Bulletin of Catholic University of Peking

THE “LOST TRIBE” OF CHINA

Dr. J. H. Ingram

The following is the substance of a paper read before the Things Chinese Society in Peking on September 27, 1927, by Dr. J. H. Ingram, Medical Advisor of the Cathol‘c University of Peking.

WN order better to understand how

the “‘Lost Tribe’’ came into existence, it might be helpful to review briefly some of the occurrences which constitute the history of the time in question. The term “Lost Tribe” is not of Chinese origin, but some have felt, since this colony dropped out of sight completely, that the term is not inappropriate.

In April, 1644, the Ming dynasty, because of the corruption and oppression of eunuchs and officials, was tottering to its fall, Li Tzu-ch’eng, an adventurer and born soldier, having already captured K’ai Feng Fu and the provinces of Shansi and Shensi, had proclaimed himself the first Emperor of the Great Shun Dynasty, with Yung Chang as his personal title, and appeared before the gates of Peking with a large and well-disciplined army. No opposition which the government was able to muster was sufficient to beat back or even to withstand his advance.

Ch’ung Chen, the Ming emperor, was aware of the impotence of his resistence, and in his extremity turned to the priests of the San Kuan Temple, situated west of where the Hotel des Wagons-Lits now stands, to learn the

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decree of heaven as to his fate. The lots drawn proved inauspicious. This he regarded as final. He slew the eldest princess, commanded the Empress to commit suicide, and sent his three sons into hiding.

The next morning at dawn the bell was struck for the Court to assemble; but no one appeared. His Majesty then left the inner palace enclosure, accompanied by one faithful attendant, and proceeded to the Coal Hill. Here he wrote this, his last Decree on the lapel of his robe:—

“We, poor in virtue and contemptible in personality, have incurred the wrath of God on high. My Ministers have deceived me. I am ashamed to meet my ancestors: and therefore I, myself, take off my crown, and with my hair covering my face, await dismemberment at the hands of the rebels. Do not hurt a single one of my people!

He then terminated his unhappy life by hanging.

A treacherous eunuch having opened the western gate (the P’ing Tzu Men) of the Northern city, Li Tzuch’eng was soon in possession of Peking and the throne of the Empire.

Perhaps the ease of the capture and the number and discipline of his forces induced him to regard himself as invincible. He killed all who might prove a menace to the new dynasty. Among these was the family of Wu San-kuei, the generalissimo of the Ming House. Li Tzu-ch’eng, however, saved