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。