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one；〃 a noun and a numeral； from which Aryan languages have coined the only impersonal pronoun they possess。 On the one hand； we have the German 〃mann；〃 on the other； the French 〃on〃。 While as if to give the official seal to the oneness of man with the universe； the word mono； thing； is applied； without the faintest implication of insult； to men。
Such； then； is the mould into which； as children； these people learn to cast their thought。 What an influence it must exert upon their subsequent views of life we have but to ask of our own memories to know。 With each one of us； if we are to advance beyond the steps of the last generation； there comes a time when our growing ideas refuse any longer to fit the childish grooves in which we were taught to let them run。 How great the wrench is when this supreme moment arrives we have all felt too keenly ever to forget。 We hesitate； we delay； to abandon the beliefs which； dating from the dawn of our being； seem to us even as a part of our very selves。 From the religion of our mother to the birth of our boyish first love； all our early associations send down roots so deep that long after our minds have outgrown them our hearts refuse to give them up。 Even when reason conquers at last； sentiment still throbs at the voids they necessarily have left。
In the Far East； this fondness for the old is further consecrated by religion。 The worship of ancestors sets its seal upon the traditions of the past； to break which were impious as well as sad。 The golden age； that time when each man himself was young； has lingered on in the lands where it is always morning； and where man has never passed to his prosaic noon。 Befitting the place is the mind we find there。 As its language so clearly shows； it still is in that early impersonal state to which we all awake first before we become aware of that something we later know so well as self。
Particularly potent with these people is their language； for a reason that also lends it additional interest to us；because it is their own。 Among the mass of foreign thought the Japanese imitativeness has caused the nation to adopt； here is one thing which is indigenous。 Half of the present speech； it is true； is of Chinese importation； but conservatism has kept the other half pure。 From what it reveals we can see how each man starts to…day with the same impersonal outlook upon life the race had reached centuries ago； and which it has since kept unchanged。 The man's mind has done likewise。
Footnote to Chapter 4
＇1＇ Professor Basil Hall Chamberlain： The Japanese Language。
Chapter 5。 Nature and Art。
We have seen how impersonal is the form which Far Eastern thought assumes when it crystallizes into words。 Let us turn now to a consideration of the thoughts themselves before they are thus stereotyped for transmission to others； and scan them as they find expression unconsciously in the man's doings； or seek it consciously in his deeds。
To the Far Oriental there is one subject which so permeates and pervades his whole being as to be to him； not so much a conscious matter of thought as an unconscious mode of thinking。 For it is a thing which shapes all his thoughts instead of constituting the substance of one particular set of them。 That subject is art。 To it he is born as to a birthright。 Artistic perception is with him an instinct to which he intuitively conforms； and for which he inherits the skill of countless generations。 From the tips of his fingers to the tips of his toes； in whose use he is surprisingly proficient； he is the artist all over。 Admirable； however； as is his manual dexterity； his mental altitude is still more to be admired； for it is artistic to perfection。 His perception of beauty is as keen as his comprehension of the cosmos is crude； for while with science he has not even a speaking acquaintance； with art he is on terms of the most affectionate intimacy。
To the whole Far Eastern world science is a stranger。 Such nescience is patent even in matters seemingly scientific。 For although the Chinese civilization； even in the so…called modern inventions； was already old while ours lay still in the cradle； it was to no scientific spirit that its discoveries were due。 Notwithstanding the fact that Cathay was the happy possessor of gunpowder； movable type； and the compass before such things were dreamt of in Europe； she owed them to no knowledge of physics； chemistry； or mechanics。 It was as arts； not as sciences； they were invented。 And it speaks volumes for her civilization that she burnt her powder for fireworks； not for firearms。 To the West alone belongs the credit of manufacturing that article for the sake of killing people instead of merely killing time。
The scientific is not the Far Oriental point of view。 To wish to know the reasons of things； that irrepressible yearning of the Western spirit； is no characteristic of the Chinaman's mind； nor is it a Tartar trait。 Metaphysics； a species of speculation that has usually proved peculiarly attractive to mankind； probably from its not requiring any scientific capital whatever； would seem the most likely place to seek it。 But upon such matters he has expended no imagination of his own； having quietly taken on trust from India what he now professes。 As for science proper； it has reached at his hands only the quasimorphologic stage； that is； it consists of catalogues concocted according to the ingenuity of the individual and resembles the real thing about as much as a haphazard arrangement of human bones might be expected to resemble a man。 Not only is the spirit of the subject left out altogether； but the mere outward semblance is misleading。 For pseudo…scientific collections of facts which never rise to be classifications of phenomena forms to his idea the acme of erudition。 His mathematics； for example； consists of a set of empiric rules； of which no explanation is ever vouchsafed the taught for the simple reason that it is quite unknown to the teacher。 It is not even easy to decide how much of what there is is Jesuitical。 Of more recent sciences he has still less notion； particularly of the natural ones。 Physics； chemistry； geology； and the like are matters that have never entered his head。 Even in studies more immediately connected with obvious everyday life； such as language； history； customs； it is truly remarkable how little he possesses the power of generalization and inference。 His elaborate lists of facts are imposing typographically； but are not even formally important； while his reasoning about them is as exquisite a bit of scientific satire as could well be imagined。
But with the arts it is quite another matter。 While you will search in vain； in his civilization； for explanations of even the most simple of nature's laws； you will meet at every turn with devices for the beautifying of life； which may stand not unworthily beside the products of nature's own skill。 Whatever these people fashion； from the toy of an hour to the triumphs of all time； is touched by a taste unknown elsewhere。 To stroll down the Broadway of Tokio of an evening is a liberal education in everyday art。 As you enter it there opens out in front of you a fairy…like vista of illumination。 Two long lines of gayly lighted shops； stretching off into the distance； look out across two equally endless rows of torch…lit booths； the decorous yellow gleam of the one contrasting strangely with the demoniacal red flare of the other。 This perspective of pleasure fulfils its promise。 As your feet follow your eyes you find yourself in a veritable shoppers' paradise； the galaxy of twinkle resolving into worlds of delight。 Nor do you long remain a mere spectator； for the shops open their arms to you。 No cold glass reveals their charms only to shut you off。 Their wares lie invitingly exposed to the public； seeming to you already half your own。 At the very first you come to you stop involuntarily； lost in admiration over what you take to be bric…a…brac。 It is only afterwards you learn that the object of your ecstasy was the commonest of kitchen crockery。 Next door you halt again； this time in front of some leathern pocket…books； stamped with designs in color to tempt you instantly to empty your wallet for more new ones than you will ever have the means to fill。 If you do succeed in tearing yourself away purse…whole； it is only to fall a victim to some painted fans of so exquisite a make and decoration that escape short of possession is impossible。 Opposed as stubbornly as you may be to idle purchase at home； here you will find yourself the prey of an acute case of shopping fever before you know it。 Nor will it be much consolation subsequently to discover that you have squandered your patrimony upon the most ordinary articles of every…day use。 If in despair you turn for refuge to the booths； you will but have delivered yourself into the embrace of still more irresistible fascinations。 For the nocturnal squatters are there for the express purpose of catching the susceptible。 The shops were modestly attractive from their nature； but the booths deliberately make eyes at you； and with telling effect。 The very atmosphere is bewitching。 The lurid smurkiness of the torches lends an