the soul of the far east(远东的灵魂)-第28章
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We are in the habit； in common parlance； of making a distinction between
the search after truth and the search after beauty； calling the one science
and the other art。 Now while we are not slow to impute imagination to
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art； we are by no means so ready to appreciate its connection with science。
Yet contrary； perhaps； to exogeric ideas on the subject； it is science rather
than art that demands imagination of her votaries。 Not that art may not
involve the quality to a high degree； but that a high degree of art is quite
compatible with a very small amount of imagination。 On the one side we
may instance painting。 Now painting begins its career in the humble
capacity of copyist； a pretty poor copyist at that。 At first so slight was its
skill that the rudest symbols sufficed。 〃This is a man〃 was conventionally
implied by a few scratches bearing a very distant relationship to the real
thing。 Gradually； owing to human vanity and a growing taste； pictures
improved。 Combinations were tried； a bit from one place with a piece
from another； a sort of mosaic requiring but a slight amount of
imagination。 Not that imagination of a higher order has not been called
into play； although even now pictures are often happy adaptations rather
than creations proper。 Some masters have been imaginative； others；
unfortunately for themselves and still more for the public； have not。 For
that the art may attain a high degree of excellence for itself and much
distinction for its professors； without calling in the aid of imagination； is
evident enough on this side of the globe； without travelling to the other。
Take； on the other hand； a branch of science which； to the average
layman； seems peculiarly unimaginative； the science of mathematics。 Yet
at the risk of appearing to cast doubts upon the validity of its conclusions；
it might be called the most imaginative product of human thought； for it is
simply one vast imagination based upon a few so…called axioms； which are
nothing more nor less than the results of experience。 It is none the less
imaginative because its discoveries always accord subsequently with fact；
since man was not aware of them beforehand。 Nor are its inevitable
conclusions inevitable to any save those possessed of the mathematician's
prophetic sight。 Once discovered； it requires much less imagination to
understand them。 With the light coming from in front； it is an easy
matter to see what lies behind one。
So with other fabrics of human thought； imagination has been spinning
and weaving them all。 From the most concrete of inventions to the most
abstract of conceptions the same force reveals itself upon examination； for
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there is no gulf between what we call practical and what we consider
theoretical。 Everything abstract is ultimately of practical use； and even
the most immediately utilitarian has an abstract principle at its core。 We
are too prone to regard the present age of the world as preeminently
practical； much as a middle…aged man laments the witching fancies of his
boyhood。 But； and there is more in the parallel than analogy； if the man
be truly imaginative he is none the less so at forty…five than he was at
twenty； if his imagination have taken on a more critical form； for this latter
half of the nineteenth century is perhaps the most imaginative period the
world's history has ever known。 While with one hand we are contriving
means of transit for our ideas； and even our very voices； compared to
which Puck's girdle is anything but talismanic； with the other we are
stretching out to grasp the action of mind on mind； pushing our way into
the very realm of mind itself。
History tells the same story in detail； for the history of mankind；
imperfectly as we know it； discloses the fact that imagination； and not the
power of observation nor the kindred capability of perception； has been
the cause of soul…evolution。
The savage is but little of an imaginative being。 We are tempted； at
times； to imagine him more so than he is； for his fanciful folk…lore。 The
proof of which overestimation is that we find no difficulty in imagining
what he does； and even of imagining what he probably imagined； and
finding our suppositions verified by discovery。 Yet his powers of
observation may be marvellously developed。 The North American Indian
tracks his foe through the forest by signs unrecognizable to a white man；
and he reasons most astutely upon them； and still that very man turns out
to be a mere child when put before problems a trifle out of his beaten path。
And all because his forefathers had not the power to imagine something
beyond what they actually saw。 The very essence of the force of
imagination lies in its ability to change a man's habitat for him。 Without it；
man would forever have remained； not a mollusk； to be sure； but an animal
simply。 A plant cannot change its place； an animal cannot alter its
conditions of existence except within very narrow bounds； man is free in
the sense nothing else in the world is。
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What is true of individuals has been true of races。 The most
imaginative races have proved the greatest factors in the world's advance。
Now after this look at our own side of the world； let us turn to the
other； for it is this very psychological fact that mental progression implies
an ever…increasing individualization； and that imagination is the force at
work in the process which Far Eastern civilization； taken in connection
with our own； reveals。 In doing this； it explains incidentally its own
seeming anomalies； the most unaccountable of which； apparently； is its
existence。
We have seen how impressively impersonal the Far East is。 Now if
individuality be the natural measure of the height of civilization which a
nation has reached； impersonality should betoken a relatively laggard
position in the race。 We ought； therefore； to find among these people
certain other characteristics corroborative of a less advanced state of
development。 In the first place； if imagination be the impulse of which
increase in individuality is the resulting motion； that quality should be at a
minimum there。 The Far Orientals ought to be a particularly unimaginative
set of people。 Such is precisely what they are。 Their lack of imagination
is a well…recognized fact。 All who have been brought in contact with
them have observed it； merchants as strikingly as students。 Indeed； the
slightest intercourse with them could not fail to make it evident。 Their
matter…of…fact way of looking at things is truly distressing； coming as it
does from so artistic a people。 One notices it all the more for the shock。
To get a prosaic answer from a man whose appearance and surroundings
betoken better things is not calculated to dull that answer's effect。 Aston；
in a pamphlet on the Altaic tongues； cites an instance which is so much to
the point that I venture to repeat it here。 He was a true Chinaman； he
says； who； when his English master asked him what he thought of
〃That orbed maiden With white fires laden Whom
mortals call the moon；〃
replied； 〃My thinkee all same lamp pidgin〃 （pidgin meaning thing in
the mongrel speech； Chinese in form and English in diction； which goes
by the name of pidgin English）。
Their own tongues show the same prosaic character； picturesque as
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they appear to us at first sight。 That effect is due simply to the novelty to
us of their expressions。 To talk of a pass as an 〃up…down〃 has a
refreshing turn to our unused ear； but it is a much more descriptive than
imaginative figure of speech。 Nor is the phrase 〃the being （so） is
difficult；〃 in place of 〃thank you；〃 a surprisingly beautiful bit of imagery；
delightful as it sounds for a change。 Our own tongue has； in its daily
vocabulary； far more suggestive expressions； only familiarity has rendered
us callous to their use。 We employ at every instant words which； could
we but stop to think of them； would strike us as poetic in the ideas they
call up。 As has been well said； they were once happy thoughts of some
bright particular genius bequeathed to posterity without so much as an
accompanying name； and which proved so popular that they soon became
but symbols themselves。
Their languages are paralleled by their whole life。 A lack of any
fanciful ideas is one of the most salient traits of all Far Eastern races； if
indeed a sad dearth of anything can properly be spoken of as salient。
Indirectly their want of imagination betrays itself in their every…day
sayings and doings； and more directly in every branch of thought。
Originality is not their strong point。 Their utter ignorance of science
shows this； and paradoxical as it may seem； their art； in spite of its merit
and its universality； does the same。 That art and imagination are
