A CASE OF RITUALISM 131 



But how was it that Lu, one of the most reputable 

 feudal states of ancient China, came to commit this sacrilege, 

 an impiety towards Heaven and a crime against men. The 

 excuse is that Ch'eng Wang* conferred exceptional honours 

 and privileges on Lu because of the great services of the 

 Duke of Chow. 



As the duke figures largely in this case of Ritualism it is 

 necessary to get some acquaintance with him. 



The Duke of Chow was a man of great merit. He was 

 the son of Wen the founder, and brother of Wu the organizer 

 .of the Chow empire. King Wu was very old when he came 

 to the throne, and his brother Chi Tan, the personal name 

 of the Duke, gave him immense help in the work of organi- 

 zation — and was rewarded with the flefdom. of Lu. But 

 instead of going there himself he sent his son Pei Ch'in in 

 his place, preferring to remain as a minister in Chow, to 

 consolidate the empire, rather than proceed to the honours 

 of the new T position himself. 



When King Wu died the youthful Ch'eng* succeeded, 

 and the Duke of Chow spent the wealth of his affectionate 

 nature on him — the Chinese have expressed it by saying 

 "he trimmed the nails of the infant." 



When the father died Duke Chow made himself regent, 

 with sinister motives said his two brothers Kuanf and Tsai : J 

 but the good Duke paid no heed to the scandal-mongers — and 

 went forward in his unselfish way to pacify the newly 

 acquired kingdom. He welded the new territories into a 

 strong empire on feudal lines : and in spite of suspicions and 

 a short banishment, created that immortal empire of Chow — 

 handing down to posterity a name glorious for himself. 

 He became the ideal man of Confucius. 



The Chinese speak of the doctrines of Chow and K'ung 

 to this day. Mencius says : "Ch'en Liang § was pleased with 

 the doctrines of Chow Kung and Chung Ni : he came north- 

 ward and studied them." There is a temple standing some- 

 where in Kiangsu to-day to the joint names of Chow and 

 K'ung. These two sages are pre-eminently the ideal men of 

 China : the brilliant examples of blameless as well as illus- 

 trious careers. 



Chow left behind him some state papers and prayers. 

 They were found in the iron coffer or safe and reveal the 

 loyal and affectionate nature of the man. When the King 

 his brother was very ill he. went to pray for his life offering 

 his own instead. This, and his care of the young emperor, 

 as well as his great ideals for the people, are to be seen in 



