. The world's inhabitants; or, Mankind, animals, and plants; being a popular account of the races and nations of mankind, past and present, and the animals and plants inhabiting the great continents and principal islands. s almost rivalledthose of Confucius in the extent of its adoption by the Cliinese. Taoism, which has a large and undefined influence, has been called the rationalism of China;. but has degenerated into a system of super-Taoism. ^^^^^011- It was founded by Lao-tsze, a contemporary of Con-fucius, whose philosophy was a sort of quietism, the control of desires and passions; but
. The world's inhabitants; or, Mankind, animals, and plants; being a popular account of the races and nations of mankind, past and present, and the animals and plants inhabiting the great continents and principal islands. s almost rivalledthose of Confucius in the extent of its adoption by the Cliinese. Taoism, which has a large and undefined influence, has been called the rationalism of China;. but has degenerated into a system of super-Taoism. ^^^^^011- It was founded by Lao-tsze, a contemporary of Con-fucius, whose philosophy was a sort of quietism, the control of desires and passions; but he added to this a conception of a spirit named Tao, in Avhich, by which, for Avhich all things exist, and to which all THE CHINESE. 373 return; a sort of Pantheism, in fact. But liis followers have soughtfor the philosophers stone, have great beliefs in charms and amnlets,and claim to be able to exorcise spirits of all kinds; so that theirpractice is little better than Shamanism. It may be questioned whether fatalism is not the actual religionof a majority of Chinese. What will be, will be ; why take precautions ?Anything that is to happen will happen just the same. This Fatalism,belief is evidenced in many CUINKSE DEATH PUNISUMENT IN A CAGK. I When we consider that printing from fixed blocks was invented inCliina long before its invention in Europe, dating at least back to thetenth century , ; that gunpowder and cannon were used by Remarkablethe Chinese six centuries ago; that the mariners compass was inventions,known to them at a very early date, as well as its deviation from theactual North Pole; that we have taken the name of their country asthe title of our chief modern porcelain ware ; that the steelyard and 374 THE INHABITANTS OF ASIA. spectacles equallj^ rank among their inventions, we sliall be ready toconcede that they deserve to rank liigli among inventive nations. Buttwo things have kept them from completing their inventions, or gainingfull advantage from
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectcivilization, bookyea
