The Mankato free press., 1915-11-05

of great bronze statue OF Confucius
in Peking. At present the ancient
sage Is represented in the various
temples only by pictorial images or
sacred taniets. These do not create
the vivid impression OF the great
teacher which the Chinese officials
desire, and the movement is under
way to place bronze statues OF him in
Confucian temples throughout the
republic. -.s. .... 81.
Mandates have recently been issued
by President Yuan Shi-kai strength
ening the position Of Confdcius
teachings in Chinese schools. and the
society for the preservation or peace
has constantly quoted the sayings of
Confucius concerning loyalty to the
emperor in support OF the restoration
of the monaehy. ,
Four Confusian canonieal books are
taught In Chinese schools, and no
students who are not thoroughly
versed I'm them are regarded as well
educated. Quotations from these
books, written nearly twenty Ave
hundred years ago, are frequently
used I'm nearly all governmental COM
munications. The advocates OF abso-
lutte concentration of government IN
an emperor are especially fond of
such Confncian experts as this: '''To
no one but the supreme head bf the
empire does Il belong TO disturb the
established religious and social insti-
tutions, TO introduce new forms Of
government to change the form and
use of language. At the present day
throughout the empire carriage wheels
all have the same standard form and
size. all writing Is written with the
same characters, and I'm all the re-
latlons of life all recognize the same
established principles" e.. 90.
Public speeches concerning IN e
monarchial movement, letters to the
newspapers and editorials in support
OF the restoration of the empire are
filled with quotations concerning the
five duties of universal obligation out
lined by Confucius and the three NOR
al qualities by which the sage said
these duties must be carried out. The
first of these duties are those between
ruler and subject. Next are the duties
between father and son. Then the
duties between husband and wife. The
fourth duties are between elder
brother and younger. and the fifth
duties are those in the intercourse
between friends. Intelligence. moral
character and courage. I'm the order
named, re the three moral qualities
upon which Confucius laid great
stress. or these he says: They are
the three universally recognized
moral qualities OF men. II matters not
. In what way men come TO the exercise
of these moral qualities, the result Is
one and the same. :s..
Some men are born with the
knowledge of these moral qualities; !;
some acquire Il as the result Of edu-
cation; some acquire II as the result
OF hard experience. But when the
knowledge Is acquired, ittcomes to one
and the same thing. Some exercise
these moral qualities naturally and
easily; some because they find II ad :
vantageolis to do SO: some with effort
and difficulty. But when the achieve
ment Is made II coniest TO one and the
same thing" - :. '2A9 -
" The. effort TO strengthen the inter-
est In Confucianism Is apparent
throughout the yernacular press oi
China. Scholafs are urged to visit his
tomb at Chufou, and q more careful
reading OF his classics Is advised
Young men are told that Confucius
began gathering disciples around him
and teaching the principles OF good
government at the early age oi
twenty-five. His services as minister
of crime are reviewed, and the mar
vellous abolition OF crime under his
direction Is emphasized. His great
success rs a teacher In the later
years OF his life when he gathered
three thousand disciples around him
Is stressed. ard readers are constantly
reminded OF the enduring fame oil
this teacher who had the proper
ideals OF government.