the soul of the far east(远东的灵魂)-第7章
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proud of our ancestors in direct proportion to their remoteness from
ourselves； thus permitting Democracy to revenge its insignificance by
smiling at our self…imposed satire。 To esteem a man in inverse ratio to
the amount of remarkable blood he has inherited is； to say the least；
bathetic。 Others； again； make themselves objectionable by preferring
their immediate relatives to all less connected companions； and cling to
their cousins so closely that affection often culminates in matrimony；
nature's remonstrances notwithstanding。 But with all the pride or
pleasure which we take in the members of our particular clan； our
satisfaction really springs from viewing them on an autocentric theory of
the social system。 In our own eyes we are the star about which； as in
Joseph's dream； our relatives revolve and upon which they help to shed an
added lustre。 Our Ptolemaic theory of society is necessitated by our
tenacity to the personal standpoint。 This fixed idea of ours causes all else
seemingly to rotate about it。 Such an egoistic conception is quite foreign
to our longitudinal antipodes。 However much appearances may agree；
the fundamental principles upon which family consideration is based are
widely different in the two hemispheres。 For the far…eastern social
universe turns on a patricentric pivot。
Upon the conception of the family as the social and political unit
depends the whole constitution of China。 The same theory somewhat
modified constitutes the life…principle of Korea； of Japan； and of their less
advanced cousins who fill the vast centre of the Asiatic continent。 From
the emperor on his throne to the common coolie in his hovel it is the idea
of kinship that knits the entire body politic together。 The Empire is one
great family； the family is a little empire。
The one developed out of the other。 The patriarchal is； as is well
known； probably the oldest political system in the world。 All nations may
be said to have experienced such a paternal government； but most nations
outgrew it。
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The Soul of the Far East
Now the interesting fact about the yellow branch of the human race is；
not that they had so juvenile a constitution； but that they have it； that it has
persisted practically unchanged from prehistoric ages。 It is certainly
surprising in this kaleidoscopic world whose pattern is constantly
changing as time merges one combination of its elements into another； that
on the other side of the globe this set should have remained the same。
Yet in spite of the lapse of years； in spite of the altered conditions of
existence； in spite of an immense advance in civilization； such a primitive
state of society has continued there to the present day； in all its essentials
what it was when as nomads the race forefathers wandered peacefully or
otherwise over the plains of Central Asia。 The principle helped them to
expand； it has simply cramped them ever since。 For； instead of
dissolving like other antiquated views； it has become； what it was bound to
become if it continued to last； crystallized into an institution。 It had
practically reached this condition when it received a theoretical； not to say
a theological recognition which gave it mundane immortality。 A couple
of millenniums ago Confucius consecrated filial duty by making it the
basis of the Chinese moral code。 His hand was the finishing touch of
fossilification。 For since the sage set his seal upon the system no one has
so much as dreamt of changing it。 The idea of confuting Confucius
would be an act of impiety such as no Chinaman could possibly commit。
Not that the inadmissibility of argument is due really to the authority of
the philosopher； but that it lies ingrained in the character of the people。
Indeed the genius of the one may be said to have consisted in divining the
genius of the other。 Confucius formulated the prevailing practice； and in
so doing helped to make it perpetual。 He gave expression to the national
feeling； and like expressions； generally his； served to stamp the idea all the
more indelibly upon the national consciousness。
In this manner the family from a natural relation grew into a highly
unnatural social anachronism。 The loose ties of a roving life became
fetters of a fixed conventionality。 Bonds originally of mutual advantage
hardened into restrictions by which the young were hopelessly tethered to
the old。 Midway in its course the race undertook to turn round and face
backwards； as it journeyed on。 Its subsequent advance could be nothing
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The Soul of the Far East
but slow。
The head of a family is so now in something of a corporeal sense。
From him emanate all its actions； to him are responsible all its parts。 Any
other member of it is as incapable of individual expression as is the hand；
or the foot； or the eye of man。 Indeed； Confucian doctors of divinity
might appropriately administer psychically to the egoistic the rebuke of
the Western physician to the too self…analytic youth who； finding that； after
eating； his digestion failed to give him what he considered its proper
sensations； had come to consult the doctor as to how it ought to feel。
〃Feel！ young man；〃 he was answered； 〃you ought not to be aware that you
have a digestion。〃 So with them； a normally constituted son knows not
what it is to possess a spontaneity of his own。 Indeed； this very word
〃own；〃 which so long ago in our own tongue took to itself the symbol of
possession； well exemplifies his dependent state。 China furnishes the
most conspicuous instance of the want of individual rights。 A Chinese son
cannot properly be said to own anything。 The title to the land he tills is
vested absolutely in the family； of which he is an undivided thirtieth； or
what…not。 Even the administration of the property is not his； but resides
in the family； represented by its head。 The outward symbols of
ownership testify to the fact。 The bourns that mark the boundaries of the
fields bear the names of families； not of individuals。 The family； as such；
is the proprietor； and its lands are cultivated and enjoyed in common by all
the constituents of the clan。 In the tenure of its real estate； the Chinese
family much resembles the Russian Mir。 But so far as his personal state
is concerned； the Chinese son outslaves the Slav。 For he lives at home；
under the immediate control of the paternal willin the most complete of
serfdoms； a filial one。 Even existence becomes a communal affair。 From
the family mansion； or set of mansions； in
