The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-20
The "New Idea" in tho Orient.


The "New Idea" in tho Orient.
A missionary agent of our American
Bible Society at Shanghai reports that
a very great change has come over the
spirit of China as consequence OF the
Japanese victory over Russia. His in
formation simply confirms intelligence
to the same effect from many Oriental
sources, but he gives some interesting
precise facts and draws from them
conclusions which are significant.
The victory Of Japan over Chin a,
30 soon succeeded by its defeat Of a
great Western and Christian Power,
has started Cinnamon to inquiring as to
the causes of so extraordinary a mani
festation of prowess, and by an Oriental
nation which is small relatively to
China, itself so long the easy prey Of
European Powers. Accordingly great
numbers of Chinese students have been
sent to Japan to learn how, at last,
such mastery was attained by people
of the Orient. or the thousands Of
students many have returned to China
to disseminate the knowledge they &C
quired and to propagate in books and
newspapers their larger and more en-
lightened views of Oriental needs and
destiny. At the time this report Of the
agent of the Bible society was written
there were rs many as 1853 Chinese
students still in Japan.
-
ganda, the Chinese, more especially in
Pekin, but also in the country districts
to very considerable extent, are getting
new ideas Of progress; but it is Of prog
ress without Christianity. The master
full development Of nation without the
aid Of Christianity is provoking very
serious thought far outside of China
and in Christendom itself. 1Heathen-
ism" Is coming to the fore and is teach
ing the whole world lessons, not merely
in the art Of war, but also in patriotism.
in self-sacrifice, in fidelity to duty, in the
organization of national strength.
Unquestionably there has been con-
siderable progress of Christianity in
Japan, but relatively to the whole pop
ulation it is still slight. The Japanese
people seem to take slight interest in
our theology. Even when they profess
conversion to Christianity it does not
seem to produce any radical change in
their religious conceptions, and ethically
they remain about the same as before.
They are particularly tolerant regard
ing religious belief, for they seem to
be Indifferent as to its varieties. The
Japanese in this country are not at all
influenced in their associations by the
preference for Christianity or for the
old order of things. Christians and
heather" are on close terms Of COM
radeship, and tho heather" do not
seem to take very seriously the religious
change protested by the others. They
are both interested rather in the me-
chanical and material lessons our civili-
xation furnishes for their instruction,
but our Western grandeur and luxury
of living provokes little or no admiration
. from them. The Simple life" is illus
trated among the Japanese more than in
any other country which has yet pushed
itself into prominent place among the
Powers Of the world.
The missionary Of the Bible society
: has reason for msgivings, therefore,
as to the consequences Of this new
Oriental birth, so far as concerns Chris
tianity. Will it help or hinder the propa-
cation of Christianity? Will it not, as
he suggests, because of its cause tend
to induce a feeling that paganism is
sufficient to itself, is superior, and needs
no Discrimination? He speaks Of Chi
nese publications, printed in Japan and
circulated widely in China, as leading to
great misunderstanding Of truth, and
o. bringing more or ! SO contempt on
the Christian religion and its represent
atives.'
The demonstration that q pagan civil
ration Of the East is superior in prowess
to the Christian State of the West which
b strongest numerically, and had long
terrorized the Orient, must have a pro-
found effect on the history of the world,
more especially as respects the relative
Z value Of religions. AS this missionary
points out, "a new idea-new at least to
the Chinese-that of progress without
Christianity, has been generated among
+, tho Chinese by the superlative triumph
OF Japan over Russia, and to his mind
it is dangerous" idea.