Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 151

1842.

Notice of the Works of Si Tungpo

183

was so diligent as the scholars under the Sung dynasty, and among them, the commentaries of Chú Hí, or Chú fútsz', are remarkable for their clearness, and the distinctness with which they elucidate the text. They have therefore been reprinted a thousand times, and are even in this age, regarded as the orthodox explanations of the classics.

The reasonings of these giants in compilation took a very perverse turn, for it was their wisdom, that finally proved the mortality of the soul. The sitnile by which, instead of argument, they illustrated this pernicious opinion, is unique in its kind, and deserves mention. They said, the relation of the soul to the body is like the sharpness of a knife compared to the knife itself; now as soon as the knife is destroyed, its sharpness also vanishes. So on the death of the body, the soul ceases to exist. This is just like another famous argument; viz., water is a fluid, and a fluid is not a compact body; therefore water can never appear in a compact form, and all the fables about ice, snow, and hail are unworthy of credit. Thus reasoned the king of Siam, and nobody dared to contradict. These sentiments of the philosophers of the age of Sung have in the meanwhile been repeat- ed by all the self wise of the race of Han, who imagine they have found the philosopher's stone by denying the future existence of mau's most precious part. Theoretically they believe firmly in an nihilation, but really they are afraid of the sufferings in hell, and very frequently call in the assistance of a priest of Budha to smooth their last moments. But during life, they proceed, as if there was no life to come, and commit every vile and atrocious crime, because there is no restraint upon their deeds, which always will influence mankind, if they are imbued with a fear of everlasting punishment.

Amongst the number of clever scholars, who lived during the tiine preceding the latter emperors of the southern Sung, when the Tar- tars occupied all the country to the north of the Yángtsz' kiáng, Sú Tungpo was distinguished. He early studied letters, in order to ad- vance himself, and so far succeeded in his ambitious views, that he became a minister of state, and lived a life of splendor at Hángchau, which was then the capital. He highly had a discursive mind, and whether he applied himself to letters, or devoted his mind to affairs of state, he alike excelled.

As a scholar, he fairly came up to the beau ideal of what a Chinese author ought to be;—that is a poet, a prose writer, a framer of epigrams, of ditties, and unmeaning classi- cal aspirations; while he aíso composed state papers, and com- plaints upon the corruption of the age. As a minister, he was bigoted,