11th
century as Nuechihs. Some authorities regard the Khitans (whence the
European form Cathay), who in the 9th and 10th centuries dwelt in the
upper Liao region, as the ancestors of this race. It was not until the
16th century that the people became known generally as Manchus and
obtained possession of the whole of the country now bearing their name
(see MANCHURIA). They had then a considerable mixture of Chinese and
Korean blood, but had developed a distinct nationality and kept their
ancient Ural-Altaic language. In China the Manchus retained their
separate nationality and semi-military organization. It was not until
the early years of the 20th century that steps were officially taken
to obliterate the distinction between the two races. The Manchus are a
more robust race than the inhabitants of central and southern China,
but resemble those of northern China save that their eyes are
horizontally set. They are a lively and enterprising people, but have
not in general the intellectual or business ability of the Chinese.
They are courteous in their relations with strangers. The common
people are frugal and industrious. The Manchu family is generally
large. The women's feet are unbound; they twist their hair round a
silver bangle placed cross-wise on the top of the head. The Manchus
have no literature of their own, but as the language of the court
Manchu has been extensively studied in China.

AUTHORITIES.--Sir John F. Davies, _China_ (2 vols., London, 1857); E.
Reclus, _The Universal Geography_, vol. vii. (Eng. trans. ed. by E.G.
Ravenstein and A.H. Keane); E. and O. Reclus, _L'Empire du milieu_
(Paris, 1902); Sir R.K. Douglas, _Society in China_ (London, 1895); J.
Doolittle, _Social Life of the Chinese_ (2 vols., New York, 1867);
H.A. Giles, _China and the Chinese_ (1902); E. Bard, _Les Chinois chez
eux_ (Paris, 1900); A.G. Jones, _Desultory Notes on Chinese Etiquette_
(Shanghai, 1906); Mrs Archibald Little, _Intimate China_ (London,
1899) and _The Land of the Blue Gown_ (London, 1902); E.H. Parker,
_John Chinaman and a Few Others_ (London, 1901); J. Dyer-Ball, _Things
Chinese_ (Shanghai, 1903); Cheng Kitung, _The Chinese Painted by
Themselves_ (Eng. trans. by J. Millington, London, 1885); L. Richard,
_Comprehensive Geography of the Chinese Empire_ (Shanghai, 1908). (X.)

_Religion._

The ancient faith.

The earliest traces of religious thought