subjugated the Juchen, but the latter had virtually become independent after the collapse of Mongol rule over China.  They had formed several tribal alliances, but in 1581-83 these fought each other, so that one of the alliances to all intents was destroyed.  The Chinese intervened as mediators in these struggles, and drew a demarcation line between the territories of the various Tungus tribes.  All this is only worth mention because it was from these tribes that there developed the tribal league of the Manchus, who were then to rule China for some three hundred years.

In 1592 the Japanese invaded Korea.  This was their first real effort to set foot on the continent, a purely imperialistic move.  Korea, as a Chinese vassal, appealed for Chinese aid.  At first the Chinese army had no success, but in 1598 the Japanese were forced to abandon Korea.  They revenged themselves by intensifying their raids on the coast of central China; they often massacred whole towns, and burned down the looted houses.  The fighting in Korea had its influence on the Tungus tribes:  as they were not directly involved, it contributed to their further strengthening.

The East India Company was founded in 1600.  At this time, while the English were trying to establish themselves in India, the Chinese tried to gain increased influence in the south by wars in Annam, Burma, and Thailand (1594-1604).  These wars were for China colonial wars, similar to the colonial fighting by the British in India.  But there began to be defined already at that time in the south of Asia the outlines of the states as they exist at the present time.

In 1601 the first European, the Jesuit Matteo Ricci, succeeded in gaining access to the Chinese court, through the agency of a eunuch.  He made some presents, and the Chinese regarded his visit as a mission from Europe bringing tribute.  Ricci was therefore permitted to remain in Peking.  He was an astronomer and was able to demonstrate to his Chinese colleagues the latest achievements of European astronomy.  In 1613, after Ricci’s death, the Jesuits and some Chinese whom they had converted were commissioned to reform the Chinese calendar.  In the time of the Mongols, Arabs had been at work in Peking as astronomers, and their influence had continued under the Ming until the Europeans came.  By his astronomical labours Ricci won a place of honour in Chinese literature; he is the European most often mentioned.

The missionary work was less effective.  The missionaries penetrated by the old trade routes from Canton and Macao into the province of Kiangsi and then into Nanking.  Kiangsi and Nanking were their chief centres.  They soon realized that missionary activity that began in the lower strata would have no success; it was necessary to work from above, beginning with the emperor, and then, they hoped, the whole country could be converted to Christianity.  When later the emperors of the Ming dynasty were expelled and fugitives in South