The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-06-02

which took its name from the fuVer Ran
(2O8 B. O.. the latter did not become thor
oughly Chinese until the brilliant period
Of the Tangs, nearly a thousand years later.
Our author deems it needless to adduoe
further confirmation to show that the en-
pire CT the Far East which was oontem-
porary with and superior in civilization
TO ancient Rome embraced fewer h the
eighteen provinces Of China proper. or
the nine districts into which it was divided
by Ta-yu (21oO B. CO., not n was south
Of the Great River
II.
The Hia, Shang and Chou dynastieB
together extend over the twenty-five CEN
turtles preceding the Christian era. They
are grouped together as the San Tai. or
San Weng, the three Houses Of Kings
because the title Of King was employed
by the founder Of each dynasty. Some OF
the founders successors, it is true, were
called ii; but Hwang-ti. the term for en-
peror now in use, was never employed Until
IL was assumed by the builder OF the Great
Wall" after the overthrow Of the feudal
States and the consolidation Of the empire.
24O B. G.. A separate chapter OF the book
before US is devoted to the hou OF Chou,
because the rise OF a generous culture was
the chief characteristic OF that dynasty.
which in the midst of turmoil and anarchy
ruled nominally S74 years. The Chou
epoch was prominently the formative
period OF ancient China. the age OF her
greatest sases-Confuoius. Mencius and
Lao-tse-the birthday Of her poetry and
her philosophy. Born in the year $40 b. c..
Confucius was a contemporary OF saiah
and Solon-not, as our author says mad
yertently. OF Socrates. A member Of a
respectable but not opulent family. Con-
fucius had to struggle for his education, q
fact which in after years he was 80 far
from concealing that he ascribed to it
much of his success in life. To one who
asked him: How comes II that you are able
70 do 30 many thipgs?" he replied: Il was
born poor and had to learn His school
masters are unknown; Of his ~self-education,
which continued through life. he gives
the following account: AT 10 l entered
on a life of study; at 80 / took my stand
as a scholar; at 40 my opinions were fixed;
at so / knew how to judge and select; at
90 l never relapsed into a known fault;
al 70 | could follow my inclination without
going wrong
DIR. Martin points out that in this passage
we have simply a record Of advance toward
moral excellence. Nothing is said OF the
authors writings or Of the work performed
by him as a statesman and a reformer.
II ia well known that Confucius did not
profess TO he an original thinker OF writer.
In letters he describes himself as an editor, I"
not an author meaning that he had
| collected and revised the works OF the
ancients, but had published nothing OF his
own. Out Of their poetry he culled three
hundred odes and declared that purity
OF thought" might be stamped on the
whole anthology. Moreover. into r con-
fused mass of traditional ceremonies he
brought something like order, making the
Chinese Qf n trihe too ceremonious) the
hottest people on earth. Lastly. out Of
their myths and chronicles he extracted
a Trustworthy history and by his treat
ment of vice made princes tremble lest
their heads should be exposed on the gibbet
OF history. 1t lie true that he also gave
much time TO editing the music OF the
ancients, but his work in hat line has
persisted. This. in DR.. Martins opinion,
cannot be regarded as a great loss, in view
of the rude condition in which Chinese
music is still found.
Great as were the labors of Confuoius
In laying the foundation OF literary culture
the impression made by his personal inter-
course and by his collected sayings has
been tenfold more influential. They form
the substance Of four books which from
the numerical coincidence the Chinese are
fond Of comparing with our four Gospels.
Our author reminds US that Confuoius GER
tainly propounds the Golden Rule' as the
essence Of his teachings. He puts II. to be
sure, in a negative form: DO not unto
others what you would not have them
do TO you." but he also says, MY doctrine
is comprehended in two words, Chung and
Shu." The former word denotes fidelity,
the latter signifies putting oneself in the
place OF another. DR.. Martin, however,
il one OF those who hold that this negative
teaching falls short Of the active charity
which has changed the face OF the world
Il is at the same time admitted that
although il may be easy TO point out the
limitations and mistakes OF Confucius yet
on the whole his merits were such that his
people can hardly be blamed for the exag.
rerated honors which they have paid 10
his memory. They style him the model
teacher Of all ages" but they do not invoke
him as n tutelary deity nor do they
/ represent him by an image. The Chinese
worship Of Confucius iS not idolatrous.
III.
Born a hundred years later, Mencius re-
ceived his doctrine through the grandson Of
Confuoius. More eloquent than his grea'
master. more bold in rebuking the vices
NJ princes, he was original, Menciu'
himself said 81 the sage, whom he neveI
saw: sSince men were born on earth, there
has been no man like Confucius." In th'
book before IN q single specimen Of the
teaching Of MenciVs a adduoed' A primes