the soul of the far east(远东的灵魂)-第4章
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The Soul of the Far East
the infantile existence that precedes his boyish discovery； the other the
gloom that grows with years；two twilights that fringe the two borders of
his day。 But with the Far Oriental； life is all twilight。 For in Japan and
China both states are found together。 There； side by side with the present
unconsciousness of the babe exists the belief in a coming unconsciousness
for the man。 So inseparably blended are the two that the known truth of
the one seems； for that very bond； to carry with it the credentials of the
other。 Can it be that the personal； progressive West is wrong； and the
impersonal； impassive East right？ Surely not。 Is the other side of the
world in advance of us in mind…development； even as it precedes us in the
time of day； or just as our noon is its night； may it not be far in our rear？
Is not its seeming wisdom rather the precociousness of what is destined
never to go far？
Brought suddenly upon such a civilization； after the blankness of a
long ocean voyage； one is reminded instinctively of the feelings of that
bewildered individual who； after a dinner at which he had eventually
ceased to be himself； was by way of pleasantry left out overnight in a
graveyard； on their way home； by his humorously inclined companions；
and who； on awaking alone； in a still dubious condition； looked around
him in surprise； rubbed his eyes two or three times to no purpose； and
finally muttered in a tone of awe…struck conviction； 〃Well； either I'm the
first to rise； or I'm a long way behind time！〃
Whether their failure to follow the natural course of evolution results
in bringing them in at the death just the same or not； these people are now；
at any rate； stationary not very far from the point at which we all set out。
They are still in that childish state of development before self…
consciousness has spoiled the sweet simplicity of nature。 An impersonal
race seems never to have fully grown up。
Partly for its own sake； partly for ours； this most distinctive feature of
the Far East； its marked impersonality； is well worthy particular attention；
for while it collaterally suggests pregnant thoughts about ourselves； it
directly underlies the deeper oddities of a civilization which is the modern
eighth wonder of the world。 We shall see this as we look at what these
people are； at what they were； and at what they hope to become； not
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The Soul of the Far East
historically； but psychologically； as one might perceive； were he but wise
enough； in an acorn； besides the nut itself； two oaks； that one from which
it fell； and that other which from it will rise。 These three states； which
we may call its potential past； present； and future； may be observed and
studied in three special outgrowths of a race's character： in its language； in
its every…day thoughts； and in its religion。 For in the language of a
people we find embalmed the spirit of its past； in its every…day thoughts；
be they of arts or sciences； is wrapped up its present life； in its religion lie
enfolded its dreamings of a future。 From out each of these three subjects
in the Far East impersonality stares us in the face。 Upon this quality as a
foundation rests the Far Oriental character。 It is individually rather than
nationally that I propose to scan it now。 It is the action of a particle in the
wave of world…development I would watch； rather than the propagation of
the wave itself。 Inferences about the movement of the whole will follow of
themselves a knowledge of the motion of its parts。
But before we attack the subject esoterically； let us look a moment at
the man as he appears in his relation to the community。 Such a glance
will suggest the peculiar atmosphere of impersonality that pervades the
people。
However lacking in cleverness； in merit； or in imagination a man may
be； there are in our Western world； if his existence there be so much as
noticed at all； three occasions on which he appears in print。 His birth； his
marriage； and his death are all duly chronicled in type； perhaps as
sufficiently typical of the general unimportance of his life。 Mention of
one's birth； it is true； is an aristocratic privilege； confined to the world of
English society。 In democratic America； no doubt because all men there
are supposed to be born free and equal； we ignore the first event； and
mention only the last two episodes； about which our national astuteness
asserts no such effacing equality。
Accepting our newspaper record as a fair enough summary of the
biography of an average man； let us look at these three momentous
occasions in the career of a Far Oriental。
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The Soul of the Far East
CHAPTER 2。 Family。
In the first place； then； the poor little Japanese baby is ushered into this
world in a sadly impersonal manner； for he is not even accorded the
distinction of a birthday。 He is permitted instead only the much less
special honor of a birth…year。 Not that he begins his separate existence
otherwise than is the custom of mortals generally； at a definite instant of
time； but that very little subsequent notice is ever taken of the fact。 On
the contrary； from the moment he makes his appearance he is spoken of as
a year old； and this same age he continues to be considered in most simple
ease of calculation； till the beginning of the next calendar year。 When
that epoch of general rejoicing arrives； he is credited with another year
himself。 So is everybody else。 New Year's day is a common birthday
for the community； a sort of impersonal anniversary for his whole world。
A like reckoning is followed in China and Korea。 Upon the
disadvantages of being considered from one's birth up at least one year
and possibly two older than one really is； it lies beyond our present
purpose to expatiate。 It is quite evident that woman has had no voice in
the framing of such a chronology。 One would hardly imagine that man
had either； so astronomic is the system。 A communistic age is however
but an unavoidable detail of the general scheme whose most suggestive
feature consists in the subordination of the actual birthday of the
individual to the fictitious birthday of the community。 For it is not so
much the want of commemoration shown the subject as the character of
the commemoration which is significant。 Some slight notice is indeed
paid to birthdays during early childhood； but even then their observance is
quite secondary in importance to that of the great impersonal anniversaries
of the third day of the third moon and the fifth day of the fifth moon。
These two occasions celebrated the coming of humanity into the world
with an impersonality worthy of the French revolutionary calendar。 The
first of them is called the festival of girls； and commemorates the birth of
girls generally； the advent of the universal feminine； as one may say。 The
second is a corresponding anniversary for boys。 Owing to its sex； the latter
is the greater event of the two； and in consequence of its most conspicuous
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The Soul of the Far East
feature is styled the festival of fishes。 The fishes are hollow paper
images of the 〃tai〃 from four to six feet in length； tied to the top of a long
pole planted in the ground and tipped with a gilded ball。 Holes in the
paper at the mouth and the tail enable the wind to inflate the body so that it
floats about horizontally； swaying hither and thither； and tugging at the
line after the manner of a living thing。 The fish are emblems of good
luck； and are set up in the courtyard of every house where a son has been
born during the year。 On this auspicious day Tokio is suddenly
transformed into eighty square miles of aquarium。
For any more personal purpose New Year's day eclipses all particular
anniversaries。 Then everybody congratulates everybody else upon
everything in general； and incidentally upon being alive。 Such
substitution of an abstract for a concrete birthday； although exceedingly
convenient for others； must at least conduce to self…forgetfulness on the
part of its proper possessor； and tend inevitably to merge the identity of the
individual in that of the community。
It fares hardly better with the Far Oriental in the matter of marriage。
Although he is； as we might think； the person most interested in the result；
he is permitted no say in the affair whatever。 In fact； it is not his affair at
all； but his father's。 His hand is simply made a cat's…paw of。 The matter
is entirely a business transaction； entered into by the parent and conducted
through regular marriage brokers。 In it he plays only the part of a
marionette。 His revenge for being thus bartered out of what might be the
better half of his life； he takes eventually on the next succeeding
generation。
His death may be said to be the most important act of his whole life。
For then only can his personal existence be properly considered to begin。
By it he joins the great compa
