REV. ARTHUR ELWIN, ON CONFUCIANISM. 



57" 



is, shortly after the foundation of Rome. In one noteworthy 

 sentence in this book, Confucius speaks of the Divine Being' 

 a*s " God all- wise, equitable, and one." 



But we must bring to a close this brief sketch of the Four 

 Books and Five Classics, remembering that there is not an 

 educated man in China who could not repeat the whole nine 

 books from memory. From the time that competitive 

 examinations were introduced in the year 631 A.D., they have 

 constituted the sole subjects for examination. Thus for 

 upwards of twelve hundred years, the nine Confucian Classics 

 have been the main study of every generation of Chinamen 

 from childhood to old age. One has well said: "The effect of 

 this complete absorption of the Confucian system into the 

 national character has been to maintain the influence of the 

 sage as powerfully, or even more powerfully, than ever. 

 Buddhism and Taouism have found their adherents almost 

 entirely among the uneducated classes, and even these reject 

 all doctrines which are inconsistent with the teachings of 

 Confucius. No educated man would admit for a moment that 1 

 he was a follower of either of the above-mentioned religions ; 

 to him Confucius is guide, philosopher, and friend, and though . 

 fully recognised by him as a man, is worshipped as a god." 

 In the eighteen provinces there are one thousand five hundred 

 and sixty temples dedicated to the worship of Confucius, and 

 in these temples, sixty-six thousand animals are offered every 

 year to his spirit. The feeling of the Chinese people is 

 undoubtedly expressed in the following lines, which form part 

 of the sacrificial ritual : 



" Confucius ! Confucius ! How great is Confucius ! 

 Before Confucius, there never was a Confucius ! 

 Since Confucius, there never has been a Confucius ! 

 Confucius ! Confucius ! How great is Confucius." 



That Confucius was a remarkable man there can be no doubt, 

 and his humility was one of his most striking characteristics. 

 He always disclaimed originality, and declared that all his 

 teaching was derived from the ancients, for whom he 

 entertained the profoundest veneration. 



. " A transmitter and not a maker, believing in and loving the 

 ancients." " I was not born a man of knowledge ; I am 

 naturally only quick to search out the truth from a love for 

 the wisdom of the ancients." 



" I am not virtuous enough to be free from anxieties ; nor wise 

 enough to be free from perplexities ; and not bold enough to be 

 free from fear." 



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