A TREATISE OF CHINA a.d. 



1590. 



of worshipping the images of their forefathers. In which 

 regard he can very hardly or not at all be excused from 

 the crime of idolatry : notwithstanding it is to be granted, 

 that none other doctrine among the Chinians approcheth 

 so neere unto the trueth as this doeth. The second sect Xequtam au- 

 is of them which follow the instructions of Xaquam, or as l ° r °{* t 

 the Chinians call him Xequiam, whose opinions, because w hosefolhwers 

 they are well knowen amongst us, it were bootlesse for are called Cen 

 me to repeat ; especially sithens, in the Catechisme com- or Bonzi. 

 posed by our grave visitour, they are notably refuted. 

 This doctrine doe all they embrace, which are in China 

 called Cen, but with us at Japon are named Bonzi. For 

 this I doe briefly and by the way give you to understand, 

 that all words of the Chinians language are of one sillable Note. 

 onely, so that if there be any word that consisteth of 

 more sillables then one, it consisteth also of more wordes 

 then one. These sectaries called Cen doe shave their 

 beards and their heads, and doe for the most part, together 

 with divers of their associates, inhabit the Temples of 

 Xaquam, or of others which in regard of the same pro- 

 fession have in their Kalenders beene canonized for 

 Saints, and doe rehearse certaine prayers after their maner, 

 either upon books or beads, using other ceremonies after 

 the maner of our Bonzi. These men have some inckling 

 of the life to come, and of the rewardes of good men, and 

 the punishments of the wicked : howbeit all their asser- 

 tions are fraught with errours. The third sect is of them The third sect. 

 which are called Tauzu : and those doe imitate a certaine 

 other man, to be adored, as they thinke, for his holinesse. 

 These also are Priests after their kinde, howbeit they let 

 their haire grow, and doe in other observations differ 

 from the former. Nowe, because the sect of Confucius 

 is the most famous of all the three, and the two other 

 sects called Cen and Tauzu are not much addicted unto 

 learning, their religion prevailing onely among the 

 common sort, the Priests of both the sayd sects doe leade 

 a most base and servile life amongst the Chinians, inso- 

 much that they kneele downe before the Magistrates, and 



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