THE COLLEGE OF THE 1YHITE DEER. 



2% 



Panorama of Ruling Valley. 



blessing. At the close of the next dynasty it was cast out into the 

 brush during a commotion, and not till the sixth emperor of the Ming 

 dynasty (cir. 1470) was it found and replaced. It is not recorded how 

 long Chii Fu Tsz labored here, hut legend claims that he spent the rest 

 of his life as president of this institution and was buried in the shady 

 grove near by. 



The following is a rather free rendering of a part of this noted 

 preceptor's collegiate code, written on the inner panels of the doors of 

 the assembly hall : 



The ancient worthies taught men to seek the principles of righteousness 

 and to cultivate a moral conduct which would influence others. They did not 

 wish men merely to exercise their memories in writing compositions to secure 

 fame and profit. But the students of to-day (Chii Fu Tsz's time) do not fol- 

 low the ancient worthies. Let all earnest students give heed, inquire and dis- 

 criminate. If a man knows his duty and forces himself to do it, will he not 

 finally know instinctively what is right without any rules of order? . . . 

 The important subjects taught by the ancients I myself will investigate with 

 all the students, and we will force ourselves to practise them. . . . 



The unpretentious buildings, evidently designed for use and not 

 for show, are comprised in eight paved but uncovered courts and 

 afforded sufficient shelter for the four hundred students that are said 

 to have gathered there in the palmy days when scholars prepared for 

 the service of the state by writing verses to the stars. Three sides of 

 each court are given up to living rooms for students, two in each, 



