Evening star., 1900-09-24
The Influence Of the Teachings Of
Confueius Are Great as Ever.
ADVICE TO CHRISTIAN MISSIONARIES
DR.. Giles Points Out Terets That
Should Be Tolerated.
A MAS TERLY EssA

The most valuable contribution to the
September number of the North American
Review Is an article entitled "Confucianism
In the Nineteenth Century" This Is
record of first-hand observation, wisely
interpreted. by DR.. Herbert A. Giles, who
for thirteen years was a member Of the
British consular service In the celestial en-
pire. and who is now the professor Of Chi
nese in the University of Cambridge.
Nearly forty years ago DR.. Legge wrote
of Confucius as follows: His influence
has been wonderful, but it will henceforth
wane. My opinion Is that the faith Of the
nation in him will speedily and extensively
pass away" Dr. Giles says that. on the
contrary, the hold of the teachings of Con-
fucius upon his countrymen seems today
as strong as ever. The fact Is the more
remarkable because little or nothing has
been done by the emperors in the present
century to promote the influence of Con-
fuc1anism whereas between 1862 and 1896
no effort to that end was spared In 1870
was put forth what is known as the sacred
edct, embodying a number Of injunctions
tending to get rid of heterodoxy and exalt
the orthodox doctrine" and in 1915 was
published vast collection Of commentaries
upon the Confucian canon filling no less
than 120 large volumes. One of the enact
ments contained in the sacred edict was
that 1t should be publicly read to the people
at every important center of population
all over the empire. For considerable
period during the first half Of this century
this practice has been allowed to fall very
much into desuetude at Canton. About
the year 1850, however, a number Of edu-
Gated Chinese taking alarm at the open
activity OF Protestant missionaries formed
themselves into a society for reading and
studying the sacred edct among themselves.
Quickly Regained Lost Ground.
ho ole ~ ho Tof-
Confucianism at once and completely re-
gained the ground which it seemed tenn
porariy to have lost. The production OF
Confucianist books showed marked signs
CT increase; clearly printed editions of the
classics and kindred works were issued from
Wu-chang, the capital of Hupeh, at a price
which placed them within reach of the
masses. The story of the reform move
ment and of the virtual deposition of the
emperor, Kwang-su, in September, 1895, is
familiar. DR.. Giles has no doubt that, had
kwang-su remained in power, Confusianism
would have been forced to modify it's intol-
Grant attitude toward foreign standards of
thought and education. Upon the suspen-
sion, however, of Kwang-sus active fnnc-
tions, 1T was determined that the old, ex-
animation system. which had prevailed al
most unaltered for nearly six centuries
while its roots extended back beyond the
Christian era, should be restored in its in
tegrity. The introduction Of new. deprav-
be understood modern scientific teaching,
was strictly prohibited under various pains
and penalties. Thus the occupation of the
newly inaugurated University of Pekin vas
gone, and. for the time being Confucianism
was triumphant.
DIR. Giles does not hesitate to express the
opinion that any attempt to extirpate Con-
fucianism will fail. 1t is too deeply plant
ed in the customs of the Chinese people TO
be uprooted. Consequently, although he
holds that Confucianism should be obliged
to evince toward Christianity the same toll
erance which 1t shows to Buddhism and
Taoism he holds also that a reciprocal con-
cession should be made, and that Confu-
canism should be permitted to subsist side
by side with Christianity. as stoicism was
by the first Christian emperors OF Rome,
and as positivism and agnosicism are in
Christian Europe today.
Two Practical Features.
The two practical features OF Confucian-
ism, to wit, Its patriarchal system and its
commemorative worship of ancestors, can
not be subverted and 1t would, therefore
be wise to make the best Of them. That was
the conviction arrived at by the learned
Jesuits of the seventeenth century, who
pronounced the Chinese practice Of ances-
trail worship nothing more than civil
rite, and in no way incompatible with the
profession Of the Christian faith. DR.. Giles
believes that had this declaration been al
lowed to stand, the probability Is that the
Catholic religion would now be the religion
Of China. The JesuitS, however, were op-
posed by the ignorant Domlnicans. and, the
question being referred to the pope 1t was
decided In favor of the latter. Thus great
opportunity was missed: The Importance
attached TO the cult of ancestors at the
present day may be gauged by an imperial
edict issued on February Is. 1900, in which
Ii Hung Chang was instructed to desc
crate and destroy the tombs of the fore
fathers Of the fugitive reformer, Kang-Yu-
Wei. We should here note that the toier-
ance extended by Confuciansm to Budd-
hism and Taosm is due to the fact that on
every Buddhist and Taoist altar stands a
small tablet recording political allegiance
to the emperor. Confucianism asks for no
more, 1t will not permit any effigy or like
ness Of Confucius to be set up in any such
place of worship. Christian missionaries
have not seen their way to the same COM
promise Nevertheless, more than one Pro-
testant missionary has acknowledged that
there Is in Confucanism much that is ex-
cellent concerning the relations of man, and
many points In which the doctrines of
Christian revelation are almost echoed"
The view, indeed prevails much more wide
ly now than it did a few years ago, that
the sooner missionaries devote themselves
to a close study of Confucian doctrines the
better.
Cultural Eject of Chinese Classics.
1t is the fashion to derde the Chinese
curriculum, and DR.. Giles does not deny
that the Introduction of science would be
advantageous In many ways. At the same
time he acknowledges that the Chinese
classics have had precisely the effect at
tributed by Prof. Jebb in his lecture on
"Humanism in Education to the classics
of Greece and Rome: that Is to say, 1.-The
culture which they supply. while limited
In the sphere OF it's operation, has been an
efficient and vital influence not only in
forming men of letters and learning. but
In training men who afterward gained dis
tinction in active life and In various pubic
careers" There have been many admir-
able specimens of Confucianists during the
present century: men who not only have
been successful as administra tors, but ha ye
gained lasting name for probity, courage
and frugality. One of the most eminent
living examples of the ethical value OF Con-
fucianism is Chang Chih-Tung, viceroy OF
Hu-peh and Human, who, in spite of the
high posts he has filled and is now filing,
is poor man, and is universally known to
be incorruptible. AS for the patriarchal
system, 1t has many advantages. 1t en-.
courages morality and thrift. knits close
the family ties and, in days of failure aud
distress, provides a support for individuals
by means OF common fund.
Thoughtful Admonitions.
On the whole. DIR. Giles seems to think
that the time has come for giving up
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