95
The importance of the Confucian Temple,
At least one is
again shows
to be found in every city of importance in China
how high was the esteem in which the old sage was held in the Past.
The substantial nature of the buildings, the beauty and
delicacy of the work of the roof and on the ceiling in each main
temple, the finely wrought me tal drums and altar ornaments, the
generous scale on which the courtyard is laid out and adorned with
smaller structures, all carefully gilded and austerely decorated,
be token a reverence for the ancient learning which is in marked
contrast with the neglect into which that study has fallen today,
and which is neatly symbolised by over grown courtyards, altars
heavily laden with dust and the general odour of decay which
characterises the whole scene in such cities es Pekin, Foochow
and Yunnanfu.
To compare such studies with a knowledge of Shakespeare and
Hilton is to give a very inadequate idea of the position they
occupied. Rather did they occupy a position equal to that of the
bible in Jurope, and for the same reason. Social Obligations in
China were inculcated by means of the classical writings with 2
dignity and fervour, that raised such relationships into some thing
near to a fine art and not far removed from a religion. No depart-
ment of communal life is fundamentally so important, as the depart-
ment of human behaviour within it. If this is rightly established,
as it was by Confucius, the uniformity and harmony of the nation
is secured. Everything else in education was sacrificed to this.
This was education and this was the content and aim of the whole
classical system which consists of treatises setting forth the se
moral principles. "If a minister make his own conduct correct
what difficulty will he have in assisting the government. If he
cannot rectify himself what has he to do with rectifying others?"
"He who exercises government by means of virtuo may be compared to
the polar star which keeps its place while all the stars turn
towards it.