The Philosophies and Religions of China #263116

A mlssing la — In the same way therefore that the many Chinese who want to succeed in Western affairs are beginning to make our philosophies and religions a prominent feature of their study, so those among ourselves who wish to be first on the field ready to reap the best advantages and realize the highest benefits which the opening up of China will place in their power, must spare no pains to become fully conversant with all that China holds most sacred on these two important topics. We must remember that however lightly we may regard them the Chinese see a vast fund of meaning in the utterances of their philosophers, whom they look up to with the deepest reverence, and that they feel a real power in their different forms of religion, which have borne so large a part in influencing the lives of themselves and their ancestors for untold generations. Not only can we not afford to ignore these studies, but we shall find in them one of the missing links in the chain which is to draw the East and West into closer connection, and expand their mutual advantages. The sooner therefore that this link can be supplied and adjusted in its proper place the better.