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The Soul of the Far East
historically； but psychologically； as one might perceive； were he but wise
enough； in an acorn； besides the nut itself； two oaks； that one from which
it fell； and that other which from it will rise。 These three states； which
we may call its potential past； present； and future； may be observed and
studied in three special outgrowths of a race's character： in its language； in
its every…day thoughts； and in its religion。 For in the language of a
people we find embalmed the spirit of its past； in its every…day thoughts；
be they of arts or sciences； is wrapped up its present life； in its religion lie
enfolded its dreamings of a future。 From out each of these three subjects
in the Far East impersonality stares us in the face。 Upon this quality as a
foundation rests the Far Oriental character。 It is individually rather than
nationally that I propose to scan it now。 It is the action of a particle in the
wave of world…development I would watch； rather than the propagation of
the wave itself。 Inferences about the movement of the whole will follow of
themselves a knowledge of the motion of its parts。
But before we attack the subject esoterically； let us look a moment at
the man as he appears in his relation to the community。 Such a glance
will suggest the peculiar atmosphere of impersonality that pervades the
people。
However lacking in cleverness； in merit； or in imagination a man may
be； there are in our Western world； if his existence there be so much as
noticed at all； three occasions on which he appears in print。 His birth； his
marriage； and his death are all duly chronicled in type； perhaps as
sufficiently typical of the general unimportance of his life。 Mention of
one's birth； it is true； is an aristocratic privilege； confined to the world of
English society。 In democratic America； no doubt because all men there
are supposed to be born free and equal； we ignore the first event； and
mention only the last two episodes； about which our national astuteness
asserts no such effacing equality。
Accepting our newspaper record as a fair enough summary of the
biography of an average man； let us look at these three momentous
occasions in the career of a Far Oriental。
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The Soul of the Far East
CHAPTER 2。 Family。
In the first place； then； the poor little Japanese baby is ushered into this
world in a sadly impersonal manner； for he is not even accorded the
distinction of a birthday。 He is permitted instead only the much less
special honor of a birth…year。 Not that he begins his separate existence
otherwise than is the custom of mortals generally； at a definite instant of
time； but that very little subsequent notice is ever taken of the fact。 On
the contrary； from the moment he makes his appearance he is spoken of as
a year old； and this same age he continues to be considered in most simple
ease of calculation； till the beginning of the next calendar year。 When
that epoch of general rejoicing arrives； he is credited with another year
himself。 So is everybody else。 New Year's day is a common birthday
for the community； a sort of impersonal anniversary for his whole world。
A like reckoning is followed in China and Korea。 Upon the
disadvantages of being considered from one's birth up at least one year
and possibly two older than one really is； it lies beyond our present
purpose to expatiate。 It is quite evident that woman has had no voice in
the framing of such a chronology。 One would hardly imagine that man
had either； so astronomic is the system。 A communistic age is however
but an unavoidable detail of the general scheme whose most suggestive
feature consists in the subordination of the actual birthday of the
individual to the fictitious birthday of the community。 For it is not so
much the want of commemoration shown the subject as the character of
the commemoration which is significant。 Some slight notice is indeed
paid to birthdays during early childhood； but even then their observance is
quite secondary in importance to that of the great impersonal anniversaries
of the third day of the third moon and the fifth day of the fifth moon。
These two occasions celebrated the coming of humanity into the world
with an impersonality worthy of the French revolutionary calendar。 The
first of them is called the festival of girls； and commemorates the birth of
girls generally； the advent of the universal feminine； as one may say。 The
second is a corresponding anniversary for boys。 Owing to its sex； the latter
is the greater event of the two； and in consequence of its most conspicuous
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The Soul of the Far East
feature is styled the festival of fishes。 The fishes are hollow paper
images of the 〃tai〃 from four to six feet in length； tied to the top of a long
pole planted in the ground and tipped with a gilded ball。 Holes in the
paper at the mouth and the tail enable the wind to inflate the body so that it
floats about horizontally； swaying hither and thither； and tugging at the
line after the manner of a living thing。 The fish are emblems of good
luck； and are set up in the courtyard of every house where a son has been
born during the year。 On this auspicious day Tokio is suddenly
transformed into eighty square miles of aquarium。
For any more personal purpose New Year's day eclipses all particular
anniversaries。 Then everybody congratulates everybody else upon
everything in general； and incidentally upon being alive。 Such
substitution of an abstract for a concrete birthday； although exceedingly
convenient for others； must at least conduce to self…forgetfulness on the
part of its proper possessor； and tend inevitably to merge the identity of the
individual in that of the community。
It fares hardly better with the Far Oriental in the matter of marriage。
Although he is； as we might think； the person most interested in the result；
he is permitted no say in the affair whatever。 In fact； it is not his affair at
all； but his father's。 His hand is simply made a cat's…paw of。 The matter
is entirely a business transaction； entered into by the parent and conducted
through regular marriage brokers。 In it he plays only the part of a
marionette。 His revenge for being thus bartered out of what might be the
better half of his life； he takes eventually on the next succeeding
generation。
His death may be said to be the most important act of his whole life。
For then only can his personal existence be properly considered to begin。
By it he joins the great company of ancestors who are to these people of
almost more consequence than living folk； and of much more individual
distinction。 Particularly is this the case in China and Korea； but the same
respect； though in a somewhat less rigid form； is paid the dead in Japan。
Then at last the individual receives that recognition which was denied him
in the flesh。 In Japan a mortuary tablet is set up to him in the house and
duly worshipped； on the continent the ancestors are given a dwelling of
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The Soul of the Far East
their own； and even more devotedly reverenced。 But in both places the
cult is anything but funereal。 For the ancestral tombs are temples and
pleasure pavilions at the same time； consecrated not simply to rites and
ceremonies； but to family gatherings and general jollification。 And