NO. 2 FOLK RELIGION IN SOUTHWEST CHINA — GRAHAM 5I 



ligent, compassionate, and powerful, and controls the universe. His 

 primary interest is in humanity. This concept did not become a 

 monotheism, for there were lesser deities whose numbers increased 

 during later centuries, but it was a near approach to it. Confucianism 

 produced some high religious ideals and high moral ethics which 

 were a refinement of the earlier moral and religious ideals and prac- 

 tices of China. The following are a few quotations from the Con- 

 fucian Classics (Legge, 1899b, vol. 3). 



It is virtue that moves Heaven ; there is no distance to which it does not 

 reach. Pride brings loss, and humility receives increase; this is the way of 

 Heaven. (P. 52.) 



Heaven hears and sees as our people hear and see; Heaven brightly approves 

 and displays its terrors as our people brightly approve and would awe; such 

 connection is there between the upper and lower (worlds). How reverent ought 

 the masters of territories to be. (P. 56.) 



The way of Heaven is to bless the good and to make the bad miserable. 

 (P. 90.) 



Good and evil do not wrongly befall men, but Heaven sends down misery 

 or happiness according to their conduct. (P. loi.) 



Heaven loves the people, and the sovereign should reverently carry out (this 

 mind of) Heaven. (P. 127.) 



Great Heaven has no partial affections [favorites] ; it helps only the virtuous. 

 (P. 212.) 



The king twice bowed (low), and then arose, and replied, "I am utterly insig- 

 nificant and but a child, how should I be able to govern the four quarters (of the 

 kingdom) with a corresponding reverent awe of the dread majesty of Heaven." 

 (P. 241.) 

 Oh vast and distant Heaven, who art called our parent. (P. 361.) 

 The doings of high Heaven have neither sound nor smell. (Pp. 379-380.)* 

 Great is God, beholding the lower world in majesty. (P. 389.) 

 Great Heaven is very intelligent. (P. 416.) 



Great Heaven makes no mistakes. If you go on to deteriorate in your virtue, 

 you will bring the people to great distress. (P. 417.) 



To see what is right and not to do it is want of courage. (Legge, 1885a, 

 p. 23.) 



What I do not wish men to do to me, I also wish not to do to men. (Ibid., 

 P- 54-) 



* Note by Legge ; "These two lines are quoted in the last paragraph of the 

 Doctrine of the Mean, as representing the ideal of perfect virtue. They are 

 indicative of power, operating silently, and not to be perceived by the senses, but 

 resistless in its operation." 



