, their voices frequently awaken one from sweet dreams, leaving one in doubt whether there is a heavy thunderstorm passing over head, or whether four-score-and-five affectionate mothers-in-law are arguing the point%u2026Hawkers, also, in the small hours of the morn, contribute their share to multiply our execrations, by the manner in which they praise up their goods."
pg. 102 chapter Chinese Noises

That was happening over a 100 years ago too? In our neighborhood in Shanghai this was literally the exact same situation. You can hear our experience here.

Book found here.