- Author:
- Wright, Arnold
- Publication Info:
-
London, Durban, Colombo, Perth (W. A.), Singapore, Hongkong, and Shanghai:
Lloyd's Greater Britain Publishing Company, limited,
1908,
pg 293
Text on page 293
2-293 TWENTIETH CENTURY IMPRESSIONS OF BRITISH MALAYA
servative, but in reality the spirit of his teaching was far in advance of anything that has existed in China. The book called " The Great Study " is a short programme of the work which Confucianism has awaiting humanity. In that little wTork it can be seen at a glance that progress is the watchword of Confucianism. Unfortunately, the followers of Confucius, like those of other great teachers, have blindly taken up isolated precedents for their guidance and neglected fundamental principles. Confucius lived in a time of general decay and great unrest, when disorder and immorality were sapping the foundations of civilisation. The best thing to arrest anarchy at the time was such a conservatism as would serve to keep together institutions, which, however defective, might still be depended upon to restrain the lawless from violence and rebellion. This conservatism, instead of being regarded in the true light of a temporary expedient adopted in special circumstances, has been regarded by many as the very foundation of Confucius's teaching. The real truth is that Confucianism is a growing culture, and changes with the needs of the times. Distinction must be made between the pure principles of Confucianism, as enunciated in the classical books, " The Four Books and Five Classics," and the scholastic Confucianism of the literati
of China. One may compare these for illustration with the Christianity of the Gospels and the ecclesiastical government of the Roman Church. By the unjustifiable apotheosis of Confucius, the Emperor of China is elevated to a sort of Pontifex Maximus, and the Mandarins and literati become a species of high priests who alone are good enough to enter the precincts of the Temple of Confucius in order to offer sacrifices to the saints. Temples of Confucius have been erected in every provincial centre and town of importance in China. They are always Government institutions and the highest officers must dismount when passing them, while the manes of Confucius are accorded the same honours as are given to the reigning Emperor. Confucius has therefore been styled 4k The Throneless King " ; he is also known as " The Most Holy Teacher of Myriad Ages."
The essence of Confucian feaching is, however, very simple. Based on filial piety, it includes a sincere altruism which, nurtured in the family circle, will, in course of time, extend gradually to the neighbourhood, to the country, and to the world. It teaches that the performance of human duty is the highest excellence to which man can attain. It looks forward to an age of culture, when every man and woman will be enlightened, and when universal peace will reign among the nations.
This consummation can only be arrived at when every individual has learnt fully his duty to his parents, to his family, to his country, and to himself as a man.
Confucianism remained comparatively a dormant power until some ten or fifteen years ago. Since then it has showm a wonderful power of revival, and has stirred up the minds of the scholars, and has influenced the policy of the Government in China. The majority of Straits Chinese are undoubtedly strongly in favour of it, and in British Malaya and Java an extensive propagandist work has been maintained.
In Japan, also, there has been a great revival of Confucianism, and in the spring of 1907 a numerously attended meeting was held in Tokio to express the indebtedness of Japanese civilisation to the teaching of the sage and to revive the celebration of the annual feast in his honour.
In British Malaya Confucianism is practised in all its purity as an ethical cult, and there is no attempt at the deification of the teacher as in China. It has no temples and no priesthood. Sacrifice to the dead on the anniversaries of their births and deaths is the only form of adoration observed. Confucius agreed to the retention of this primitive form of worship because he believed that it would do good to the heart of the living.In British Malaya Confucianism is practised in all its purity as an ethical cult, and there is no attempt at the deification of the teacher as in China. It has no temples and no priesthood. Sacrifice to the dead on the anniversaries of their births and deaths is the only form of adoration observed. Confucius agreed to the retention of this primitive form of worship because he believed that it would do good to the heart of the living.
