14.8. 8. An excellent Custom of China.
The historical relations
[11]
of China mention a ceremony
[12]
of opening the ground which the emperor
performs every year. The design of this public and solemn act is to
excite the people to tillage.
[13]
Further, the emperor is every year informed of the husbandman who
has distinguished himself most in his profession; and he makes him a
mandarin of the eighth order.
Among the ancient Persians
[14]
the kings quitted their grandeur and
pomp on the eighth day of the month, called Chorrem-ruz, to eat with the
husbandmen. These institutions were admirably calculated for the
encouragement of agriculture.
Footnotes
[11]
Father Du Halde, "History of China," tome i, p. 72.
[12]
Several of the kings of India do the same. La Loubere, "Account
of the Kingdom of Siam," p. 69.
[13]
Venty, the third emperor of the third dynasty, tilled the lands
himself, and made the empress and his wives employ their time in the
silkworks in his palace. "History of China."
[14]
Hyde, "Religion of the Persians."
