THE THEISTIC IMPORT OF THE SUNG PHILOSOPHY 121 



that we can permit ourselves is a glance at its essential fea- 

 tures in their bearing upon our inquiry. 



The first thing to note is the unmistakeable clearness 

 with which it is asserted that this Supreme Ultimate is the 

 immaterial element in the Universe. The very first sentence 

 in the chapter under this title in Chu Hsi's works is: "The 

 Supreme Ultimate is expressed in one word, Li."* And 

 again, in the succeeding paragraph the Philosopher says : 

 "The Supreme Ultimate is simply the Law ( £JL) of the 

 Universe."! Again, "There are but two elements in the 

 Universe, namely Energy and Inertia in ceaseless revolution. 

 But given Energy and Inertia it follows that there must be 

 the Law of Energy and Inertia, and this is what is termed 

 the Supreme Ultimate. "J Such statements abound all 

 through the writings of this school. 



The next thing to note is that the Supreme Ultimate 

 is inherent in the Ether in its Two Modes as their creator, 

 and as the director and controller of their evolution in all 

 its stages, while they constitute its material instrument or 

 vehicle of manifestation. "The Supreme Ultimate is Law, 

 the Two Modes are the material instruments. "§ 



Although, on the one hand, therefore, the identification 

 of the Supreme Ultimate with its manifesting vehicle, or 

 material instrument, is so close that the name of the former 

 is often used as though it applied equally to the latter, we 

 are on the other hand expressly warned against confusing the 

 two. "The Supreme Ultimate is inherent in and cannot be 

 separated from the Two Modes, but the Supreme Ultimate 

 is the Supreme Ultimate, and the Two Modes are the Two 

 Modes." || "The Supreme Ultimate is simply the uttermost 

 extreme beyond which you cannot go; most high, most 

 wonderful, most subtle, most spiritual, and all surpassing, 

 To guard against the idea that the Supreme Ultimate has 

 material form. Lien Hsi designated it 'Infinite! And also 

 the Supreme Ultimate ! ' " *[ 



One more point to be noted with regard to this First 

 Cause is its ethical perfection. "The Supreme Ultimate is 

 the most excellent and supremely good ethical principle. 

 Every man possesses a Supreme Ultimate. What Chou Tzu 

 calls the Supreme Ultimate is the supreme excellent arche- 

 type of everything that is called good in heaven and earth 

 and man and the 'all things.' "'jp Thus we find that the 



* ^^^ H , Bk. XLIX, f. 8. ;• Ibid. 



tlbid., f. 16. §1£3ffitfe , Pt. I, f. 5. 



||tta»»,Pt. I, f. 6. ffc?*&,Bk. XLIX, f. 14. 



mgsHta, Pt. I, f. 10. 



