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self； was by way of pleasantry left out overnight in a graveyard； on their way home； by his humorously inclined companions； and who； on awaking alone； in a still dubious condition； looked around him in surprise； rubbed his eyes two or three times to no purpose； and finally muttered in a tone of awe…struck conviction； 〃Well； either I'm the first to rise； or I'm a long way behind time！〃
Whether their failure to follow the natural course of evolution results in bringing them in at the death just the same or not； these people are now； at any rate； stationary not very far from the point at which we all set out。 They are still in that childish state of development before self…consciousness has spoiled the sweet simplicity of nature。 An impersonal race seems never to have fully grown up。
Partly for its own sake； partly for ours； this most distinctive feature of the Far East； its marked impersonality； is well worthy particular attention； for while it collaterally suggests pregnant thoughts about ourselves； it directly underlies the deeper oddities of a civilization which is the modern eighth wonder of the world。 We shall see this as we look at what these people are； at what they were； and at what they hope to become； not 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。
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 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 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 the fortunate defunct must feel； if he is still half as sentient as his dutiful descendants suppose； that his earthly life； like other approved comedies； has ended well。
Important； however； as these critical points in his career may be reckoned by his relatives； they are scarcely calculated to prove equally epochal to the man himself。 In a community where next to no note is ever taken of the anniversary of his birth； some doubt as to the special significance of that red…letter day may not unnaturally creep into his own mind。 While in regard to his death； although it may be highly flattering for him to know that he will certainly become somebody when he shall have ceased； practically； to be anybody； such tardy recognition is scarcely timely enough to be properly appreciated。 Human nature is so earth…tied； after all； that a post…mundane existence is ve