220 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. I42 



the future, so that there was less hope and expectation of progress. 

 Elements of strength in Confucianism are the following : 



1. Its conception of a supreme god who is just, righteous, and concerned with 

 the welfare of humanity. 



2. Its emphasis on good moral conduct, obligatory for all people. 



3. The teaching that people are essentially good. 



4. Its near approach to the golden rule. 



5. Its emphasis on the value of the family. 



6. Its emphasis on education. 



7. Its aim to reform and improve human society. 



8. Its teaching that governments should exist for the good of the people. 



Confucianism has practically ceased to function as an organized 

 religion. It became much less influential after China changed to mod- 

 ern education in 1905. However, it is one of the world's great re- 

 ligions, with a philosophy of life and society that is optimistic, moral, 

 and religious, and I believe that it will always be worthy of study. 



TAOISM 



The original philosophical Taoism has some high moral and spiritual 

 ideals. In its conception of the Tao, there is an approach to that of 

 a supreme god, eternal, good, spiritual, and creator of all things. In 

 its ethical teachings there is emphasis on goodness and integrity of 

 character and on the returning of good for evil. But throughout the 

 centuries Taoism as a religion has changed and degenerated. Its lofti- 

 est teachings were often too abstract to be understood by common 

 people. Practically all its priests have been ignorant magicians, playing 

 on the superstitions of the people and exploiting their ignorance. It is 

 very idolatrous and superstitious and has shown no ability to reform. 



Elements of worth in Taoism are the high moral teachings of its 

 founder and its original high philosophical conception of Tao, which 

 included in its meaning that of a supreme being. Elements of weak- 

 ness in Taoism are : 



1. The original conception of a supreme being was not sufficiently personal. 



2. The withdrawing of the founder from society instead of trying to reform it. 



3. Its emphasis on inactivity and the undervaluing of human effort. 



4. Its inadequate recognition of the evils of the world. 



5. Its lack of a program to improve and uplift society. 



6. Its idolatry, polytheism, magic and superstition, with a primary emphasis 

 on the exorcism of demons. 



By 1948 in many parts of China most of the temples, in some parts 

 nine-tenths of them, had been destroyed or changed into buildings 

 for schools, military barracks, hotels, apartment houses, shops, hospi- 



