Evening star., 1900-09-25
FOUR CHINESE RELIGIONS.
Missionaries Fight COnfuc ian 1 SIN
buddhism and MOhamm edanism.

From Ainslees.
Another serious difficulty the missionary
In China has to contend with is the COM
plicated form OF the religion Of the Chinese.
Instead of one system Of doctrines and
teachings there are three great and sep
arate religions, dwelling side by side and
with little if any friction or want of har-
mony. Although radically different In their
origin. characteristics and general aims,
each seems to be q complement of the
other. A Chinaman may select and follow
as much of all three he pleases, without
being inconsistent The missionary has,
therefore, to study all three religions in
their history, doctrine and practical in
ftCence upon the heart and everyday life
OF the people before he can hope to meet
them on their own ground and answer all
their objections to Christianity. He has
three separate citadels to attack instead OF
one
The writings of Confucius are the source
whence the officials and literati derive their
theories of government and social duties.
The ethics of Confucius pervade and in
fluence every phase of Chinese life The
doctrines taught by their most holy sage"
are cited as the infallible criterion of up
rightness and integrity in public and pri-
centuries before the coming Of Christ. They,
were not original with Confucius, but
rather the teachings of the ancient kings
and sages, who fiourished in the far-off
golden age of China, when the evils of bad
government were unknown, and when the
Chinese seem to have recognized and wor-
SHIPPED the true God. Confucius confessed
to be only reformer. a tranSmitter, and
not the author of new religion. But it Is
almost impossible to estimate the enormous
hold this system with its time-honored clas-
sizes now has upon the educated and think
ing men of China. It's teachings are of a
high moral order, yet they are as much
disregarded in everyday affairs as Christ's
teachings are disregarded among ourselves.
The Chinese know what is right, but fail
utterly to practice 1t.
Then there is Taoism the second form of
religious faith and practice originating
with the philosopher Lao-tsze in the CEN
tury when the Jews returned from Baby
lon. It's ancient classic, the Tao-teh-king.
comes nearer to the philosophy of our Old
Testament teachings than any other book
In the world. Had this system remained
In it's original purity it would have served
as an excellent basis for Christianity I'm
fortunately the Taoists went astray, hunt
ing for the philosophers stone.'' the elixir
of immortality. with other vague concep-
tfons. and then fell into the grossest super
stitions and demonolatry. The evil in
f1uence of modern Taoism upon Chinese
society are tremendous, and it is a greater
foe to the Christian missionary than Con-
fucianism.
These two great religions. Confucianism
and Taoism, did not satisfy the iongings of
the soul of the Chinaman nor did they af-
ford comfort or solace in the many troubles
Buddhism came from India some time be-
fore the birth Of Christ, but it was not till
shortly after that event that the Emperor
Ming-ti had his wonderful dream. and as
result sent messengers to India to invite
Buddhist teachers.
After experiencing many -vicissitudes,
Buddhism became firmly established.
The worship of Amida Buddha with the
Goddess of Mercy became prevalent, while
temples and monasteries, priests and nuns
were soon to be found everywhere The
western paradise" the Buddhist hells, the
transmigration of souls. the vegetarian
diet. the doctrines of Ka "A and Nirvana.
and the worship Of the goddess Kwan- yin,
who has power to save and to bestow sons
upon her votaries, are all SO firmly en-
grated on the ordinary Chinese mind that
1t seems impossible that they should be
modified, much less effaced by the teach
ings of Christianity. Yet the missionary is
expected to go forward boldly and attack
this giant also, in the name of the Lord,
and armed only with his sling and his
stone.
As II all these difficulties were not suffi-
cfent, Buddhism had hardly settled down
harmoniously with Its two sister religions
when Mohammedanism entered the empire,
pushing its way into imperial notice with
great effect. and contesting with its mono-
ligious practices that had grown up In the
other three divisions 1t came to stay in
spite of numberleSs prosecutions and rebel
lions in which millions of Mohammedans
have been put to death Most Of the Mos
lem Chinese now occupy q very strong po-
sition in the whole of northwest China
Others are scattered over the face of the
empire, many of them being rich and en-
joying official positions. Although opposed
to the main features Of Christianity, the
Mohammedan faith Ii not entirely without
its advantages to the work OF the Chris
tian missionary. The denunciation OF all
idolatry. the worship OF the true God. the
observance OF the Mohammedan Sabbath
and the teaching OF certain theological
terms are all aids to Christian preaching
On the whole, however. most missionaries
who have come in contact with Mohamme-
dams would much rather work In places
where they are not to he fo1,ud