As Regards
The Present Time It Seems To Me, That This Custom Is Not Known Among The
People, And Even With Respect To The Taouists It Is Only Performed On
Certain Occasions, And Not In All Taouist Temples." (Palladius, Pp.
53-54.) - H. C.]
NOTE 4.
- "True politeness cannot of course be taught by rules merely, but
a great degree of urbanity and kindness is everywhere shown, whether owing
to the naturally placable disposition of the people, or to the effects of
their early instruction in the forms of politeness." (Mid. Kingdom, II.
68.) As regards the "ornate style of speech," a well-bred Chinaman never
says I or You, but for the former "the little person," "the disciple,"
"the inferior," and so on; and for the latter, "the learned man," "the
master," or even "the emperor." These phrases, however, are not confined
to China, most of them having exact parallels in Hindustani courtesy. On
this subject and the courteous disposition of the Chinese, see Fontaney,
in Lett. Edif. VII. 287 seqq.; also XI. 287 seqq.; Semedo, 36;
Lecomte, II. 48 seqq. There are, however, strong differences of opinion
expressed on this subject; there is, apparently, much more genuine
courtesy in the north than in the south.
NOTE 5. - "Filial piety is the fundamental principle of the Chinese
polity." (Amiot, V. 129.) "In cases of extreme unfilial conduct, parents
sometimes accuse their children before the magistrate, and demand his
official aid in controlling or punishing them; but such instances are
comparatively rare.... If the parent require his son to be publicly
whipped by the command of the magistrate, the latter is obliged to order
the infliction of the whipping.... If after punishment the son remain
undutiful and disobedient, and his parents demand it at the hands of the
magistrate, the latter must, with the consent of the maternal uncles of
the son, cause him to be taken out to the high wall in front of the yamun,
and have him there publicly whipped to death." (Doolittle, 102-103.)
NOTE 6.
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