614
Illustrations of Men and Things in China,
Nov.
We see
ing no sage among them like their own peerless Confucius. from this what reason Teën Kesheih (vol. III., page 304) thought he had for congratulating himself that he had 'clothing and caps, and did not live in a hole.' It is hard for us to believe that people live in this world who imagine that all this
be true, may
but there are probably millions of such.
Following these two drawings, there is a picture of Confucius talk- ing with a boy, in illustration of the following story.
[
The name of Confucius was Yew, and his style Chungne; he establish- ed himself as an instructor in the western part of the kingdom of Loo. One day, followed by all his disciples, riding in a carriage, he went out to ram- ble, and on the ord, came across several children at their sports; among them was one who did not join in them. Confucius, stopping his carriage, ask- ed him, saying, "Why is it that you alone do not play ?". The lad replied, "All play is without any profit: one's clothes get torn, and they are not easi. ly mended; above me, I disgrace my father and mother; below me, even to the lowest, there is fighting and altercation: so much toil and no reward, how can it be a good business? It is for these reasons, that I do not play." Then dropping his head, he began making a city out of pieces of tile.
Coufucius, reproving him, said, "Why do you not turn out for the car- riage!" The boy replied, "From ancient times till now, it has always been considered proper for a carriage to turn out for a city, and not for a city to turn out for a carriage." Confucius then stopped his carriage, in order to dis. course of reason. He got out of the carriage, and asked him, "You are still young in years, how is it you are so quick ?" The boy replied, saying, “A human being, at the age of three years, discriminates between his father and mother; a hare, three days after it is born, runs over the ground and furrows of the fields; fish, three days after birth, wander in rivers and lakes: what heaven thus produces naturally, how can it be called brisk ?”
Confucius added, “In what village and neighborhood do you reside, what is your surname and name, and what your style?" The boy answered, "I live in a mean village and in a poor laud; my surname is Hang, my name is Tŏ, and I have yet no style.'
do
""
Confucius rejoined, "I wish to have you come and ramble with me; what you think of it?" The youth replied, “ A stern father is at home, whom I am bound to serve; an affectionate inother is there, whom it is my duty to cherish; a worthy elder brother is at home, whom it is proper for me to obey, with a tender younger brother whom I must teach; and at home is an intelligent teacher from whom I am required to learn: when have I any leisure to go a rambling with you?"
Confucius said, "I have in my carriage thirty-two chess-men; what do you say to having a game together?" The lad answered, "If the emperor love gaming, the empire will not be governed; if the nobles love play, the government will be impeded; if scholars love it, learning and investigation will be lost and thrown by; if the lower classes are fond of gambling, they will utterly lose the support for their families; if servants and slaves love to game, they will get a cudgeling; if farmers love it, they will miss the time for ploughing and sowing: for these reasons I shall not play with you.”
Confucius rejoined, "I wish to have you go with me and fully equalize the empire; what do you think of this ?” The lad replied, “The empire cannot be equalized: here are high hills; there are lakes and rivers; either there are princes and nobles, or there are slaves and servants. If the high hills be leveled, the birds and beasts will have no resort ; if the rivers and lakes be
!