472
Defense of un Essay, &c.
SEP.
designates a definite individual, the Rationalists and common people also use this phrase, and by it designate other beings than the Tien of the classics; therefore, argues Dr. M., it is a generic term.
"It would appear from the line of argument pursued by the writer of the letter, that by the phrase Shángtí, the Chinese (Dr. M. should have said, the Chinese literati) will understand only the supreme Shángti (query, supreme Supreme Ruler?) spoken of in the classics. According to a statement made by the late Mr. Lowrie, it seems how- ever, that the Chinese,with whom he caine in contact, were perpetually thinking of Yuh-hwáng Shángɩ when he spoke to them of Shángti.” "We have proved that there are many other fabulous deities known under the name of Shángti. The term is therefore not a proper name but generic." pp. 3, 4.
Dr. Legge says, “We have from that (the Táuist use of [the term Shángti) three different beings all called Shángti, that relative term being made proper to an individual being in each case, by the adjunc- tion of the respective terms, Yuh-hwang, Hiuen-tien, and Yuen-tien. These examples completely refute the notion that Shángtí is merely the name of the chief god of the Chinese, and they show us that the name is used just as the words Elohim and sog" I agree entirely with Dr. Legge that Shángtí is not merely the name of the chief god of the Chinese; it is a title; I admit that this title is not restricted to a single individual, and that the individuals mentioned by Dr. L. are severally styled Shángtí; but what I contend for is, that in the Con- fucian classics, when standing alone, the phrase Shangtt designates the being named Tien or Háu Tien, the Expansive Heavens, wor- shiped at the winter solstice, which being is a false god; and that when speaking to a Rationalist, if we use the phrase Shangtí without any adjunct, he will likewise understand us as referring to a definite being, namely Yuh-hwáng, who is also a false god: so that either party,
Confucianist or Táuist, would understand us as referring to his chief god, which chief god in either case is a false god, and no proper object of worship. Therefore, if we look at the matter practically, we shall see that to exhort either of these to worship Shangti, without any explanation, is equivalent to sending them off to worship Tien and Yuh-hwang respectively.
The American Missionary says; "Brethren, you all know that experience is worth more than theory; when the two clash, the former must prevail." It has been the submitting the phrase Shungti to the practical test referred to by the "American Missionary," that has convinced the great majority of the missionaries in China that the
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