56 



REV. AETHUR ELWIN, ON CONFUCIANISM. 



the right and left, bind on the greaves, and pnt on the shoes, 

 tying up the strings. 



"Wives must serve their husband's father and mother as 

 their own. At the first cock-crowing they must wash their 

 hands, rinse their mouth, comb their hair, and bind it together 

 with a net, fasten it with a bodkin, forming it into a tuft, put 

 on their frocks and girdles, fasten on their bags of perfumery, 

 put on and tie up their shoes. Then they must go to the 

 chamber of their father and mother, and having entered, in a 

 low and placid tone they must enquire whether their dress is 

 too warm or too cool. If the parents have pain or itching, they 

 must respectfully press or rub the part affected. If the 

 parents enter or leave the room, either going before or following 

 they must respectfully support them. In bringing the 

 apparatus for washing, the younger must present the bowl, the 

 elder the water, begging them to pour it and wash, and after 

 they have washed, hand them the towel. In asking and 

 respectfully presenting what they wish to eat, they must cheer 

 them by their mild manner, and must wait until their father 

 and mother have eaten, and then retire." 



The following " on reproving parents " is remarkable. 

 ' When his parents are in error, the son, with a humble spirit, 

 pleasing countenance, and gentle tone, must point it out to 

 them. If they do not receive his reproof, he must strive more 

 and more to be dutiful and respectful towards them, till they 

 are pleased, and then he must again point out their error. 

 But if he does not succeed in pleasing them, it is better that 

 he should continue to reiterate reproof, than permit them to 

 continue to do injury to the whole department, district, village, 

 or neighbourhood. And if the paients, irritated and displeased, 

 chastise their son until the blood flows from him, even then he 

 must not dare to harbour the least resentment ; but, on the 

 contrary, should treat them with increased respect and 

 dutifulness." 



Also this. " Although your father and mother be dead, if ' 

 you propose to yourself any good work, only reflect how it will 

 make their names illustrious, and your purpose will be fixed. 

 So if you propose to clo what is not good, only consider how 

 it will disgrace the names of your father and mother, and you 

 will desist from your purpose." 



But we must pass on to the last of the five classics ; the 

 Spring and Autumn Annals ; which stands alone as the personal 

 work of Confucius. It gives some account of his own times, 

 covering a period of over two hundred years, from B.C. 722, that 



