394 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO J687. 



being in so great esteem in his own nation, and having never yet appeared in 

 an European dress, could not but be gratefully received by the curious, especi- 

 ally since the version is performed by very ancient missionaries sufficiently ac- 

 complished in the knowledge of the Chinese character, and at the command of 

 the king of France. 



The subject of this book consists chiefly of moral and political precepts and 

 apophthegms of that philosopher, whose memory is still precious in China ; so 

 that in respect to him, his posterity, after above 2200 years, enjoy certain 

 great privileges, never granted but to the royal family : are exempt from all taxes, 

 and whoever is advanced to the degree of doctor, gives, as a mark of his respect 

 for the great Confucius, some present to the eldest of his family, who is now 

 68 generations removed from him. It is here stated that Confucius was born 

 Anno 551 before Christ, and lived 73 years ; so that he was contemporary with 

 the most ancient Greek philosophers, and not long after Pythagoras. 



Of the Chinese chronology, wonderful relations have been brought into Eu- 

 rope ; this matter the author of this part of the book, P. Couplet, seems well 

 to have examined, and to have sifted the credible from the fabulous. They 

 begin their account with the years of the reign of king Fohi, who was the 

 founder of their empire, about the year before Christ 2952. Fohi is said to 

 have reigned 115 years, and to have invented the character now used in China, 

 and his successor Xinnum is made to govern 140 years ; these two kings are by 

 our author, by reason of some manifest fables in their history, reputed doubt- 



and devoted himself wholly to philosophy, delivering lectures on subjects of religion, morality, and 

 politics. He made numerous converts, propagating his doctrines by travelling into various provinces, 

 and still further promoting the diffusion thereof by missionaries, selected from among the best in- 

 formed and most zealous of his disciples. He died in the 73d year of his age. He wrote the fol- 

 lowing treatises enumerated (from du Halde) by the compilers of the General Biographical Dic- 

 tionary, viz. 1. Ta Hio, or the Grand Science, which treats of the care we ought to take in govern- 

 ing ourselves, that we may be able to govern others. It is chiefly designed for princes and grandees. 

 2. Tchong Yong, or the Immutable Mean ; treating of the mean which ought to be observed in all 

 things, and showing it to be the right path for attaining the summit of virtue. 3. Yun Lu, or the 

 Book of Maxims ; a collection of sententious and moral discourses. 4. Meng Tsee, (a work on 

 political administration) or the Book of Mentius, the name of one of his disciples. 5. Hiao King, 

 i. e. of Filial Reverence. 6. Sias Hio, or the School for Children 5 a collection of sentences and examples 

 from ancient and modern authors. Of these treatises the first four are called the Canonical Books. 



Confucius will ever rank high among philosophers for his political maxims and moral precepts ; 

 which, it must be allowed, excel those of the philosophers of antient Greece and Rome, in the ge- 

 nuine principles of equity and benevolence. The example which he sat by his own conduct, was 

 not less excellent than his precepts. He was remarkably temperate and regular in his mode of 

 living, unremitting in his assiduities as a teacher, and though high-born and gifted with a most 

 superior unJerstaiiding, so remote was he from pride and arrogance, so simple and condescending in 

 his manners, and so communicative in liis disposition, that he was beloved and venerated by his pupils 

 and followers with a degree of enthusiasm, which showed that they regarded him rather as one who 

 partook of a divine nature than as a human being. 



