the soul of the far east(远东的灵魂)-第36节
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any Western land。 And this has been so from the earliest times。
Shakspeares and Newtons have never existed there。 Japanese humanity
is not the soil to grow them。 The comparative absence of genius is fully
paralleled by the want of its opposite。 Not only are the paths of
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preeminence untrodden； the purlieus of brutish ignorance are likewise
unfrequented。 On neither side of the great medial line is the departure of
individuals far or frequent。 All men there are more alike；so much alike；
indeed； that the place would seem to offer a sort of forlorn hope for
disappointed socialists。 Although religious missionaries have not met
with any marked success among the natives； this less deserving class of
enthusiastic disseminators of an all…possessing belief might do well to
attempt it。 They would find there a very virgin field of a most
promisingly dead level。 It is true； human opposition would undoubtedly
prevent their tilling it； but Nature； at least； would not present quite such
constitutional obstacles as she wisely does with us。
The individual's mind is； as it were； an isolated bit of the race mind。
The same set of traits will be found in each。 Mental characteristics there
are a sort of common property； of which a certain undifferentiated portion
is indiscriminately allotted to every man at birth。 One soul resembles
another so much； that in view of the patriarchal system under which they
all exist； there seems to the stranger a peculiar appropriateness in so strong
a family likeness of mind。 An idea of how little one man's brain differs
from his neighbor's may be gathered from the fact； that while a common
coolie in Japan spends his spare time in playing a chess twice as
complicated as ours； the most advanced philosopher is still on the
blissfully ignorant side of the pons asinorum。
We find； then； that in all three points the Far East fulfils what our
theory demanded。
There is one more consideration worthy of notice。 We said that the
environment had not been the deus ex materia in the matter； but that the
soul itself possessed the germ of its own evolution。 This fact does not；
however； preclude another； that the environment has helped in the process。
Change of scene is beneficial to others besides invalids。 How stimulating
to growth a different habitat can prove； when at all favorable； is perhaps
sufficiently shown in the case of the marguerite； which； as an emigrant
called white…weed； has usurped our fields。 The same has been no less
true of peoples。 Now these Far Eastern peoples； in comparison with our
own forefathers； have travelled very little。 A race in its travels gains two
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things： first it acquires directly a great deal from both places and peoples
that it meets； and secondly it is constantly put to its own resources in its
struggle for existence； and becomes more personal as the outcome of such
strife。 The changed conditions； the hostile forces it finds； necessitate
mental ingenuity to adapt them and influence it unconsciously。 To see
how potent these influences prove we have but to look at the two great
branches of the Aryan family； the one that for so long now has stayed at
home； and the one that went abroad。 Destitute of stimulus from without；
the Indo…Aryan mind turned upon itself and consumed in dreamy
metaphysics the imagination which has made its cousins the leaders in the
world's progress to…day。 The inevitable numbness of monotony crept
over the stay…at…homes。 The deadly sameness of their surroundings
produced its unavoidable effect。 The torpor of the East； like some
paralyzing poison； stole into their souls； and they fell into a drowsy
slumber only to dream in the land they had formerly wrested from its
possessors。 Their birthright passed with their cousins into the West。
In the case of the Altaic races which we are considering； cause and
effect mutually strengthened each other。 That they did not travel more is
due primarily to a lack of enterprise consequent upon a lack of
imagination； and then their want of travel told upon their imagination。
They were also unfortunate in their journeying。 Their travels were
prematurely brought to an end by that vast geographical Nirvana the
Pacific Ocean； the great peaceful sea as they call it themselves。 That they
would have journeyed further is shown by the way their dreams went
eastward still。 They themselves could not for the preventing ocean； and
the lapping of its waters proved a nation's lullaby。
One thing； I think； then； our glance at Far Eastern civilization has more
than suggested。 The soul； in its progress through the world； tends
inevitably to individualization。 Yet the more we perceive of the cosmos
the more do we recognize an all…pervading unity in it。 Its soul must be one；
not many。 The divine power that made all things is not itself multifold。
How to reconcile the ever…increasing divergence with an eventual
similarity is a problem at present transcending our generalizations。 What
we know would seem to be opposed to what we must infer。 But
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perception of how we shall merge the personal in the universal； though at
present hidden from sight； may sometime come to us； and the seemingly
irreconcilable will then turn out to involve no contradiction at all。 For this
much is certain： grand as is the great conception of Buddhism； majestic as
is the idea of the stately rest it would lead us to； the road here below is not
one the life of the world can follow。 If earthly existence be an evil； then
Buddhism will help us ignore it； but if by an impulse we cannot explain
we instinctively crave activity of mind； then the great gospel of Gautama
touches us not； for to abandon selfegoism； that is； not selfishness is the
true vacuum which nature abhors。 As for Far Orientals； they themselves
furnish proof against themselves。 That impersonality is not man's earthly
goal they unwittingly bear witness； for they are not of those who will
survive。 Artistic attractive people that they are； their civilization is like
their own tree flowers； beautiful blossoms destined never to bear fruit； for
whatever we may conceive the far future of another life to be； the
immediate effect of impersonality cannot but be annihilating。 If these
people continue in their old course； their earthly career is closed。 Just as
surely as morning passes into afternoon； so surely are these races of the
Far East； if unchanged； destined to disappear before the advancing nations
of the West。 Vanish they will off the face of the earth and leave our
planet the eventual possession of the dwellers where the day declines。
Unless their newly imported ideas really take root； it is from this whole
world that Japanese and Koreans； as well as Chinese； will inevitably be
excluded。 Their Nirvana is already being realized； already it has
wrapped Far Eastern Asia in its winding…sheet； the shroud of those whose
day was but a dawn； as if in prophetic keeping with the names they gave
their homes；the Land of the Day's Beginning； and the Land of the
Morning Calm。
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