The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1915-09-02

schoolhouses. Idolatry in China IL
largely a growth through centuries
that has gradually developed from
Buddhism. just as we see all manner
OF fungi attached to n dying tree.
ConfuciAnism is not idol worship.
In It's principles It In purely a code OF
ethical laws. Its fundamental laws
are strikingly similar to the laws OF
Moses. Consequently a person may
be a Confucianist In a general sense.
and nj the same time n Christian. II
Is quite worth while just here to call
attention TO the fact that Confucius
lived about Ave hundred years before
Christ, more than century after the
lsraelites OF the ten northern tribes
were carried as slaves TO Assyria. We
saw Assyrian art OF that same period
in the Forbidden City" the part OF
Peking reserved for the rulers, In
closed by strong wall, and into which
ordinary people are not allowed to en-
ter We had a special permit and
guides from the American embassy.
These art treasures must have been
brought by caravans. necessarily con
veyed by slaves under oyerseers.
These slaves must have been Israel
ties.
The Confucian temples In Marking
are preserved, often repaired. They
contain no idols. There is large up
right tablet, inscribed with the Laws
OF Confucius," standing on the back
Of turtle, symbolizing calmness.
strength and longevity. On certain
days. set apart for this purpose, In
cense is burned on a table In front OF
this tablet, In somewhat the same
spirit, among intelligent Chinese, as
we on anniversary days place floral
offerings on the tomb OF Lincoln. or
the graves Of our hOnored dead.
Tomb Of Tai Dzu.
To most visitors in Marking, the
place Of greatest historical interest In
the tomb OF the Ming emperor, Tai
Dzw, a greatly honored ruler on &C
count OF his forceful character and the
many reforms he inaugurated for the
benefit OF the masses Of the common
people. Marking was his capital
This great Ming tomb is situated al
the foot Of Purple mountain. II is out
side the city wall. perhaps a mile II
II surrounded by red-painted walls
which inclose an area Of about five
hundred square feet.
The visitor passes through three
gates OF peculiar Chinese architecture
before coming 10 the tomb After
passing through the second gate he
comes TO n templelike building, high
ly ornamental. In which IL a large tab
let inscribed with a record Of Tai Dzr
and his achievements. an Inscription
comparing him with his most dlstin
guished predecessors This tablet wal
erected by one Of his greatest Of Chi
nese rulers. Kang Ilsl, when he Wis
fled Marking, some time near the clos'
OF the seventeenth century Tie caused
the entire surroundings to be mad,
magnificent.
Up 10 the time Of the Tal-Plng re
belliun these handsome buildings ant
beautiful parks remained. but the Tai
Ping vandals destroyed almost the On
tire tomb. Recently the yiceroy d
Marking made some repairs. yet onli
few traces remain Of the formed
grandeur.
After the visitor has passed through
the third gate he sees a large struc
ture with one opening In the middle
This leads 10 the edge Of the tomb
which Is now covered by a Hill Of deeI
soil on which is thick growth o
trees. The ascent is steep. From thI
summit Is a fine view Of the city an'
surrounding country.
Among the accessories TO this toni
the mos, interesting stlll remaining arr
FIVE paigs OF stone statues Of animals
standing on either side OF the grea
road leading from the entrance gait
OF the park. perhaps twenty feet II
height: pairs OF elephants. camels
lions, soldiers and priests. as the las
pair Of guards. Near the gate Is I
temple or tower with four openings
situated on n low hill Within Is I
stone tablet, erected upright, on thu
back OF a turtle II II covered will
inscriptions OF the great deeds Of thii
emperor. Tai Dzu. II is said In Chi
nese history. This tablet was erecte'
there as a sign of reverence TO one o
the greatest emperors that China eve
produced