A426 
powerful ascendant, and accordingly 
we find the selection: of “Confucius 
formed) out of 3000 copies of verses. 
The Emperor’Chun-Tché, in the 
preface which precedes the Tartar 
translation, has thus expressed his 
sentiments in respect to the “‘Chiking:” 
—‘‘This work is rather a delineation 
of the passions, executed in verse, 
than a production of the mind and 
fancy. The verses are all improvisa- 
torial. Their tendency is to form us 
to such a degree of politeness, as shall 
embellish the-exterior, while it incul- 
cates the virtues that adom the soul. 
This book.,shows, us what we are to 
pursue, and what to avoid. Jt contains 
noble sentiments, delivered in a sub- 
lime style, describing the ceremonies 
necessary to honour the memory of 
our ancestors, and it abounds with 
precepts for the conduct of princes in 
government. As to the observations 
relative to agriculture and common 
life, they are expressed in plain and 
simple Janguage... The verses, of 
whatever, description they may be, 
and whatever matters they treat of, 
have a tendency to inspire us with a 
predilection for good morals.”) To 
_ this may be subjoined what Confucius 
thought of the ‘‘Chiking,” when he 
declares, that it was composed to 
serve as a guide to the understanding, 
and to govern the will. Elsewhere, 
the same philosopher sums. up the 
whole doctrine of the odes, as redu- 
cible to this grand principle,—that we 
should never entertain thoughts of a 
base, and criminal character. 
The “Chiking” is divided into three 
parts: the first, entitled “‘ Koue-Fond,” 
or the Manners of Kingdoms, consists 
of poetry and songs, the most generally 
popular. These the emperors ordered 
to be collected and preserved, in order 
to judge, from the, tone and maxims of 
those, pieces, of the state of public 
manners,,and the dispositions of the 
people, throughout; the. confederated 
kingdoms. 
‘The:\second' part is ‘composed of 
twosections, ““Syao-ya,” and “ Taya,” 
signifying literally, Excellence, Great 
and Small) It forms a miscellancous 
asseniblage of Songs or haliads, odes, 
canticles, élegies, epithalamiums, &e. 
The major, part, are appropriated to 
the praise of the emperors, kings, and 
sovernments,;, but, seme, satirical songs 
are scattered amongst them, and others 
are ip honounof agriculture. 
The ‘third part bearsethe name of 
Canonical and Moral Books of the Chinese. 
[Dec. 1, 
“Song,” or Praises; and is a compila- 
tion of vanticles and hymns sung during 
the’ ‘times’ of sacrificing, and° at’ the 
ceremonies practised in honour of 
their ancestors, This, as the Jesuit 
Cibot remarks, furnishes details not to 
be met with elsewhere, disclosing the 
progress of manners through a long 
series of ages. ‘They are the,more 
interesting, as the poetry is every 
where more varied, and ccimprehends 
within its range the whole nation, from 
the sceptre to the spade. The Euro- 
pean historians, as he observes, have 
made great use of it; and, as to its 
authenticity, he pronounces it indu- 
bitable. Three hundred samples of 
versification, of every description, and 
in every sort of style; the poetry, 
moreover, so beautiful, so harmonious; 
the portraiture of manners so natural 
and so exact, combined with the delec- 
table and sublime tone of antiquity 
that pervades the whole; these parti- 
culars, from the internal evidence, 
sufficiently prove them to be genuine. 
It is not improbable that, since the 
times of Confucius, the copies of the 
“Chiking” may have been consider- 
ably disfigured, by interpolations, and 
apocryphal passages. Occasionally, 
the style appears too metaphysical, 
and, from its conciseness, frequently 
becomes obscure. But this very, ob- 
seurity, as Sir William Jones reports, 
has something in it sublime and yene- 
rable, in the opinion of many of the 
Chinese. 
' Several pieces, of a considerable 
extent, have been translated either by 
Father Le Primaire, or by other mis- 
sionaries, not exactly literally, but 
with a liberal fidelity, agreeably to the 
manner of Confucius, who in his dif- 
ferent writings has rehearsed certain 
fragments of the “ Chiking.” 
‘The eighth ode of the second book, 
entitled, ‘‘ Advice to the King,’ ‘con- 
tains a severe admonition from the 
mouth of the virtuous Yen-Vang, 
father of the founder of the third 
race. yale’, 
G great and supreme Lord! thou art 
the sovereign master of the world; bu: thy 
majesty is severe, and thine orders rigor- 
ous. Heaven gives, it is true, life and 
being to all the people of the earth; but 
we must not absolutely depend on its 
liberality and clemency. I know that it 
always’ begins acting towards tis like’a 
‘father; but I am ‘not: sure whether it will 
not terminate its dealings with ws like a 
judge. / 
Ven-Vang exclaims: Alas!’ kings ‘ot 
thus 
