The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1900-10-19
FOUR CHINESE RELIGIONS.
Contend with In the Land
of All Sin.

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
ent 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 and prac-
| teal influence upon the heart and
everyday life of the people before he
can hope to met them on their own
| ground and answer all their objec-
| tions to Christianity. He has three
| separate citadels to attack instead of
one, writes Prof. John Fryer, in Aims
| lees.
The writings of Confucius are the
source whence the officials and hterati
derive their theories of government
and social duties. The ethics of Con-
fucius pervade and influence 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
private life. and were disseminated
several centuries before the coming
of Christ. They were not original
with Confucius, but rather the teach
ings of the ancient kings and sages,
1 who hourished in the far-off golden
age of China. when the evils of bad
| government were unknown, and when
the Chinese seemed to have recognized
and worshiped the true God. Con-
fucius confessed to be only a reform
er, a transmitter, and not the author
of a new religion. But it is almost
impossible to estimate the enormous
hold this system with its time-hon-
ored classics now has upon the edu-
Gated and thinking men of China.
Its teachings are of high moral or
der, yet they are as much disregard
ed in everyday affairs as Christ's
teachings are disregarded among our
selves. 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. Its an
Gent 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. Unfortunate
ly the Taoists went astray, hunting
for the philosophers stone, the elixir
of immortality, with other vague con-
ceptions, and then fell into the gross
est superstitions and demonolatry.
The evil influences of modern Taoism
upon Chinese society are tremendous,
and it is a greater foe to the Chris
tan missionary than Confucianism.
These two great religions, Confu-
cianism and Taoism, did not satisfy
| the longings of the soul of the China
man, nor did they afford comfort or
solace in the many troubles and sor-
rows of life. To supply this want
| Buddhism came from India some
time before the birth of Christ, but it
was not till shortly after that event
that the emperor Ming-ti had his
wonderful dream, and as a result sent
messengers to India to invite Bud
dhist teachers. After experiencing
many vicissitudes, Buddhism became
firmly established. The worship of
| Amida Buddha with the Goddess of
Mercy became prevalent. while tenn
pies and monasteries, priests and
nuns were soon to be found every
| where. The western paradise, the
Buddhist hells, the TRANSPORTATION of
souls, the vegetarian diet, the doc
trines of Karma 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 it seems impossible that they
should be modified. much less effaced
by the teachings of Christianity. Yet
the missionary is expected to 60 for
ward boldly 10 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 tremendously with its two
sister religions when Mohammedan-
ism entered the empire, pushing its
| way into imperial notice with great
effect, and contesting with its mono
theistic doctrine against the corrupt
religious practices that had grown up
in the other three divisions. 1t came
to stay in spite of numberless perse-
cutions and rebellions in which mil
lions of Mohammedans have been put
to death. Most of the Moslem Chi
nese now occupy very strong posi-
ton in the whole of northwest China
Others are scattered over the face of
the empire, many of them being rich
and enjoying official positions. Al
| ~ -