Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-03-31
TOMB OF coNFUcIUs.
Shrine Of the Greatest Member of the
Oldest Family in the World.


A new guide book buries this la
comic paragraph among its descrip-
tions Of the German port of Tsingtau
and Of about fifty routes in Shan
tung province of China:-
"At Tshue fu, on passports and
cards presented to Duke Kung, per-
mission is granted to visit the temple
and tomb Of Confucius."
Many known tombs were very old
before that of Confucius was built,
but there is no doubt that Duke
Kung can show a longer pedigree
than any other person. He is the
latest in the line Of the descendants
Of Confucius, and the family has liv-
ed for II generations in the very
place where the illustrious Chinese
philosopher was born and died.
The remarkable history Of this
family is due largely to the attitude
Of the Chinese toward the descen-
dants Of the great teacher The fam
lily is the only example Of hereditary
aristocracy in the empire. The head
of the house is an independent noble
man. ranking next to the imperial
family, supported by the state on the
rentals derived from nearly 100000
acres of land, and distinguished by
various special honors and privileges.
The governor of the province Of
Shantung, in the western part of
which Confucius was born, is requir-
ed to PROSTATE himself nine times
when he pays his respects to the
duke, but the few Europeans who
have visited the place have been sim
ply and cordially welcomed though
making only their customary saluta-
ton. No other family in the world,
Of course, has a record Of having liv-
ed for over 2400 years in one place.
Confucius died in his birthplace g.
3S5 years ago.
Four-fifths of the population of
the little city that is hallowed by the
dust of Confucius can trace their lin
cage to the philosopher. If the place
is to be visited hereafter by the tour
lists who will go to China in increas-
ing numbers as transportation facil-
ties improve there should be some
agreement as to the spelling of its
name. 1t is spelled in two ways in
the guide book referred to and Leg
ge, Williamson and some other writ
ers on Confucius have their own or
iglnal considerations for the name
of his birth place. Political reform
in China should be accompanied by
reform in the Occidental spellings Of
Chinese place names.
Sequestered among the mountains Of
Shantung, the town has been almost
unattainable by foreigners. and ev-
en- today few pilgrims, unsustained
by firm purpose, will undergo the
great discomforts of the journey
there. Six days are required to reach
the town from the railroad at Tsinan
fu. The road is too bad for driving,
and the choice is offered to the tour
ist between six days on a donkey or
in a wheelbarrow. The place is call
ed the Mecca Of China, but many de-
votees from the western world are
likely to wait for the improvement of
transportation facilities.
Some hours before the city is
reached the visitor may see the large
cemetery in which the remains Of
Confucius and his descendants re-
pose. Near the top of a gentle en-
inence is a terrace to which stone
stairway gives access. The terrace
is covered with tagging stones, not in
the best of repair, for the surface is
uneven, and at the further side OF
the tagging opposite the stairway
rises a tombstone of ordinary height,
embedded in mortar between cross
pieces of stone. The fiat surface Is
covered with the inscription, and in
front of it are stone prayer stool and
a handsome vessel in which incense Is
constantly burning.
This Is the modest and simple
tomb of the man who was defied by
his countrymen and whose temples,
reared for his honor and worship,
may be seen in all the larger cities OF