Chapter1。Individuality。
TheboyishbeliefthatontheothersideofourglobeallthingsareofnecessityupsidedownisstartlinglybroughtbacktothemanwhenhefirstsetsfootatYokohama。Ifhisinitialglancedoesnot，tobesure，disclosethenativesintheevery—dayfeatofstandingcalmlyontheirheads，anattitudewhichhisyouthfulimaginationconceivedtobeanecessaryconsequenceoftheirgeographicalposition，itdoesatleastrevealthemlookingattheworldasiffromthestandpointofthateccentricposture。Fortheyseemtohimtoseeeverythingtopsy—turvy。Whetheritbethattheirantipodalsituationhasaffectedtheirbrains，orwhetheritisthemindoftheobserverhimselfthathashithertobeenwronginundertakingtorectifytheinvertedpicturespresentedbyhisretina，theresult，atallevents，isundeniable。Theworldstandsreversed，and，takingforgrantedhisownuprightness，thestrangerunhesitatinglyimputestothemanobliquityofvision，astateofmindoutwardlytypifiedbythecat—likeobliquenessoftheireyes。
Iftheinversionbenotpreciselyofthekindheexpected，itisnonethelessstriking，andimpressiblymorereal。Ifpersonalexperiencehasdefinitelyconvincedhimthattheinhabitantsofthatundersideofourplanetdonotadheretoitheaddownwards，likefliesonaceiling，——hisearlyapriorideduction，——theystillappearquiteasantipodal，mentallyconsidered。Intellectually，atleast，theirattitudesetsgravityatdefiance。Fortothemind’seyetheirworldisonehuge，comicalantithesisofourown。Whatweregardintuitivelyinonewayfromourstandpoint，theyasintuitivelyobserveinadiametricallyoppositemannerfromtheirs。
Tospeakbackwards，writebackwards，readbackwards，isbuttheabcoftheircontrariety。Theinversionextendsdeeperthanmeremodesofexpression，downintotheverymatterofthought。Ideasofourswhichwedeemedinnatefindinthemnohome，whilemethodswhichstrikeusaspreposterouslyunnaturalappeartobetheirbirthright。
Fromthestandingofawetumbrellaonitshandleinsteadofitsheadtodrytothestrikingofamatchawayinplaceoftowardone，thereseemstobenoactionofourdailylives，howevertrivial，butfindswiththemitsappropriatereaction——equalbutopposite。
Indeed，tooneanxiousofconformingtothemannersandcustomsofthecountry，theonlyroadtorightliesinfollowingunswervinglythatcoursewhichhisinheritedinstinctsassurehimtobewrong。
Yetthesepeoplearehumanbeings;withalltheireccentricitiestheyaremen。Physicallywecannotbutbecognizantofthefact，normentallybutbeconsciousofit。Likeus，indeed，andyetsounlikearetheythatweseem，aswegazeatthem，tobeviewingourownhumanityinsomemirth—provokingmirrorofthemind，——amirrorthatshowsusourownfamiliarthoughts，butallturnedwrongsideout。
Humorholdstheglass，andwebecomethesportofourownreflections。
Butisitotherwiseathome？Donotourpersonalpresentmentsmockeachofusindividuallyourliveslong？Whobutisthedailydupeofhisdressing—glass，andcomplacentlyconceiveshimselftobeaverydifferentappearingpersonfromwhatheis，forgettingthathisrightsidehasbecomehisleft，andviceversa？Yetwho，whenbychancehecatchessightinlikemannerofthefaceofafriend，cankeepfromsmilingatthecaricatureswhichthemirror’sleft—for—rightreversalmakesoftheasymmetryofthatfriend’sfeatures，——caricaturesallthemoregrotesqueforbeingutterlyunsuspectedbytheirinnocentoriginal？Perhaps，couldweonceseeourselvesasothersseeus，oursurpriseinthecaseofforeignpeoplesmightbelesspronounced。
Regarding，then，theFarOrientalasaman，andnotsimplyasaphenomenon，wediscoverinhispeculiarpointofviewanewimportance，——thepossibilityofusingitstereoptically。Forhismind—photographoftheworldcanbeplacedsidebysidewithours，andthetwopicturescombinedwillyieldresultsbeyondwhateitheralonecouldpossiblyhaveafforded。Thusharmonized，theywillhelpustorealizehumanity。Indeeditisonlybysuchacombinationoftwodifferentaspectsthatweeverperceivesubstanceanddistinguishrealityfromillusion。Whatourtwoeyesmakepossibleformaterialobjects，theearth’stwohemispheresmayenableustodoformentaltraits。Onlythesuperficialneverchangesitsexpression;
theappearanceofthesolidvarieswiththestandpointoftheobserver。
Indreamlandalonedoeseverythingseemplain，andthereallisunsubstantial。
TosaythattheJapanesearenotasavagetribeisofcourseunnecessary;torepeattheremark，anythingbutsuperfluous，ontheprinciplethatwhatisamatterofcommonnotorietyisveryapttoproveamatteraboutwhichuncommonlylittleisknown。Atpresentwegohalfwayinrecognitionofthesepeoplebybestowinguponthemademi—diplomaofmentaldevelopmentcalledsemi—civilization，neglecting，however，tospecifyinwhatthefractionalqualificationconsists。Ifthesuggestionofasecondmoiety，asofsomethingdirectlycomplementarytothem，werenotindirectlycomplimentarytoourselves，theexpressionmightpass;but，asitis，theself—praiseisrathertooobvioustocarryconviction。ForJapan’sclaimtocultureisnotbasedsolelyupontheexportswithwhichshesupplementsourart，noruponthepaper，china，andbric—a—bracwithwhichsheadornsourrooms;anymorethanWesternscienceisadequatelyrepresentedinJapanbyourpopularimportsthereofkeroseneoil，matches，andbeer。OnlyhalfcivilizedtheFarEastpresumablyis，butitissoratherinanabsolutethanarelativesense;inthesenseofwhatmighthavebeen，notofwhatis。Itissoascompared，notwithus，butwiththeeventualpossibilitiesofhumanity。Asyet，neithersystem，WesternnorEastern，isperfectenoughtoserveinallthingsasstandardfortheother。Thelightoftruthhasreachedeachhemispherethroughthemediumofitsownmentalcrystallization，andthishaspolarizeditinoppositeways，sothatnowtheraysthatarenormaltotheeyesoftheoneonlyproducedarknesstothoseoftheother。FortheJapanesecivilizationinthesenseofnotbeingsavageryistheequalofourown。Itisnotinthepolishthattherealdifferencelies;itisinthesubstancepolished。Inpoliteness，indelicacy，theyhaveasapeoplenopeers。Arthasbeentheirmistress，thoughsciencehasneverbeentheirmaster。Perhapsforthisveryreasonthatart，notscience，hasbeentheMusetheycourted，theresulthasbeenallthemorewidespread。Forculturethereisnottheattainmentofthefew，butthecommonpropertyofthepeople。Ifthepeaksofintellectriselesseminent，theplateauofgeneralelevationstandshigher。
Butlittleneedbesaidtoprovethecivilizationofalandwhereordinarytea—housegirlsaremodelsofrefinement，andcommoncoolies，whennotatwork，playchessforpastime。
IfJapanesewayslookoddatfirstsight，theybutlookmoreoddoncloseracquaintance。Inalandwhere，toallowone’sunderstandingthefreerplayofindoorlife，onebegins，notbytakingoffhishat，butbyremovinghisboots，hegetsattheverythresholdahintthathumanityistobeapproachedthewrongendto。When，afterthusenteringahouse，hetriesnexttogainadmittancetothemindofitsoccupant，thesuspicionbecomesacertainty。Hediscoversthatthispeopletalk，sotospeak，backwards;thatbeforehecanhopetocomprehendthem，ormakehimselfunderstoodinreturn，hemustlearntopresenthisthoughtsarrangedininverseorderfromtheoneinwhichtheynaturallysuggestthemselvestohismind。Hissentencesmustallbeturnedinsideout。Hefindshimselflostinalabyrinthoflanguage。Thesameseemstobetrueofthethoughtsitembodies。
Thefurtherhegoesthemoreobscurethewholeprocessbecomes，until，afterlonggropingaboutforsomemeansoforientinghimself，helightsatlastupontheclue。Thisclueconsistsin\"thesurvivaloftheunfittest。\"
InthecivilizationofJapanwehavepresentedtousamostinterestingcaseofpartiallyarresteddevelopment;or，tospeakesoterically，wefindourselvesplacedfacetofacewithasingularexampleofacompletedrace—life。Forthoughfromourstandpointtheevolutionofthesepeopleseemssuddenlytohavecometoanendinmid—career，lookedatmoreintimatelyitshowsallthesignsofhavingfullyrunitscourse。Developmentceased，notbecauseofoutwardobstruction，butfrompurelyintrinsicinabilitytogoon。
Theintellectualmachinewasnotshattered;itsimplyrandown。
Tothisfactthephenomenonowesitspeculiarinterest。Forwebeholdhereinthecaseofmanthesamespectaclethatweseecosmicallyinthecaseofthemoon，thespectacleofaworldthathasdiedofoldage。Noweakspotintheirsocialorganismdestroyedthemfromwithin;noepidemic，intheshapeofforeignhordes，felluponthemfromwithout。ForinspiteofthefactthatChinaofferstheuniqueexampleofacountrythathassimplylivedtobeconquered，mentallyhermastershaveinvariablybecomeherpupils。Havingoustedherfromherthroneasruler，theyproceededtositatherfeetasdisciples。Thustheyhaveratherhelpedthanhinderedhercivilization。
WhateverportionoftheFarEastweexaminewefinditsmentalhistorytobethesamestorywithvariations。HoweverunlikeChina，Korea，andJapanareinsomerespects，throughthecareersofallthreewecantracethesamelife—spirit。ItisthecareeroftheriverJordanrisinglikeanyotherstreamfromthespringsamongthemountainsonlytofallafterabriefexistenceintotheDeadSea。
Fortheirvitalforcehadspentitselfmorethanamillenniumago。
Already，then，theircivilizationhadinitsdeeperdevelopmentsattaineditsstature，andhassimplybeenperfectingitselfsince。
Wemaylikenittosomestuntedtree，that，findingitselfpreventedfromgrowth，bastesthemoreluxuriantlytoputforthflowersandfruit。Fornotthefinalbutthemedialprocesseswereskipped。
Inthosesuperficialamenitieswithwhichwemoreparticularlylinkourideaofcivilization，thesepeoplescontinuedtogrow。Theirrefinement，iffailingtoreachourstandardincertainrespects，surpassesoursconsideringthebarebarbaricbasisuponwhichitrests。ForitisastrueoftheJapaneseasoftheproverbialRussian，thoughinamorescientificsense，thatifyouscratchhimyouwillfindtheancestralTartar。Butitisnolesstruethatthedescendantsofthisrudeforefatherhavenowtakenonapolishofwhichtheirownexquisitelacquergivesbutafaintreflection。Thesurfacewasperfectedafterthesubstancewasformed。Ourwordfinish，withitsdoublemeaning，expressesboththeprocessandtheresult。
Thereentered，toheightenthebizarreeffect，aspiritcommoninmindsthatlackoriginality——thespiritofimitation。Thoughconsequentenoughuponawantofinitiative，theresultsofthistraitappearanythingbutnaturaltopeopleofamoreprogressivepast。
Theproverbialcollarandpairofspurslooknonethelessoddtothestrangerforbeingamentalinsteadofabodilyhabit。Somethingakintosuchacaseofunnaturalselectionhastheretakenplace。
Theorderlyprocedureofnaturalevolutionwasdisastrouslysupplementedbyman。Forthefactthatinthegrowthoftheirtreeofknowledgethebranchesdevelopedoutofallproportiontothetrunkisduetoapracticeofculture—grafting。
FrombeforethetimewhentheybegantoleaverecordsoftheiractionstheJapanesehavebeenanationofimporters，notofmerchandise，butofideas。Theyhaveinvariablyshownthemostadvancedfree—tradespiritinpreferringtotakesomebodyelse’sready—madearticlesratherthantotrytoproduceanybrand—newconceptionsthemselves。Theycontinuetofollowthesamelineoflife。
Aheartyappreciationofthethingsofothersisstilloneoftheirmostwinningtraits。Whattheytooktheygraftedbodilyupontheirancestraltree，whichinconsequencecametopresentamostunnaturallydiversifiedappearance。Forthoughnotunlikeothernationsinwishingtoborrow，iftheirzealinthematterwasslightlyexcessive，theywerepeculiarinthattheyneverassimilatedwhattheytook。Theysimplyinsertedituponthealreadyexistinggrowth。Thereitremained，andthrove，andblossomed，nourishedbythatindigenousJapanesesap，taste。Butlikegraftsgenerally，theforeignboughswerenotmuchmodifiedbytheirnewlife—blood，norwasthetreeinitsturnatallaffectedbythem。Connectedwithitonlyasseparablepartsofitsstructure，thecuttingsmighthavebeenloppedoffagainwithoutinfluencingperceptiblytheconditionofthefoster—parentstem。Thegraftsintimegrewtobegreatbranches，butthetrunkremainedthroughitallthetrunkofasapling。Inotherwords，thenationgrewuptoman’sestate，keepingthemindofitschildhood。
WhatisthustrueoftheJapaneseistruelikewiseoftheKoreansandoftheChinese。Thethreepeoples，indeed，formsomanylinksinonelongchainofborrowing。ChinatookfromIndia，thenKoreacopiedChina，andlastlyJapanimitatedKorea。Inthissimplemannertheysuccessivelybecamepossessedofacivilizationwhichoriginallywasnotthepropertyofanyoneofthem。Intheeagernesstheyallevincedinpurloiningwhatwasnottheirs，andintheperfectcontentwithwhichtheythenproceededtoenjoywhattheyhadtaken，theyremindusforciblyofthathappy—go—luckyclassinthecommunitywhichpreferstoliveonquestionableloansratherthanworkitselfforaliving。Likethosesameindividuals，whateverinteresttheFarEasternpeoplemaysucceedinraisingnow，Naturewillintheendmakethempaydearlyfortheirlackofprincipal。
TheFarEasterncivilizationresembles，infact，moreamechanicalmixtureofsocialelementsthanawelldifferentiatedchemicalcompound。Forinspiteofthegreatvarietyofingredientsthrownintoitscaldronofdestiny，asnoaffinityexistedbetweenthem，nocombinationresulted。Thepowertofusewaswanting。CapabilitytoevolveanythingisnotoneofthemarkedcharacteristicsoftheFarEast。Indeed，thetendencytospontaneousvariation，Nature’smodeofmakingexperiments，wouldseemtheretohavebeenanenterprisingfacultythatwasexhaustedearly。Sleepy，nodoubt，fromhavinggotupbetimeswiththedawn，thesedwellersinthefarlandsofthemorningbegantolookupontheirdayasalreadywellspentbeforetheyhadreacheditsnoon。Theygrewoldyoung，andhaveremainedmuchthesameageeversince。Whattheywerecenturiesago，thatatbottomtheyareto—day。TakeawaytheEuropeaninfluenceofthelasttwentyyears，andeachmanmightalmostbehisowngreat—grandfather。Inracecharacteristicsheisyetessentiallythesame。Thetraitsthatdistinguishedthesepeoplesinthepasthavebeengraduallyextinguishingthemeversince。Ofthesetraits，stagnatinginfluencesupontheircareer，perhapsthemostimportantisthegreatqualityofimpersonality。
Ifwetake，throughtheearth’stemperatezone，abeltofcountrywhosenorthernandsouthernedgesaredeterminedbycertainlimitingisotherms，notmorethanhalfthewidthofthezoneapart，weshallfindthatwehaveincludedinarelativelysmallextentofsurfacealmostallthenationsofnoteintheworld，pastorpresent。
Nowifweexaminethisbelt，andcomparethedifferentpartsofitwithoneanother，weshallbestruckbyaremarkablefact。
Thepeoplesinhabitingitgrowsteadilymorepersonalaswegowest。
Sounmistakableisthisgradationofspirit，thatoneistemptedtoascribeittocosmicratherthantohumancauses。Itisasmarkedasthechangeincolorofthehumancomplexionobservablealonganymeridian，whichrangesfromblackattheequatortoblondetowardthepole。Inlikemanner，thesenseofselfgrowsmoreintenseaswefollowinthewakeofthesettingsun，andfadessteadilyasweadvanceintothedawn。America，Europe，theLevant，India，Japan，eachislesspersonalthantheonebefore。Westandatthenearerendofthescale，theFarOrientalsattheother。IfwithustheI
seemstobeoftheveryessenceofthesoul，thenthesouloftheFarEastmaybesaidtobeImpersonality。
Curiousasthischaracteristicisasafact，itisevenmoreinterestingasafactor。Forwhatitbetokensofthesepeoplesinparticularmaysuggestmuchaboutmangenerally。Itmaymarkastrideintheory，ifastandstillinpractice。Possiblyitmayhelpustosomeunderstandingofourselves。Notthatitpromisesmuchaidtovexedmetaphysicalquestions，butasastudyinsociologyitmaynotprovesovain。
Andforathingwhichisalwayswithus，itsdiscussionmaybesaidtobepeculiarlyopportunejustnow。Foritliesatthebottomofthemostpressingquestionsoftheday。OfthetwogreatproblemsthatstaretheWesternworldinthefaceatthepresentmoment，bothturntoitforsolution。Agnosticism，theforebodingsilenceofthosewhothink，socialism，communism，andnihilism，thepetulantcryofthosewhodonot，alikedependultimatelyfortherighttobeuponthetruthorthefalsityofthesenseofself。
Foriftherebenosuchactualthingasindividuality，ifthefeelingwecallbythatnamebenaughtbutthetransientillusiontheBuddhistswouldhaveusbelieveit，anyfaithfoundeduponitasbasisvanishesasdoesthepictureinarevolvingkaleidoscope，——
lessenduringeventhantheflittingphantasmagoriaofadream。
Iftheegobebutthepassingshadowofthematerialbrain，atthedisintegrationofthegraymatterwhatwillbecomeofus？Shallwesimplylapseintoanindistinguishablepartofthevastuniversethatcompassesusround？Atthethoughtweseemtostandstrainingourgaze，ontheshoreofthegreatseaofknowledge，onlytowatchthefogrollin，andhidefromourvieweventhoseheadlandsofhopethat，likebeseechinghands，stretchoutintothedeep。
Somorematerially。Ifindividualitybeadelusionofthemind，whatmotivepotentenoughtoexciteendeavorinthebreastofanordinarymortalremains？Philosophers，indeed，mightstillworkfortheadvancementofmankind，butmankinditselfwouldnotcontinuelongtolaborenergeticallyforwhatshouldprofitonlythecommonweal。
Takeawaythestimulusofindividuality，andactionisparalyzedatonce。Forwithmostmenthepromptingsofpersonaladvantageonlyaffordsufficientincentivetoeffort。Destroythisforce，thenanyconsiderationdueitlapses，andsocialismisnotonlyjustified，itisraisedinstantlyintoanaxiomoflife。Thecommunity，inthatcase，becomesitselftheunit，theindivisibleatomofexistence。
Socialism，thencommunism，thennihilism，followininevitablesequence。ThateventheFarOriental，withallhisnumbingimpersonality，hasnottouchedthisgoalmayatleastsuggestthatindividualityisafact。
Butfirst，whatdoweknowaboutitsexistenceourselves？
Veryearlyinthecourseofeverythoughtfulchildhoodaneventtakesplace，bythesideofwhich，tothechildhimself，allothereventssinkintoinsignificance。Itisnotonethatisrecognizedandchronicledbytheworld，foritiswhollyunconnectedwithaction。Noonebutthechildisawareofitsoccurrence，andheneverspeaksofittoothers。Yettothatchilditmarksanepoch。
Sointenselyindividualdoesitseemthattheboyisafraidtoavowit，whileinrealitysouniversalisitthatprobablynohumanbeinghasescapeditsinfluence。Thoughsubjectivepurely，ithasmorevividnessthananyexternalevent;andthoughstrictlyintrinsictolife，itismorestartlingthananyaccidentoffateorfortune。
Thisexperienceoftheboy’s，atoncesosingularandyetsogeneral，isnothinglessthanthesuddenrevelationtohimonedayofthefactofhisownpersonality。
Somewhereaboutthetimewhensensationisgivingplacetosensitivenessasthegreatself—educator，andtheknowledgegainedbythefivebodilysensesisbeingfusedintothewisdomofthatmentalonewecallcommonsense，theboymakesadiscoveryakintotheactofwakingup。Allatoncehebecomesconsciousofhimself;
andtheconsciousnesshasaboutitatouchoftheuncanny。Hithertohehasbeenawareonlyofmatter;henowfirstrealizesmind。
Unwarned，unprepared，heissuddenlyusheredbeforebeing，andstandsawe—struckinthepresenceof——himself。
Iftheintroductiontohisownidentitywasstartling，thereisnothingreassuringinthefeelingthatthisstrangeacquaintanceshipmustlast。Forcontinueitdoes。Itbecomesanunsoughtintimacyhecannotshakeoff。Liketohisownshadowhecannotescapeit。
Tohimselfamancannotbutbeathome。Foryearsthisalteregohauntshim，forheimaginesitanidiosyncrasyofhisown，amorbidpeculiarityhedarenotconfidetoanyone，forfearofbeingthoughtafool。Nottilllongafterwards，whenhehaslearnedtoliveasamatterofcoursewithhisever—presentghost，doeshediscoverthatothershavehadlikefamiliarsthemselves。
Sometimesthisdawnofconsciousnessisprecededbyalongtwilightofsoul—awakening;butsometimes，uponmoresensitiveandsubtlernatures，thelightbreakswithallthesuddennessofasunriseattheequator，revealingtothemind’seyeanunsuspectedworldofselfwithin。Butinwhateverwaywemayawaketoit，thesenseofpersonality，whenfirstrealized，appearsalready，likethefabledGoddessofWisdom，fullgrowninthebrain。Fromthemomentwhenwefirstrememberourselvesweseemtobeasoldasweeverseemtoothersafterwardstobecome。Wegrow，indeed，inknowledge，inwisdom，inexperience，asouryearsincrease，butdeepdowninourheartofheartswearestillessentiallythesame。Tobesure，peoplepayusmoredeferencethantheydid，whichsuggestsadoubtattimeswhetherwemaynothavechanged;smallboysofasucceedinggenerationtreatuswitharespectthatcausesusinwardlytosmile，aswethinkhowlittlewedifferfromthem，iftheybutknewit。
Foratbottomwearenotconsciousofchangefromthatmorning，longago，whenfirstwerealizedourselves。Wefeeljustasyoungnowaswefeltoldthen。Wearebutamusedattheworld’sdiscriminationwherewecandetectnodifference。
Everyhumanbeinghasbeenthus\"twiceborn\"：onceasmatter，onceasmind。Noristhissecondbirththebirthrightonlyofmankind。
Allthehigheranimalsprobably，possiblyeventhelowertoo，haveexperiencedsomesuchrealizationofindividualidentity。Howeverthatmaybe，certainlytoallracesofmenhascomethisrevelation;
onlythedegreeinwhichtheyhavefeltitsforcehasdifferedimmensely。Itisonethingtotheapathetic，fatalisticTurk，andquiteanothermattertoanenergetic，nervousAmerican。Facts，fancies，faiths，allshowhowwideisthevarianceinfeelings。
Withthemnointrospective[greek]cnzhiseautonoverexcitestheconsciousnessofself。Butwithus;aswiththoseofoldpossessedofdevils，itcomestostartleandstaystodistress。Tooaptisittoproveanever—present，undesirabledouble。Toooftendoesitplaythepartofuninvitedspectreatthefeast，whosepresencenoonesaveitsunfortunatevictimsuspects。ThehauntinghorrorofhisownidentityistonaturesfarlesseccentricthanKenelmChillingly’sonlytoocommonacurse。Tothiscompanionship，paradoxicalthoughitsound，isprincipallyduethepeculiarlonelinessofchildhood。Fornothingissoisolatingasapersistentideawhichonedaresnotconfide。
Andyet，——strangerparadoxstill，——wasthereeveranyonewillingtoexchangehispersonalityforanother’s？Whocanimagineforegoinghisownself？Nay，dowenotclingeventoitsoutwardappearance？Isthereamansopoorinallthatmanholdsdearthathedoesnotkeenlyresentbeingaccidentallymistakenforhisneighbor？Surelytheremustbesomethingmorethanmirageinthisdeep—implanted，widespreadinstinctofhumanrace。
Buthoweverstrongtheconvictionnowofone’sindividuality，isthereaughttoassurehimofitscontinuancebeyondtheconfinesofitspresentlife？Willitawakeondeath’smorrowandknowitself，orwillit，likethebodythatgaveitlodgment，disintegrateagainintoindistinguishablespiritdust？Closeupontheheelsoftheexistingconsciousnessofselftreadstheshadow—likedoubtofitshereafter。WillanalogyhelptoanswerthegrewsomeriddleoftheSphinx？Arethelawswehavelearnedtobetrueformattertruealsoformind？Matterwenowknowisindestructible;yettheformofitwithwhichweonceweresofondlyfamiliarvanishesnevertoreturn。
Isalikefatetobethelotofthesoul？Thatmindshouldbecapableofannihilationisasinconceivableasthatmattershouldceasetobe。Surelythespiritwefeelexistingroundaboutusoneverysidenowhasbeenfromever，andwillbeforevertocome。
Butthatportionofitwhichweeachknowasself，isitnotliketoadropofrainseeninitsfallingthroughtheair？Indistinguishabletheparticlewasinthecloudwhenceitcame;indistinguishableitwillbecomeagainintheoceanwhitheritisbound。Itspersonalityisbutitspassingphasefromavastimpersonalontheonehandtoanequallyvastimpersonalontheother。Thusseerspreachedinthepast;somodemscienceishintingto—day。Withustheideaseemsthebitterfruitofmaterialphilosophy;bythemitwaslookeduponasthefairestfloweroftheirfaith。Whatisdreadednowastheimpioussuggestionofthegodlessfourthousandyearsagowasreverencedasasacredtenetofreligion。
Shortereventhanhisshortthreescoreyearsandtenisthatsoul’slifeofwhichmanisdirectlycognizant。Boundedbytwoseeminglyimpersonalstatesisthepersonalconsciousnessofwhichheismadeaware：theonetheinfantileexistencethatprecedeshisboyishdiscovery，theotherthegloomthatgrowswithyears，——twotwilightsthatfringethetwobordersofhisday。ButwiththeFarOriental，lifeisalltwilight。ForinJapanandChinabothstatesarefoundtogether。There，sidebysidewiththepresentunconsciousnessofthebabeexiststhebeliefinacomingunconsciousnessfortheman。
Soinseparablyblendedarethetwothattheknowntruthoftheoneseems，forthatverybond，tocarrywithitthecredentialsoftheother。Canitbethatthepersonal，progressiveWestiswrong，andtheimpersonal，impassiveEastright？Surelynot。Istheothersideoftheworldinadvanceofusinmind—development，evenasitprecedesusinthetimeofday;orjustasournoonisitsnight，mayitnotbefarinourrear？Isnotitsseemingwisdomrathertheprecociousnessofwhatisdestinednevertogofar？
Broughtsuddenlyuponsuchacivilization，aftertheblanknessofalongoceanvoyage，oneisremindedinstinctivelyofthefeelingsofthatbewilderedindividualwho，afteradinneratwhichhehadeventuallyceasedtobehimself，wasbywayofpleasantryleftoutovernightinagraveyard，ontheirwayhome，byhishumorouslyinclinedcompanions;andwho，onawakingalone，inastilldubiouscondition，lookedaroundhiminsurprise，rubbedhiseyestwoorthreetimestonopurpose，andfinallymutteredinatoneofawe—struckconviction，\"Well，eitherI’mthefirsttorise，orI’malongwaybehindtime！\"
Whethertheirfailuretofollowthenaturalcourseofevolutionresultsinbringingtheminatthedeathjustthesameornot，thesepeoplearenow，atanyrate，stationarynotveryfarfromthepointatwhichweallsetout。Theyarestillinthatchildishstateofdevelopmentbeforeself—consciousnesshasspoiledthesweetsimplicityofnature。Animpersonalraceseemsnevertohavefullygrownup。
Partlyforitsownsake，partlyforours，thismostdistinctivefeatureoftheFarEast，itsmarkedimpersonality，iswellworthyparticularattention;forwhileitcollaterallysuggestspregnantthoughtsaboutourselves，itdirectlyunderliesthedeeperodditiesofacivilizationwhichisthemoderneighthwonderoftheworld。
Weshallseethisaswelookatwhatthesepeopleare，atwhattheywere，andatwhattheyhopetobecome;nothistorically，butpsychologically，asonemightperceive，werehebutwiseenough，inanacorn，besidesthenutitself，twooaks，thatonefromwhichitfell，andthatotherwhichfromitwillrise。Thesethreestates，whichwemaycallitspotentialpast，present，andfuture，maybeobservedandstudiedinthreespecialoutgrowthsofarace’scharacter：initslanguage，initsevery—daythoughts，andinitsreligion。Forinthelanguageofapeoplewefindembalmedthespiritofitspast;initsevery—daythoughts，betheyofartsorsciences，iswrappedupitspresentlife;initsreligionlieenfoldeditsdreamingsofafuture。FromouteachofthesethreesubjectsintheFarEastimpersonalitystaresusintheface。
UponthisqualityasafoundationreststheFarOrientalcharacter。
ItisindividuallyratherthannationallythatIproposetoscanitnow。Itistheactionofaparticleinthewaveofworld—developmentIwouldwatch，ratherthanthepropagationofthewaveitself。
Inferencesaboutthemovementofthewholewillfollowofthemselvesaknowledgeofthemotionofitsparts。
Butbeforeweattackthesubjectesoterically，letuslookamomentatthemanasheappearsinhisrelationtothecommunity。Suchaglancewillsuggestthepeculiaratmosphereofimpersonalitythatpervadesthepeople。
Howeverlackingincleverness，inmerit，orinimaginationamanmaybe，thereareinourWesternworld，ifhisexistencetherebesomuchasnoticedatall，threeoccasionsonwhichheappearsinprint。
Hisbirth，hismarriage，andhisdeatharealldulychronicledintype，perhapsassufficientlytypicalofthegeneralunimportanceofhislife。Mentionofone’sbirth，itistrue，isanaristocraticprivilege，confinedtotheworldofEnglishsociety。IndemocraticAmerica，nodoubtbecauseallmentherearesupposedtobebornfreeandequal，weignorethefirstevent，andmentiononlythelasttwoepisodes，aboutwhichournationalastutenessassertsnosucheffacingequality。
Acceptingournewspaperrecordasafairenoughsummaryofthebiographyofanaverageman，letuslookatthesethreemomentousoccasionsinthecareerofaFarOriental。
Chapter2。Family。
Inthefirstplace，then，thepoorlittleJapanesebabyisusheredintothisworldinasadlyimpersonalmanner，forheisnotevenaccordedthedistinctionofabirthday。Heispermittedinsteadonlythemuchlessspecialhonorofabirth—year。Notthathebeginshisseparateexistenceotherwisethanisthecustomofmortalsgenerally，atadefiniteinstantoftime，butthatverylittlesubsequentnoticeisevertakenofthefact。Onthecontrary，fromthemomenthemakeshisappearanceheisspokenofasayearold，andthissameagehecontinuestobeconsideredinmostsimpleeaseofcalculation，tillthebeginningofthenextcalendaryear。
Whenthatepochofgeneralrejoicingarrives，heiscreditedwithanotheryearhimself。Soiseverybodyelse。NewYear’sdayisacommonbirthdayforthecommunity，asortofimpersonalanniversaryforhiswholeworld。AlikereckoningisfollowedinChinaandKorea。Uponthedisadvantagesofbeingconsideredfromone’sbirthupatleastoneyearandpossiblytwoolderthanonereallyis，itliesbeyondourpresentpurposetoexpatiate。Itisquiteevidentthatwomanhashadnovoiceintheframingofsuchachronology。
Onewouldhardlyimaginethatmanhadeither，soastronomicisthesystem。Acommunisticageishoweverbutanunavoidabledetailofthegeneralschemewhosemostsuggestivefeatureconsistsinthesubordinationoftheactualbirthdayoftheindividualtothefictitiousbirthdayofthecommunity。Foritisnotsomuchthewantofcommemorationshownthesubjectasthecharacterofthecommemorationwhichissignificant。Someslightnoticeisindeedpaidtobirthdaysduringearlychildhood，buteventhentheirobservanceisquitesecondaryinimportancetothatofthegreatimpersonalanniversariesofthethirddayofthethirdmoonandthefifthdayofthefifthmoon。ThesetwooccasionscelebratedthecomingofhumanityintotheworldwithanimpersonalityworthyoftheFrenchrevolutionarycalendar。Thefirstofthemiscalledthefestivalofgirls，andcommemoratesthebirthofgirlsgenerally，theadventoftheuniversalfeminine，asonemaysay。Thesecondisacorrespondinganniversaryforboys。Owingtoitssex，thelatteristhegreatereventofthetwo，andinconsequenceofitsmostconspicuousfeatureisstyledthefestivaloffishes。Thefishesarehollowpaperimagesofthe\"tai\"fromfourtosixfeetinlength，tiedtothetopofalongpoleplantedinthegroundandtippedwithagildedball。Holesinthepaperatthemouthandthetailenablethewindtoinflatethebodysothatitfloatsabouthorizontally，swayinghitherandthither，andtuggingatthelineafterthemannerofalivingthing。Thefishareemblemsofgoodluck，andaresetupinthecourtyardofeveryhousewhereasonhasbeenbornduringtheyear。OnthisauspiciousdayTokioissuddenlytransformedintoeightysquaremilesofaquarium。
ForanymorepersonalpurposeNewYear’sdayeclipsesallparticularanniversaries。Theneverybodycongratulateseverybodyelseuponeverythingingeneral，andincidentallyuponbeingalive。Suchsubstitutionofanabstractforaconcretebirthday，althoughexceedinglyconvenientforothers，mustatleastconducetoself—forgetfulnessonthepartofitsproperpossessor，andtendinevitablytomergetheidentityoftheindividualinthatofthecommunity。
ItfareshardlybetterwiththeFarOrientalinthematterofmarriage。
Althoughheis，aswemightthink，thepersonmostinterestedintheresult，heispermittednosayintheaffairwhatever。Infact，itisnothisaffairatall，buthisfather’s。Hishandissimplymadeacat’s—pawof。Thematterisentirelyabusinesstransaction，enteredintobytheparentandconductedthroughregularmarriagebrokers。Initheplaysonlythepartofamarionette。Hisrevengeforbeingthusbarteredoutofwhatmightbethebetterhalfofhislife，hetakeseventuallyonthenextsucceedinggeneration。
Hisdeathmaybesaidtobethemostimportantactofhiswholelife。
Forthenonlycanhispersonalexistencebeproperlyconsideredtobegin。Byithejoinsthegreatcompanyofancestorswhoaretothesepeopleofalmostmoreconsequencethanlivingfolk，andofmuchmoreindividualdistinction。ParticularlyisthisthecaseinChinaandKorea，butthesamerespect，thoughinasomewhatlessrigidform，ispaidthedeadinJapan。Thenatlasttheindividualreceivesthatrecognitionwhichwasdeniedhimintheflesh。
InJapanamortuarytabletissetuptohiminthehouseanddulyworshipped;onthecontinenttheancestorsaregivenadwellingoftheirown，andevenmoredevotedlyreverenced。Butinbothplacesthecultisanythingbutfunereal。Fortheancestraltombsaretemplesandpleasurepavilionsatthesametime，consecratednotsimplytoritesandceremonies，buttofamilygatheringsandgeneraljollification。Andthefortunatedefunctmustfeel，ifheisstillhalfassentientashisdutifuldescendantssuppose，thathisearthlylife，likeotherapprovedcomedies，hasendedwell。
Important，however，asthesecriticalpointsinhiscareermaybereckonedbyhisrelatives，theyarescarcelycalculatedtoproveequallyepochaltothemanhimself。Inacommunitywherenexttononoteisevertakenoftheanniversaryofhisbirth，somedoubtastothespecialsignificanceofthatred—letterdaymaynotunnaturallycreepintohisownmind。Whileinregardtohisdeath，althoughitmaybehighlyflatteringforhimtoknowthathewillcertainlybecomesomebodywhenheshallhaveceased，practically，tobeanybody，suchtardyrecognitionisscarcelytimelyenoughtobeproperlyappreciated。Humannatureissoearth—tied，afterall，thatapost—mundaneexistenceisveryapttoseemimmaterialaswellasbeso。
Withtheoldfamiliarlandmarksoflifeobliteratedinthiswholesalemanner，itistobedoubtedwhetheroneofus，placedinthemidstofsuchacivilization，wouldknowhimself。Hecertainlywouldderivebutscantysatisfactionfromtherecognitionifhedid。
EvenNirvanamightseemahappylimbobycomparison。Withacommunal，nottosayacosmic，birthday，andaconventionalwife，hemightwelldeemhisseparateexistencetheshadowofashadeandembraceBuddhismfrommereforceofcircumstances。
Furtherinvestigationwouldnotshakehisopinion。Forafar—orientalcareeristhoroughlyinkeepingwiththese，itstypicalturning—points。
Fromoneendofitscoursetotheotheritispainfullyimpersonal。
Initsregularroutineasinitsmoresalientjunctures，lifepresentsitselftotheseracesatotallydifferentaffairfromwhatitseemstous。Thecauseliesinwhatistakentobethebasisofsocio—biology，ifonemaysoexpressit。
IntheFarEastthesocialunit，theultimatemoleculeofexistence，isnottheindividual，butthefamily。
Weoccidentalsthinkwevaluefamily。Weevenparadeourpretensionssoprominentlyassometimestotreadonotherpeople’sprejudicesofalikenature。Yetwescarcelyseemtoappreciatetheinheritance。Forwithalogicwhichdoesusquestionablecredit，weareproudofourancestorsindirectproportiontotheirremotenessfromourselves，thuspermittingDemocracytorevengeitsinsignificancebysmilingatourself—imposedsatire。Toesteemamanininverseratiototheamountofremarkablebloodhehasinheritedis，tosaytheleast，bathetic。Others，again，makethemselvesobjectionablebypreferringtheirimmediaterelativestoalllessconnectedcompanions，andclingtotheircousinssocloselythataffectionoftenculminatesinmatrimony，nature’sremonstrancesnotwithstanding。Butwithalltheprideorpleasurewhichwetakeinthemembersofourparticularclan，oursatisfactionreallyspringsfromviewingthemonanautocentrictheoryofthesocialsystem。Inourowneyeswearethestaraboutwhich，asinJoseph’sdream，ourrelativesrevolveanduponwhichtheyhelptoshedanaddedlustre。OurPtolemaictheoryofsocietyisnecessitatedbyourtenacitytothepersonalstandpoint。Thisfixedideaofourscausesallelseseeminglytorotateaboutit。Suchanegoisticconceptionisquiteforeigntoourlongitudinalantipodes。Howevermuchappearancesmayagree，thefundamentalprinciplesuponwhichfamilyconsiderationisbasedarewidelydifferentinthetwohemispheres。
Forthefar—easternsocialuniverseturnsonapatricentricpivot。
UpontheconceptionofthefamilyasthesocialandpoliticalunitdependsthewholeconstitutionofChina。Thesametheorysomewhatmodifiedconstitutesthelife—principleofKorea，ofJapan，andoftheirlessadvancedcousinswhofillthevastcentreoftheAsiaticcontinent。Fromtheemperoronhisthronetothecommoncoolieinhishovelitistheideaofkinshipthatknitstheentirebodypolitictogether。TheEmpireisonegreatfamily;thefamilyisalittleempire。
Theonedevelopedoutoftheother。Thepatriarchalis，asiswellknown，probablytheoldestpoliticalsystemintheworld。Allnationsmaybesaidtohaveexperiencedsuchapaternalgovernment，butmostnationsoutgrewit。
Nowtheinterestingfactabouttheyellowbranchofthehumanraceis，notthattheyhadsojuvenileaconstitution，butthattheyhaveit;
thatithaspersistedpracticallyunchangedfromprehistoricages。
Itiscertainlysurprisinginthiskaleidoscopicworldwhosepatternisconstantlychangingastimemergesonecombinationofitselementsintoanother，thatontheothersideoftheglobethissetshouldhaveremainedthesame。Yetinspiteofthelapseofyears，inspiteofthealteredconditionsofexistence，inspiteofanimmenseadvanceincivilization，suchaprimitivestateofsocietyhascontinuedtheretothepresentday，inallitsessentialswhatitwaswhenasnomadstheraceforefatherswanderedpeacefullyorotherwiseovertheplainsofCentralAsia。Theprinciplehelpedthemtoexpand;ithassimplycrampedthemeversince。For，insteadofdissolvinglikeotherantiquatedviews，ithasbecome，whatitwasboundtobecomeifitcontinuedtolast，crystallizedintoaninstitution。Ithadpracticallyreachedthisconditionwhenitreceivedatheoretical，nottosayatheologicalrecognitionwhichgaveitmundaneimmortality。AcoupleofmillenniumsagoConfuciusconsecratedfilialdutybymakingitthebasisoftheChinesemoralcode。Hishandwasthefinishingtouchoffossilification。
Forsincethesagesethissealuponthesystemnoonehassomuchasdreamtofchangingit。TheideaofconfutingConfuciuswouldbeanactofimpietysuchasnoChinamancouldpossiblycommit。Notthattheinadmissibilityofargumentisduereallytotheauthorityofthephilosopher，butthatitliesingrainedinthecharacterofthepeople。Indeedthegeniusoftheonemaybesaidtohaveconsistedindiviningthegeniusoftheother。Confuciusformulatedtheprevailingpractice，andinsodoinghelpedtomakeitperpetual。
Hegaveexpressiontothenationalfeeling，andlikeexpressions，generallyhis，servedtostamptheideaallthemoreindeliblyuponthenationalconsciousness。
Inthismannerthefamilyfromanaturalrelationgrewintoahighlyunnaturalsocialanachronism。Theloosetiesofarovinglifebecamefettersofafixedconventionality。Bondsoriginallyofmutualadvantagehardenedintorestrictionsbywhichtheyoungwerehopelesslytetheredtotheold。Midwayinitscoursetheraceundertooktoturnroundandfacebackwards，asitjourneyedon。
Itssubsequentadvancecouldbenothingbutslow。
Theheadofafamilyissonowinsomethingofacorporealsense。
Fromhimemanateallitsactions;tohimareresponsibleallitsparts。
Anyothermemberofitisasincapableofindividualexpressionasisthehand，orthefoot，ortheeyeofman。Indeed，ConfuciandoctorsofdivinitymightappropriatelyadministerpsychicallytotheegoistictherebukeoftheWesternphysiciantothetooself—analyticyouthwho，findingthat，aftereating，hisdigestionfailedtogivehimwhatheconsidereditspropersensations，hadcometoconsultthedoctorastohowitoughttofeel。\"Feel！youngman，\"hewasanswered，\"yououghtnottobeawarethatyouhaveadigestion。\"Sowiththem，anormallyconstitutedsonknowsnotwhatitistopossessaspontaneityofhisown。Indeed，thisveryword\"own，\"whichsolongagoinourowntonguetooktoitselfthesymbolofpossession，wellexemplifieshisdependentstate。Chinafurnishesthemostconspicuousinstanceofthewantofindividualrights。
AChinesesoncannotproperlybesaidtoownanything。Thetitletothelandhetillsisvestedabsolutelyinthefamily，ofwhichheisanundividedthirtieth，orwhat—not。Eventheadministrationofthepropertyisnothis，butresidesinthefamily，representedbyitshead。Theoutwardsymbolsofownershiptestifytothefact。
Thebournsthatmarktheboundariesofthefieldsbearthenamesoffamilies，notofindividuals。Thefamily，assuch，istheproprietor，anditslandsarecultivatedandenjoyedincommonbyalltheconstituentsoftheclan。Inthetenureofitsrealestate，theChinesefamilymuchresemblestheRussianMir。Butsofarashispersonalstateisconcerned，theChinesesonoutslavestheSlav。
Forhelivesathome，undertheimmediatecontrolofthepaternalwill——inthemostcompleteofserfdoms，afilialone。Evenexistencebecomesacommunalaffair。Fromthefamilymansion，orsetofmansions，inwhichallitsmembersdwell，tothefamilymausoleum，towhichtheywillalleventuallybeborne，amanmakeshislifejourneyinstrictcompanywithhiskin。
Aman’slifeisthusbutanundivisiblefractionofthefamilylife。
Howessentiallysowillappearfromthefollowingslightsketchofit。
Tobeginatthebeginning，hisbirthisaveryimportantevent——forthehousehold，atwhichnoonefailstorejoiceexceptthenew—comer。
Hecries。Thegeneraljoy，however，dependssomewhatuponhissex。
Ifthebabychancestobeaboy，everybodyisimmenselypleased;ifagirl，thereisconsiderablylesseffusionshown。Inthelattercasethemoreimpulsiverelativesareunmistakablysorry;themorephilosophicevidentlyhopeforbetterlucknexttime。Bothkindsmakeveryprettyspeeches，whichnoteventhespeakersbelieve，forinthebabelotterythefamilyisconsideredtohavedrawnablank。
Adelightsoengenderedproveshowlittleofthepersonal，eveninprospective，attachestoitsobject。Thereasonfortheinvidiousdistinctioninthematterofsexliesofcourseinaninordinatedesirefortheperpetuationofthefamilyline。Theunfortunateinfantisregardedmerelyinthelightofapossibleprogenitor。
Aboyisalreadypotentiallyafather;whereasagirl，ifshemarryatall，isboundtomarryoutofherownfamilyintoanother，andisrelativelylost。Thefullforceofthedeprivationis，however，tosomedegreetemperedbythealmostinfinitepossibilitiesofadoption。Daughtersare，therefore，notutterlyunmitigableevils。
Fromtheprivacyofthedomesticcircle，theinfant’sentranceintopubliclifeisperformedpick—a—back。Strappedsecurelytotheshouldersofaslightlyoldersister，outhegoes，consignedtothetendermerciesofabeingwhoisscarcelymorethanababyherself。
Thediminutivenessofthenurse—perambulatorsisthemostsurprisingpartoftheperformance。Thetiniestoftotsmaybeseenthustoddlingroundwithburdenshalftheirownsize。Likethedotuponthelittlei，thebaby’sheadseemsanaturalpartoftheirchildishego。
Aneconomyofthekindinthematterofnursesishighlysuggestive。
Thatitshouldbepracticablethustoentrustoneinfanttoanotherprovestheprecociousnessofchildren。Butthissurprisingmaturityoftheyoungimpliesbyalawtoowellknowntoneedexplanation，theconsequentimmaturityoftherace。Thatwhichhaslesstogrowupto，naturallygrowsuptoitslimitsooner。Itmayevenbequestionedwhetheritdoesnotdosowiththemorehaste;onthesameprinciplethatarunnerwhohaslessdistancetotravelnotonlyaccomplisheshiscoursequicker，butmoveswithrelativelygreaterspeed，orasasmallplanetgrowsoldnotsimplysooner，butcomparativelyfasterthanalargerone。Jupiterisstillinhisfieryyouth，whilethemoonissenileindecrepidoldage，andyethisseparateexistencebeganlongbeforehers。EitherhypothesiswillexplaintheabnormallyearlydevelopmentoftheChineserace，anditssubsequentcareerofinactivity。Meanwhiletheyouthfulnurse，inblissfulignoranceoftheevidencewhichherpresentprecocityaffordsagainstherfuturepossibilities，pursueshersportswithintermittentattentiontohercharge，whosepoorlittleheadlollsabout，nowononesideandnowontheother，inamostdistressinglyloosemanner，anuninterestedspectatoroftheproceedings。
Assoonasthebabegetsatriflebiggerheceasestobeministeredtoandbeginshislongcourseofministeringtoothers。Hishomelifeconsistsofattentivesubordination。Therelationhisobediencebearstothatofchildrenelsewhereisparalleledperhapssufficientlybythecomparativeimportanceattachedtopreceptsonthesubjectintherespectivemoralcodes。Thecommandment\"honorthyfather\"formsatitheoftheMosaiclaw，whilethesameinjunctionconstitutesatleastonehalfoftheConfucianprecepts。
TotheChinesechildalltheparentalcommandsarenotsimplylawtotheletter，theyaretobeanticipatedinthespirit。Todowhatheistoldisbutthemerestfractionofhisduty;theoreticallyhisonlythoughtishowtoservehissire。ThepiousAeneasescapingfromTroyexemplifieshisconductwhenitcomestoaquestionofdomesticprecedence，——whosefirstcare，itwillberemembered，wasforhisfather，hisnextforhisson，andhislastforhiswife。
Helosthiswife，itmaybenotedinpassing。FilialpietyisthegreatestofChinesevirtues。Indeed，anundutifulsonisamonstrosity，acaseofmoraldeformity。Itcouldnowhardlybeotherwise。Forafathersumsupinpropriapersonaawholepedigreeofpatriarchswhosesuperimposedweightofauthorityispracticallydivine。Thisconditionofservitudeisneveroutgrownbytheindividual，asithasneverbeenoutgrownbytherace。
Ourboynowbeginstogotoschool;toadayschool，itneedhardlybespecified，foraboardingschoolwouldbeentirelyoutofkeepingwiththefamilylife。Here，heisgiventhe\"TrimetricalClassic\"
tostarton，thathemaylearnthecharactersbyheart，pickingupincidentallywhatideashemay。Thisbookisfollowedbythe\"CenturyofSurnames，\"acatalogueofalltheclannamesinChina，studiedlikethelastforthesakeofthecharacters，althoughthesuggestionoftheimportanceofthefamilycontainedinitisprobablynotlostuponhisyouthfulmind。Nextcomesthe\"ThousandCharacterClassic，\"awonderfulepicasafeatofskill，forofthethousandcharacterswhichitcontainsnotasingleoneisrepeated，anabsenceoftautologynotproperlyappreciatedbytheenforcedreader。Reminiscencesofourownschooldaysvividlydepicttheconsequentdisgust，insteadofadmiration，oftheboy。Threemorebookssucceedthesefirstvolumes，differingfromoneanotherinform，butinsubstancesingularlyalike，treating，astheyalldo，ofhistoryandethicscombined。Fortalesandmoralsareinseparablyassociatedbypiousantiquity。Indeed，thepastwouldseemtohavelivedwithspecialreferencetotheedificationofthefuture。Chinamenwereabnormallyvirtuousinthosegoldendays，barringthefewunfortunateswhomfateneededaswarningexamplesofdepravityforsucceedingages。Exceptforthefactthatinstructionastoafuturelifeformsnopartofthecurriculum，afar—easterneducationmaybesaidtoconsistofSunday—schooleverydayintheweek。Fornooccasionislostbytheeruditeauthors，eveninthemostworldlyportionsoftheirwork，forpreachingaslighthomilyonthesubjectinhand。ThedictumofDionysiusofHalicarnassusthat\"historyisphilosophyteachingbyexample\"wouldseemtheretohavebecomemodifiedinto\"historyisfiliosophyteachingbyexample。\"Forintheinstructiveanecdoteseveryotherformofmeritisdepictedassecondtothatofbeingadutifulson。Tothepracticeofthatsupremevirtueallotherconsiderationsaresacrificed。Thestudent’saimisthuskeptsingle。Ateveryturnoftheleaves，paragonsoffilialpietyshametheyouthfulreadertothepitchofemulationbytheepitaphicrecordsoftheirdeeds。
Portraitsofthepast，possiblycolored，presentthatestimabletraitinsoexaltedatypethattoanylessfilialapeopletheywouldsimplydetercompetition。Yettheboyimplicitlybelievesandnodoubtresolvestorivalwhathereads。Aspecimenortwowillamplysuggesttherest。Inonetaletheheroishelduptotheunqualifiedadmirationofposterityforhavingstarvedtodeathhisson，inanextremecaseoffamilydestitution，forthesakeofprovidingfoodenoughforhisagedfather。Inanotherheunhesitatinglydivorceshiswifeforhavingdaredtopokefun，intheshapeofbodkins，atsomewoodeneffigiesofhisparentswhichhehadhadsetupinthehousefordailydevotionalcontemplation。
Finallyanotherparagonactuallysellshimselfinperpetuityasaslavethathemaythusprocurethewherewithaltoburywithduehonorhisanythingbutworthyprogenitor，whohadfirstcheatedhisneighborsandthensquanderedhisill—gottengainsinriotousliving。
Ofthesetales，asofcertainquestionablenovelsinaslightlydifferentline，theeventualmoralisconsideredquitecompetenttoredeemthegeneralimmoralityoftheplot。
AlongsuchacurriculumtheyouthfulChinamanismadetorun。
AverysimilarsystemprevailsinJapan，thedifferencebetweenthetwoconsistinginquantityratherthanquality。Thebooksinthetwocasesaremuchthesame，andtheamountreaddifferssurprisinglylittlewhenweconsiderthatintheonecaseitishisownclassicsthestudentisreading，intheothertheChinaman’s。
Ifhebelongtothemiddleclass，assoonashisschoolingisoverheissettolearnhisfather’strade。Toundertaketolearnanytradebuthisfather’swouldstrikethefamilyassimplypreposterous。
Whyshouldheadoptanotherlineofbusiness？And，ifhedid，whatotherbusinessshouldheadopt？Ishisfather’soccupationnotalreadythere，apartoftheexistingorderofthings;andishenotthesonofhisfatherandheirthereforeofthepaternalskill？
Notthatsuchinheritedaptnessisrecognizedscientifically;itissimplytakenforgrantedinstinctively。Itisbutahalfheartedintuition，however，forthepossibilityofaninheritancefromthemother’ssideisasoutofthequestionasifherseverancefromherownfamilyhadanexpostfactoeffect。Asforhisindividualpredilectioninthematter，naturehasconsideratelyconformedtocustombygivinghimnone。Hebecomesacabinet—maker，forinstance，becausehisancestorsalwayshavebeencabinet—makers。Heinheritsthefamilybusinessasanecessarypartofthefamilyname。Heisborntohistrade，notnaturallyselectedbecauseofhisfitnessforit。
Butheusuallyisamplyqualifiedfortheposition，forgenerationsofpractice，ifonlyononesideofthehouse，accumulateavastdealoftechnicalskill。Theresultofthissystemofclanguildsinallbranchesofindustryissufficientlynoticeable。ThealmostinfinitesuperiorityofJapaneseartisansovertheirEuropeanfellow—craftsmenisworld—known。Ontheotherhandthetendencyoftheoccupationintheabstracttoswallowuptheindividualintheconcreteisasevidenttotheoryasitispatentinpractice。
Eventuallythemanislostinthemanner。Theverynamesoftradesexpressthefact。TheJapanesewordforcabinet—maker，forexample，meansliterallycutting—thing—house，andisnowappliedasdistinctivelytothemanastohisshop。NominallyaswellaspracticallytheyouthfulJapaneseartisanmakeshisintroductiontotheworld，muchafterthemanneroftheheroofLecocq’scomicopera，thesonofthehouseofMarasquinetCie。
Ifinsteadofbelongingtothelowermiddleclassourtypicalyouthbebornofbluerblood，orifhebefilledwiththesamedesiresasifheweresodescended，hebecomesastudent。Havingfailedtodiscoverintheschool—roomthefutilityofhiscountry’sself—vauntedlearning，heproceedstodevotehislifetoitspursuit。Withanapplicationwhichiseminentlypraiseworthy，evenifitsobjectbenot，hesetstoworktosteephimselfintheclassicstillhecanperceivenomeritinanythingelse。Asmightbesuspected，heendsbydiscoveringinthesayingsofthepastmoremeaningthanthesimplepasteverdreamedofputtingthere。
HebecomesmoreConfucianthanConfucius。Indeed，itisfortunateforthereputationofthesagethathecannotreturntoearth，forhemightdisagreetohisdetrimentwithhisowncommentators。
SuchisthestateofthingsinChinaandKorea。Learning，however，isnotdependentsolelyonindividualinterestforitswonderfullyflourishingconditionintheMiddleKingdom，forthegovernmentabetsthepracticetoitsutmost。Itisitselfthesupremesanction，foritspostsaretheprizesofproficiency。Throughthestudyoftheclassicsliestheonlyentrancetopoliticalpower。Tobecomeamandarinonemusthavepassedaseriesofcompetitiveexaminationsontheseverysubjects，andcompetitioninthisimpersonalfieldismostkeen。Forwhilepopularenthusiasmforphilosophyforphilosophy’ssakemight，amonganypeople，eventuallyshowsymptomsoffatigue，itisnotlikelytoflagwheretheoutcomeofitissosubstantial。Eruditioncarriesthereallearthlyemolumentsinitstrain。Forthemanwhocanwritethemostscholasticessayontheclassicsisforthwithpermittedtoamassmuchhonorandmorewealthbywronginghislessaccomplishedfellow—citizens。Chinaisastudent’sparadisewherethepossessionoflearningisinstantlyconvertibleintounlimitedpelf。
InJapanthestudyoftheclassicswasneverpursuedprofessionally。
Itwas，however，prosecutedwithmuchzealenamateur。TheChinesebureaucraticsystemhasbeenwanting。Forinspiteofherstudents，untilwithinthirtyyearsJapanslumberedstillintheKnight—timeoftheMiddleAges，andsolongasamancarriedaboutwithhimcontinuallytwobeautifulswordshefeltitincumbentuponhimtousethem。Thehappydaysofknight—errantryhavepassed。ThesesamecavaliersofSamuraiarenowthankfultopolicethestreetsinspectaclesnecessitatedbythetoodiligentstudyofGermantext，andarrestchancedisturbersofthepublicpeaceforamiserablysmallsalarypermonth。
Ouryouthhasnowreachedthefloweringseasonoflife，thatbriefMaytimewhenthewholeworldtakesontherose—tint，andwhenbyalldramaticlawsheoughttofallinlove。Hedoesnothingofthekind。Sadtosay，heisastrangertothefeeling。Love，asweunderstandtheword，isathingunknowntotheFarEast;
fortunately，indeed，forthepossessionthereofthetenderpassionwouldbeworsethanuseless。Itsindulgencewouldworknoendofdisturbancetothecommunityatlarge，besideentailingmuchmiseryuponitsindividualvictim。Itsexercisewouldprobablybeclassedwithkleptomaniaandotherlikeexcessesofpurelypersonalconsideration。Thecommunitycouldneverpermitthepractice，foritstrikesattheveryrootoftheirwholesocialsystem。
TheimmenselossinhappinesstothesepeopleinconsequenceoftheomissionbythetooparsimoniousFatesofthatthread，which，withus，spinsthewholeofwoman’sweboflife，andatleastweavesthewarpofman’s，isbutincidentaltothepresentsubject;theeffectofthelossupontheindividualityofthepersonhimselfiswhatconcernsusnow。
Ifthereisonemomentinaman’slifewhenhisinterestfortheworldatlargepalesbeforetheengrossingcharacterofhisownemotions，itisassuredlywhenthatmanfirstfallsinlove。
Then，ifneverbefore，theworldwithinexcludestheworldwithout。
Forofallourhumanpassionsnoneissoisolatingasthetenderest。
Toshutthatoneotherbeingin，wemustofnecessityshutalltherestofmankindout;andwedosowitharecklesstrustinourownself—sufficiencywhichhasaboutitatouchofthesublime。
Theothermillionsareasthoughtheywerenot，andwetwoarealoneintheearth，whichsuddenlyseemstohavegrownunprecedentedlybeautiful。Indeed，itonlyneedssuchjudiciousdepopulationtomakeofanyspotanEden。PerhapstheearlyJewishmyth—makershadsomesuchthoughtinmindwhentheywrotetheiridylofthecosmogony。
Thehumantraitsaretrueto—day。Thenatlastoursoulsthrowasidetheirconventionalwrappingstostandrevealedastheyreallyare。Certainofcomprehension，thethoughtswehaveneverdaredbreathetoanyonebefore，findatongueforherwhoseemsfore—destinedtounderstand。Thelong—closedfloodgatesoffeelingarethrownwide，andourpersonality，pentupfromthetimeofitsinceptionforverymistrust，sweepsforthinoneuncontrollablerush。Forthenthemostreticentbecomesconfiding;themostself—containedexpands。Theneverydetailofourpastlivesassumesanimportancewhichevenwehadnotdivined。Toherwetellthemall，——ourboyishbeliefs，ouryouthfulfancies，thefoolishwiththefine，thewittywiththewise，thelittlewiththegreat。
Nothingthenseemsquiteunworthy，asnothingseemsquiteworthyenough。Flowersandweedsthatwepluckeduponourpathway，weheaptheminherlap，certainthateventhepoorestwillnotbetossedaside。Smallwonderthatwebringasmanyaswemaywhenshebendsherheadsolovinglytoeach。
Asourpastrisesinreminiscencewithallitsoldtimereality，nolessclearlydoesourfuturestandouttousinmirage。Whatwewouldbeseemsasrealizableaswhatwewere。Seenbyanotherbesideourselves，ourcastlesintheairtakeonsomethingofthesubstanceofstereoscopicsight。Ourairiestfanciesseemsolidfactsfortheirrealitytoher，andgildedbylovelight，theyglitterandsparklelikeatruepalaceoftheEast。Foronceallispossible;nothingliesbeyondourreach。Andaswetalk，andshelistens，wetwoseemtobefloatingoffintoanempyreanofourownlikethesummercloudsaboveourheads，astheysaildreamilyonintothefar—awaydepthsoftheunfathomablesky。
Itwouldbemorethanmortalnottobelieveinourselveswhenanotherbelievessoabsolutelyinus。Ourmostsecretthoughtsarenolongerthingstobeashamedof，forshehassanctionedthem。
Whateverdoubtmayhaveshadowedusastoourownimaginingsdisappearsbeforethesmileofherappreciation。Thatherappreciationmaybeprejudicedisnotapossibilitywethinkofthen。Sheunderstandsus，orseemstodosotoourownbetterunderstandingofourselves。Happythemanwhoisthusunderstood！
Happyevenhewhoimaginesthatheis，becauseofhereagerwishtocomprehend;fortunate，indeed，ifinthisonerespecthenevercomestoseetooclearly。
NosuchblissfulinfatuationfallstothelotoftheFarOriental。
Heneveristhedupeofhisowndesire，thewillingvictimofhisself—illusion。Heisnevertemptedtorevealhimself，andbythusrevealing，realize。Nolovingappreciationurgeshimontowardtheattainmentofhisownideal。Thatincitementtobewhathewouldseemtobe，tobecomewhatshedeemsbecoming，hefailstofeel。
Customhassofarfetteredfancythateventhewishtocommunicatehasvanished。Hehasnownothingtotell;sheneedsnoeartohear。
Forsheisnothislove;sheisonlyhiswife，——whatisleftofaromancewhentheromanceisleftout。Worsestill，sheneverwasanythingelse。Hehasnotsomuchasamemoryofher，forhedidnotmarryherforlove;hemaynotloveofhisownaccord，norforthematterofthatdoeshewishtodoso。Ifbysomemischanceheshouldsofarforgettoforgethimself，itweremuchbetterforhimhadhenotdoneso，forthechoiceofabrideisnothis，norofabridegroomhers。MarriagetoaFarOrientalisthemostimportantmercantiletransactionofhiswholelife。Itis，therefore，fartooweightyamattertobeentrustedtohisyouthfulindiscretion;foralthoughthepersonherselfisoflamentablylittleaccountinthebargain，thecharacterofherworldlycircumstancesismostmaterialtoit。Sosheiscontractedforwiththesamecareonewouldexerciseinthechoiceofanystaplebusinesscommodity。
Theparticularsampleisnotvitaltothetrade，butthegradeofgoodsis。SheisselectedmuchasthebrideoftheVicarofWakefieldchoseherwedding—gown，onlythattheonewasatleastcuttosuit，whiletheotherisnot。Itiscertainlyeasier，iflessfitting，togetawifeassomepeopledoclothes，nottotheirownorder，butreadymade;allthemorereasonwhenthebargainisforone’sson，notone’sself。SotheFarEast，whichlooksatthethingfromastrictlypaternalstandpointandignoressuchtriflesaspersonalpreferences，takesitsboytothebroker’sandfitshimout。
Thattheobjectofsuchparentalcaredoesnotendbymurderinghisunfortunatespouseormakingwaywithhimselfsuggestshowdeadalreadyisthatindividualitywhichwedeemtobeoftheveryessenceofthething。
Marriageisthusaspeciesofinvestmentcontractedbytheexistingfamilyforthesakeoftheprospectiveone，theactualparticipantsbeingonlylayfiguresintheaffair。Sometimesthefatherdecidesthematterhimself;sometimesheortherelativewhostandsinlocoparentiscallsforaplebiscitonthesubject;forsuchanextensionofthesuffragehasgraduallycreptevenintopatriarchalinstitutions。Thefamilythenassemble，sitinsolemnconclaveonthequestion，anddecideitbyvote。Ofcoursetheinterestedpartiesarenotaskedtheiropinion，asitmightbeprejudiced。
Theresultoftheconferencemustbehighlygratifying。Tohaveone’swifechosenforonebyvoteofone’srelativescannotbutbesatisfactory——totheelectors。Theoutcomeofthisballot，likethatofuniversalsuffrageelsewhere，isatthebestunobjectionablemediocrity。Somehowsucharesultdoesnotseemquitetofulfilone’sidealofawife。ItistruethattheupperclassesofimpersonalFrancepractisethismethodofmaritalselection，theirconseilsdefamillefurnishinginsomesortaparallel。But，asiswellknown，matrimonyamongthesesameupperclassesislargelyformdevoidofsubstance。Itbeginsimpressivelywithadualceremony，thecivilcontract，whichamountstoacontractofcivilitybetweentheparties，andareligiousritetorenderthesameperpetual，andthereitistooapttoend。
Somuchfortheimmediateinfluenceontheman;theeventualeffectontheraceremainstobeconsidered。Now，ifthefirstresultbeanything，thesecondmustintheendbeeverything。Forhowevertriflingitbeintheindividualinstance，itgoesonaccumulatingwitheachsuccessivegeneration，likecompoundinterest。
Thechoosingofawifebyfamilysuffrageisnotsimplyanexponentoftheimpersonalstateofthings，itisapowertowardbringingsuchastateofthingsabout。Ahermitseldomdevelopstohisfullpossibilities，andthedomesticvarietyisnoexceptiontotherule。
Amanwhoislinkedtosomeonethattowardhimremainsacipherlackssurroundingsincitingtopsychologicalgrowth，norishemorefavorablycircumstancedbecauseallhisancestorshavebeensimilarlycircumscribed。
Asiftomakeassurancedoublysure，naturalselectionherestepsintofurthertheprocess。Toprovethiswithalltherigidityofdemonstrationdesirableisinthepresentstateoferoticsbeyondourpower。Untilourfamilytreesgiveussomethingmorethanmereskeletonsofdeadbranches，wemustperforcecontinueignorantofthescienceofgrafts。Forthenoncewemustbecontenttogeneralizefromourownpremises，onlyrisingabovethemsufficientlytogetabird’s—eyeviewofourneighbor’sestates。
Suchasurveyhasatleastoneadvantage：thewholefieldofviewappearsperfectlyplain。