Selected quad for the lemma: duty_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
duty_n	child_n	parent_n	person_n	2,074	5	5.3963	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A36730	Atlas Chinensis being a second part of A relation of remarkable passages in two embassies from the East-India Company of the United Provinces to the vice-roy Singlamong and General Taising Lipovi and to Konchi, Emperor of China and East-Tartary : with a relation of the Netherlanders assisting the Tarter against Coxinga and the Chinese fleet, who till then were masters of the sea : and a more exact geographical description than formerly both of the whole empire of China in general and in particular of every of the fifteen provinces / collected out of their several writings and journals by Arnoldus Montanus ; English'd and adorn'd with above a hundred several sculptures by John Ogilby.	Montanus, Arnoldus, 1625?-1683.; Dapper, Olfert, 1639-1689.; Ogilby, John, 1600-1676.; Nederlandsche Oost-Indische Compagnie.; United Provinces of the Netherlands.	1671 (1671)	Wing D242; ESTC R5629	631,298	665

will take you for my Son-in-law The other Youths are sent back again and accounted Noble because they were allotted to this Choyce The Emperor's Son-in-law hath immediately a Fumme set over him being two Learned Mandarins of the Court to be his Tutors and instruct him in all Princely affairs Till the Woman hath Children the Man is bound to shew Reverence three times a day with bended Knees but when she is Deliver'd of a Child this Duty ceases Yet there are many Ceremonies and Shews of Obedience that continue for which reason Persons of Quality shun to be the Emperor's Sons-in-law and this Custom of chusing twelve is no more observ'd Is the Emperor accidentally casts his Eye on a Person of Quality or a Learned Person to make him his Son-in-law they humbly desire and beg to be excus'd of it fearing to live discontentedly all his life-time if the Princess should take any dislike against him As to what concerns the Emperor's prime Wife who is call'd by the Title of Hoamheu which is Empress she hath her Seat behind the Emperor the other six and the next in Degree are call'd Queens and in great esteem Besides these the Emperor hath thirty Ladies of Honor the rest being Concubines to the number of three thousand are young and beautiful Women brought thither from all parts of the Empire whom the Emperor visits at his pleasure as his Fancy leads or their Beauty attract The Emperor Theumchim being a Chaste Man they said of him Pu yu cuin that is He goes not into the Palaces of Women and some others such there have been as on the contrary there have been more whose wandring Affections have been so unsatisfiable that not pleas'd with their own Fancies to chuse a Mate they kept a little Wagon drawn by Goats letting them run whither they would and into what Chamber soever they went and stood still there the Emperor pitch'd for his amorous Dalliance Another that would not take that trouble to go into the Womens Palaces caus'd them all to be presented to him in Pictures and her whom he lik'd best he sent for Thus far Semedo The Tartar Emperor which at this day Governs being a Youth of eighteen Years hath twelve Empresses for his Service Funerals and Mourning for the Dead ALl the Chinese Books which Treat of their Customs endeavor nothing more than to incite Children to shew Obedience to their Parents and Respect to their Ancestors which they shew in nothing more than in their Funerals and Obsequies for they not onely Habit themselves in Mourning but bestow great Cost on a Coffin In the preparing for their Funerals which may rather be call'd a glorious Show they strive to exceed one another according to their State and Quality nay often go beyond their Capacity They Mourn not in black but White The Sons at their Parents Death wear a course Flaxen Coat or rather Frock which reaches down to their Feet their Hats and Shoes are also very pitiful to behold and they tie a Cord about their Wastes like the Franciscan Monks This Mourning according to an inviolable Law for Father or Mother is strictly observ'd by the Children three whole years for this reason as they say in their Books that they should requite their Parents and as a testimony of thankfulness that they have carry'd them three years in their Arms and brought them up with great trouble during their Infancy But the time which they Mourn for other Relations is much shorter for some leave off Mourning within the Year others in three Moneths as in Europe The lawful time to Mourn for the Emperor or Empress is also three years which all the Subjects observe through the whole Empire But now upon the Emperor's permission made known by Proclamation Days are reckon'd for Moneths and so the whole Realm in a Moneths time express their Sorrow for the Emperor's Death in Mourning The Funeral Ceremonies and Customs of the Chineses observ'd at Burials are written in a large Book wherefore upon any ones Decease those that are to take care to Interr the Body repair to that wherein their Mourning Clothes Shoes Caps Girdles and the like are not onely describ'd in it but also represented in Pictures When a Person of Quality happens to die the Son of the Deceased or nearest Kinsman acquaints all the other Relations and Friends with it by a Book written in a mournful Style Mean while the Coffin is made and the Body put into it and likewise the Hall or Chamber in which the Corps stands hung and cover'd with white Cloth in the middle of the Chamber is an Altar on which stands the Coffin and the Effigies of the Deceased Into this Chamber on certain Days come all the Kindred of the Deceased clad in Mourning whither they bring Rice and setting two Wax-Candles on the Altar burn Perfumes to the Honor of the Deceased When the Candles are lighted then they shew Reverence to the Dead by bowing their Bodies and Kneeling four times but they first put Frankincense into a Perfuming Pot with Fire which is plac'd against the Coffin and the fore-mention'd Image Whilst these Ceremonies are performing one or more Sons of the Deceased stand on each side of the Chest crying and lamenting behind the Coffin all the Women of his Alliance standing behind a Curtain cry without ceasing The Priests have ordain'd a Custom to burn Papers cut after a peculiar fashion as also white Silk-Stuffs which is done they say that thereby the Deceased may be provided of Clothes in the other World The Children oftentimes keep their dead-Fathers and Mothers in a Coffin in the House three or four years together without the least nauseating smell coming through the Crannies being colour'd all over with the Gum which they call Cie All which time they set before them every day Meat and Drink as if they were alive The Sons during this time of Mourning do not sit on their usual Stools but on low Benches cover'd with white Cloth neither do they sleep on Beds but on Mats of Straw spread over the Floor near the Coffin They eat no Flesh nor drink but upon pure necessity not being suffer'd to be at any Feasts nor for some Moneths to go abroad publickly but are carry'd in Sedans cover'd with Mourning Cloth Many other things they observe which would be too tedious to relate At the Day when the Corps is to be carry'd out the Friends and Relations are invited by another Book and meet all in white Apparel to attend the Funeral which is perform'd like the Romans Processioning several Shapes of Men Women Elephants Tygers and Lyons made of Paper but curiously Gilt and Painted being carry'd before and afterwards burnt at the Grave The Priests mumbling their Heathen Prayers follow the Corps also in a long Train and use several Ceremonies by the Way beating on Drums playing on Pipes Cymbals Bells and the like Before go likewise several Men carrying of great Copper Perfuming-Pots on their Shoulders

Spectators for his bold attempt excusing his unworthiness of that Office then he writes over the first Mark on the upper end of the Board with black Ink another in this manner 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for then that which signifi'd Emperor is chang'd and is as much as Lord so that in this manner with the first under written Name of the Deceas'd a full Sentence is made viz. The Lord N. N. This Board the Deceased's Friends carry with his Image to his House that it may be yearly Worship'd and remember'd by his Predecessors So soon as this Inscription is finish'd the Writer goes by them all having Bow'd and Kneel'd four times But before the Friends depart they are either entertain'd in a House rais'd of Mats or in the next Chappel at a Noble Treat at which the first Cup is given to the Children as they say to wipe off their Tears At their return home some Tausus or Conjurers come to the Mourning House that by the sprinkling of certain Water they may drive away as they say evil Spirits and bring Peace and Quiet to the House The Chineses and Tartars use one Colour but not one Fashion for their Mourning All the Tartars both Friends and Relations wear a long Coat of Sack-Cloth reaching down to their Feet and gird it about their Middle with a Hempen Cord they put on their oldest Buskins and worst Hats without the red Silk-Fringe which at other times they wear for an Ornament The Hair of their Head or Beard is not shaven in all that time After the expiration of a Moneth every one throws in a fire of Paper and other such like Materials their Mourning Girdle with which they judge their Mourning to be ended and Habit themselves again in their usual Apparel Neighbors and acquaintance shew that they Mourn by pulling their Silk Fringe from their Hats The Tartar Women in the time of Mourning change their Apparel being usually Black into White their Coifs which else are cover'd with their Hair resemble a White Cap with Tassels that hang over their Shoulders The Chineses Mourning alters yearly their first year both Men and Women wear all over their Bodies a Sute of Sack-Cloth full of holes with Shooes of White Cloth and a Rope about their Wastes seeming thus by the carelesness of their Garb to express their sorrow for the Death of their Parents The second year their Habit is made of sleight Cloth their Hat of the usual Fashion but of another Colour their Shooes handsomer and their Girdles of Hemp left off The third year they may wear Silk Clothes and their Hats of the same Stuff but White or else of the usual Colour which is generally Black In this time they follow no imployment though of the greatest concern nor may sit opposite to or by the Visitants as others but on a low Bench. In the first Months they not only abstain as is usual in Fastings from Flesh Fish Milk Wine and the like but eat very unsavory things neither season'd with Salt nor Herbs And as the time of Mourning for a Wife Brother more distant Relations or Friends is much shorter so is also their Apparel and Meat better The Childrens Mourning for their Parents is three year which time the Wife must observe for the death of her Husband the eldest Son or his Wife is by his Parents Mourn'd for a year and as long a time the Man Mourns for his Wife and one Brother for another This long time of Mourning observ'd by the Children for the Death of their Parents hath as Martinius tell us been observ'd by the Chineses ever since the Emperor Xun's time who Mourn'd for his Predecessor Ya being his Father three whole years at his Grave without stirring thence and intrusting the care of his Realm during that time to his Vice-Roys and as the same Martinius adds from thence it is that they Mourn in that manner for their Parents always staying in their Houses laying down all Offices changing their Meat and Furniture to meaner and always sitting on a low Bench upon this account also they drink no Wine but live only on Pot-Herbs Their Clothes are very Fantastick made of Sack-Cloth their Lodging Rooms meaner nay they frame their manner of speaking to a much more sorrowful Tone and whereas before they us'd to write with Red on Paper streak'd with Vermilion now they use only Yellow or Blue Colours as a token of their Sorrow It is very strange to observe the Duty and Reverence which the Children shew to their Dead Parents wherein no other People may be compar'd to them for many though Magistrates when observing that their Parents being grown very old have need of their help they desire the Emperor to excuse them from their Office without urging any thing but that according to their Duty they may go to assist their aged Father which the Emperor seldom refuses As to what concerns their Mourning three years the Chinese Philosophers give this reason That it is most fit those which in their first three years have receiv'd their Parents Love should spend so much time after their Death in Mourning and bewailing their loss therefore it is no marvel that the Chineses count it the greatest misfortune in the world to have no Children because they know that no body will look after them in their Age nor at their Death Mourn for them The reasons why they make White to be Mourning and not Black is as themselves say because White is Natural when as all other things are Dy'd or Artificial by which as they say is signifi'd that in Sorrow neither Art nor Pride must be shewn for where a true Sorrow is Nature sufficiently expresses it Thus far Martinius With great preparation and Pomp the Emperor Zungte Father to this present Emperor was Interr'd The next day being the eighth of their first Moon after the Emperor's Death his Corps was put into the Coffin about Noon There was not one Tartar in all Peking that serv'd in publick Affairs but he went thither with his Wife and Daughters which so throng'd the Courts that none were able to get thorow The eldest were receiv'd into the first Court next the Emperor's Lodging where they all together bewail'd his Death with many loud Shreeks and Cries in which to admiration they obse●…e an exact time with stops and pauses as in Musick After all the Tartars divided into eight Companies let into the Emperor's Hall by two and two there bewail'd his Death they went away and made room for others so that the Cry continu'd without any cessation the Multitudes still going out and coming in Mean while there were not a few that fasted three days not daring to go out of the Gates nor their Servants suffer'd to bring them any Refreshment Father Iohn Adam Schall at that time present there taking compassion of the People which were ready to perish for Hunger and Thirst Petition'd the Governors either to furnish them with Provisions

a Dragon was like a costly nay that which is more a holy Relick and lock'd up in a golden Coffer and preserv'd till the Reign of the Emperor Siveni when afterward at his Command without knowing wherefore the Chest was open'd and this Slime leap'd forth as if it had been living and ran to and again through the Palace none being able to hold it and at last got into the Seraglio and there divirginated one of great Beauty kept for the Emperor from hence after the full time as the Chineses relate she was deliver'd of a fair Female The Mother fearing to gain an ill Name and the Emperor's displeasure laid down the Infant which two Marry'd People that accidentally walk'd by there hearing it cry took up and carrying it home brought it up as their own Child In the third Year of the Emperor Ie's Reign the fore-mention'd Infant being grown Marriagable her Foster-father was on some occasion accus'd of a certain Crime and put in Prison whereupon he proffering the Virgin who was endu'd with incomparable Beauty for his Ransom to the Emperor was not onely released but return'd home with great Riches But the Emperor was so strangely surpris'd with the exceeding Beauty of his new Mistris that he was in a manner distracted and forsook the lawful Empress and his Son born by her and took Paosua for so the Virgin was call'd for his Spouse and elected Pefo the Son of Paosua in stead of Ikie the lawful Son of the Empress to succeed him in the Throne against the consent of all his Substitute Governors Ikie the true Heir being enrag'd by the great wrong which he had suffer'd fled from his Father to his Uncle King Xin in the South part of the Province of Xensi at the place where the City Nanyang stands at this day Paosua during this time dwelt with the Emperor in all prosperity but one thing he observ'd that he never saw her Laugh which was very unpleasing to him therefore he try'd several ways to win a Smile from her At the same time a Difference arising and overtures and threatnings of War being betwixt him and the Tartars he put his Militia in a posture of Defence which done and to teach them Alarms he fir'd his Beacons when there was no need whereupon the Palaces and all places every where were throng'd with the gather'd Soldiers which too often repeating and no appearance of any Enemy gave her occasion to laugh heartily to the great joy of the fond Emperor Which false Alarms being so commonly when they came to be real and not being believ'd brought on that negligent carelesness in not obeying that it lost him his Life and Empire Amongst other things also Paosua took great delight in the noise which Silk makes when torn by force wherefore the Emperor to recreate her always spent his time in her Presence with tearing and rending of Silk Mean while the Emperor sent a Party to King Xin to fetch his fled Son again but Xin refus'd to deliver the Prince unless he should be declar'd Heir to the Empire The Emperor enrag'd thereat march'd with an Army against Xin who unequal to the Emperor yet of greater Policy joyn'd with the Tartars and in the Night falls suddenly on the Emperor's Quarters whereupon the Beacons being fir'd as before the Soldiers seeing the Flame suppos'd that the Emperor as formerly was onely caressing of his Empress neglected their Duties and therefore making no resistance most of them were taken sleeping by the Enemy and the Emperor himself slain by his Brother and Son But to return As Trigaut tells us several eminent Persons Study this My. stery of Dragon-Knowledge and are sent for from remote Places to advise withal when publick Buildings are to be erected that they may so lay their Platform suting with the benevolent Signatures from the posture of the Dragon that the Edifice may for ever after be more free from Casualties for these Astronomers as our Astrologers observe the good and evil Aspects of the Planets with the several Configurations of the fixed Stars so they take their Marks from the situation of Mountains and Rivers and whatever else makes a variety that signifies good success on which they say not onely the preservation of the House but the welfare and Honor of the Family depends Semedo calls these Surveyors Tili Others saith he which they call Tili endeavor to to observe not onely the Situation of the Earth but the Positions of the Planetary Aspects in the celestial Houses so to make more happy their terrestrial Habitations It is a very ancient Custom and us'd to this day to take their Observations of good or ill success from the Colour Spots Motions Legs and Shell of a Tortoise And likewise as the Augurs of old from the Notes of Birds and noise of Beasts and also whate're they meet with in the Morning the reflecting shadows of the Sun on peculiar Houses for if at their going out in the Morning they meet any one in Mourning Apparel at their Door Bonzies or the like they look upon it as an ill Omen In short whatsoever inconvenience happens to peculiar Houses Cities Provinces or the whole Empire they ascribe it to their miserable Fortune or something or other that is wrongly plac'd in the Houses Towns or the Emperors Palace They say that some of these Fortune-tellers reside on desolate and solitary Mountains between the Clefts of Rocks and barren Hills like Hermits whither also great numbers of People resort to know the Events of future things Some onely write strange Characters and Chinese Letters on Boards containing the future Condition of the Enquirers yet their promising oftentimes hath a double meaning These Wizards have many times horrible Toads that sit near them with a thick gray speckled Skin and opening their Jaws as they say with their poisonous Breath blast and wither the Grass round about them These generally sit bare-headed being close shaven and with their Feet naked picking their Ears whilst they mutter several words to themselves In the time of the Emperor Hiaou who Reigned Anno 142. before the Nativity of Christ many Women especially at the Emperor's Court Studied Magick and Charms by which making themselves to appear much fairer than they were they subjected the Male Sex according to their pleasures Of these some got into the Prince Guei's Court the Emperor's Son begotten by a lawful Wife but without his knowledge because he according to the Chinese Writings was of a good and pious Nature but attaining to years he betook himself being ensnar'd by the fore-mention'd Charms wholly to lasciviousness Amongst other things they say there are certain Drugs by the Chineses call'd Kuan which if the Powder thereof be given any Man to drink by a Woman it makes them mad after them like our Love-Powders But they had worse Ingredients with which they occasion'd Distempers nay Death on whomsoe're they pleas'd by which means Li the Emperor's Son begotten by one of