UNIVERSAL ERUDITION^ 



the ftudy of virtue : the fecond, fnch as applied 

 themlelves to the arts of reafoning and elo- 

 quence: the third, they who ftudied the art of 

 government, and the duties of magiflrates , and 

 the iourth, thofe who applied themfelves to the 

 <Jo6lrines of morality. The tour books that are 

 attributed to Confucius are confidered by the 

 Chineie, as of the higheft authority. The firft 

 is imitled Ta-Kio 9 or the grand fcience. There is 

 only the firft chapter of that book that properly 

 belongs to Confucius. The reft of it, as well as 

 the fecond, called Chung Yung, or the medium of 

 virtue-, the third named Lungya, or the confer- 

 ences , and the fourth which is a collection of 

 converfations : all thefe books are the works of 

 his diiciples. Though it is faid, in all thefe 

 books, i. That it is the heavens or virtue that 

 holds the place of the Supreme Being, yet 2. 

 They direct fuperftitious worfhipand facrifices to 

 others than that Being, and 3. They promife no 

 other recompcnce or happinefs than that of this 

 life. In the modern religion of the Chinefe, 

 which is founded on the doctrine and writings 

 of Confucius, there are three fedts, the Learned, 

 the Idolaters, and the Sorcerers. The firft is 

 that of the emperor and nobles, who facrifice 

 to the ftars : the fecond pay their adorations and 

 build temples to idols ; and both of them render 

 a religious worfhip to Confucius, to philofophers, 

 to kings and their anctftors. The third fe& 

 worfhip demons and practiie magic. The Chi- 

 neie 



