Since the days of the Manchus, (hina has been undergoing Process of moral and social dis Integration, for which the li is the only panacea. In its wider applica tion, the Ni is capable of maintain. ing' harmonious relations with trations abroad and of instituting fan efficient governnient at home.
country the Wis like a skeleton fo a human body. No country can foxist without the li, yo no human ady can be formed without the Bkeicton, To remedy the present political and social disturbances in China, we must resort to.the li Some one may scoff at the id and assert that as the country is in state of chaos, it would be ime practicable to use the li as the: means of remedy, But it must be. Borne in mind that for thousands. bf years China has owed her, national existence to the li. The has softened the rough nature of man and brought. about a civilized community in which every member behaves with "polite and refined! nanners, The ancients preferred to nse the Ni, instead of law or punishment, in the prevention of crimes.
The present trouble in China is fne chiefly to the.people's utter Bisregard of the li. A man, dis-barding the li as the guiding Principle of his life, is capable of Eommitting any kind of social evils crimes, This is why writers Hike Sun Ching (ME) and Tung) Chung-ssu Cte¢hGF) all recommend the li as the most efficacious means remedying political and social ers, Aim and Scope of Li Shit-Kuan In this belief the Government has
the work of compiling new system appointed learned, men to contnae of the li, which was left unfinished by a former administration. In doing this the Government not only ims at the preservation of our national tradition but also hopes to [work out a means of remedy for the present societ and political lers. The aim and the scope of the Li Chih Kuan may be summed up under the following (1) To use the li as a means of pacifying the people.
(2) To work out social reforms through the medium of the li, (3) To. provant. crimes and political chaos by means of the li.
(4) As our national culture and tradition are inseparably connected with the tf to uphold the i is to reserve our national culture and tradition, (5) The work of the Li Chih Kuan is to propound the essential meaning of the ti and not merely deal with its outward observances, (6) As the old system of ti is longer applicable 1" the country funder "modern conditions, a new system should be worked out to suit the habits, customs, and social conditions of the people.
(1) The present Li Chih Kuan to continue and complete the Work of the former Li Chih Kuan, Which functioned in 1914-1916, (8) As the system of the adopted by the different former 1¢ dynasties covers such a wide feld '{W'requres extensive Tevearsh' work group of learned scholars have _appointed to undertake the work, the Li forms the social of the people, it is of vital importance to our national solidarity. To uphold the {i is not only to preserve our national tradition but! also to prevent national disntegea tion, (10) As our classical music has! close connexions with our national tradition, a department has been organized in the Li Chih. Kuan to study Chinese classical music 20 as to Keep it fresh in the people's mind, The Generalissimo's Mandate According to the teachings of the lassies, the 1i is the only means remedy' for political and social dieturbances. Recently, public due ion has been in a deplorable state, the manners and customs of the people have been demoralized while the country has been ina state of disturbance for years. I, the Gentralissimo, feel deeply concerned about this state of affairs, former years, the Government made attempts to compile and promulgated a new aystem of rites and jcoremonies for the country, but the Vor was eft incomplete. Notwithstanding the present political uncertainties, we deem that the .work is highly necessary, and should be done without delay. It is hereby ordered that the Li Chih Kuan (Bureau of Rites and Ceremonies) should be organized and learned scholars be appointed compile. a new system of rites and. ceremonies "for promulgation. By this means we hope that our national coiture will be preserved, a salutary change in the manners and customs of the people will be Drought about and all the causes that make for the present social fand political disturbances will dis-app hen, peace and good oFder will reign, throughout the Official System of the Li Chifi-kuan Article 1: The functions of the Li Chih Kuan (Bureau of Rites and Ceremonies) are to compile and promulgate a new system of rites and ceremonies for the Republic.
Article 2:° There shall be one Director-General and one Co-Direc-for for the Li Chih Kuan. The Premier shall act concurrently as Director General and the Minister' of the Interior, as Ca-Director.
Article 3: There shall be one Chief of the Li Chih Kuan to take charge of all the affairs of the organ. The Chief shall be appoint~
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.