, 1876-10-22
RELIGION IN CHINA.

nothing left IS the result.
RELIGION IN CHINA.
In the last Sunday issue of TEE TRIBUNE
appeared the first of series of articles upon
Religion in China, setting forth the pecnl-
iarities of the doctrines of CoNFUc1us, as
illustrated in the Chinese classics. To-day
ve continue the series with q reference to
Buddhism, prefacing it with some general
remarks upon the religious systemsin China.
The Chinese themselves speak Of their re-
igious systems as three in number-Ju.
Kian. jSis<Ran, and 1au-Hian. The first
is synonymous with Confucianism, and re-
fers to the system Of ethics, political econ
omy, and ancient religious rites taught by
CoNEuc1us and his predecessors. The sec
ond is Buddhism, and the third Tauism.
Outside of these three systems, there re-
mains Mohammedanism, Of which sect few
adherents are found in every part of the
Empire, and certain proportion OF Jews
and Roman Catholics, of whom mora here
after.
Buddhism, which is emphatical1y the relig-
ion of China and Eastern Asia in general,
was introduced into China about the year 61
of the Christian e<a, BY an embassy which
went to India to seek for religious teaching,
and returned with the god and the religion
of the Hindoos. The Chinese Buddhism
differs, however, from that Of India, Ceylon,
Burmah, Siam, and Thibet. The character
istics of the Buddhist system in China are
belief in benevolent deity, associated with
inferior ones, who are to save men from the
consequences of sin, and also the doctrine OF
the transmigrahon of souls and the efficacy
of good works. The temples Of BUDDRA, or
ssFuH,", as he is called in China, are found in
all parts Of the Empire, are costly and I'M
posing in appearance, and are rendered Pc
culiarly picturesque by their pagodas. They
are composed Of several buildings in a line
directly back Of tho front one, each portal
being guarded by appropriate idols. The
last Of the series, the tGreat, Glorious,
Precious Temple" contains three large i'm
ages of FuH, called the sThree Precious
Oaes," surrounded by the eighteen Lo-han,
persons who are supposed to be absorbed
into FuH, and twenty y-eight Sing-sin, repre-
senting different stars. Immediately in front
Of the three-fold Fun is standing
yelled image of KwAN-sH1-YN-Poo-sAH
young virgin, with child in her arms, and
bearing SO strong resemblance to the Virgin
Mary that the Roman Catholics have attrib-
uted its existence to Satanic agency. The
Buddhist priests are exceedingly ignorant.
Their monasteries are numerous, md each
has its Superior and overseer, which positions
are filed by the more intelligent. The in
comes of the monasteries are derived from
the voluntary contributionsof Of the people and
the proceeds Of lands with which they have
been endowed, and the duties Of the priests
are to chant, perform ceremonies in the
temples, and beg. One class Of priests live
in rude huts or caves among the hills, spend
ing their time in the greatest retirement and
austerity. There are others who live in
closed rooms or cells, and there are large
numbers of nuns and nunneries. The wor-
slippers in the temples are mainly women
In the matter Of faith and devotion, the Chi
nese woman is no exception to her sisters
the world over. There is another reason,
however, which accounts for the predomi-
nance Of female worshipers. DR..
NEy1Ns says: I'm accordance with
the doctrine of the transmigration of souls,
so prominent in the Buddhist system, the
great end in the worship of BuDDHA is to
secure q favorable position in tho future
state, in which it is supposed that indi-
viduals will ascend or descend in the scale of
existence according to the preponderance of
their merits or dement's in this life. In
consequence of the inferior station Of women
in China and their peculiar trials, being q
woman is regarded as great misfortune
and in sthe bitterness incident to their present
lives they console themselves with the hope
that their earnest devotions at the shrine
of BuDDHA will gain for them the position
of - man in good circumstances in the
future state" It is unnecessary, and We
have not the space, to go into the details of
this worship The most interesting feature
of the Buddhistic system is its close re-
semblance in its government to Roman
Catholicism. Both systems have an infal-
ible head. Their priests practice celibacy.
Both have monasteries and nunneries. They
deliver their prayers in an unknown tongue.
They make prayers to Saints and inter-
cessors and to the Virgin and Child
They have prayers for the dead and
the repetition of prayers with the
rosary. They believe in works Of merit and
sapererogation- They impose austerities and
bodily infections. They have formal daily
services, made up Of chants, burning of can
dies, holy water sprinkling, bowings, pros
trations, and professions: and burning of in
cense. Their fastdsys, feasts, images, pict-
ures, legends, relationship, pilgrimsges to
shrines, and miraculous cures, are also al