The Columbus journal., 1908-04-08

MODEST SHRINE MARKS GREAT
:;..:.CEADER,s RESTING PLACE. :.
ssvsnty:seven Generations Of His
:: Family Have. Lived :. In Place
:: Where iIIustriooe Chimes
:: Philosopher Was Born.


ic paragraph among its. descriptions o.
the German port of Tsingtau and ol
about so: routes In the Shantuna
province of China:
AT T'shue fu.. on passports and
cards presented to Duke Kung. permits
sion 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 longer pedigree than any other
person. He il the latest in the line
Of the DESCENDANT Of Confncius;. aud
the family has lived for II generations
in the very place where the illustrious
Chinese philosopher was . born. and
died. -: =: -.
The remarkable history of this. fam.
lily. is due largely to. the attitude Of
the Chinese toward the descendants Of
the great teacher: The family is the
only. example of hereditary aristocracy
In the empire. ~The:head Of the house
IL an independent nobleman. ranking
next to the imperial family: supported
by the state on the rentals derived
from nearly zoo. 900 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. H. required to prostrate himself
nine times when he pays his respects
to, the: duke, but the few Europeans
:. who have visited the place have been
simply and cordially welcomed though
making only their customary saluta-
ton. No other family in the world,
Of course, has . record Of having lived
for over 400 years in one place. Con-
fucius died In his : birthplace :2.3S5
years ago: :. :*s::.'' =: $:
= Four fifths OF the population Of the
little city that IL haliowed by the dust
of Confuctus. can trace their lineage to
the philosopher. II: the place is to be
visited hereafter BY the tourists who
win go to China in increasing numbers
ss transportation facilities 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 Legge. Williamson and some
other writer's on Confucius have their
own original transliterations for. the
name OF his birthplace: Political re-:
form 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 Al
most unattainable. BY foreigners; and
even today few pilgrims. unsustained
BY Arm purpose. Will. undergo the
great discomforts Of the journey thera:
Six. days are required to- reach the
town from the railroad at Tsinan fu:
The road is too bad for driving: and
the choice II offered to the tourist be-
tween six days on q donkey: or ina
wheelboFrow. The place is called the
Mecca of China. but many: devotees
from the western world are likely to-
wait for the Improvement OF transpor
tation facilities: : =. -
e: Some hours before the: city is
reached the visitor may see the large
cemetery in which the. remains of
Confucius and his descendants repose:
Near the top. OF. q. gentle eminence /
10 . terrace to which . stone stairway
gives access. The terrace is covered
With hagGng stones; not in the best Of
repair. for the surface is uneven. and
ut the further side Of the tagging op-
posite the stairway rises . tombstone 1
Of ordinary height. embedded in NOR:
tar between cross pieces :. OF. stone.
The nat surface is covered with the j
and in front OF 1t are .
stone prayer stool and handsome
vessel IN which incense is constantly
-. - :. =: :: ~:
This Is the modest and simple tomb
Of the man who was deified by his
and whose. temples.
reared for his honor and worship. may
be seen in all the larger cities of the
empire. =: =: -: = - :
49,.