The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1906-03-27

every flourish should, this most Chi
nesc Of Chinese cities.
There is in the vicinity of Pekin
a temple with several thousand i'm
ages of Buddha, but they are small
and made of clay. the original bronze
images having been carried away by
the foreign troops during the Boxer
troubles.
Close to the walls of the city Of Pc
king stands what is called the Yellow
Temple. q rare work of ar. The
carved figures representing incidents IN
the life of Buddha are very skillful!y
wrought and one cannot help feeling
Indignation at the vandalism of the
foreign soldiers who. during the Boxer
troubles, defaced this ancient monu-
ment. BY far the most impressive
and elaborate religious structure in
China is the Altar of Heaven, not
far from the city of Picking. 1t was
built under the Ming dynasty 500
years ago and is still visited twice
each year by the emperor, who here
offers sacrifices to Heaven. The sac
rificial altar is built entirely of white
marble. 1t is q triple circular terrace,
the base being a little more than 200
feet in diameter, the middle terrace
$50 fee and the top terrace nearly 100
feet, each terrace being inclosed by Il
beautifully carved balustrade. 1t
stands about is feet high, and the
emperor, ascending to it alone. knccls
at midnight and as the representative
of the whole people makes his Offering
to Hcaven, y bullock without blem-
ish is used as the Offering on these
occasions. In architecture the altar
reminds one of the Greek structures,
while some of the features Of the cere-
mOnN recall the rites of the lSraeliteS
as described in the Old Testament.
Near to this altar is Il pagoda. stand
ing upon another triple but smaller
marble terrace: it is popularity known
as the Temple Of Heaven. Here on
the first day OF the Chinese year the
emperor offers his supplications to
Heaven for Il blessing upon the year.
This is the most graceful and sym
metrical pagoda in the empire, if not
in the orient. and no one who visits
the capital should fail to see it. Both
the altar and the temple are sur
rounded by ii high wall, and the in
closed court is shaded by veteran
ccdars.
While Buddhism has been regarded
as the religion of China. Taoism has
also Influenced the thought Of tho ma
ton. it teaches the existence of
spirits. but has d~cgencratcd into super
Stitjon and the attempted Cancellation
of evil spirits. For instance, before
each official residence and before many
private residences Will be found Il
wall. higher and wider THAI the front
door, the purpose of which is TO keep
out the evil spirits, which arc supposed
to travel only in Il straight line. When
Il building is to b" made more n
two stories high, punches of leaves
are often tied 70 the top of tn" poles
used for s~caffolding to deceive the
evil spirits and make them believe
that il is q forest instead of Il building,
they being supposed TO be hostile to
high buildings. After the roof Is on.
however, the building is safe. but tho
ridge pole must curve UP at the cn4s
Boys are very nue. at Il premium in
China. because the duty OF guarding
the grave dcVolVes upon the Oldest son.
If d man loses a boy or tWo, he some
times dresses h mex boy like d girl
in order to deceive the spirits, fer d
girl *, OK at least used to be beneath
the notice Of even evil spirits. \ very
intelligent Chinaman explained the
Discrimination of the ordinary China
man 10 rescue Il drowning man on
The ground that if tho evil spirits were
trying 10 droWn the man, they would
resent and punish any attempt to save
him.
But. more potent tina either Budd-
hism or Taoi%m has been the influence
of COnfuCiuS and his commentators.
This great philosopher was born 551
=. c.. and Mcncius, his greatest dis
ciplc. nearly 200 years later. The moral
principles discussed by them were
presented as original conceptions.
but rather urged as the principles of
previous cnlpcrorS whose lives were
regarded as ideal. In another article,
in the discussion of China's awaken
ing. L shall speak Of the ethical teach