Below are the 7 most recent journal entries recorded in greatwalltour's InsaneJournal:

Sunday, May 29th, 2011
9:17 pm	many people believe many people believe that dynasty was killed by her. But there is one, have to get evidence out of history, you say dynasty was Empress Ye Hao, Li Lien Ying Ye Hao, Yuan Ye Hao, others no matter how killed, where is the evidence? Until now, no one who could get the evidence, it has always been secretive court, but also a more subtle kind of thing can not leave any written records, how do? You can also do analysis, do inference. I had a parallel, and the "clear Dezon Record" and "East Guangxu recorded" all records that dynasty, because it claims. Then we look at the dynasty, the record before his death. October started this dynasty is dead October 21, October Luan started this dynasty to the temple to the Empress asked the instrument, indicating that he was ill it is also not too serious, but also asked the house to another. Two days in October, the house of dynasty and to the instrument to the Empress asked the phoenix. Twenty, "Yu is not" to Guangxu sick, and that the seventeenth and eighteenth and nineteenth what happened that day? One of the imperial doctor, a physician named Qu Guiting, in the Republic of him in a magazine called "Yi Jing", published an article above, he said, the seventeenth and eighteenth and nineteenth He gave the emperor a doctor. Seventeen summoned to the palace of the dynasty, dynasty, rolling over in his Yuta, shouted a stomach ache. This seventtravel in Lhasaeenth and eighteenth and nineteenth days, the 20th, "Record" official records "does not yu" is the emperor was ill. The twenty-first "Record" records, three words, "getting big" is in critical condition, under the Yi Zhi Empress, the son of Prince Chun Zai Feng Pu Yi is Xuantong, will inherit the throne. On the day of the 21st dynasty Jiabeng, and the 22nd Empress died, the two could have said, an argument naturally died, a claim they are being killed, each under, each material. I explain the situation to all of you, research experts and scholars on the left to those who did it. I think the dynasty's death is indeed a historical mystery. Dynasty died, the throne Xuantong by Pu Yi to the throne, the emperor is Xuantong next Xuantong we speak about the emperor, for today, thank you. Yang Shi, research fellow, Institute of Chinese Academy of Social History, Academy of Social Sciences Academic Committee of Institute of Modern History, History of the Republic of China, Nanjing University, Vhimalayan trekkingisiting Professor, Institute of Chinese Culture, executive vice president, executive director of the History Society, Chinese History director, "China Social Science" and "Chinese Philosophy" Editorial Board, Social Sciences Documentation Publishing House Committee of Experts.Introduction: Empress of China two thousand years of feudal history, the last one behind a screen of the Queen Mother, in the absence of power, the Empress stand against aggression. In power, the Empress but conservative narrow-minded, first put down the emperor's political reform. Then foolhardy, declaration of war to eight countries, after the betrayal, greed by the big powers meet to maintain their corrupt rule. Not only incompetent Empress, there are good coup conspiracy-minded, she grabbed testament of Emperor Xianfeng's blunder, to launch a coup yau, behind a screen, climbed the pinnacle of power. It was her rule, the emperor's wish to be stifled political reforms, the most traitorous Chinese history "Treaty of Shimonoseki" "Boxer Protocol" was signed. However, after the Empress behind a screen, to some extent have to learn advanced Wkailash mansarovarestern technology support.Following the death of Emperor Xianfeng Emperor Tongzhi Houdeng Ji's untimely death, the empress and royal legislation contained tim to the throne, is the emperor. Sino-Japanese War broke out, China's defeat, Emperor of reform led to the famous Hundred Days Reform in history. Why Empress to agree to suppress the Political Reform Political Reform, before and after a few months, the attitude had hundred and eighty degree turn it?Empress Dowager Cixi suppressed the Hundred Days Reform, confinement of the puppet Emperor Kuang Hsu, the political arena in the late Qing Dynasty, it can be said Conspire cloud cover hand to rain. The rise of the Boxer Rebellion, she has fantasies of so-called Boxer invulnerability use to resist the invasion of foreign forces, which of course is a difficult to win the war. When the Empress palace coup, clever and cunning. When the Empress against foreign forces, but it is foolish pedantry. In the Empress's rule, the political situation in late Qing Dynasty, will go wrong?Power Allied Fomt kailash toursrces invaded the West Empress fled, she thought of the reform by their own repression, she start the Late Qing reform. The main contents of the New Deal waste examination, Xing school, reform the legal system, industry and other incentives, but reform is not complete. 7 years after the implementation of the New Deal, dynasty and the Empress has died. The late Qing Dynasty, such as dark political storm, and finally as the Empress of the curtain call, also come to the end of his rule. The New Deal did not save the corrupt Qing dynasty. (Full Text) Empress Dowager Cixi ruled China for 47 years who, though she is the Queen Mother, but in fact the female emperor. About this person, we may have seen many times on TV inside, and then I talked about it today, is the true history of Empress Dowager Cixi. Some of the TV plot, the plot of some movies, it is art, not reliable. So today, I do hope to introduce a more reliable real Empress Dowager. Talk about the first question, that is, the Empress Dowager Cixi's life expekailash tourrience.Empress Dowager Cixi, she has a name, the name, called the Empress Nala. Empress is a full language, this is a place name, it is also the name of a tribe, place of Jilin Province in Northeast China today has a Lishu Empress Township. Nala means to translate in Chinese, is the meaning of the sun. Yehe Nala, that Empress of the family, or the place of the sun. Empress of the ancestors, with the Qing Dynasty ancestors had fought Nurhaci.Finally, by Nurhachi eliminated, but this does not affect the family was later to become Empress of the eight Manchu nobility large families. In the Qing Dynasty ruled China for 200 years inside, then the Empress the family always has a lofty status. Empress has no name, she had a tough time, called Laner. She was born five years before the Opium War, we all know, the Opium War took place in the year 1840, (Comment on this)
Tuesday, May 24th, 2011
5:53 pm	the tragedy of the tragedy of his life's answers, then what is?Mystery of the top ten achievements and success have a combined mass of U.S. presidents, Presidents should be referred to the historical merits of certain historians, some twelve, who is nothing but three or four more, and some one did not. Nurhaci lived 68 years (1559 ~ 1626), he 25 years old (1583) raised an army, to the end of life, political and military career for 44 years. Historians, the history of contribution to the inventory Nurhaci, lifting its large end, a total of ten: a unified Nuzhen ministries. After King died, the Jurchen ministries, endless disputes, strong bullying the weak, few public violence, Yuan, Ming 300 years, failed to achieve reunification. Nurhachu rise of a "Shun those who by virtue clothes, Nizhe the gates of" strategy, after 30 years of levy ask to achieve the great unity of the Jurchen ministries. Today, there are so many ethnic killing in battle, one of the reasons, is not an outstanding national leader, able to coordinate the various interests of national unity. Visible, Nurhachi contributetibet traveld Jurchen - Manchuria great national unity is indeed a very great thing. Unified Northeast. After the mid Ming imperial decline, large areas of the Northeast have been unable to exercise effective jurisdiction. Nurhachi and his son Huang Taiji through hard work, unity of the Northeast: "Since the northeast waterfront, as of Northwest beach, during which the dog, so the deer of the state, and the middle black fox, sable place, do not do farming, fishing and hunting custom of living, E Lute tribes, as well as WO (wò) hard Heyuan, far Wani (ěr) Asian countries, in the surrender. "That is, the Sea of Okhotsk east, northwest to Lake Baikal, west of Qinghai, south to the Sea of Japan, north across the area outside the Mountains, the actual territory under its jurisdiction about 500 million square kilometers, and the Ming Dynasty, roughly the same area of actual control. The reunification of the northeast end of the long-term ravages of captivity, and mutual rage, "Medium helmet Health Ji ltravel Tibetice", "Lebanon has been trampled on," the tragic situation. This is twenty-eight Emperor Kangxi (1689) Russia "Nerchinsk Treaty" signed lay the foundation. If there is no unified Nurhaci the Northeast, and later Russia invaded the East, Japan made the powers scramble for the Northeast territory occupied by who really are difficult.Development of the Manchu language. After the fall of gold, the people who know less and less Jurchen culture, to the mid-Ming Dynasty, has gradually lost. Manchu language is full of the Altai - Tungus language family, Manchuria no text. Nurhachu the rise of statehood and North Korea, the Ming Dynasty correspondence, by a man named Lu Han Gong is written by Han Wen; released to the Jurchen military orders, decrees, then with the Mongolian, not only do not understand the general Jurchen , over and over again do not understand. Twenty-seven years of Ming Dynasty (1599), Bakshi Erdeni Nurhachi life and Bazar solid homogeneous Karma cover letters spelling Mantravel in Tibetchu Mongolian, Manchu created, which is not punctuated Manchu (Old Man text), when the improvements become punctuated Taiji Manchu (new full-text). Full text is phonetic, there are 6 vowels and 22 consonants and 10 specific letters. Qing Manchu language as official language and text. At that time, Northeast Asia, at least - of all ethnic groups Tungus language family, with the exception of Manchuria are not outside the text. Manchu record of cultural anthropology in Northeast Asia valuable information, and become a Manchu, important bridge of cultural exchange. Later, the Jesuits through the full text of the "Four Books", "Five Classics" translated to the West. So, create the auspices of the Manchu Nurhaci is a milestone in the history of the Manchu, the Chinese cultural history and civilization in the history of Northeast Asia, a major event. Create Banner system. Use of existing hunting Nurhaci Jurchen organization, created the Eight Banners system. Jurchen an arrow from each of the hunt, every ten people of a neutral Consulate General, Consul General said that the amount recorded in real cattle (cattle records, meaning a large arrow; amount of trtibet travelsuth, meaning head), then the equivalent of hunting team leader recorded the amount of cattle as a Guan Ming true, cattle were recorded as the most grass-roots organization.Settlement land, Zheng D armored, Fu satisfied service, all the cows were recorded as the unit, Nurhachi will be reorganized on this basis, development, expansion and stereotypes, the creation of the Eight Banners system. States: one set per 300 cows recorded in the amount of truth, to set up a A recotravel to Tibetrd five cattle La (là) the amount of truth, to set up a five Mt. Gushan La amount of a reality. Mt. Gushan is prepared in Manchuria largest accounts and military units, each has a specific color of the flag Mt. Gushan, so Mt. Gushan Chinese translation for "Flag." The original yellow, white, red, four blue flag, the flag and then added four in the original trim around the flag, yellow, white and blue tricolor red edge inserts, and red flags set the white edge. Thus, a total of eight different color flag, known as the "Eight Banners", that Manchu Eight Banners. Later, the gradual addition of the Mongolian and Han Banners Banners, collectively referred to as the Eight Banners, (Comment on this)
Thursday, May 19th, 2011
8:45 pm	but also reflects but also reflects the Qing Imperial Household Office was the highest technical level of production of cold steel. Thirteen years the Qing Emperor Qianlong (1748), Emperor Qianlong ordered to Imperial Household Office was designed Queen's knife, sword of the thirty. Such a waist knife, the main collection and admiration for the Emperor Qianlong.Tuerhute Tuerhute broadsword broadsword, long pass 85cm.Collection the Qing. Handle the first silver, round. Handle a central aspect of embedded red coral on one side and a silver ring.Leather and leather sheath from the white shark is made of silver wire in the separated spiral. Sheath Shangzhui a white thong, a letter Manchu, Mongolian, Chinese and three languages, handwriting is not clear, however, "Ubashi into the" few words are still faintly discernible. Ming, living in the Northwest E Lute Mongolia is divided into four, namely, Junggar, and the special master, and Duerbote Torgouts. With the increasingly powerful Ministry of Junggar, constantly subject to its intrusive Torgouts, in order to avoid annexation by Junggar, 1628, in his head and Torgouts E Er Leke, led by the Department of the West moved to give livchina tibet traveling along the Volga River basin. Since then, they are living in a foreign land away from the motherland, one hundred and forty years. Living in a foreign land Russia Turfutian much exploitation and oppression of the rulers, ever miss the motherland. At the same time, the motherland has not forgotten them. Fifty-year reign of Emperor Kangxi (1712) to missions led Tulichen Upon the order of Emperor Kangxi Torgouts sympathy went to Russia, which also strengthened the determination of Turfutian return to the motherland. Thirty years of Qianlong (1771) in January, only 27-year-old led his troops Ubashi Tuerhute all over thirty thousand head of households, about seventeen thousand people started the journey, the return to the motherland's great feat . Along the way, their arduous journey, break through the tens of thousands of troops besieged Russia, paid a huge sacrifice, and finally returned to the motherland in the summer of 1771. Emperor Qianlong less happy hearing the news, Torgouts owed on the highly praised, and to the production of Turfutian life was thoughtful and careful arrangements to make it live and work. In September, the Qianlong emperor met several times in the Mountain Resort and entertained Ubashi et al. Ubashi then has dedicated ancestral broadsword into the Emperor Qianlong. Ebi Long broadsword broadsword Ebi Long, the Qing Emperor Kangxi, sheath length 94cm, blade length of 60cm. Collection the Qing. Wooden scabbard, Mongolia Green shark skin, purple then pocket. Xianfeng all on a knife-year ivory card, one side engraved: "Ebi Long exquisite knife one, thirteen years of Qianlong gave slightly larger degree by the deposit of public Fuheng Ping River used"; the other side engraved with "Xianfeng" Indian side, and " front grip God wins "words. This knife holder as the first ministertibet tour of Emperor Kangxi of the early years of the Ebi Long Colonial four knife by a man named. Ebi Long after death, the knife into the palace. Qianlong years (1747), the first Jinchuan war broke out, Ebi Long, grandson of Paul and the temple when he was scholar, the Board of Civil chancery and other key posts Naqin to the Minister by a little as shuaibing war and defeat, Qianlong anger wins the job, send scholar Fu Heng Instead, and given the Ebi Long knife. Fourteen years of Qianlong (1749), Qianlong Di Ming Fu Heng before the army knife with the Ebi Long Naqin Dhamma. In 1851, the Taiping Revolution, Emperor Xianfeng Cezanne scholar sent as imperial minister led his army set off Ah, Hong, Teci Ebi Long knives, to strengthen their military might. But not to the war situation Ebi Long Knife turn for the better, and soon, also because of race still A disadvantage is deprived of the command post. One thousand nine hundred and eight years between the summer of that dynasty, thirty-four years, the Queen Mother as the healthy body of Jiancheng decline. The matter was set out in the Queen Mother Testament, the concept of the emperor got sick at the same time, we know that being to have very critical of the relationship. Bin days of Emperor of the situation and its sick, unable to know these details outside. This is also the secret with other various things, Li Lien Ying and its cronies are buried in a small monitoring of the brain. That all Beijing Manchu minister, also Personalities. Empress and the Emperor at the same time on successive days, guests, each holding one that contradictory. However, those who wish to examine its truth, is not no cues to be found. Concern at the crisis, saying the domain of the emperor, if once the power to dominate, the generation that will be detrimental to He Li Lien Ying, a certain trend is also solid.Summer Palace, and then close the program in tour tibetdepth, or still do not know for the Queen Mother who is also a matter of Italy. The reason why I do not know who the Queen Mother, the Queen Mother will be covered when the first emperor Morohito that the death of a prince, it had to close for the layout, which was particularly the case in the history of the East also. According to those who witnessed the circumstances of the time, or has reasonable potential of this all. However, it does wish for hidden data, consistency everywhere, the very difficult also. Under the record, the statement by the two ministers, one full of people, a Han Chinese, who are moving in that time. Probably more trusted his words contained in the consistency of the newspaper.Contained in these newspapers, also increased from the bureaucracy came also, we are the store. However, most of the mystery of this, the final monensin out, or the same thing Bin days indeed for a natural coincidence, nor may be set too.tibet tours But the speaker said farther heard of cronies of the attendants at the Queen Mother, saying that Bin days after the Emperor, Empress heard of, not only is not sad, and the like against a peace of mind.This year the autumn, the emperor said, a heavy disease, getting to the sacrificial ceremony, memorial service can not attend to personally. Outside I realized that God will soon. Empress Chuanyu, bringing a special Nurse alcohol prince. Prince was born in nineteen hundred alcohol in February 2006, the years of Emperor. Mo Yu of people then, that those who continue dynasty large systems. The announcement of this encyclical is really forced the situation, not otherwise. In fact, even unto the Empress cloth. To have the experience previously, when the inevitable ex post regret.And the ancestral law, non-emperor dying, children are not heirs, which was the most serious of the Songs. Queen Mother on stand at the end of the Boxer Prince as big brother, reality has completely abandoned this method. Empress deep superstition, but also remember the words of Wu-readable, then regret this should not go against the former Emperor Guangxu of the establishment of the motherland, so keep to the disaster Rui, Wu gave down to Rongdian encyclical, comfort the loyal souls. Battle of old age and Jiawu Boxer Vietnam Battle, again and again by the law, said the coalition forces of shame and often self-contrition, that touch days of anger, then relies instead on disaster reduction.One thousand eight hundred and ninety eight, twenty-four years thTibet tour packagese dynasty, Kang and so the plot, the Queen Mother also said that the God of the penalty. Due to the above, it is the Boxer Party chiefs in the boxing Sheng said the Queen Mother before the spell to extinguish foreigners Boxers, Empress Sui-sheng hope, that This is the Bodhisattva spirit of Mary, the error can be redeemed once, Suili end of Prince of large Elder brother to Si-chih Emperor.Although the ancestors of this family laws also violated, then the Queen Mother is still risk worth, (Comment on this)
Wednesday, February 16th, 2011
5:46 pm	Jinshi BeiLin Jinshi BeiLin display YuDaCheng around two side, erect outside of 198 tong, the momentum from the very special. There are three tong yuan Ming qing dynasty, 77 connected, 118 tong. Which is engraved with jinshi name, the meditative and through penetration. During the Ming and qing dynasties and the imperial examination of jinshi plan 51624 people (including the draft, the runner-up, gets). The Ming dynasty celebrities YuQian, YuanChongHuan late qing dynasty of Lin zexu and kung-pu jinshi tablet, are available in CiBei forest finder Find out. Shek kwu total ten bases, the original ChenZhan YuDaCheng door, unearthed in shaanxi baoji, fasten ZhouXuanWang 8th century BC period relics. Each drum engraved with ZhouXuanWang nomadic story narration SiYanShi song, this is ancient great wall of china tours and famous ShiGuWen, for Chinese rare cultural relic, but have removed Palace Museum collection and exhibition. Existing shek kwu, here is the copy when qing qianlong. Drive makes JiGongBei plan of eleven, respectively YuDaCheng gate shaft nosocomial things on either side of the pavilion, within the qing dynasty emperors accounts for monuments. If pacify qinghai dedication TaiXue three yongzheng drive great wall hiking makes wen monuments, etc., to record relevant historical events and has merit. Bian hekun cypress is one of the largest temple in yuan dynasty, said to the tree cypress is JiJiu - which XuHeng guozijian plant, has nearly seven years of history. has numerous branches PanCuo, forceful green. Legend YanSongDai emperor jiajing of the Ming dynasty hekun phase, step to sacrifice hole under the tree, the branches jie off his WuShaMao, people will think cypress, grass and can distinguish faithful great wall day tour evil, so called "touch hekun cypress" or "bian hekun cypress". Inkstone water lake, the eye seen, because the temple is located in DeShengMen to settle the waterline on door area, well water, water overflows to wellhead often great wall camping QingJian and Kennedy and sweet taste, called full Wells, legend, besides the heave the son. the examination in Confucius temple to pay their respects, such as well after drinking water ", "can then Vince streams works and the living flower. By taking the well joint ink, will thick mo delicious, write as god. great wall trekking Qing qianlong emperor, the given name "inkstone water lake". Sacrifice to the main halls. This is a platform, under one of the ninth five-year bay, HuangWa eastward, Wu temple double-hipped roof top of the highest rank magnificent buildings. mutianyu great wall tour (Comment on this)
Saturday, February 12th, 2011
10:22 am	Qing dynasty Qing dynasty, regent dourgen had ordered all the original inner city expelled Beijing, will live Ming official and alleyways housing assigned to the eight banners devin eight piece, officers and men live. HongChengChou drop clear after being regimented into we have got rich han ensign cadastral, he belongs in the stable door we have got rich territory nanluoguxiang living. So far, in nanluoguxiang 59 number orphange, shangcun has three rooms, BeiFang generation is the former HongZhai the ancestral temple sites. Allegedly HongZhai door in a square size brick field hutong east mouth, the door was one of a pair of iron lion, consult qianlong fifteen years map of Beijing, where does have an iron lion alley. In the eighteenth year of shun zhi (2002), 1661 HongChengChou retirement, 69, was awarded the hereditary generations can % 26 # 39 DouWei the third-class job; it is positive, but he was expanded view is yipin images. During the period of the republic of MengSen said, HongChengChou historians in yunnan, because fear after winning traitors scold, do not wish to 56-point thrashing has fled overseas residual Ming GuiWang, beijing great wall hotel then borrow eye grounds to the requirements from a rest, he lost the ching court of trust, and therefore very thin FengShang during retirement income. HongChengChou most afraid of being scolded him, he had passed the traitors is a big-money please a scholar for his writing a antithetical couplets to vindicate palpitations, top allied is "homophobic I who is my prince revenge", great wall sections refers to overthrow the li Ming, Couplet is invited me QiuZhe namely my king ", refers to the elimination of the qing li. AnYu group makes a YiXue HongChengChou YuKangXi four years (1665) illness in Beijing nanluoguxiang HongZhai, buried in xizhimen outside Chen. HongShi offspring in HongZhai have lived to the period of mutianyu great wall the republic of China, according to the days of Zhi accidentally smell accounts, flood in the home, have offspring someone jinshi in HongZhai gate was hanging over jinshi plaque. Check the QingShiGao ", the son of HongChengChou jinshi is HongShiQin, he was twelve shunzhi 165.5 years) b (not plate-size jinshi. badaling great wall (Comment on this)
Friday, January 14th, 2011
4:06 pm	the tourist spot including the tourist spot at the Walkout Pass behind Peking. The Emperor is said to have personally inscribed Towel-e Resolutions following a solar eclipse in the third year of his reign, the last of which was to 'Beware of Lavish Expenditure'. The extent of his work on the Great Wall, together With his restoration of the Grand Canal. shows that he did not take such resolutions to heart. Wan Li's engineers lcf't hundreds of memorials and tablets along the line of the Great Wall. [Error: Irreparable invalid markup ('<br [...] ching,>') in entry. Owner must fix manually. Raw contents below.] including the tourist spot at the Walkout Pass behind Peking. The Emperor is said to have personally inscribed Towel-e Resolutions following a solar eclipse in the third year of his reign, the last of which was to 'Beware of Lavish Expenditure'. The extent of his work on the Great Wall, together With his restoration of the Grand Canal. shows that he did not take such resolutions to heart. Wan Li's engineers lcf't hundreds of memorials and tablets along the line of the Great Wall. <br/ extolling their Emperor's virtue and wisdom: and providing interesting dace about the work thev had completed. A typical example reads, General of the Light Brigade Tsui Ching, commanding the yeomanry under the juries- diction of the governor by imperial appointment at Paoting, E ensign Shen Tzu Hsi of the above department, Ensign Sun Erh-Kuo, superintendent of works. Liu Ching, military contractor, and others to the number of one hundred and thirty names co-operated in building this extension of five hundred and ninety-one feet six inches of Third Class Wall. beginning on the north at the end of the Military Graduate Lung Kuang-hsien's portion of Tower Number Fifty-five of the Black letter ' <a href="http://www.beijingacrobaticshow.com">Beijing Acrobatic Show</a> series. <br/ The completion of the coristruetion was reported by the Au tumn Guard on the sixteenth day of the ninth moon. of the fourth year of Wan Li. Master Stone Mason Chao Yen Maei and others. Master Border Artisan Lu Huan and others.2 Wan Li's Wall was of sturdier nature than his predecessors' efforts, and many of the granite blocks used are as long as 14 feet. At 50-foot intervals <a href="http://www.beijingbustour.com">Beijing Bus Tour</a> along the roadway on the top: stone drains were installed which prevented water settling. <br/ In the past, water had been a major problem as it would seep into the structure of the~~7all, freeze in winter and crack open some of the stones by its expansion. The First years of Wan Li's reign saw prosperous activity in many quarters. Agriculture thrived and the population expanded. Trade increased. and the Chinese enjoyed some European curiosities brought by the Portuguese, such <a href="http://www.beijinggreatwalltour.com">Beijing Great Wall Tour as 20-foot cannons, <a href="http://www.beijingdailytours.com">Beijing Tours</a> superior in design to anything the Chinese had, which were placed with great reverence on the top of the Wall, <a href="http://www.car-rental-beijing.com">Car rental Beijing</a> <br/ (Comment on this)
Friday, January 7th, 2011
6:02 pm	the great wall of china If the classical historians are to be believed, the First Emperor (until 221 BC known as Cheng) had extremely dubious origins. His mother was a courtesan. a beautiful young woman who was an exquisite dancer, and who had been taken as a concubine by a wealthy travelling merchant called Lu Pu-wei. The merchant Lu went to the state of Chao to investigate business possibilities’ somewhere around 262 BC, though the chronology of the story~ is rather vague and full of discrepancies: as is often the case in early Chinese history. While on Chao, Lu Pu-wei had the opportunity of visiting the royal court at the capital, Han-tan, and there made the acquaintance of a young man called Tzu-ch'u, one of the numerous grandsons of the King or Ch'in. Tzu-ch'u had been sent to Chao by his grandfather as a hostage, a common practice in ancient China to ensure that one state would not engage in any treacherous dealings against another. The King of Ch'in could not have cared very much for his grandson's safety, however, as Ch<in and Chao were engaged in. bitter struggle, and Tzu-ch'u was consequently having rather an unpleasant stay in Chao at the time Lu Pu-wei met him, The merchant realized that the situation could be turned to his own advantage, and according to the Han Dynasty historian, Ssu-ma Ch'ien. he took the youth to one side. Lu pointed out that although Tzu-ch'u's father had been named Heir Apparent, 39 (Comment on this)