Illustrated Gazetteer of the Maritime Kingdoms, Vol. 26

Illustrated Treatise on the Maritime Kingdoms: Volume 48

The Western Ocean: Northern Turkey

Literati and scholars are divided into ten ranks; one must reach the age of forty before they are permitted to attain the highest rank. However, their studies consist entirely of memorizing classical phrases and engaging in rhetorical debates; they do not understand the investigation of things or the exhaustion of principles Investigation of things: "格物窮理" (géwù qiónglǐ); a traditional Confucian term for natural philosophy, used here to describe the lack of scientific inquiry in the Ottoman education system of the time.

On the contrary, they mock the instruments and inventions of other nations—such as telescopes original: "千里鏡" (qiānlǐ jìng); literally "thousand-mile mirrors", microscopes, sextants original: "量天尺" (liángtiān chǐ); literally "heaven-measuring rulers", and striking clocks—labeling them as "trivial skills and deceptive crafts" Wei Yuan uses the Chinese idiom xiǎojì yínqiǎo to describe the Ottoman disdain for Western technology, a sentiment that ironically mirrored the attitudes of many conservative Qing Dynasty officials. In their study of the heavens, they are ignorant of European mathematical calendars and instead place their faith in the selections of diviners Diviners: "陰陽家" (yīnyáng jiā); literally "Yin-Yang specialists," here referring to practitioners of astrology and geomancy; they do not dare to undertake any action unless it is deemed an auspicious day. Their skills in architecture, painting, and music possess no ingenuity.

The only custom they value is filial piety and fraternal duty The author highlights "孝弟" (xiàodì), core Confucian values, to find common ground between Chinese and Ottoman social ethics. Regarding the inheritance left behind by parents, only the sons and younger brothers may possess it; outsiders have no claim to it. When negotiating a marriage, they first discuss the size of the dowry, and subsequently discuss how many concubines will be kept in the household. Children born of concubines are treated with the same status as those of the primary wife. If a woman does not bear children, even the first "bound-hair" wife Refers to the legal primary wife may be divorced and discarded. In all these social arrangements, they are the opposite of the Europeans.

The local inhabitants are of three categories: the Greeks original: "額力西人" (Élìxī rén); a transliteration of "Ellines" or "Hellas", the Jews original: "由斯人" (Yóusī rén); likely a transliteration of "Jews" or "Judeans", and the Armenians original: "三角帽人" (Sānjiǎomào rén); literally "Triangular Hat People," a term used in older Chinese texts to describe Armenians due to their traditional pointed or triangular hoods. The Greeks constitute more than half of the population. The Jews are not held in high regard; wherever they go, they are subjected to... The text ends mid-sentence