The Baptist headlight., 1893-12-01
r,4E TONS OF CONFUcIUs.
:, en Ronorz stin Paid TO the Memory OF
the Chinese sage.

rQng. the blTtnp ace Ol I0u1uCIu>s
the founder Of CuufuclanlSm, says a
letter from China 10 the Boston
Globe. 1t was in this city that this
much-revered philosopher began his
teachings. and after many years spent
in various provinces Of the empire,
snraadinr the religion Of which he
wa the founder, be returned 10 his
native city 10 die, and there now his
tomb is the magnet for thousands Of
nilrrims from all over this vast en-
pire-
In love and venerauon by his fol-
/ lowers the tomb Of COnfucius is
hardly second TO that Of MOhammed
at Mecca 1t is kept in excellent
| preservation. disciples being annually
placed in charge Of il who regard and
keep this trust imposed upon them
with strictness and conscientiOusneSs
nr0bablv unknown in any other pOr-
tion Of the world. The tomb lies
about three miles north Of Chu-fu-
hsien. A finely laid out avenue
arched over with tall shade trees
makes the trip TO the tomb both
pleasant and attractive.
At the northern end Of this avenue
Is the gate Of entrance TO the burial
ground. Entering the gate an
1ther avenue shaded by tall cypress
trees. leads by large bronze bell,
used in all COnfDcian temples, through
| large doorway in a wooden palisade,
richly carved and Ornamented in
Chinese style, and now We enter upon
sacred soil. Leading TO the tomb on
each side are huge animals cut in
stone. Lions and tigers, elephants
and horses. animals half dog and half
frog, and beasts that have never lived
on earth, in the sky, or in the sea are
carved and placed on each side
On each side, just by the last in
closure. stand two statues Of heroic
, size. mounted on lofty pedestals repre-
senting two wise men Of the past.
one on each side Of the road, looking
more solemn than a funeral. as if TO
remind the worshipers that here was
no ground for merriment, no time for
zayety, and no place for thoughtless-
ness.
Underneath a finely decorated pa
: TiliOn stands the venerated grave OF
this, one Of the greatest philosophers
the world has ever seen. The grave
is very simple and surmounted by a
mound about twelve feet high
Around it grow huge gnarled oaks and
+ tall, stately cypress trees. whose
!, dreamy and moaning sound, caused
b bv the wind, lends an additional
3 solemnitY to the surroundings
! Before the mound is a tablet about
six feet broad and twenty feet high,
upon which are inscribed the name
and deeds Of him who lies beneath.
: These inscriptions translated, mean
!, the perfect sage, the first teacher, the
4 philosopher, etc. etc, and AT its base
is the sacred incense burner. with
! vases About thirty yards from this
j. tomb is q somewhat similar mound
and tablet marking the resting place
Of Confucian' son, Kunk li-Pal, who
was born B. Q. 532. and died al the
c age Of a. years, and tef0re his father.
II The instructions that the son OF
z this man received from his illustrious
{ grand sire became fruitfully developed
= bv his own philosophical mind and
took shape in the treatise entitled
ssChum Yung. the Doctrine Of the
Mean" which embodies the Confu
clan ethics in their highest form.
He Is canonized a. one Of the Sau'
l. Pei, or four associates Of the sage
h and enjoys the title Of the Philoso
IS pher TZu. or the tranSmitter
IF A short distance TO one side Of tht
= tomb is a spot held sacred 10 tht
memory Of loving and patient fol
lower Of the sage known a TzI
Kung, who in early life became dis
: ciple Of COnfuCiuS and was one Of tht
Y principal propaEatOTs Of the new re
y ligion. Upon the death Of COnfuciu
z. this disciple j said 10 have sat an(
Il went for years over his masters grave
4. A small pavilion now covers the spo
T. where be sat and wept, and d table
in the wall records Lis years o
griet
Outside the iDclosure containinl
tombs above mentioned are The grave
= OF tens o. thousands 0f the latter
7y DAY followers u C0nfuclue, who haT
desired 10 be brought t0r burial q
near - possible 10 the resting plac
O. the founder q their regllgion-
Its the desire u al thorough Con
fuc1arlsts 10 have their ashes res
= rear this sacred spot and alm1S
nv daily one o. more followers are b-0uCh
10 this ALREADY orercrowded ceneter
70 have their last wish gratited