The Baptist headlight., 1894-02-22
rl4E TOME OF CoNFUcIUs.
Rfah Eonors still Paid to the Memory OF
the Chinese Sage.

One Of the most interesting parts
Of this section of China is the city OF
Chu-fu- hsien, in tie province Of Shan
tung, the birthplace Of Coufucius.
the founder Of Colfucianism, says
letter from China TO the Boston
Globe. 1t was in this city that this
mach-revered philosopher began his
teachings, and after many years spent
in various provinces Of the empire,
spreading the religion of which he
was the founder, he returned to his
native city to die. and there now his
tomb is the magnet for thousands OF
pilgrims from all over this vast en-
pire.
Ia love and veneratlon by his fol-
lowers the tomb of COnfucius is
hardly second to that Of MOhammed
ut Mecca It is kept in excellent
preservation, disciples being annually
placed in charge Of it who regard and
Keep this trust imposed upon them
with stFictness and consciousness
probably unknown in any other por-
taea OF the world. The tomb lies
about three miles north of Chu-fu-
hsfen. "A finely laid out avenue
arched over with tall shade trees
makes the trip to the tomb both
bAeasant and attractive.
At the northern end Of this avenue
10 the gate Of entrance to the burial
ground. Entering the gate an
Dther avenue shaded by tall cypress
trees, leads by a large bronze bell,
ased in all Confucian temples, through
4 large doorway in a wooden palisade,
riehly carved and ornamented in
0inese style, and now we enter upon
sacred soil. Leading to the tomb on
Sach side are huge animals cut in
st0ns. Lions and tigers, elephants
and horses, animals half dog and half
freq, and beasts that have never lived
On earth, in the sky, or in the sea are
served 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-
penting two wise men OF the past,
enc 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
gayety, and no place for thoughtless-
nGAs.
Underneath a finely decorated pa
vflieR stands the venerated grave of
this, enc Of the greatest philosophers
the world has ever seen. The grave
ID very simple and surmounted by
mOana about twelve feet high
AroQRd it grow huge gnarled oaks and
bnA, stately cypress trees, whose
afSsMy and moaning sound, caused
BY the wind, lends an additional
ssAemnttY to the surroundings.
Before the mound is a tablet about
six feet broad and twenty feet high,
RRo1 which are inscribed the name
a41n deeds Of him who lies beneath.
These Inscriptions, translated, mean
the perfect sage, the first teacher the
philosopher, etc, etc, and at it's base
ID the sacred incense burner. with
vases. About thirty yards from this
tomb Is somewhat similar mound
and tablet marking the resting place
&C Confucian' son, HUNK li-Pal, who
was born B. 9. 532, and died at the
age Of 40 years, and before his father.
The instructions that the son of
this man received from his illustrious
grand sire became fruitfully developed
by his own philosophical mind, and
took shape in the treatise entitled
"Chum Yung, the Doctrine Of the
Mean" which embodies the Confu-
clan ethics in their highest form.
lie Is canonized as one of the Sau-
Pei, or four associates of the sage
and enjoys the title of the PhilosO-
pher Tzu, or the transmitter.
A short distance to one side of the
tomb is q spot held sacred to the
memory of q loving and patient fol-
lower Of the sage known as Tzu
Kung, who in early life became dis
ciple OF Confucius, and was one of the
principal propagators of the new re-
liUion. Upon the death of Confucius
this disciple is said to have sat and
wept for years over his masters grave.
A small pavilion now covers the spot
where he sat and wept, and a tablet
In the wall records his years of
grief.
Outside the Enclosure containing
tombs above mentioned are the graves
Of tens Of thousands of the latter
day followers Of Confucius, who have
desired to be brought for burial as
near aE possible to the resting place
Of the founder OF their regligion.
Tt IS the desire Of all thorough Con-
fucianists to have their ashes rest
near this sacred spot and almost
daily one or more followers are brought
to this already overcrowded cemetery
to have their last wish gratitied.
Effect of Light on the Skin.