1882.] 
of Ancient China. 
101 
of all classes of men, are all founded on the Code of laws first drawn up 
by this great philosopher. From that time to the present day, for a period 
of more than two thousand and five hundred years, during which time China 
has witnessed many political changes and revolutions, the downfall and growth 
of many dynasties, the laws of Khun-fu-tse have continued to regulate 
and govern the manners and customs of the whole community from the Em¬ 
peror to the meanest subject. So wise and excellent are those laws that 
they have undergone little change in the course of time. Being the first 
and wisest preceptor of the monarchs of China, the portrait and name of 
Khun-fu-tse are adored and venerated by every sovereign who succeeds 
to the celestial throne. This ceremony handed down from generation to 
generation has got the sanction of antiquity as a heritage to the Emperors 
of China. The descendants of Khun-fu-tse enjoy the second order of the 
Empire as an hereditary honour, in token of the high regard due to the 
memory of the wisest man born in China. The Tibetans believe that 
their celebrated Sron-tsan Gampo was an incarnation of Khun-fu-tse—- 
one of miraculous birth—in whom was manifest the spirit of Chenressig, 
Some authors conjecture that Khun-fu-tse was the inventor of astrology 
from the few verses bearing his name and praise, which head almost all 
the astrological works of China and Tibet. He is also believed by some 
people to have been the inventor of handicrafts, manufacture, techno¬ 
logy &c. It was Khun-fu-tse who first taught philosophy and literature 
in China, but he wrote only a few works on those subjects. His pupils and 
followers made copious additions to and improvements on his works, which 
were revised and annotated. The works so annotated and revised which 
served as guides to the scholars of China, are four in number, viz. :—Ta- 
she-u, Chun-yun, Loon-yu and Men-tse. The outlines of Ta-she-u, 
drawn up by Khun-fu-tse himself, were enlarged by his pupil named Chon- 
tse from hints taken from him. The second work Chun-yun was composed 
by Tse-se. The third work Loon-yu was attributed to the joint authorship 
of Tse-le-u Tse kyan and Tse-sha. The fourth work Men-tse derived its 
name from that of its author. These writers were either Khun-fu-tse’s 
pupils or pupils of his pupils. From the time the Te-hu dynasty was founded, 
literature made rapid strides in China and the number of literary works 
greatly increased. There grew up during this time, (as afterwards), a number 
of scholars (not less than 100) who interpreted these works and wrote com¬ 
mentaries on them. The statutes and laws which uphold the government 
were drawn up during the reign of Hwanku by a learned scholar named 
She-u-hu, on the basis of Khun-fu-tse’s works. A few years afterwards, 
Tse-u-fu-tse, a great philosopher, wrote many original works which, even 
at the present day, are considered as great authorities and works of refe¬ 
rence. Again, there are five other works, called Kan-che n, which resemble 
