32 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



quenched by adherence to the notions of the ancients as containing all 

 that could be learned. Yet even the knowledge of astronomy, for 

 instance, which is contained in their books, has not been taught. 



(&) They have set no value on abstract science, apart from some 

 obvious and immediate end of utility. There has been no cultivation 

 of knowledge for its own sake among the Chinese ; their minds have not 

 been broadened by the collection and investigation of facts; they have 

 had few books, if any, on whose statements exact reliance could be 

 placed. 



(c) Political preferment was hitherto based on attainments in 

 literature and politics; a knowledge of science was not used as a cri- 

 terion and hence was not cultivated. 



Thus throughout long ages the mind of China has been held in a 

 false way, because no man of superior enlightenment arose to counteract 

 the prevailing practise of putting thoughts in the place of things and 

 facts, and it is likely that even had such a man arisen he would not have 

 been able to counteract the attraction which drew all the vigorous and 

 inquiring minds of the nation into the literary examinations. Hard 

 labor then as now absorbed the energy and time of the masses while 

 strife after official honors has consumed the talents of the learned. 



6. The Influence of Astrologers and Fortune-tellers, Oeomancers, 

 etc., and the Attitude of the Officials. — The curious and intimate con- 

 nection between geomancy, horoscopy and astrology, which the Chinese 

 presuppose, has had a powerful influence, just as it had in former times 

 in Europe, in maintaining their errors, because of its bearing on every 

 man's luck. 



Even when aided in no small measure by Europeans, especially by 

 the Jesuit missionaries, the Chinese have seemed unable to advance in 

 astronomy when left to themselves, and still cling to superstitions 

 against every evidence. The speculations of their philosophers by their 

 curious system of elementary correspondencies have led them away 

 from carefully recording facts and processes, and they have gone on, as 

 Williams says, " like a squirrel in a cage, making no progress toward 

 real knowledge." 



Even when more enlightened concepts of the realm of nature have 

 been at hand and their acceptance even urged, Chinese officials have 

 opposed their spread among the common people. There is not even 

 yet an adequate government effort at popular education. The chief 

 aim is still, as under the old examination system, the training of future 

 officials and government servants. Europeans were employed for many 

 years in compiling the calendar, but they were not allowed to interfere 

 in the astrological part. The Chinese government apparently has 

 deemed and still deems it necessary to uphold ancient superstitions, in 

 order thereby to influence its own security and strengthen the reverence 

 due it. 



