532 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



The first thing to attract the attention of one investigating 

 Chinese Buddhism is the many points of similarity in the details 

 with the Roman Catholic system. So striking was this resem- 

 blance, that the first Catholic missionaries declared that, in some 

 manner, their own faith had preceded them ; and that the Bud- 

 dhism of the twelfth century was really copied from, or a per- 

 version of, the Roman faith. But, finding that dates did not 

 justify this solution of the matter, they then asserted that the 

 devil, in anticipation of the true religion, had planted a counter- 

 feit (older than the original), for the express purpose of preventing 

 the people from accepting salvation when it was offered to them. 

 This is hardly made clear enough to meet the inquisitive mind in 

 seeking a solution of the matter. 



While in China, investigating this subject of the " Religions 

 of the Orient," I visited many Buddhist temples, conversed 

 through interpreters with many priests and laymen on the sub- 

 ject, and put up at temples for weeks at a time, studying the 

 methods observed in the semi-daily worship or performances ; and 

 reached certain conclusions which may have some interest to 

 others. And in what I shall say it shall be my endeavor to treat 

 of the present status of the ancient faith as exemplified in the 

 present generation of believers, leaving the reader to form his 

 own conclusions. I am not an advocate for or against the sys- 

 tem, and shall seek to view it impartially. 



In the first place, the present generation of Buddhists give but 

 little or no thought to the origin or founder of the faith. There 

 is apparently none of the controversial element in them. They 

 ask no questions and have no doubts. That Buddhism exists, and 

 meets all their requirements in the religious line, they know ; 

 and with that they are content. All efforts to dislodge this an- 

 cient faith are met with the most aggravating indifference ; and 

 such as have nominally adopted the Christian system have ap- 

 parently not abandoned the old, but simply taken on another 

 additional string to their bow. With most men, one religion is 

 sufficient, but not so with pagan John. In this respect, indeed, 

 the " heathen Chinee is peculiar." The same individuals believe 

 in and practice no less than four different systems of religion. 

 Taouists are also Buddhists, and Confucian disciples recognize 

 both systems ; while all together, and even the Mohammedans of 

 whom there are many in China recognize the state religion, of 

 which the emperor is the representative and custodian. And it 

 is said that many Roman and Protestant converts also adhere to 

 their former belief in the native articles of faith. 



Buddhist priests are not, as a class, educated in any legitimate 

 sense. They mostly are able to repeat from memory the ritual of 

 the faith, and many include in their mental storehouses a literal 



