"RISE OF CONFUCIUS" - читать интересную книгу автора (Douglas R K)

neighbor, and the smaller states suffered the usual fate, under like circumstances, of
being encroached upon and absorbed, notwithstanding their appeals for help to their
common sovereign. The House of Chow having been thus found wanting, the device
was resorted to of appointing one of the most powerful princes as a presiding chief,
who should exercise royal functions, leaving the king only the title and paraphernalia of
sovereignity. In fact, the China of this period was governed and administered very
much as Japan was up till about twenty years ago. For Mikado, Shogun, and ruling
Daimios, read king, presiding chief, and princes, and the parallel is as nearly as
possible complete. The result of the system, however, in the two countries was
different, for apart from the support received by the Mikado from the belief in his
heavenly origin, the insular position of Japan prevented the possibility of the advent of
elements of disorder from without, whereas the principalities of China were surrounded
by semi-barbarous states, the chiefs of which were engaged in constant warfare with
them.

Confucius' deep spirit of loyalty to the House of Chow forbade his following in the
Book of History the careers of the sovereigns who reigned between the death of Muh
in B.C. 946 and the accession of P'ing in 770. One after another these kings rose,
reigned, and died, leaving each to his successor an ever-increasing heritage of woe.
During the reign of Seuen (827-781) a gleam of light seems to have shot through the
pervading darkness. Though falling far short of the excellencies of the founders of the
dynasty, he yet strove to follow, though at a long interval, the examples they had set
him; and according to the Chinese belief, as an acknowledgment from Heaven of his
efforts in the direction of virtue, it was given him to sit upon the throne for nearly half a
century.

His successor, Yew, "the Dark," appears to even less advantage. No redeeming
acts relieve the general disorder of his reign, and at the instigation of a favorite
concubine he is said to have committed acts which place him on a level with Kee and
Show. Earthquakes, storms, and astrological portents appeared as in the dark days at
the close of the Hea and Shang dynasties. His capital was surrounded by the
barbarian allies of the Prince of Shin, the father of his wife, whom he had dismissed at
the request of his favorite, and in an attempt to escape he fell a victim to their
weapons.

With this event the Western Chow dynasty was brought to a close.

Here, also, the Book of History comes to an end, and the Spring and Autumn
Annals by Confucius takes up the tale of iniquity and disorder which overspread the
land. No more dreadful record of a nation's struggles can be imagined than that
contained in Confucius's history. The country was torn by discord and desolated by
wars. Husbandry was neglected, the peace of households was destroyed, and
plunder and rapine were the watchwords of the time.

Such was the state of China at the time of the birth of Confucius (B.C. 551). Of
the parents of the Sage we know but little, except that his father, Shuh-leang Heih,
was a military officer, eminent for his commanding stature, his great bravery, and
immense strength, and that his mother's name was Yen Ching-tsai. The marriage of
this couple took place when Heih was seventy years old, and the prospect, therefore,
of his having an heir having been but slight, unusual rejoicings commemorated the