40 SURGRON-GKNBRAL C. A. GORDON_, M.D., C.B., Q.H.P., ETC., 



descended from ancient times even to our own day, and by 

 which the special characteiistics of that civihsation have 

 been so definitely established. My present intention, however, 

 is rather to enumerate than to comment upon and criticise 

 those maxims ; leaving such a task to others whose pro- 

 clivities may lead them to undertake it. 



Moral Philosophy. 



According to Chinese philosophy all morality may be com- 

 prised under five heads, harqely : duties between parents and 

 childi-en ; between prince and subjects ; husband and wife ; 

 elder and younger brothers ; and, lastly, friend to friend. 



With regard to these, it is stated on the authority of the 

 sages that " the principle of obedience and submission in 

 wliich the Chinese are educated from their infancy influences 

 prodigiously their political government, and accustoms the 

 people early to have the most profound veneration for their 

 governors." It accustorns them early to venerate the 

 administrators of the laws, with the very important proviso 

 that this sentiment shall continue— so long as the actions of 

 those authorities " are guided by reason." The rules of 

 Decorum as to words and gestures, of which the works by 

 Chinese authors are full, have introduced into the manners of 

 that people a reserve, a complaisance, and a circumspection 

 which prompts them in paying to every person the respect 

 he has a right to require, and induces them to dissemble, 

 or even to stifle a resentment. 



1. The duties of jyarents and children. Father and son are 

 enjoined to fulfil their mutual duties without interested 

 views. The duty of a father is to correct the faults of his 

 children ; the inclination of a mother leads her to excuse 

 them. Ill-judged indulgence on the part of a mother will 

 result in the falling of her daughters into many errors. 

 Harshness on the part of a father who only speaks to his 

 children to reprove or find fault with them makes them 

 fearful of him, and gives to themselves a painful perplexed 

 air which never leaves them. The true character of a mother 

 is to compassionate, but without bhnd indulgence, of a father 

 to correct, but without unreasonable severity. These are 

 ihe first maxims. Gently instil into a child lessons and in- 

 structions; let him not be spoiled by capriciousDess, nor 

 punished for trifles ; he is as a tender bud from which the 



