Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-07-10
The Old uniner.itx.
nv VI" 2 1HF NN 'NEyf
letter from Pekin, in College Courant.


Of all the travellers who of late years have
visited this capital, and by their descriptions of
its dust and decay done so much to disenchant
your visions, there is probably not one who has
ever informed you that it contains an ancient
university. What have to say on the subject
may, therefore, be put forward as news-though
the Institution of which have TO speak is not
much newer than the paleotherium, and no
tice of it will strike your readers somewhat like
the disinterment of fossil. Its name NAV in
deed have found place in the note books of
tourists, but its nature and extent have not
that am aware, been made the subject of in
Vestigation.
The K0Otszekien or "SchoO for the sons of
the empire" stands in the northeastern angle of
the Tartar city with temple of Conlueius at
tached, which is one of the finest in China
The latter shall not describe further than to
say that the main shrine consists of one story
of imposing hight with porcelain roof of tent
like structure, and contains no object of vener-
alton beyond simple tablets OF wood inscribed
with the names of the sage and his most emf
nent disciples. 1t contains no seats, as all Wis
itors are expected to stand or to kneel in the
presence of the great teacher. Nor does it
boast anything in the way of ornament-gold
and silver and cunning workmanship being for
elgn to the homage of the heart, and the entire
worship of the venerable philosopher being i'm
pressed with character of severe simplicity
gilded tablet erected by one of the ancient
the sages;" another describes him as "complet-
ing the trinity of heaven and EARTH" and
third declares that CHS holy soul was sent
down from heaven" A grove of cedars, the
chosen emblems OF fame that never fades,
occupies space in front of the editice.
In an adjacent block or square, stands a
pavilion known as the Imperial lecture ROOM
because each emperor is expected to 90 there
at least once in the course of his reign, to hear
discourse on the nature and responsibilities of
lie or rba to al.
sacred books, and read in the presence of his
majesty by the president or headmaster of the
university. A canal spanned by marble bridges
encircles the pavilion, and arches of glittering
porcelain, in excellent repair adorn the grounds
But neither these nor the pavilion itself copsti-
tute the chief attraction of the place. Under a
long corridor, which encloses the entire space,
may be seen as many as a hundred columns of
massive granite, aud q close inspection reveals
the fact that each is inscribed with portion of
the sacred books. These are the Stone
Classics thirteen books which form the
staple of a Chinese education, being here en-
sh1ined in material which is commonly sup
posed to be imperishable, 1t may be safely as
serted that no other institution in the whole
world possesses stone library of such vast ex-
tent. Inns library is indeed practically useless,
nut II reminds us OF time two thousand years
ago, when famous tyrant, the builder of the
great wall, undertook to burn the books of
Confucius, and very nearly succeeded in accom-
plShlng his object These were engraved on
stone TO secure them from the danger of a like
catastrophe. We smile at the clumsy expedient,
as granite though fre-proof is not indestructa-
BILE, and besides, long before these columns were
erected, the discovery of the art of printing had
placed the repositories of ancient wisdom be
yoDd the reach of the barbarian's torch Yet
this stone library is worth all it cost as an ex-
pressive testimony Of the value which the
Chinese place in the sources of their civiliza-
ton. Besides these departments intended
mainly 10 commemorate the past, an immense
area is occupied by lecture rooms examination
halls and students lodgings. But the visitor is
liable to imagine that these, too, are consecrated
TO monumental use-so rarely is a student or
professor TO be seen here-and ordinarily they
are as desolate as the hills of Babies or Palmyra
| IN laet this School for the sons of the EN-
| pre-, mas long ceased to be seat of instruc-
uoIl, and degenerated into a mere appendage Of
vice.
by an old law made to enhance the import
ance OF inns institution, the possession of
scholarship carries with il the privilege of wear
ing the decorations of the FIRST degree and of
entering the lists to compete for the second.
| This naturally causes the scholarshins IN he
eagerly sought for, and eventually had the effect
| Of which TO raise funds for government use,
| price was fixed on the title of kiensheno or
university scholar" bringing it into the mar.
\ ket as an available stock, and like TetzePs in
dulgences, it was vended throughout the en-
| pire.
The scholars of this old institution collectively
Outnumber those of Paris or Oxford in their
| palmiest days; but there are thousands of her
adopted children who have never seen the gates
of Peking, and Of those within her gates there
are hundreds who have never entered her halls.
Vnly those who wish W compete at the capital