Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 501

1942.

Traits of Chinese Character.

483

Chinese soar beyond the dull level of these acquirements, he soon dis- covers, that his countrymen detest such vague flights; nor indeed would they be able to appreciate them, even if one could be found able to enlarge the bounds of their knowledge. The general belief is, that whatever the ancients did not teach, is unworthy the atten- tion of a son of Hán. The mind is therefore kept in subjection; it may not, and unaided, it cannot proceed farther than the prescribed limits, and must model all thoughts according to the orthodox canon. This blunts the faculties, and produces slavish submission to authority, without permitting the right of inquiry. Few as the ideas are that are communicated by this course of instruction, they are often not fully comprehended, and the words conveying them are mechanically repeated without much idea of the meaning. Thus there is strictly speaking no mental cultivation, and the yoke of submission to dogma- tic precept is easily borne, as its pressure is not felt by such callous minds.

Such is exactly the state in which a despotic government wishes its subjects to be. Control then becomes easy; the people are kept in awe, by working upon their prejudices, and where all minds are tutored in the same manner, the same measures will be equally ap- plicable to the whole commonwealth. The emperors have always been anxions to uphold this acquiescence in what is written. The advanta- ges accruing to the rulers are immeasurable, and with such subjects they can safely venture a little upon their endurance. A whole code of laws is therefore drawn up to suit this mental slavery. There is law upon law, and precept upon precept, regulations, edicts, proclama- tions, commands, and behests without end. They are calculated to restrain every action, and to make an immense people the puppets of their superiors. Though these laws often lie dormant, yet they are rigorously executed when it suits the sovereign pleasure of the rulers So artfully is everything managed, that when they wish, the innocent feel most its crushing power, and, before they are aware, are hurried to ruin and doomed to suffer the most crying injustice. The myrmi- dous of the magistrates keep the people in constant terror, and as it were, pounce upon their victim with cunning wiliness. This is in- deed a thralldom, for the fear of this arbitrary power paralizes their energies. Since it cannot be resisted by open force, the sufferers use corresponding craftiness to escape from its clutches, or to protect themselves against its assaults. To this we trace another cause for the eceitfulness of ti:c Chinese character.

When we remember that the Chinese have no religious instruc-