Cfncnell Hniueraitg Siibcaty atljara, Jfew ^nrk CHARLES WILLIAM WASON COLLECTION CHINA AND THE CHINESE THE GIFT OF CHARLES WILLIAM WASON CLASS OF 1876 1918 ""'""""' DS 734.W3r" '"'"'>' * '" 'e^ple ^lii»i™iliiii!!iifiii«f,!,f ^ of Co 3 1924 023 118 643 Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924023118643 GUIDE TO THE TABLETS IN A TEMPLE OF CONFUCIUS, BY T. WAT TEES, H.M'S. CONSUL FOE WUHU. SHANGHAI, CHINA:- PRINTED AT THE AMBKICAN PBESBTTEBIAN MISSION PEESS. UOCCCLXXIX. IP^E^A€Mo The aim of the following pages is to give the names of the men who have been canonized as followers of Confucius, with a few notices of the circumstances in which these men, were bom, and Ifved, and of the work which they severally accomplished. A slight general sketch of each individual is all that has in most cases been attempted, but the authorities given in the foot notes will supply more complete information to those who wish to pursue the study, and will also enable the reader to correct errors and mistranslations in the present work. The differences of opinion to be found in these authorities are often considerable and they occasionally do not agree as to matters of fact. Sometimes the difference arises from a misprint, sometimes from carelessness in transcribing, and sometimes from imperfect information. The reader has consequently often to exercise his judgment in the selection and rejection of conflicting statements. Much valuable assistance in compiling the Guide has been derived from the writings of several western authors whose names are generally given. The kindness of one or two native scholars deserves mention also, and one of these, the Principal of a College, supplied some books not easily obtained. But the Compiler's thanks are specially due to the Rev. W. S. Holt, of the American Presbyterian Mission Press, who has performed the arduous and wearisome task of revising the pages in going through the press. IcHAKG, April, 1879. isroTE. Tlie principal authorities used in the compilation of this book and not generally mentioned in the foot-notes are the ShSng-yii-shu-wen (H ^ ii K), edition of 1824. W^n-miao-ssu-'wei (Jjj .^ |E ©), reprint of 1872. Much use has also been made of the five volumes of Legge's Chinese Classics, and references are not always given. They are most frequently quoted simply as L. Ch. CI. Other sources of information not in every case specially acknowledged are Mayers' Chinese Reader's Manual, the Chia-yu, Shi-chi, "WSn-hsien-t'ung-k"ao of Ma Tuan-lin, and the Mirror of History. The full title of this last treatise is Tzu-chi-t'ung-chien-kang-mu "^^^^ i*^s various ( j£ ^ Jl M IS @ )> supplements. It is found generally quoted as the T'ung-chien, and Ma Tuao-lin's work is usually referred to merely by his name. INTEODUCTION. OUTLINE OF THE TEMPLE. According to the laws of China there nmst be a W^n-miao (2!C^) or Temple of Confucius attached to every Prefecture, Sub-Prefecture, District, and in every market-town throughout iShe empire. Conse- quently not only has each town its temple but all Prefectural cities contain two and some three. A "W6n-miao may be built on any convenient site within the-'-walls of a town but it must in aU cases face the South. There are differences of detail from place to place but the essentials of the temple are much the same everywhere, and vary only in size and completeness. It must consist of three Courts which generally follow in a line from South to North. The outermost of these is called the P'an-kung, (^ g) from the name given to the state College of a feudal principality during the period of the Chou dynasty. It is bounded on the South ^ a wall called the Hang-ch'iang (^ ^), a name which recalls that of the Grovernment Colleges during the Han period. The colour of this wall, as of the temple generally, is red, that having been adopted by the Chou rulers as their official colour. It is not provided vrath a gate until a student of the district to which the temple is attache^ succeeds in obtaining the title Chuang-yuan, that is, first among the Chin-shi of his year. When this occurs the middle portion of the wall is taken away and a gate substituted, through which, howdver, only a Chuang-yuan and an Emperor or Prince may pass. A little VI OUTLINE OF THE TEMPLE. called to the north of this wall is an ornamental arch of wood or stone is a pond called the the Ling-hsing-mgn (-^ g f^) and beyond this and P'an-chi (^ ^}. This pond is of semicircular shape properly, extends from East by South to West according to the rule established " for state colleges during the Ohou period. These had " half-ponds while the Emperor's College had a complete' circular pond. Hence came the name of the former, the character phcn being composed of two elements one meaning water and the other a half, though the name is also given as (^ M) ^^^ said to denote diffusion, that is of political knowledge. The pond is spanned by the Yuan-ch'iao (Bliff) or Arched . Bridge, also reserved for the use of a Chuang-yuan or Emperor, and often called the Wang-ch'iao, or Eoyal Bridge. The chief entrances to the Court are by two gates, one in the east wall and one in the west. At the upper end on the west side is the Tsai-shSiig-t'ing (^ |£ ^), a room in which the animals for sacrifice are kept, and at the opposite corner is a chamber for the private use of the chief worshipper. In this he rests for a short time, on coming to the temple and it is hence called the Kuan-t'ing C^;^) or Official Pavilion. It is known also as the KSng-yi-so (H ^ ^) because the mandarin here changes his ordinary robes for Court uniform. The north side, of this Court, which is usually planted with trees, is occupied by a large haU in the middle of which is the Ta-eh'Sng- men, opened only for a Ghuang-yuan or Emperor. This is also known as the Chi-lnSn (^ f^) or Spear door, because for some time it was adorned by two stands of antique spears. On each side of this is a small door leading into the next or principal Court, on entering which two long narrow buildings are seen extending along the east and west walls. These are called respectively the Tung-wu ("^ ^) and Hsi-wu (U J^), and they contain the tablets of the Former Worthies and Scholars arranged in chronological order. Between these buildings is an open space called Tan-chu {jf^} or Vermilion Porch, that having been the name of a corresponding open square in front of a palace during the Chou dynasty. This part of the Court is usually planted with cypresses or in their absence with oleas and other handsome trees. Here all ordinary worshippers kneel and prostrate themselves when OUTLINE OF THE TEMPLE. VU celebrating the worship of Confucius. Above the Tan-chu is a stone platform called the Yue-t'ai (^ ^) or Moon Terrace, also a survival from the Chou times. This adjoins the Ta-ch'eng-tien {^^^) or Hall of Great Perfection, the Temple proper. In many places this is an imposing structure with massive pillars of wood or stone and embellished with quaint devices in painting. In the middle of the north wall, " superior and alone," sometimes in a large niche and sometimes merely resting on a table, is the Sage's tablet. Before it stands an altar on which are usually a few sacrificial vessels, and overhead are short eulogistic inscriptions. Next below the Sage are the Four Associates, ttvo on his left hand and two on his right. Their tablets are in niches or frames and have altars before them. Lower in the Hall and arranged along the walls are the tablets of the Twelve " "Wise ones," six on each side, also furnished with altars. The next Court, which is behind the principal one, or, if space requires, at its east side, contains the Ch'ung-sh^ng-tzu (^ |^ IbJ) Ancestral Hall of exalted Sages. In it are the tablets of five ancestors of Confucius, of his half-brother, of the fathers of the Associates and of certain other worthies. With a few exceptions the men worshipped here have been canonized on account of the merits of their posterity and not from any great virtue in themselves. The official residence of the Director of Studies is in close proximity to the Confucian temple which is under the care of that mandarin. Certain buildings for the use of government students and chambers for the worship of deceased local celebrities, or deserving officials, are also sometimes found either within the temple precincts or immediately outside. The "WSn-chang-kung, moreover, or Hall of the God of Literature is now often found close beside the Temple of Confucius.* * Legge, Chinese ClaBsios, Vol. IV. p. 616. Li-chi-chi-shuo (MIE^^) Ch. 3. VUl HISTORICAL SKETCH. HISTORICAL SKETCH. One of the last recorded utterances of Confucius is a lament over the failure of his teachings. The rulers of the time did not appreciate him and would not adopt his theories or follow his counsels.