Chapter 1, the Observers Summary and Analysis

T'ang-Ch'en is a county in North-eastern China, in the province of Shantung. In July 1668 there is an earthquake that destroys much of T'ang-Ch'en city, the capital of the county and many people are killed. According to Feng K'o-t'san, who writes "The Local History of T'ang-Ch'en," this is just one in a series of disasters. Feng himself is a magistrate, but is fired from his position. He stays in town doing odd jobs that scholars can do, such as writing the "Local History." There are recurring famines in T'ang-Ch'en city and the surrounding county. Proverbs ironically refer to cannibalism. After the famine of 1641, there is an attack on T'ang-Ch'en city by a group of bandits. The nearby market town of Ma-t'ou is looted and destroyed, but T'ang-ch'eng is successfully defended. Soon however, the Manchus attack from the north...