REV. ARTHUR EL WIN, ON CONFUCIANISM. 



43 



nineteen years of age he married, but his married life was not 

 happy. A son was born, but he soon after divorced his wife. 

 " Of all people," he remarked, " women and servants are the 

 most difficult to manage. If you are familiar with them, they 

 become forward, and if you keep them at a distance, they 

 become discontented." 



Shortly after his marriage he was appointed Keeper of the 

 Stores of Grain, and the following year he was promoted to be 

 the Guardian of the public fields and lands, but this employment 

 was not congenial, and he soon resigned his office. At the age 

 of twenty-two we find Confucius devoting his time to the 

 instruction of young men, and in this occupation he took great 

 delight. It may be mentioned that with idle scholars he 

 would have nothing to do. " I do not open the truth," he said, 

 " to one who is not eager after knowledge, nor do I help anyone 

 who is not anxious to explain himself. When I have presented 

 one corner of a subject, and the listener cannot from it learn 

 the other three, I do not repeat my lesson." 



At twenty-eight years of age we find him studying music and 

 archery, and at thirty his fame had so increased, that very 

 many youths of distinguished families gathered round him, that 

 they might benefit by his teaching. 



It was about this time that Confucius journeyed into the 

 neighbouring state of Lo, that he might have an interview with 

 Laou-tse, the founder of the Taouist Sect. Laou-tse was born 

 about 604 B.C., and was therefore fifty years older than 

 Confucius. Historians have handed down to us the conversa- 

 tions that took place between these celebrated men. Confucius 

 and Laou-tse could not agree. Laou-tse proclaimed that 

 retirement and self-suppression were the highest attainable 

 objects. Confucius taught that ceremonial observances and 

 proper respect for the ancient rites were all-important. When 

 Confucius spoke of the worthies, who had lived in ancient 

 times, Laou-tse is said to have answered him : " The men of 

 whom you speak have with their bones already mouldered into 

 dust, and only their words remain ! . . . Put away, sir, your 

 proud airs, and many desires, your formal manner and 

 extravagant ideas ; these are all unprofitable to you. This is 

 all I have to say to you." Confucius, being unaccustomed to 

 be addressed in this way, retired discomfited. " I know how 

 the birds fly," he remarked, " how fishes can swim, and how 

 beasts run. The runner, however, can be snared, the swimmer 

 can be hooked, and the flyer can be shot with an arrow. But 

 there is the dragon ; I cannot tell how he mounts on the wind 



