Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-10
Religious Eoicts.
Empress Dowager Of China Rass Confucs to First Place ir
the National Pantheon-Ehct Spread Of Christianity.

| the colleges of arts and sciences; not that
| the Chinese are likely to ever give them
selves to any ardent discussion of theologl-
cal or philosophical subtleties; unlike the
| Hindus. they have no genius for such
speculation; but the college appears to be
designed to preserve love of the ancient
literature and the knowledge of traditional
Interpretation of them. No place could be
better suited for such a purpose than the
little town which was the birthplace of
Confucius and still guards his tomb. The
whole region is rich in traditions of the
holy man, and hallowed by his foot
prints.
The need of such a college will be better
understood when it is remembered that the
curriculum of the new school gives SO
much space to foreign languages and
modern science that it Is impossible for its
students to acquire the familiarity with the
classics SO common under the old system
of education. Here at least the ancient
writings will still be reverently and thor
oughly studied, and it may be that it is
expected here to prepare men to become
the teachers of the classics and their ex-
ponents in the ordinary colleges, but of this
we can not be sure until the viceroy, Chang
Chih-tunS, and his associate shall have
drawn up their plans and made their re-
port. No one could be better suited to this
task than the aged viceroy, who is himself
the foremost classical scholar of China,
and the stanch advocate of the teaching in
the new schools of Confucian ethics as the
foundation of moral character.
The changes outlined by these two
edicts are very significant, and may have
far-reaching consequences. That they have
been in part at least suggested by contact
with Christianity can hardly be doubted,
and SO far as they tribute to the sue
cess of the work of the missionary. To give
them due weight. however, it is necessary
to look upon them as part of the general
movement for the awakening of a national
spirit and the preservation of national in
situations and national autonomy.
This is not the first time that Changes
have been made in the ritual for the wor-
ship of Confucius. In fact, the whole cult
has been one of very gradual evolution.
Confucus lived B. C. 551-4T9, and during
his lifetime though highly esteemed by
some, not the recipient of great hon
ors. After his death number of his dis
ciples are said to have mourned at his
grave for three years, and one remained
there for six years The nrst temple in his
honor was built shortly after his death by
Duke All Of the state of Lu, the state of
which Confucius was d native. The prince
of this state continued 10 worship hum at
the great festivals but it was not until
100 years later that the first imperial sacri-
flee was offered, which was done by Han
kao Tsu, the founder of the Han dynasty.
During the Sung dynasty the Emperor
Chen Tsung (A.D J9S-1U32) visited the
bow as the proper form of salutation. He
also conferred upon him the title Most
perfect sage, prince of llluStrlouS learn
ing This title has since been changed a
number of times, and his worship has de-
veloped into an impressive ritual, marked
by sacrifice of oxen, pigs and sheep, liba-
tons of wine, offerings of incense and silk,
kotowing by the local officials of the dis
trict in which the temple is situated, and
chants in his praise sung by the literary
graduates in unison, accompanied by or
chestral music, all of which takes place in
the early dawn on the vernal and autumnal
equinoxes.
1T does not seem possible in view Of the
prevalent spirit that the literati of the
country to be asked to surrender their
part in this service. The whole tendency,
as has been intimated. is in the contrary
direction. The spirit of the day is a spirit,
not of antipathy to foreigners, but of ma
tional self-assertion and self-sufficiency,
and the aim would seem to be to make
Confucianism as attractive a religion to
the Chinese as Christianity, and thus pre-
vent, if possible. the too rapid spread of
the foreign religion"