(This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.}
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AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[March 23.]
HEGE TO APR 07
SECTION 4.
[9422]
(No. 57.) Sir,
No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received March 23.)
Peking, February 1, 1907. I HAVE the honour to inclose two extracts from the "Nan Fang Pao" ("South China Daily Journal") of the 23rd and 24th January, in which the Decrees referred to in my despatch No. 22 of the 9th January are discussed. As you are aware, the "Nan Fang Pao" is a well-informed native paper published at Shanghae in English and Chinese, and the extracts may be taken as a moderate and accurate expression of the views of progressive Chinese on the recent elevation of the worship of Confucius. I would especially invite your attention to the second of the inclosed extracts as showing the nature of the reaction which is now going on here.
I bave, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Extract from the
South China Daily Journal" of January 28, 1907.
DURING the past two days, two Imperial Decrees have been issued, elevating the ethical teachings of Confucius to a State religion and raising the Great Sage to the level of heaven and earth and the ancestors of the reigning Manchu Dynasty. In the Decree dated the 30th December, it is stated that the moral excellence of the Great Sage is supreme and his virtues equal to those of heaven and earth, which make him worthy of the adoration of a myriad ages. For this reason it is the desire of Her Majesty the Empress-Dowager that in future the same sacrificial ceremonies of worship shall be accorded to the renowned sage as accorded to heaven and earth when grand sacrifice is paid by His Majesty the Emperor.
The Ministries of Education and Rites are ordered to duly consider and report on the details of the ceremonies to be adopted in future for this grand sacrifice, the observances in the past having lacked the necessary dignity.
It may be pointed out that by grand sacrifice is meant the same as usually offered by the Emperor in person at the altars of heaven and earth, and this Edict would imply, as stated above, the intention of the Throne to formally adopt Confucianism as the State religion.
Another Decree, dated the 6th instant, orders the establishment of a college at Chefoo, in the province of Shantung and the birthplace of Confucius. Viceroy Chang Chih-tung and the Literary Chancellor of Hupeh are instructed to raise the funds necessary for carrying out the purpose.
Before proceeding to comment on the above Decrees, it may be interesting to trace the history of Confucian worship since the earliest times. The first temple erected in honour of Confucius was built at his death 479 B.C., by the Duke of Lu, who appointed 100 families to take care of it. Rulers from the State of Lu from this on offered sacrifice at his grave at all the great festivals of the year. Two hundred years after his death, Imperial honours were for the first time decreed for him. Then the founder of the Han Dynasty visited the grave and offered au ox as sacrifice. Chen Tsung, of the Sung Dynasty, also visited the temple and worshipped there. He conferred on Coufucius the title of the "Most Perfect Sage, Prince of Illustrious Learning.” This title has since been changed a number of times and in the present Dynasty, Confucius is usually referred to as the "Most Holy Ancient Sage."
About 1,500 Confucian temples are now scattered throughout the Empire. Every spring and autumn sacrifices are offered to him. The sacrifices decreed by the Imperial Statutes are of three grades, those offered to Confucius being of the second grade.
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