Professor Soothill was elected Chairman of the Far Eastern Soe-ton; but at the first, session he proposed that the chairmanship should be delegated each session to a fresh nationality, as this was an International Congress. This amicable arrangement was received with, much satisfaction. M. Mas-error (of Paris) accordinary took the Chair at the next session, and turn it was taken by Professor Vacca (Rome), Duyvendak den), Lucius. Porter (America), Forke (Hamburg) Sir C. Eliot Gapan),- Dr, Takacs: (Budapesth) ete Most of the' proceedings were English, but some were in Germ: and French. Lady Hone was appointed Secretary to the Sectio 'The Far Eastern: meetings were very well attended, seldom less than 30, and' often 60 and 60 being' Present. There were about 600 delegates to the whole Conferen which" dealt also with "Asiatic, Sanskeit, Indian, Sumerian, ete—eleven sections.
'The Far Eastern Section discussed, Japan and Malaya as well os "China, But there is no professor of Japanese, here In England.' Profeivor Kato of Tokyo University was tinable to be present, and sent his paper to be read. So Japanese civilization was discussed by Six Charles Eliot, by Professor Florenz of Hamburg, and M, Fedtehenko, youngish Russian tutor in Paris. Dr. C, 0, Bladgen spoke on the need for more research in' the 'Malay Peninsula and Burma, end resolutions were' sent to these two Governments urging the need for reearch into the religions, customs and "ethnology of the various tribes in the "Malay Peninsula before the tribes were completely absorb:
civilized neighbours, 'The rest of the 25 papers were on the subject of Chinese literature and archaeology. 'Two papers were given on the importance' of. the study of' Manchu as on aid to the study of. Chinese, by' Professor Kotwiez and Dr. Hauer of Germany: and Professor Schmidt of the University of Riga in Latvia concurred this opinion.
The Superior Man Professor Alexiev, of the Lening- oh fad University, was unable at the "Gast moment, to: be- present, and sent his paper—a vivacious one Which Professor. Soothill road: with gggual: vigour—on the problem the Superior Man in Ly Heiin's theory of classicism. In philosophy, we had Professor Wilhelm of Frankfurt, who gave a very thoughtful and illuminating paper on Tai Chen's moral theory. As Tai Chen is the philosopher to whom. modern Chinese are turning eagerly, the hope was expressed that Dr. Withelm would continue his researches and publish the results. Dr. Forke, of Hamburg, lectured on Yang Hsoung, the philosopher of the Han Dynasty, showing the confluence of streams of Buddhism and Taoist thought on an orthodox Confucianist, and Professor Bunce on the I Wei, with its problems i criticism and its ancient magic and pre-Taoist philosophy.
Chinese history and archzology were the subjects Professor Soothill, Professor Duyvendak, Mr. Clennell and Mr. Dudley Buxton. Professor Socthill delved into the origins of Kingship in China, The '"Xings of early China were priest-kings, endued with magical power. The ceremonies of old days have been perpetuated in Chinese rites to the end of the dynasties. The Emperor, for instance, had to wear green at the spring ceremonies, use sacrificial vessels only slightly carved with sprouting bamboo-shoots and eat certain. foods. If he did otherwise, undoubtedly in ancient times the idea was that sess would be upset. If he performed avtunn rites in summer, nature would be outraged and the crops all, M. Masperro, concurring, told of rites he had seen amongst the Twi dans of South China analogy. na to those in ancient China. If the hereditary chief failed to appear through illness at the seasonal ceremonies, his clothes were placed on the altar instead, to preserve the magical influence, The People Kept Feeble Professor Duyvendak gave ay entertaining and instructive ae count of the political ideas of Shang-yang in the Shang-Tzu Snung-yang held that the State was everything, that the people should be kept feeble by war and labour, and shat imports were to be encouraged and exports discouraged! Mr. Clennell, who retired four years ago from H. M. Consular Service: in China, gave comparisons. between present-day Chinese political conditions and history and. those of the past in a. thought-compelling manner. Ho said that Industrialteation had not come a minute. too toon for China. M. G. Margulies of Paris gave a general. outline of Chinese: literary development, showing the reaction from fre inspiration to classicism, and thence back gain, during the centuries. This was followed by a discussion on the possible use of Pai, Hua for literary purposes, and its gradual present development, Dr, Lucius Porter (of the Peking School for Chinese Studies) thought the growth and origin of Pai Hua had Hot been greatly under European influence.
Professor Vacca (of Rome) lectured in French on Chinese ideas of science) "Apart from their ignorance. of. mathematics "and spherical astronomy, he considered that sufficient meed of appreciate had not been given to Chinese scientists. He particularly instanced Chinese maps which, secing that they ore not based. on triangulation, are very accurate for their times, and probably the oldest in the world. Mr, Dudley Buxton, of Oxford University, throw: light on ancient Chinese history by cent archaeological discoveries, particularly by means of painted pottery. This is found made only of Wess clay, and so is confined to the Wess areas. It. was pointed out that this pottery is also only found
"parbarie" tribes, and that so far amongst, remains of "non-Chinese none.of purely Chinese origin has been found.
There were three papers of general interest- The Rev, G. W. Sheppard gave us an account of Chinese translations of the Christian Seripeare prior to Mowrsoas The Nestorian tablet speaks. of certain portions -as being in the Emperor's palace, the Roman Cath-done' by an "unknown disciple", Presumably ian Englishman, in Can. ton 100 years before he began.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.