proceedings: anthropological society 451 



THE ANTHROPOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 



At the 484th meeting of the Society, held March 2, 1915, in the Pub- 

 he Library, an address was given on Confuciamsrn,t}ie State Religion of 

 China, by Mr. E. T. Williams, of the State Department, who spent 

 26 years in China and supplemented his personal observations by a 

 study of the Institutes of the Manchu Dynasty and the Manual of the 

 Ministry of Rites. The interpretation of the ritual he takes from the 

 Chinese classics, particularly the Book of History and the Book of 

 Rites. Confucianism for two thousand years has been the state re- 

 hgion of China. It existed long before Confucius was born, but is prop- 

 erly called by his name, since its sacred scriptures were in large part 

 edited by him and he has become one of the chief objects of worship in 

 the system. While the lofty character of its ethical teaching is char- 

 acteristic, it is a mistake to say that Confucianism is merely a system 

 of ethics. The teaching of the Book of Rites and the ceremonies ob- 

 served in the offering of sacrifices to the Supreme Being and to lesser 

 deities and saints, makes its rehgious character clear. By an edict in 

 1907 the Empress Dowager raised Confucius to equal rank with the 

 Supreme Deity in the pantheon. 



At the service in the temple of Confucius at the spring and autumn 

 equinoxes, the worship of the sage does not consist merely in making 

 obeisance before his tablet, as has sometimes been said, but in making 

 offerings of incense and food, hbations of wine (more properly, rice 

 spirits), and sacrifices of oxen, sheep, and pigs, together with a burnt 

 offering of silk. The worship is conducted by the chief official of the 

 county. There are kneelings and prostrations and a chanting of hymns 

 to the accompaniment of an orchestra consisting of a great variety of 

 wind and stringed instruments, drums, bells, and musical stones. The 

 services in the Temple of Heaven in Peking are held at the winter sol- 

 stice. The Temple of Heaven is a large park situated in the southern 

 suburb of the capital. It is enclosed by a strong wall and is divided 

 into a number of courts. Even the Emperor could not enter the inner 

 court except on foot. Within this court is a most holy place, the court 

 of the altar. There has never been at any time in China more than 

 one recognized altar to the Most High. The principal altar is of white 

 marble and consists of three circular terraces. It is open to the sky, 

 and the offerings made here are presented by the head of the state two 

 hours before dawn on the longest night of the year. Three, and its mul- 

 tiple, nine, are the important numbers in the construction of the altar, 

 while four and eight are those represented at the altar to the earth, north 

 of the capital; for odd numbers belong to heaven and even ones to earth. 

 Near the marble altar there is also an altar of burnt offerings constructed 

 of green, glazed tiles. One young bullock, black and without blemish, 

 was consumed on this altar as a sacrifice to Shangti. The Emperor, 

 after donning his priestly robes, washed his hands and ascended the 

 marble altar, facing the north. There he worshipped Shangti and his 

 imperial ancestors. There are some striking analogies between this 

 ritual and that of the ancient Hebrews. 



