730 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



corroboration upon an examination of the civilization of the Chinese, 

 the genius of which is forcibly illustrated in their government and 

 religion. 



The family is the first social aggregate, and the natural head of 

 the family is the head of the primitive society. As families unite to- 

 gether for common interests in defense or attack, one of the heads of 

 the family is chosen as leader of the tribe. A similar union of tribes 

 forms a nation. The paternal form of government thus naturally be- 

 comes the form common among early societies. Particularly is this 

 likely to be the form adopted by those tribes whose instincts and sur- 

 roundings early lead them to an agricultural life. With these the 

 head is not chosen for his bravery and success in arms which are less- 

 ened instead of being increased by his increasing age but he is 

 chosen rather for his counsel and advice, to which age but adds wis- 

 dom and authority. 



Early superstitions and religious beliefs receive their form from the 

 same model of the family. The simple interpretation of dreams and 

 various experiences lead the uncivilized man to a belief in the exist- 

 ence of an accompanying spirit, or a double existence. When he calls 

 out among the hills, an answering voice calls back ; and, while gazing 

 into the placid waters of the lake, he sees a shadowy image of himself. 

 Thus to him death is but the separation of the body and the spirit ; 

 though the spirit still hovers around its former dwelling-place, and 

 retains an interest in the affairs of its former companions. The father, 

 who was the absolute ruler of the family while living, thus carries his 

 authority beyond the gi*ave. At the funeral, as at festivals, food is 

 offered to his spirit ; and his favor is solicited and enmity propitiated 

 by offerings and sacrifices. As the spirit of the father becomes the 

 tutelary deity of the family, the spirit of the chief becomes the tute- 

 lary deity of the tribe, and the spirit of the king receives the worship 

 of the nation. 



This primitive form of religion and government, originating in the 

 smallest social aggregate, is to-day represented in the oldest and largest 

 society upon the earth. The Emperor of the Chinese is the father of 

 four hundred million people ; and their universal religion whatever 

 other forms are observed with it is ancestor-worship. 



The government still maintains its ancient simple paternal form, 

 with only those changes which have been necessary in adapting the 

 family code to so vast a nation. Descending from the imperial throne, 

 the whole government is found to be formed upon the same plan, re- 

 peated over and over. The viceroy of a province, the governor of a 

 city, the elder of a village, and the father of a family, are each based 

 upon the extension of the last. This relationship finds recognition in 

 the "Ta Ilioh," one of the four classic books of the Chinese, which is 

 summed up as tending to "the improvement of one's self, the regula- 

 tion of a family, the government of a state, and the rule of an em- 



