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

III was l0eVltaDlo Indl unc burning ol Ilo
books and the wholesale slaughter Of schol-
ars should fill the public mind with horror.
The local oppression. too. occasioned by
the building OF the Great Wall had eE-
cited widespread discomfort, and it is by
no means surprising that Liu-pang, a rough
soldier of central China, should have taken
advantage OF this state Of things TO dis
possess the feeble heir OF Shi-hwang-Ti.
Nu-pang founded a dynasty which is
reckoned among the most i!!ustrious in
the annals of the empire and which takes
the name Of Han from the river on the
banls of which it rose to power. When
Liu-pang was seated securely on the throne
one of his Ministers proposed hat he should
open schools and encourage learning.
Learning exclaimed the Emperor. Il
nave none Of il myself nor do ! feel the
need of il. | got the empire on horseback. I"
But can you govern the empire on horse
back? That is he question" replied the
Minister. To conciliate the good will
of the learned the first Han emperor not
only rescinded the prosecuting edicts
but caused search to be made for the lost
books and instituted sacrifcial rites in
honor OF Confucius.
DR.. Martin recalls the interesting fact
that in the reign Of Iiu-pang there were
still old men living who had committed the
sacred books to memory in boyhood. One
such, Fu-seng by name. was noted for his
erudition and from his capacious memory
q large portion of the sacred canon was
reproduced, being written down from his
dictation, The copies thus obtained were
Of course not free from error. Happily
a somewhat completer copy. engraved on
bamboo tablets, was discovered in the
wall of a house belonging to a Confucian
family. Town to the present day, however,
the Chinese classics bear traces of the
~tyrant's fire. Portions are wanting and
the lacun,s are always ascribed TO the
fires Of Ts'in." The first chapter, for
instance, Of the Great Studies" ends with
the pregnant words, "The source OF knowl-
edge is in the study OF things Not a
syllable is added on that prolific text. A
note. however. informs the reader that
there was a chapter on the subject, but
that il has been lost. Chinese scholars
when taxed with the barrenness OF later
ages in every branch Of science are wont
10 reply, YES, and no wonder how could
IL be otherwise when the Sage's, CHAPTER on
that subject has bee., lost?'
One might imagine that the so-called
literary emperors OF the Han dynasty
would rave been satisfied with the recovery
OF the Confucian classics, As q matter OF
fact, a rumor reached them that there
were saees also in the West To the
Chinese the West meant India. Accord
ingly an embassy was sent, 90 A. D., by the
En- peror Ming-ti 10 import books and
BONES Buddhist priests. The triad OF
reli ns-Confucianism Taoism, Buddhism
was thus completed.
DR.. Martin points out that, totally dis
verse in spirit and essence, the three re-
ligions could hardly he expected to har.
monte or combine. Ce1fucianisrn eIalts
letters and lays strces on ethics, 10 tbs
neglect Of the spiritual world. Taoisu
inculcates physical discipline; but in prac'
iice It has become the mother Of degrading
eirerstitions- dealing in magic and nee
rumsncy. Buddhism saps the founda.
lions Of the family and eniotns oelibAoy n