bt, due to the idea of
the woman's being supposed to be the more compassionate nature; just
as, too often in the Christian Church, the Blessed Mother has, for a
like reason, been made to encroach upon the prerogatives of her
Divine Son. Instances are recorded of the Chinese, when conversing
with Europeans, giving the name of _Kwanyin_ to the statues of the
Blessed Virgin in the Roman Churches. (Davis' _The Chinese_, chap,
xiv.)

21 I have not thought it necessary in this little volume to introduce
the subject of Confucianism. Even in China it is less a religion
than a system of philosophy--political, social, moral. It may,
however, be remarked that the writings of Confucius are highly
esteemed in Japan, and that, in the past at any rate, they have had
a considerable influence in forming the thought and character of its
people. The ethics of Confucius being materialistic, i.e. concerned
with the things of this present life, and the Buddhist ethics being
mainly spiritualistic, the two mutually supplement each other. The
great Confucian Temple at Yeddo was until 1868 the chief University
of Japan. Now,--so entirely have the Western systems of education
supplanted the teaching of the Chinese sage,--the building has been
converted into a Museum.

22 Charcoal-brazier.

23 "The only reason I can ascertain for the constant recurrence of the
lotus in Buddhist art and ceremonial is the idea of its being the
symbol of purity. Its scent and aspect are alike delightful, and
though rooted in mud and slime it abhors all defilement. If,
therefore, men would but take it as their model, they would escape
all the contamination of this corrupt world. Every man, it is said,
has a lotus in his bosom, which will blossom forth if he call in the
assistance of Buddha." _Unbeaten Tracks in Japan_, Vol. i. p. 292.

24 Buddhists believe in the existence of a personal wicked spirit,
named Mara, whose object is to solicit men to evil.

25 Cf. the following extract from the speech of the Bishop of Exeter at
the Annual Meeting of the C.M.S. 1892:--"If you had been asked to
sketch an ideal land, most suitable for Christian Missions, and when
itself Christianized more suited for evangelistic work among the
nations of the far East, what, I ask, would be