The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1915-07-16

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schoolhouses. Idolatry in China 10
largely growth through centuries
that has gradually developed from
Buddhism, just as We see all manner
OF fungi attached to = dying tree.
Confucianism IL not idol worship.
In Its principles 1t Ia purely a code OF
ethical laws. It's fundamental laws
are strikingly similar t. the laws OF
Moses. Consequently q person may
be Confucianist In q general sense,
| and at the same time a Christian. 1t
10 quite worth while just here to call
attention to the fact that Confucius
lived about five 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
Picking reserved for the rulers, In
closed by strong wall, and into which
ordinary people are not allowed to en-
ter. We had = special permit and
guides from the American embassy.
These art treasures must have been
brought by caravans. necessarily con-
veyed by slaves under overseers.
These slaves must have been Israel
ties.
The Confucian temples In Marking
are preserved, often repaired. They
contain no idols. There IL a large up
right tablet, inscribed with the Laws
OF Confucius," standing on the back
of a turtle, symbolizing calmness,
strength and longevity. On certain
days, set apart for this purpose, In
cense Is burned on = table In front of
this tablet, In somewhat the same
spirit, among intelligent Chinese, az
we on anniversary days place floral
offerings on the tomb Of Lincoln, or
the graves of our honored dead.
Tomb Of Tai Dxu.
| To most visitors In Marking, the
place Of greatest historical interest in
the tomb OF the Ming emperor, Tai
DEW. a greatly honored ruler on 40
count Of his forceful character and the
many reforms he inaugurated for the
benefit of the masses Of the common
|
This great Ming tomb is situated at
the foot of Purple mountain. 1t is out
side the city wall, perhaps a mile. 1t
is 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
| haf
| passing through the second gate he
comes to a templelike building, high
| ly ornamental, in which is large tab
let inscribed with record of Tai Dzu
and his achievements. an inscription
comparing him with his most distin-
guished predecessors. This tablet was
| erected by one of his greatest of Chi
nese rulers, Kang Hsi, when he Wis
tied Marking, some time near the close
of the seventeenth century. He caused
the entire surroundings to be made
magnificent.
Up to the time of the TAPPING re-
bellion these handsome buildings and
beautiful parks remained, but the Tai
Ping vandals destroyed almost the en-
tire tomb. Recently the viceroy OF
Marking made some repairs, yet only
a few traces remain of the former
grandeur.
After the visitor has passed through
the third gate he sees a large struc-
ture with one opening in the middle.
This leads to the edge of the tomb,
which is now covered by hill OF deep
soil on which is thick growth of
trees. The ascent is steep. From the
summit is fine view of the city and
surrounding country.
Among the accessories to this tomb
the most interesting still remaining are
five pairs of stone statues of animals,
standing on either side of the great
road leading from the entrance gate
OF the park, perhaps twenty feet In
height; pairs of elephants. camels,
lions, soldiers and priests, as the last
pair OF guards. Near the gate is
temple or tower with four openings,
situated on low hill. Within Is a
stone tablet. erected upright. on the
back OF turtle. 1t is covered with
inscriptions of the great deeds of this
emperor, Tai Dzu. 1t is said In Chi.
nese history. This tablet was erected
there as q sign OF reverence to one OF
the greatest emperors that China ever
produced