Beds on the ground, horses in the house, beautiful tents
Editorial contextIn a sketch of how the Tartars trained for war, Martini describes their great ring hunts and their camp habits. They sleep on the ground on a horse-cloth and care nothing for houses; if they must live in houses they keep their horses inside and knock holes in the walls. Their tents, he says, are very beautiful and put up and struck so skilfully that they never slow an army's march.
The earth covered with their Horse-cloath is their Bed ; for they care not for Houses, and Chambers ; but if they be forced to dwell in Houses, their Horses must lodge with them, and they must have many holes beaten in the Walls; but yet their Tents are most beautiful, which they fix and remove with such Art and dexterity,
About Manchu Tartar army
Keep in mind
A general portrait; the 'holes in the walls' detail may be hearsay.
Shaved heads, queues and horse-hoof sleeves
Editorial contextWhen the Tartars took a city in Liaodong, they proclaimed that no one would be killed who cut his hair and wore Tartar dress. Martini then breaks off to describe their manners: head and beard shaved except the moustache, a long braided tuft at the back, a low round cap trimmed with beaver or sable. The next pages add long robes with sleeves cut like a horse's hoof, a sabre hung point forward, silk or horse-skin boots, broad saddles, and the remark that they are like 'our Tartars of Europe' but not so barbarous.
For the Tartars (that I may say something of their Manners, as my subject gives me occasion) doe shave both the Head and Beards reserving only the Mustachoes, which they extend to a great length, and in the hinder part of their heads they leave a Tuft, which being curiously woven and plated, they let hang down carelesly below their shoulders;
About Manchu Tartars
Fighting harder for their hair than for their emperor
Editorial contextThe Manchus took the south of Zhejiang easily, Martini says, until they ordered everyone to cut their hair in Tartar fashion. Then soldiers and townspeople alike rose up, fought 'more desperately for their Hair' than for king or kingdom, and drove the Tartars back across the Qiantang river. Elsewhere (p. 108 to 109) he says the Tartars made refusing the haircut high treason, and many Chinese chose death instead.
But when they commanded all by Proclamation to cut off their Hair, then both Souldier and Citizen took up Arms, and fought more desperately for their Hair of their Heads, than they did for King or Kingdom, and beat the Tartars not only out of their City, but repulst them to the River Cienthang
About Manchu Tartars and the Chinese of Zhejiang
Keep in mind
Martini was living in Zhejiang at the time, but he did not witness every battle he describes.
Servants and horses burned with the dead
Editorial contextWhen the Chinese ignored his complaints, the Tartar king (Nurhaci) vowed to celebrate his father's funeral with the lives of 200,000 Chinese. Martini explains that when a Tartar of rank died, servants, women and horses, with bows and arrows, were thrown into the funeral fire to serve him in the next life, a custom he says they gave up after conquering China.
For it is the custom of the Tartars when any man of quality dyeth, to cast into that fire which consumes the dead Corps, as many Servants, Women, and Horses, with Bows and Arrows, as may be fit to attend and serve them in the next life: Though now since they conquered China, they have left off this barbarous custome,
About Manchu Tartars (Nurhaci's people)
Keep in mind
Reported, not witnessed; Manchu funeral sacrifice (of wives and servants) is attested, but the scale is probably exaggerated.
The Eight Banners and the ring hunt
Editorial contextMartini gives an early European description of the Eight Banners: white (the imperial banner), red, black and yellow, and four more made by mixing colours. Every soldier knows his colour and where in the city his arms and horse are kept, so the whole army is ready in half an hour at a horn call. On the next pages he adds that they carry no baggage, eat meat half cooked or their own horses and camels, and hunt by encircling a whole mountain.
under these eight colours are comprehended all the Forces of the Kingdom of China, whether they be Natives or Tartars ; the first of which is White, called the Imperial Banner ; the second is Red, the third is Black, the fourth is Yellow;… so as every Souldier knows his own colours, and to what part of the City to repair, where they have ever their Arms and Horses ready
About Manchu Tartars (the Eight Banners)
Keep in mind
The real banner colours were yellow, white, red and blue (plain and bordered); Martini's 'black' may be a mistake.
Why the Chinese say 'Tata'
Editorial contextMartini defines his subject: the Tartars are simply the people living north of the Great Wall, which for 300 German leagues has served as a rampart against them. He adds that the Chinese, lacking the letter R, have always called them 'Tata', and that the name covers both the Eastern Tartars, unknown in Europe, and the Western ones stretching from Kashgar to the sea above Japan.
I call that Nation Tartars, which inhabiting the Northern parts, behind that famous Wall which stretching out above 300. German Leagues from East to West, hath ever served for a Rampart to hinder their irruptions into the said Empire. This Country the Chineses having a defect of the letter R. antiently called Tata:
About Tartars in general: Eastern (Manchu/Jurchen) and Western (Mongol)
Keep in mind
Chinese 'Dada' (韃靼) is a real name for the Tatars; the 'missing R' explanation is Martini's.
From Mongol refugees to the kingdom of Niuche
Editorial contextMartini tells how, after the Ming founder drove the Yuan out in 1368, he carried the war into Tartary itself, and the storm fell chiefly on the province of Niuche 'whither the Tartars of China being expelled were retired'. These Tartars then came to Liaodong every year to trade ginseng, furs and horsehair, multiplied into seven 'Hordes', and about 1550 formed the kingdom of Niuche. Like Grosier later, he blends the Yuan Mongols and the Jurchen into one Tartar story.
This Storm of War fell chiefly on the Tartars of the Province of Niuche, whither the Tartars of china being expelled were retired.
About Tartars of Niuche (Jurchen, ancestors of the Manchus)
Keep in mind
The idea that the Yuan refugees became the Jurchen of Niuche is Martini's mistake.
A Ming emperor hanged with a bowstring
Editorial contextMartini says the Hongguang emperor, first ruler of the Southern Ming at Nanjing, was betrayed to the Tartars after less than a year on the throne, sent to Peking, and publicly hanged on the town walls with a bowstring, 'which kind of death the Tartars esteem most noble'.
This unfortunate Prince being thus betrayed before he had reigned full one year, was sent to Peking, and there upon the Town Walls was hanged publickly in a Bow string, which kind of death the Tartars esteem most noble.
About Manchu Tartars and the Ming claimant Hongguang
Keep in mind
Reported from a distance; other sources give different details of his death, which came in 1646.