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The Soul of the Far East
The Soul of the Far East
by Percival Lowell
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The Soul of the Far East
CHAPTER 1。 Individuality。
The boyish belief that on the other side of our globe all things are of
necessity upside down is startlingly brought back to the man when he first
sets foot at Yokohama。 If his initial glance does not； to be sure； disclose
the natives in the every…day feat of standing calmly on their heads； an
attitude which his youthful imagination conceived to be a necessary
consequence of their geographical position； it does at least reveal them
looking at the world as if from the standpoint of that eccentric posture。
For they seem to him to see everything topsy…turvy。 Whether it be that
their antipodal situation has affected their brains； or whether it is the mind
of the observer himself that has hitherto been wrong in undertaking to
rectify the inverted pictures presented by his retina； the result； at all events；
is undeniable。 The world stands reversed； and； taking for granted his
own uprightness； the stranger unhesitatingly imputes to them an obliquity
of vision； a state of mind outwardly typified by the cat…like obliqueness of
their eyes。
If the inversion be not precisely of the kind he expected； it is none the
less striking； and impressibly more real。 If personal experience has
definitely convinced him that the inhabitants of that under side of our
planet do not adhere to it head downwards； like flies on a ceiling；his
early a priori deduction；they still appear quite as antipodal； mentally
considered。 Intellectually； at least； their attitude sets gravity at defiance。
For to the mind's eye their world is one huge； comical antithesis of our
own。 What we regard intuitively in one way from our standpoint； they as
intuitively observe in a diametrically opposite manner from theirs。 To
speak backwards； write backwards； read backwards； is but the a b c of
their contrariety。 The inversion extends deeper than mere modes of
expression； down into the very matter of thought。 Ideas of ours which
we deemed innate find in them no home； while methods which strike us as
preposterously unnatural appear to be their birthright。 From the standing
of a wet umbrella on its handle instead of its head to dry to the striking of
a match away in place of toward one； there seems to be no action of our
daily lives； however trivial； but finds with them its appropriate reaction
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The Soul of the Far East
equal but opposite。 Indeed； to one anxious of conforming to the manners
and customs of the country； the only road to right lies in following
unswervingly that course which his inherited instincts assure him to be
wrong。
Yet these people are human beings； with all their eccentricities they are
men。 Physically we cannot but be cognizant of the fact； nor mentally but
be conscious of it。 Like us； indeed； and yet so unlike are they that we
seem； as we gaze at them； to be viewing our own humanity in some mirth…
provoking mirror of the mind；a mirror that shows us our own familiar
thoughts； but all turned wrong side out。 Humor holds the glass； and we
become the sport of our own reflections。 But is it otherwise at home？ Do
not our personal presentments mock each of us individually our lives long？
Who but is the daily dupe of his dressing…glass； and complacently
conceives himself to be a very different appearing person from what he is；
forgetting that his right side has become his left； and vice versa？ Yet who；
when by chance he catches sight in like manner of the face of a friend； can
keep from smiling at the caricatures which the mirror's left…for…right
reversal makes of the asymmetry of that friend's features；caricatures all
the more grotesque for being utterly unsuspected by their innocent original？
Perhaps； could we once see ourselves as others see us； our surprise in the
case of foreign peoples might be less pronounced。
Regarding； then； the Far Oriental as a man； and not simply as a
phenomenon； we discover in his peculiar point of view a new importance；…
…the possibility of using it stereoptically。 For his mind…photograph of the
world can be placed side by side with ours； and the two pictures combined
will yield results beyond what either alone could possibly have afforded。
Thus harmonized； they will help us to realize humanity。 Indeed it is only
by such a combination of two different aspects that we ever perceive
substance and distinguish reality from illusion。 What our two eyes make
possible for material objects； the earth's two hemispheres may enable us to
do for mental traits。 Only the superficial never changes its expression；
the appearance of the solid varies with the standpoint of the observer。 In
dreamland alone does everything seem plain； and there all is unsubstantial。
To say that the Japanese are not a savage tribe is of course unnecessary；
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The Soul of the Far East
to repeat the remark； anything but superfluous； on the principle that what
is a matter of common notoriety is very apt to prove a matter about which
uncommonly little is known。 At present we go halfway in recognition of
these people by bestowing upon them a demi…diploma of mental
development called semi…civilization； neglecting； however； to specify in
what the fractional qualification consists。 If the suggestion of a second
moiety； as of something directly complementary to them； were not
indirectly complimentary to ourselves； the expression might pass； but； as it
is； the self…praise is rather too obvious to carry conviction。 For Japan's
claim to culture is not based solely upon the exports with which she
supplements our art； nor upon the paper； china； and bric…a…brac with which
she adorns our rooms； any more than Western science is adequately
represented in Japan by our popular imports there of kerosene oil； matches；
and beer。 Only half civilized the Far East presumably is； but it is so
rather in an absolute than a relative sense； in the sense of what might have
been； not of what is。 It is so as compared； not with us； but with the
eventual possibilities of humanity。 As yet； neither system； Western nor
Eastern； is perfect enough to serve in all things as standard for the other。
The light of truth has reached each hemisphere through the medium of its
own mental crystallization； and this has polarized it in opposite ways； so
that now the rays that are normal to the eyes of the one only produce
darkness to those of the other。 For the Japanese civilization in the sense
of not being savagery is the equal of our own。 It is not in the polish that
the real difference lies； it is in the substance polished。 In politeness； in
delicacy； they have as a people no peers。 Art has been their mistress；
though science has never been their master。 Perhaps for this very reason
that art； not science； has been the Muse they courted； the result has been
all the more widespread。 For culture there is not the attainment of the
few； but the common property of the people。 If the peaks of intellect rise
less eminent； the plateau of general elevation stands higher。 But little need
be said to prove the civilization of a land where ordinary tea…house girls
are models of refinement； and common coolies； when not at work； play
chess for pastime。
If Japanese ways look odd at first sight； they but look more