became the heaven which was to be the resting-place of virtuous mortals
after death. Then came Buddhism, with its attractive ritual and its
manifold consolations, and put an end once for all to the ancient
glories of the teachings of Lao Tzu.

The older text-books date the first appearance of Buddhism in China from
67 A.D., when in consequence of a dream the reigning Emperor sent a
mission to the West, and was rewarded by obtaining copies of parts of
the Canon, brought to China by Kashiapmadunga, an Indian priest, who,
after translating a portion into Chinese, fell ill and died.

But we know now that Buddhist monks had already appeared in China so
early as 230 B.C. The monks were thrown into prison, but were said to
have been released in the night by an angel.

Still, it was not until the third or fourth century of our era that the
new religion began to make itself appreciably felt. "When this came
about, there ensued a long and fierce struggle between the Buddhists and
the Taoists, resulting, after alternating triumphs and defeats on both
sides, in that mutual toleration which obtains at the present day.

Each religion began early to borrow from the other. In the words of the
philosopher Chu Hsi, of the eleventh century, "Buddhism stole the best
features of Taoism; Taoism stole the worst features of Buddhism. It is
as though one took a jewel from the other, and the loser recouped the
loss with a stone."

From Buddhism the Taoists borrowed their whole scheme of temples,
priests, nuns, and ritual. They drew up liturgies to resemble the
Buddhist _sutras_; and also prayers for the dead. They adopted the idea
of a Trinity, consisting of Lao Tzu, the mythological Adam of China,
and the Ruler of the Universe, before mentioned; and they further
appropriated the Buddhist Purgatory with all its frightful terrors and
tortures after death.

Nowadays it takes an expert to distinguish between the temples and
priests of the two religions, and members of both hierarchies are often
simultaneously summoned by persons needing religious consolation or
ceremonial of any kind.

The pure and artless _Tao_ of Lao Tzu, etherealised by the lofty
speculations of Chuang Tzu, has long since become the vehicle of base
and worthless superstition.

LECTURE VI

SOME CHINESE MANNERS AND CUSTOMS

SOME CHINESE MANNERS AND CUSTOMS

A foreigner arriving for the first time in China will be especially
struck by three points