El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-01-29

self Education is doubtless the basis
of present day affairs in all occidental
I countries. In China, however, it was
more than a base when the old order
prevailed and will maintain itself under
other forms in the expanding era
which the children OF Han are now en-
! tering. The mOldy ystem of study
| which the Chinese nave at last cast
| off forever, was learning, religion and
] government all in one. The scholar
| was everything, everybody else moth
| ing. PlutOcratic domination in Europe
| and America is kindergarten play in
] comparison with the intellectual arts
! tocfacy which dominated every inch of
/ China for IS centuries. But while the
ancient education was the chief factor
I IN dlscOunting modern learning and in
| fighting off modern methods for so
| many decades, the new, western educa-
| ton was responsible for the late revo-
/ luton and will be the republics back
| bone henceforth.
The Teachings of COnfucius.
I IWenty-four centuries before Christ
] learning was recognized in China.
I Every village had a school, every pro-
| vince college It IS supposed that
| civil examinations were begun in the
/ I'D century, B. c Authentic records
| prove its general use in the seventh
| century, B. c. 1t is thought that China
was peaceful then. About 200 years Of
| tribal fighting then ensued, whereupon
the great sage, Confucius arose ami
with him came a system of philOsOphic
religious, political theory which ruled
the Chinese people for 25 centuries.
COnfucius became the father and
mentor of his people, and appreciative
Interpretation Of his maXims by Men
Gus IN the fOu1 tn century added to his
glory But IN the next century Confuc-
ianism was attacked. In 2I3 the en-
peror ordered the burning of all Con-
fucian books that could be found, and
500 scholars were killed for good meas
ure
The succeeding century treated Con
fucianism better, its devotees beinS
protected by the Han emperors Its
teachings were incorporated in the Of
Ilclal studies and the young men so
taught became the principal support
Of the throne against the provincial
princes or feudal who tried to hold all
the important offices by hereditary
right TaOiSm and Buddhism were suc-
cessively fOstered by the barons TO
such good purpose that it took the
Con1ucian system of scholastic exami-
nations as the basis of holding public
office nearly zoo years to stamp out
the divine right claim of the princes
and barons. At one time the COnfUc-
lanists seemed hOpelessly beaten, Tor
a cabal of eunuchS got control of the
government, putting TaOism in high
favor and executing 1000 disciples CT
the great sage.
The HanIin Academy.
The fight Waged back and forth un-
til A D. 6l7, when the Tang dynasty
came into power All the colleges in /
the empire were graded and only those
who passed the prescribed examination
in the lore Of COnfucius hoped for or
held high government positions. From
this period dates the Hsiu Tsai or A |
b. and Chin Shih or A. NJ degrees ]
which were bestowed for knowledge CT
Confucian classics straight down the !
centuries to 1901. The famous Hanlfn
n frEa ,Fer.r rod
coveted doctrine of letters, was found |
ed in A. D., 740. Centuries before OK
lord, Heidelberg, Prague or Harvard :
were ever dreamed of, thousands OF !
cultured and powerful Chinese holding |
the A B. and a. NJ degrees. often past |
the prime of life, journey by blunt /
river craft, springless carts and
sometimes on foot to strive for the |
shrine of the mind. This noble insti- |
tuition was burned and thousands CT |
volumes reduced TO ashes in the Boxer |
movement 1t still exists in name, but I
its influence is waning rapidly.
Examinations by Government.
The government examined candi- !
dates for degrees, but did not educate |
them This was the duty of parents
or was left to the ambition and re- /
SOLceIulneSS OF the young man him
self. As children, the few who could |
afford it sat at the feet of some local /
scholar. Later they went to q cOlleg- /
late center and carried on their studies |
individually, consulting their own time /
and convenience, until ready to take the |
annual examination. The A. B. eXami- !
nations were given in city of the "fu7 /
class in various districts. The A NJ. 4
degree was earned in the provincial /
capitals. Those seeking higher honors /
had to go to Pekin to attend Hanlin
academy, and by so doing might have [
the good luck to be examined before /
the emperor himself. The students
TnOnGa @
lor's degree, but only two in 100 were |
permitted to pass Two thousand can
didates were examined at one time.
The tests lasted IS hours, that is. three
periods of six hours each, with a, little
time for sleep Only light cOnfectiOn-
cry was allowed in the hall, but tea !
was passed frequently. The candidates
sat on long benches and were required
not to drop their hands below the desk !
as they wrote. This was to prevent
cheating, but it was not always sue
cessfui and bribing Of the chancellor or
his assistants was not altogether rare.
AT various times, in fact, the govern
ment was wont TO sell degrees.
As many as 10000 students in patches
Of ZOOO each were thus examined all
over the empire every year, and the
former capital city of Nanl1in had ac-
cOmmOdations for 10000 The literary |
who conducted these eXami-
nations held his post for three years
and always retired rich. Some were
I
though by ancient mandate they were
to live very frugaly-
official Position, the Goal.
The goal of all this striving, absorb
ing of maXims, verses, essays. common
taries, etc, was, of course, high rank
and official position The royal road
to fame and fortune in China for cen
turtles, and even today, perhaps, has
been along the paths of scholastic en-
ieavOr. The merchant prince the sol
Her the candlestick maker, never could
hope to rise if he did not have the |
1early bought degrees. With rare ex-
,eptions, perhaps one in a century, such !
IS president Yuan Shin Kai, those
without the pale never did rise. The J
result was an intellectual aristocracy
All power was in the hands of the /
few who by pluck and luck We're able
20 climb the classic ladder and finally |
stand in the presence of the emperor !
As the aspirant saturated himself with I
more and more of the precious lore,
lis official positions became more Iu-
,ratiye- From the Hanlin academy the
lOctor of letters went to be taotai, |