Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-10

The Empress Dowager of China has re-
Gently issued three imperial edicts of great
importance and significance copies of which
have lust been received at the Department
of State from Mr.. Rockhll, United States
minister at Picking. One of these edlcts'
dated December 30, 1906, raises the rank
Of Confucius in the national Pantheon and
directs that the highest form OF state wor-
ship be rendered to his spirit. A second
dated January g. 1907. authorizes the Gre
alton of a college at Chu-fu in Shantung'
the sage's birthplace, for the study of his
teachings The third directs that special
attention be paid in all the Schools to the
teaching of Confucian ethics
The minister incloses memorandum by
Mr. f. T. Williams of the United States
legation, explanatory of these unexpected
edcts In the first of these he thinks
may be detected an attempt to check me
sprcad of Christianity, and perhaps Buod-
hism. by making Confucanism more Nit ai
force in society. The second. Mr.. Rockhlll
saws is without doubt a spec:al enc 10
foster the study of the sacred books OF
China. so as to insure to them the place
which, IL is held, they deserve IN the ne"
education which is being elaborated for the
country and in which it is feared western
ideas may take too large place ms
opinion he says, is strengthened by the
terms of the edict of January l. referring
TO the basis of national education.
The first imperial edict is, IN part as loi-
"Confucius. the most holy, is one, with
heaven and earth, the mentor ana sulue oi
10000 generations. His worship shoulu
therefore be raised to that of the highest
degree as a manifestation of his glory
In an interesting memorandum dlscuss,ns
the effect of these edicts ON CHRISTIAN mis-
sion work in China, Mr.. Williams says
1.-The state religion of China is commonly
called by foreigners Confucianism' after us
most distinguished teacher This Is not
the name however, by which II Is known
10 the Chinese which is The Great Religion
or the Religion of the Learned. 1t is often
cold bv foreigners that Confuclanisn is not
a religion but system OF ethlcS. Inns
statement is misleading. II IT De meaht
that Confucius did not estaphsn leHs!oli'
il is unite true. He did not claim TO intro
drrc any new rites, nor to eXp2uhu any
new doctrines. He was lover ol tiIe
ancients' and prOfcssed TO recall the peopie
of his day to the good ola pains vi ,iio
fathers As a matter of fact, he propdoiy
read into the old teachings and rites d
good deal that was not there ana mus on
the rIea of restoration, he, perhaps Liaue
innovations. The system "ommCh!S ca ttei
Confucianism embracing not only the cum
cal teachings of the sage. but tle ceLe
monies prescribed for the fanny sit ana ,nd
state in the ancient writings edlteu anu
transmitted by him, is beyond question d
religion. As in all primitive systems th e.;
is no clear differentiation OF social; poiiu-
cal and religious duties. All ailke are
commanded by the state; all alike nave the
sanction of religion.
I'm this religion there are recognized three
grades of sacrifice The highest lncludeS
that nffcred TO Shang Ii CThe Most High) |
or heaven to earth the imperial ancestors
and to the guardian spirits OF the reaiin
The second grade includes those oheieu 20
IN, spirits of the emperors and kings oi
previous dynasties. and those 10 the sun,
the MOON Confucius, the patron OF agrlcul-
ture to the patroness of SILK culture anu W
the wear star. The third grade lncIuoes the
sacrifices to the patron of healing, to the
spirits of eminent statesmen, to various
mountains and rivers and a In OF lesser
diVinitieS.
r.
..Bv the first edict the sacrifices to Con-
fucius are now raised from the second 10
the first grade The sage has long been
designated as one with heaven and earth'
that is as forming trinity with heaven
and earth but such rank has not heretofore
been recognized in the sacrifices. what the
object of the change is. and just what the
result will be. are questions which can be
answered definitely only after the board OF
rites shall have made it's report
.Among some of the Chinese CHRISTIANS
the hope has been entertained that the
change would prove to have been nlaoe III
order TO release them from the dlsapllltles
clusion from government schools ana the
civil service because of unwillingness TO
worship the tablet to Confuclus 1hey
reason that, as the emperor alone is cap
able of offering the sacrifices at the affairs
10 heaven and earth, so henceforth no one
but he Will be able TO offer the sacrihces
TO Confucius. The reasoning is not sound |
however. for while the emperor alone can
sacrifice at the affairs named, the common
people everywhere are permitted to burn
incense to heaven, and indeed the worship
of heaven and earth forms a part OF the
usual marriage ceremony. II, therefore,
il should be decided that the sacrifice to
Confucius could be made by the emperor
only. this would not prevent the enforce
ment of the requirement of obeisance to
his tablet in the schools.
There are over 500 temples to the wor-
ship of Confucius in China, in each
district county, and it is most unlikely
that the officials and the literary graduates
of the district will be forbidden to wor-
ship him at the temple as of old recent
leader In the Picking and Tientsin Times
sees in the edict attempt to check the
spread of Christianity. While the article
mentioned contains many misstatements,
and shows a total misunderstanding of the
relation of the state to religion, its sur
mise on this point is perhaps likely to
prove correct.
-
The propagation of Christianity was
formerly forbidden by law, but later it was
permitted by treaty stipulations, though
the government has always distrusted the
movement, among other reasons, because
ii forbids ancestor worship. and places
foreign teacher Jesus above the great
sage Confucius. These features of Chris
tianity make it feared as tending to loosen
the bonds of the family and striking at
the roots of authority in the state.
In the celebrated work on The New
Learning by Chang Chh-tune. in which
that writer advocated the introduction OF
the western sciences. he especially ex-
cepts the religious and ethical teachings of
the west. and emphasizes the point that
the acceptance of the sciences does not i'm
ply an acceptance of Christianity. On the
contrary, lie would require more earnest
effort TO implant COnfucian principles as
the Sroundwork of character and as better
suited to the conditions of Chinese society
In the regulations adopted for the new pub
lie school system, which were drawn, up
by Chang Chih-tung and Chang Po-hsI,
the SuDpriOritN Of Confuciap 9th 10