1841.
Illustrations of Men and Things in China.
613
The king, understanding by the persons whom he had deputed to be present at the ceremony, the solemnity of the funeral, and with. what pomp and decency it had been performed, was extremely satis- fied; so that when the fathers went to return their thanks to his ma- jesty, he made them approach very near his person, entertained them with a particular sweetness and favor, and cheered them for their loss, with expressions full of goodness and sincerity.
ART. III. Illustrations of men and things in China: a Chinese toy-book, the Tung Yuen Tsă-tsze, or Eastern Garden's
Miscellany.
ture.
THIS little book no doubt occupies a niche among Chinese literary productions analogous to the toy and picture books in English litera- But how unlike are the two! It is as much at antipodes to all our notions of a toy-book, calculated to amuse or instruct a child, as is the country whence it came to the land of Tom Thumb or Jack aud Gill. However, let us examine it, for it shows how our long-tail- ed' friends would teach the young idea,' and what they suppose ought to interest the youthful mind.
In order immediately to set before the lad the paragon of excel- lence, the unattainable mark which he is ever to keep in view, while approaching as near to it as possible, a picture of Confucius, seated at a table with four disciples standing before it in respectful attitudes, forms the frontispiece. To show what great personage is represented in this picture, the kelin or unicorn is drawn capering in front. Next to this, we have first, plans. of the heavens above, that is, the constel- lations with their names attached, the stars being joined together by lines like eyelet-holes in a lady's neckerchief; and, second, the earth beneath, i. e. China and the four seas surrounding it. If we can once possess ourselves of the idea that any body regards these two pictures as really correct representations of what they profess to deli- neate, we have a clue to many a wrong notion in the minds of the Chinese. It is not difficult for people who have been taught that the other countries of the world are nothing but such contemptible islets as they here see them, no larger than their names, to infer that their inhabitants are as debased, weak and ignorant as they are petty; hav
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