REV. ARTHUR ELWIN, ON CONFUCIANISM. 



51 



to master the following books: — viz., The Three Character 

 Classic, The Catalogue of Surnames, The Thousand Character 

 Classic, The Canons of Filial Duty, The Odes for Children, and 

 the Juvenile Instructor. Having been thoroughly instructed in 

 these six books, the young scholar is ready to begin the 

 Confucian Classics, and to prepare for the competitive examina- 

 tions. Of course many boys, who have to earn their living, 

 never get so far : they have to leave school early and begin to 

 learn a trade, but it is the highest ambition of everyone if 

 possible to be a scholar. The following extract well expresses 

 the national sentiment of the Chinese with reference to the 

 various occupations that may be followed : — 



" First, the scholar ; because mind is superior to wealth. It 

 is the intellect that distinguishes man above the lower animals, 

 and enables him to provide food, raiment, and shelter for himself 

 and others. 



" Second, the farmer ; because the mind cannot act without 

 the body, and the body cannot exist without food and raiment. 



" Third, the mechanic ; because, next to food and raiment, 

 shelter is a necessity. 



" Fourth, the tradesman ; because as society increases, and its 

 wants are multiplied, men to carry on exchange and barter 

 become a necessity. 



" And, last of all, the soldier ; because his business is to 

 destroy, not to build up society. He consumes what others 

 produce, but does not himself contribute anything that can 

 benefit mankind. Still he is, perhaps, a necessary evil." 



We will now briefly consider the Four Books and the Five 

 Classics, the nine works which contain the writings and sayings 

 of Confucius and his disciples, and which for hundred of years 

 have formed the sole subject of the competitive examinations 

 throughout the land. One has well said ; " There is not much, 

 from a westerner's point of view, to commend these ancient 

 literary productions, and yet the incomparable influence they 

 have exerted for centuries over so many millions of minds, 

 invests them, even for us, with an interest no book beside the 

 Bible can claim." 



The " great learning " consists of eleven chapters which treat 

 of four important subjects, viz. : The Improvement of Oneself ; 

 The Begulation of a Family : The Government of a State ; and 

 the Eule of an Empire. The following extract from the book 

 forms a kind of introduction to the consideration of these 

 important subjects : 



" The ancients, who wished to illustrate renovating virtue 



