the soul of the far east(远东的灵魂)-第15章
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that also lends it additional interest to us；because it is their own。
Among the mass of foreign thought the Japanese imitativeness has caused
the nation to adopt； here is one thing which is indigenous。 Half of the
present speech； it is true； is of Chinese importation； but conservatism has
kept the other half pure。 From what it reveals we can see how each man
starts to…day with the same impersonal outlook upon life the race had
reached centuries ago； and which it has since kept unchanged。 The man's
mind has done likewise。
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The Soul of the Far East
CHAPTER 5。 Nature and Art。
We have seen how impersonal is the form which Far Eastern thought
assumes when it crystallizes into words。 Let us turn now to a
consideration of the thoughts themselves before they are thus stereotyped
for transmission to others； and scan them as they find expression
unconsciously in the man's doings； or seek it consciously in his deeds。
To the Far Oriental there is one subject which so permeates and
pervades his whole being as to be to him； not so much a conscious matter
of thought as an unconscious mode of thinking。 For it is a thing which
shapes all his thoughts instead of constituting the substance of one
particular set of them。 That subject is art。 To it he is born as to a
birthright。 Artistic perception is with him an instinct to which he
intuitively conforms； and for which he inherits the skill of countless
generations。 From the tips of his fingers to the tips of his toes； in whose
use he is surprisingly proficient； he is the artist all over。 Admirable；
however； as is his manual dexterity； his mental altitude is still more to be
admired； for it is artistic to perfection。 His perception of beauty is as
keen as his comprehension of the cosmos is crude； for while with science
he has not even a speaking acquaintance； with art he is on terms of the
most affectionate intimacy。
To the whole Far Eastern world science is a stranger。 Such nescience
is patent even in matters seemingly scientific。 For although the Chinese
civilization； even in the so…called modern inventions； was already old
while ours lay still in the cradle； it was to no scientific spirit that its
discoveries were due。 Notwithstanding the fact that Cathay was the
happy possessor of gunpowder； movable type； and the compass before
such things were dreamt of in Europe； she owed them to no knowledge of
physics； chemistry； or mechanics。 It was as arts； not as sciences； they
were invented。 And it speaks volumes for her civilization that she burnt
her powder for fireworks； not for firearms。 To the West alone belongs the
credit of manufacturing that article for the sake of killing people instead of
merely killing time。
The scientific is not the Far Oriental point of view。 To wish to know
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the reasons of things； that irrepressible yearning of the Western spirit； is no
characteristic of the Chinaman's mind； nor is it a Tartar trait。
Metaphysics； a species of speculation that has usually proved peculiarly
attractive to mankind； probably from its not requiring any scientific capital
whatever； would seem the most likely place to seek it。 But upon such
matters he has expended no imagination of his own； having quietly taken
on trust from India what he now professes。 As for science proper； it has
reached at his hands only the quasimorphologic stage； that is； it consists of
catalogues concocted according to the ingenuity of the individual and
resembles the real thing about as much as a haphazard arrangement of
human bones might be expected to resemble a man。 Not only is the spirit
of the subject left out altogether； but the mere outward semblance is
misleading。 For pseudo…scientific collections of facts which never rise to
be classifications of phenomena forms to his idea the acme of erudition。
His mathematics； for example； consists of a set of empiric rules； of which
no explanation is ever vouchsafed the taught for the simple reason that it is
quite unknown to the teacher。 It is not even easy to decide how much of
what there is is Jesuitical。 Of more recent sciences he has still less notion；
particularly of the natural ones。 Physics； chemistry； geology； and the like
are matters that have never entered his head。 Even in studies more
immediately connected with obvious everyday life； such as language；
history； customs； it is truly remarkable how little he possesses the power of
generalization and inference。 His elaborate lists of facts are imposing
typographically； but are not even formally important； while his reasoning
about them is as exquisite a bit of scientific satire as could well be
imagined。
But with the arts it is quite another matter。 While you will search in
vain； in his civilization； for explanations of even the most simple of
nature's laws； you will meet at every turn with devices for the beautifying
of life； which may stand not unworthily beside the products of nature's
own skill。 Whatever these people fashion； from the toy of an hour to the
triumphs of all time； is touched by a taste unknown elsewhere。 To stroll
down the Broadway of Tokio of an evening is a liberal education in
everyday art。 As you enter it there opens out in front of you a fairy…like
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vista of illumination。 Two long lines of gayly lighted shops； stretching off
into the distance； look out across two equally endless rows of torch…lit
booths； the decorous yellow gleam of the one contrasting strangely with
the demoniacal red flare of the other。 This perspective of pleasure fulfils
its promise。 As your feet follow your eyes you find yourself in a
veritable shoppers' paradise； the galaxy of twinkle resolving into worlds of
delight。 Nor do you long remain a mere spectator； for the shops open
their arms to you。 No cold glass reveals their charms only to shut you off。
Their wares lie invitingly exposed to the public； seeming to you already
half your own。 At the very first you come to you stop involuntarily； lost
in admiration over what you take to be bric…a…brac。 It is only afterwards
you learn that the object of your ecstasy was the commonest of kitchen
crockery。 Next door you halt again； this time in front of some leathern
pocket…books； stamped with designs in color to tempt you instantly to
empty your wallet for more new ones than you will ever have the means to
fill。 If you do succeed in tearing yourself away purse…whole； it is only to
fall a victim to some painted fans of so exquisite a make and decoration
that escape short of possession is impossible。 Opposed as stubbornly as
you may be to idle purchase at home； here you will find yourself the prey
of an acute case of shopping fever before you know it。 Nor will it be
much consolation subsequently to discover that you have squandered your
patrimony upon the most ordinary articles of every…day use。 If in despair
you turn for refuge to the booths； you will but have delivered yourself into
the embrace of still more irresistible fascinations。 For the nocturnal
squatters are there for the express purpose of catching the susceptible。
The shops were modestly attractive from their nature； but the booths
deliberately make eyes at you； and with telling effect。 The very
atmosphere is bewitching。 The lurid smurkiness of the torches lends an
appropriate weirdness to the figure of the uncouthly clad pedlar who； with
the politeness of the arch…fiend himself； displays to an eager group the
fatal fascinations of some new conceit。 Here the latest thing in
inventions； a gutta…percha rat； which； for reasons best known to the vender；
scampers about squeaking with a mimicry to shame the original； holds an
admiring crowd spellbound with mingled trepidation and delight。 There
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a native zoetrope； indefatigable round of pleasure； whose top fashioned
after the type of a turbine wheel enables a candle at the centre ingeniously
to supply both illumination and motive power at the same time； affords to
as many as can find room on its circumference a peep at the composite
antics of a consecutively pictured monkey in the act of jumping a box。
Beyond this 〃wheel of life〃 lies spread out on a mat a most happy family
of curios； the whole of which you are quite prepared to purchase en bloc。
While a little farther on stands a flower show which seems to be coyly
beckoning to you as the blossoms nod their heads to an imperceptible
breeze。 So one attraction fairly jostles its neighbor for recognition from
the gay thousands that like yourself stroll past in holiday delight。
Chattering children in brilliant colors； voluble women and talkative men in
quieter but no less picturesque costumes； stream on in kaleidoscopic
continuity。 And you； carried along by the current； wander thus for miles
with the tide of pleasur
