The moral doctrines of Confucius include that capital one, which, however neglected in practice, has obtained in theory the universal assent of mankind; he taught his disciples "to treat others according to the treatment which they themselves would desire at their hands." In his doctrines there is an evident leaning to predestination or fatalism, and to fortuue-t.-lliug, or predicting events by the mystical lines of Fo-shee. With all his defects and omissions, Confucius was however a most wonderful man. His system, without making any pretension to a divine legation, still continues to prevail throughout the most extensive empire in the world. Some religions may have lasted as long, or longer ; but we believe no philosophic code can claim anything like such a lengthened period of active practical exist mice. The Tibetan, the Buddhist, and other religions, have divided, and still divide influence with it, but have never overthrown its empire. The superstitious and the vulgar of all climes, from the emperor ou the throne to the poor sailor ou board the junk, may burn gilt paper and offer sacrifices to wooden idols, practise incantations, and offer up prayers to the "invisible mother of heaven;" but, at the same time, they all revere the name of Confucius, and the more enlightened pretend to be wholly guided by his merely philosophical code. The body of his laws and instructions is etill followed, not only by the Chineee, but by Coreane, Cochin-Chinese, and other people, who, taken collectively, are estimated at 400,000,000 of souls.
The classical or sacred works written and compiled by Confucius and his disciples are nine in number ; that is to say, the 'Four Books' and the ' Five Canonical Books.' The first of the 'Four Books' is the Ta-heo,' or The School of Adults ;' the second the 'Chootig-yoong,' or ' Infallible Medium ; ' the third the Luo-yu,' coosistiog of the conversatious and sayings of Confucius, recorded by his disciples, end which, according to Sir J. F. Davis, is "in all respects a complete Chinese 'Boswell ';" and the fourth the Meng-tse,' which contains the additions and commentary of Meng-tae, or Mencius, as he is called by Europeans, who lived about a century after Confucius. The Five Canonical Books,' all said to be written or compiled by Confucius him self, are, the 'Shy.king,' or 'Book of Sacred Songs ;' the 'Shoo king,' which is a history of the deliberations between the ancient sovereigns of China; the Ly-king,' or Book of Rites and Ceremonies,' which is considered as the foundation of the present state of Chinese manners, and one of the causes of their uniform unchangeableness; and lastly, the Chun-tsieu,' which is a history of the philosopher's own times and of those which immediately preceded him.
(Sir J. F. Davis, The Chinese : a General Description of China and its Inhabitants, London, 1836; Gutzlaff, Sketch. of Chinese History, ancient and modern ; Travels of the Jesuit Missionaries; Bell (of Antermony), Barrow, Staunton, &c.)