the soul of the far east-第4章
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n this deep…implanted； widespread instinct of human race。
But however strong the conviction now of one's individuality； is there aught to assure him of its continuance beyond the confines of its present life？ Will it awake on death's morrow and know itself； or will it； like the body that gave it lodgment； disintegrate again into indistinguishable spirit dust？ Close upon the heels of the existing consciousness of self treads the shadow…like doubt of its hereafter。 Will analogy help to answer the grewsome riddle of the Sphinx？ Are the laws we have learned to be true for matter true also for mind？ Matter we now know is indestructible； yet the form of it with which we once were so fondly familiar vanishes never to return。 Is a like fate to be the lot of the soul？ That mind should be capable of annihilation is as inconceivable as that matter should cease to be。 Surely the spirit we feel existing round about us on every side now has been from ever； and will be for ever to come。 But that portion of it which we each know as self； is it not like to a drop of rain seen in its falling through the air？ Indistinguishable the particle was in the cloud whence it came； indistinguishable it will become again in the ocean whither it is bound。 Its personality is but its passing phase from a vast impersonal on the one hand to an equally vast impersonal on the other。 Thus seers preached in the past； so modem science is hinting to…day。 With us the idea seems the bitter fruit of material philosophy； by them it was looked upon as the fairest flower of their faith。 What is dreaded now as the impious suggestion of the godless four thousand years ago was reverenced as a sacred tenet of religion。
Shorter even than his short threescore years and ten is that soul's life of which man is directly cognizant。 Bounded by two seemingly impersonal states is the personal consciousness of which he is made aware： the one the infantile existence that precedes his boyish discovery； the other the gloom that grows with years；two twilights that fringe the two borders of his day。 But with the Far Oriental； life is all twilight。 For in Japan and China both states are found together。 There； side by side with the present unconsciousness of the babe exists the belief in a coming unconsciousness for the man。 So inseparably blended are the two that the known truth of the one seems； for that very bond； to carry with it the credentials of the other。 Can it be that the personal； progressive West is wrong； and the impersonal； impassive East right？ Surely not。 Is the other side of the world in advance of us in mind…development； even as it precedes us in the time of day； or just as our noon is its night； may it not be far in our rear？ Is not its seeming wisdom rather the precociousness of what is destined never to go far？
Brought suddenly upon such a civilization； after the blankness of a long ocean voyage； one is reminded instinctively of the feelings of that bewildered individual who； after a dinner at which he had eventually ceased to be himself； was by way of pleasantry left out overnight in a graveyard； on their way home； by his humorously inclined companions； and who； on awaking alone； in a still dubious condition； looked around him in surprise； rubbed his eyes two or three times to no purpose； and finally muttered in a tone of awe…struck conviction； 〃Well； either I'm the first to rise； or I'm a long way behind time！〃
Whether their failure to follow the natural course of evolution results in bringing them in at the death just the same or not； these people are now； at any rate； stationary not very far from the point at which we all set out。 They are still in that childish state of development before self…consciousness has spoiled the sweet simplicity of nature。 An impersonal race seems never to have fully grown up。
Partly for its own sake； partly for ours； this most distinctive feature of the Far East； its marked impersonality； is well worthy particular attention； for while it collaterally suggests pregnant thoughts about ourselves； it directly underlies the deeper oddities of a civilization which is the modern eighth wonder of the world。 We shall see this as we look at what these people are； at what they were； and at what they hope to become； not historically； but psychologically； as one might perceive； were he but wise enough； in an acorn； besides the nut itself； two oaks； that one from which it fell； and that other which from it will rise。 These three states； which we may call its potential past； present； and future； may be observed and studied in three special outgrowths of a race's character： in its language； in its every…day thoughts； and in its religion。 For in the language of a people we find embalmed the spirit of its past； in its every…day thoughts； be they of arts or sciences； is wrapped up its present life； in its religion lie enfolded its dreamings of a future。 From out each of these three subjects in the Far East impersonality stares us in the face。 Upon this quality as a foundation rests the Far Oriental character。 It is individually rather than nationally that I propose to scan it now。 It is the action of a particle in the wave of world…development I would watch； rather than the propagation of the wave itself。 Inferences about the movement of the whole will follow of themselves a knowledge of the motion of its parts。
But before we attack the subject esoterically； let us look a moment at the man as he appears in his relation to the community。 Such a glance will suggest the peculiar atmosphere of impersonality that pervades the people。
However lacking in cleverness； in merit； or in imagination a man may be； there are in our Western world； if his existence there be so much as noticed at all； three occasions on which he appears in print。 His birth； his marriage； and his death are all duly chronicled in type； perhaps as sufficiently typical of the general unimportance of his life。 Mention of one's birth； it is true； is an aristocratic privilege； confined to the world of English society。 In democratic America； no doubt because all men there are supposed to be born free and equal； we ignore the first event； and mention only the last two episodes； about which our national astuteness asserts no such effacing equality。
Accepting our newspaper record as a fair enough summary of the biography of an average man； let us look at these three momentous occasions in the career of a Far Oriental。
Chapter 2。 Family。
In the first place； then； the poor little Japanese baby is ushered into this world in a sadly impersonal manner； for he is not even accorded the distinction of a birthday。 He is permitted instead only the much less special honor of a birth…year。 Not that he begins his separate existence otherwise than is the custom of mortals generally； at a definite instant of time； but that very little subsequent notice is ever taken of the fact。 On the contrary； from the moment he makes his appearance he is spoken of as a year old； and this same age he continues to be considered in most simple ease of calculation； till the beginning of the next calendar year。 When that epoch of general rejoicing arrives； he is credited with another year himself。 So is everybody else。 New Year's day is a common birthday for the community； a sort of impersonal anniversary for his whole world。 A like reckoning is followed in China and Korea。 Upon the disadvantages of being considered from one's birth up at least one year and possibly two older than one really is； it lies beyond our present purpose to expatiate。 It is quite evident that woman has had no voice in the framing of such a chronology。 One would hardly imagine that man had either； so astronomic is the system。 A communistic age is however but an unavoidable detail of the general scheme whose most suggestive feature consists in the subordination of the actual birthday of the individual to the fictitious birthday of the community。 For it is not so much the want of commemoration shown the subject as the character of the commemoration which is significant。 Some slight notice is indeed paid to birthdays during early childhood； but even then their observance is quite secondary in impo
