, 1881-01-16

| JAPANESE AGN NOSTICISM
THE DEATH OF AN ANCIENT lND GREAT
RELIGION:
Nt,r 1@"s: TINES.
One Of the most readable books OF travel o1
| tho day Is certainly Miss R,rus ',Unbeater
Tracks in Jnpnn.' Apart from tho interest oi
| studying country just emerging frcm one
I stage OF Standardization into another, from i
kiul Of fetldalisn into modern conditions, this
traveller has had another unusual opportunity.
She bus been among a people where'fts religion
was in decalencc. or, indeed, had utterly pas5ed
AWAY. Japan seonlS to be somewhat IN the con-
diuon Of tho Roman Empire at the time Of
Augustu5,-the higher classes utterly skcpticaI,
and the lower atheistic but supcrstitioua.
Everywhere in Japnn, Miss Bird tells us, the
Shadow OF a great hopeicsness falls upon the
people. All classes are melancholy. There is
not much to look forward 10 In this life md less
III another. \ current and favorable provcrb is,
You caunot wish a Man wurse thing than To
live ngain!" The temples of Buddhism are
deserted, and often only ruins; the stntues Of
Ruddha, with the characteristic "fucc of ctcr-
nal repose, lie about III fragments are spared
lis works Of art. In certain .pElces the pious
rites are still performed, and tho priests offer
their sacrifices, but much us the Kotnan
angurs did in the time OF Cicero.
The soul has departed from n
ity, and embracing fur moro followers.
Some writer has said It IS one OF the most dreary
OF hl1nnn experiences to stand bJ the grave Of
an ancient faith: This traveller has had this
pathetic opportunity. The old religion has left,
however, its traces, after its creed and history
have been forgotten. Miss Dird does not mako
tho Inference, bur it is quite evident that tho
remarkable kindness. goodwill, courtesy, and
suhnrdnation Of tie Japanese masses are large
~ tile fruits ut such teachings lis rhUse Of Yam
tasna, Ha.luha> ard Confuci,is. fur the Chinese
c!:sssics form the literature Of Jnpa- and though
all religious Feeling about these great teachers
has passed IWHy+ their truths live in the pructi-
ehi life Of tho people.
II is remarkable that travellers who LOOK be-
nenth the service in NIL Oriental countries re-
port nearly q similar mental condition among
ne cultivated classes In regard to their re-
.S ,sans: IN 1naln, IN ihe faith in the Hjn.fu my
among the lc"rnel ard intelligent. \ ncw
form Of relis;sHs-a kind of niunothcstn-has
indeed 1 sprun: " amonE the more cultivated
tho ilasscs. nor influenced grcnt numbers of
the scEol:lrs. In China, we hear ulso that tho
old supersttions have host much Of thsir power
while buddhism in its most de.radsl form is
the religion ct The masses. The scholars prCba-
bl:' adopt tho negative posifion which their
great teacher, CDnfus:ls. illustrated. i re-
's'HrE.ble and 'ech.sy fact i'll aii those cotItl-
tries IL thnt as the old faith dies out Christianity
doe! not ut I'LL take its pl;lce Miss Bird informs
US iht iti Japan the first books which tho sSep-
ticat Hudihists read after learning the Enyllsh
!agnaGc are our scientiie works. and especial
y the ,nore rational:stic nr ahestc writings
Christianity they reli, TINT that religion is A.
tc:dy given up by tho most intelligent and
scicF tii'c at its followers u similar experience
Is reported among IL far no1. religious people
than the Japan.se,-thc Hruhtnin5 and high
class }lisitliS When Eritilsittisln is gwen up
the substitute Is atheism nr universal tlu,1bt
III CONSIDERING these rather important facts in
TIC licntil history Of s En,lny millions Ut the
race. the aHsst9on Naturally arl-es, Why dues
ncet laiths Nc believe there i re re- IVA W .DerS Ver
pt1pable reasons. without considering 1nuuy
other I'pss.b!'' eNpint,ations. Ono is that the
tants. IN these end other Countries Of The
results 1T its truths. has diseused the in |
islligsnt orlcnta! mind. Tic Iisllus huvo |
por;s. The Chinese have Ivn., " kuown now,
EhFls'lunify through drunken sni'o.s and c1cat-
ing :lcncrs in tbelr ports, and the clfNrts Of tic
!I:it!5h Government ts' fu:Ee opium upt,n them
Or through ,the r;'iEfnnts. report of Christian
,rcatment IN Caito!'l' \ considerable pro-
religion hMs been of IL si1riInr character. i
lul1z period end much new md different expert |
needed in the East to wipe away these Itnpras-
sinns. Then. nunthcr explanation lies. We h.
Gsc' N the ycr' D,Int Of view of the mission-
place vi seeking To taln the nuggets OF trl,fh
scattered through MI the '!ct.itls vi ancient re-
~, lhey have IltlscrimI'ately chased them
@A*9S'1 tfEIH!Hs-S. rs -IEWtnGH fflSt.-
lNots. 1t was nor thus thut Puul did With |
'retA poetry and Greek stocsta On Mars Hill,
lad YET Eau! si,ke TO people believing Il more
corrupt taih tnan the l}rlh,ni1.s believe. i |
hI'st'an tracEer might well !ln,i ana use many
,, nfS s'sn religious truths In !ruhnnis aud in
tu1uus'n anu inc highest i:lns:.l ,lpothcvn,s in
ne iif1siects ot t0Iucius- The natl1ru, ana tho
'tll.le way would scei, to bc to acknowlctIre
ne truths IN these great and ancient religions
WIZ th': hi=hcsr respect aud reverence, and then
~ SNOW the Ecttcr way and tho more complete !
eyclation. F1o