The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1900-08-31
THE FOUR CHINESE RELIGIONS

Another serious difficulty the mis-
sionary in China has to contend with
is the complicated form of the reli
giOn of the Chinese. Instead of one
system of doctrines and teachings,
there are three great and separate
religions, dwelling side by side and
with little if any friction or want of
harmony. Although radically differ
emit in their origin, characteristics
and general aims, each seems to be a
complement of the other. A China
man may select and follow as much
OF all three as he pleases, without be-
ing inconsistent. The missionary
has therefore to, study all three
religions in their history, doctrines
ana practical influence upon the
heart and everyday life of the people
before he can hope to meet them on
their owa ground and answer all their
objections to Christianity. He has
three separate citadels to attack, in
stead of one.
The writings of Confucius are
the sources whence the officials and
literati derive their theories of
government and social duties. The
ethics of Confucius pervade and in
fiuence every phase of Chinese life.
The doctrines taught by their "most
holy sage are cited as the infallible
criterion of uprightness and integrity
in public and private life, and were
disseminated several centuries before
the coming of Christ. They were
not original with Confucius, but
rather the teachings of ancient kings
and sages who fiourished in the far
off golden age of China when the
evils of bad government were un-
known, and when the Chinese seem
to have recognized and worshipped
the true God. Confucius confessed
to be only reformer, transmitter,
and not the author of new religion.
But it is almost impossible to esti-
mate the enormous hold this system
with its time honored classics now has
upon the educated and thinking men of
China. Its teachings are of high
moral order, yet they are as much
disregarded in everyday life as
Christ's teachings are disregarded
among ourselves. The Chinese know
what is right, but fail utterly to
practice it.
Then there is Taoism, the second
form of religious faith and practice,
originating with the philosopher
Lao tsze in the century when the
Jews returned from Babylon. 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 its original purity it
would have served as an excellent
basis for Christianity. Unfortunately
the Taoists went astray hunting for
the philosophers stone, the elixir of
immortality, with other vague con-
captions, and then fell into the
grossest superstitions and demonola-
try. The evil influences of modern
Taoism upon Chinese society are ire
mendous, and it is greater foe to
than Confucianism.
These two great religions, Confu-
cian1sm and Taoism, did not salts
fly the longings of the soul of the
Chinaman, nor did they afford COM
fort or solace IN the many trC ubles and
sorrows of life. To supply this
want Buddhism came from India some
time before the birth of Christ, but
it was not until shortly after that
event the Emperor Ming-ti had his
wonderful dream. and as a result sent
to India to invite Budd-
hist teachers. After experiencing
many viclssitudes, 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
bells, the TRANSPORTATION of souls, the
diet. the doctrines of Kar-
ma 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 ingraft-
ed on the ordinary Chinese mind that
it seems impossible that they should
be modified, much less eta ced b v the
of Christianity Yet the
is expected to go forward
boldly to attack this giant also, in
the name of the Lord. and armed only
with his sling and his stone.
!, As if all these difficulties were not
sufficient, Buddhism had hardly set
tied down harmoniously with its two
sister religions when Mohammedanism
entered the empire, pushing its way
into imperial notice with great effect,
and contesting with it's monotheisticI
doctrine against the corrupt practices
that had grown up in the other three
divisions. 1t came to stay in spite