_Of the characters and letters that the Chinos do vse, and of the
colleges and scholes that are in this kingdome, and of other
curious things._
[Sidenote: Sixe thousand characters in writing.]
It is not from our purpose (now after that we haue told you of the
gouernement of this mightie kingdome) to giue you to vnderstand how that
there be great and famous philosophers, as well naturall as morall, and
other things of great pollicie and curiosity: to tel you now of their
characters, and the manner they haue in writing, and then of the
colledges and schooles. Now vnto the first. You shall finde verie fewe
in this kingdome but can both write and reade, yet haue they not the
alphabet of letters as we haue, but all that they doe write is by
figures, and they are long in learning of it, and with great
difficultie, for that almost every word hath his character. They do
signifie the heauen, which they do call Guant, by one character alone,
which is this [Chinese character]:[117] the king, whom they doo call
Bontay,[118] by this [Chinese character], and by consequent the earth, the
sea, and the rest of the elements. They do vse more than sixe thousand
characters different the one from the other, and they doo write them
verie swiftly (as it hath beene seene many times at the Philippinas, by
manie Chinos that are there, and come thither daily); it is a kinde of
language that is better vnderstood in writing then in speaking (as the
Hebrue toonge), by reason of the certaine distinction of points that is
in euery character differing one from the other, which in speaking
cannot be distinguished so easilie. Their order of writing is cleane
contrarie vnto ours, for that they doo beginne their lines from aboue
downewards, but in verie good order: likewise they begin their lines at
the right hande and write towards the left, contrarie vnto vs. They
keepe the verie same order in their printing, as you shall vnderstande,
and as may be seene this day at Rome in the librarie of the sacred
pallace. And likewise in that which King Philip hath caused to be
erected in the monasterie of Saint Laurence the royall, and also in
other places; in this order as I haue saide, and of their characters to
the which I referre me, it is an admirable thing to consider how that in
that kingdome they doo speake manie languages, the one differing from
the other: yet generallie in writing they doo vnderstand one the other,
and in speaking not. The occasion is, for yt one figure or character
vnto them all doth signifie one thing, although in the pronouncing there
is difference in the vowels. The character that doth signifie a citie is
this [Chinese character],[119] and in their language some doo call it
Leombi, and others Fu, yet both the one and the other doo vnderstande it
to bee citie; the like is in all other names. And in this order doo
communicate with them the Japones, Lechios, those of Samatra, and those
of the kingdome of Quachinchina and other borderers vnto them: whereas
in their speech or language, there is no more vnderstanding then is
betwixt Greekes and Tuskanes.
The king hath in euerie citie colleges or schooles at his owne cost, in
the which they doo learne to write, read, and count, as well as to
studie naturall or morall philosophie, astrologie, lawes of the
countrie, or any other curious science. They that doo teach in these
schooles be such persons as excell in euerie facultie, such as may be
found none better, but speciallie in writing and reading: for that there
is none, although he be neuer so poore, but dooth learne to write and
read, because amongst them he is accounted infamous that cannot doo
both. Unto higher studies come a great number of students, and doo
trauaile all they may possiblie to profite, for that it is the best
course and surest way to obtaine the name of a Loytia, or gentleman, or
other dignitie: as more plainelie shall bee showed you in the chapter
following, where the order howe they doo giue them the title Loytia
shall bee spoken off, and is amongst vs after the fashion of proceeding
or commencing doctor.
[Sidenote: Paper made of the filme of canes.]
[Sidenote: Pens made of canes.]
Unto the colleges, as well maiors as minors, the king dooth sende euerie
yeere uisiters, for to see and vnderstande howe the studentes doo
profite, and what the masters bee, with other matters touching their
good governement. In their visitation they doo honour in wordes those
whome they finde of abilitie, animating them to perseuer in the same:
and doo put in prison and punish such as they knowe to haue abilitie,
and doo not profite themselues thereof; and such as haue none, nor will
not learne, they put out of the colleges, that others may occupie their
places that better will imploy themselues. They haue great abundance of
paper, the which is made of the filme of canes, and with great
facilitie: it is verie good cheape: their printed bookes are made
thereof: the most part of it can be written but on the one side, for
that it is so thinne: they doo not write with pennes as wee doo, made of
quilles, but with pennes made of canes, and at the end like a fine
brush, like vnto a painters pensill: and although this bee their order,
yet haue they amongst them excellent scriueners, that grow thereby to
bee verie rich. When they write letters vnto anie principall person,
they gilde the margent of the paper, and limbe it, and they put the
letter written into a purse made of the same paper all guilt and
painted, the which they shut and seale, so that the letter is onely
contained therein.
This they doo vse verie much, that although one go to visite another in
person, yet they doo carrie a letter written in their sleeues, and
possible there shall not bee written in the same tenne letters, and that
signifieth that they doo come to kisse their handes; these things are to
bee solde at the bookebinders of all sortes, as well for principall
persons and men of authoritie, as for others of meaner estate for to
desire, reprehend, or discommende: and to conclude, for all thinges that
they will desire or haue neede of, yea if it bee to defie anie bodie, so
that the buyer hath no more to doo but to close it vp and seale it to
sende it whither his pleasure is. These and manie other curiosities they
do vse, as you haue heard and shall heare in the discourse of this small
hystorie, or at the least somewhat touched, for that the breuitie that I
doo pretend and will vse, will not permit that I shoulde enter so farre
for to declare at large, but to be briefe in that I shall declare.