Consulting the oracles--The Changes, or Book of Diagrams--Ts'u and Ts'i as instructors of Chou--Tortoise augury--Consulting ancestors--Heaven's decree--Heaven's spontaneous, manifestations of favour--Astrology--Prognostication--Text of the Changes survives unmutilated--Ts'in consults oracles about moving capital-- Ts'in's greatness foretold--Omens--_Dies_ n&s--Oracles in the battlefield--Prophecy in Tsin, Ts'u, and Lu--Shuh Hiang's scepticism--Tsz-ch'an and the omen of fighting snakes--Children sing prophetic songs--"Passing on" threatened evil--Tortoise oracles in Ts'o and Wu--High status of diviners-"-Transferring" evil in Ts'u--Rivers as gods--Our own prophecies--Good faith and truth. CHAPTER XLVII _RULERS AND PEOPLE_ Personal character of wars--People's interests ignored--Instances-- Comparisons with the Golden Fleece and Naboth's vineyard--Second Protector avenges scurvy treatment--The halt, the maim, and the blind--Jephthah's rash vow-Divinity of kings--Ts'u more tyrannical than China--Responsibility of Chinese before Heaven--The King can do no wrong--Emperors reign under Heaven--Heaven in the confidence of rulers--Sacred person of kings--Distinction between official and private death--Double chivalry of a Tsin general--The gods and Tsz-ch'an's scepticism. APPENDICES INDEX LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS [For the illustration of the Wuchuan vase, and the inscription thereon, I am indebted to Dr. S. W. Bushell M.D., from whose work on "Chinese Art" (vol. i. p. 82) the plates (kindly lent by H.M. Stationery Office) are taken. For the photograph of the Duke of "Propagating Holiness" (i.e. Confucius) I am indebted to the Jesuit Fathers of Shanghai, and to Father Tschepe, who obtained it from his Grace.] 1. Tripod of the Chou dynasty, date 8l2 B.C. In 1565 A.D. it was placed by the owner for safety in a temple on Silver Island (near Chinkiang), where it may be seen now. Taken (by kind permission of the author) from Dr. S. W. Bushell's "Chinese Art," vol. i. p. 82. _Frontispiece_ 2. K'ung Ling-i, the hereditary Yen-shêng Kung, or "Propagating Holiness Duke"; 76th in descent from K'ung K'iu, alias K'ung Chung-ni, the original philosopher, 551-479 B.C. This portrait was presented to "the priest P'êng" (Father Tschepe, S.J.), on the occasion of his visit last autumn (7th moon, 33rd year). To _face page 81_ 3. Original inscription on the Sacrificial Tripod, together with (1) transcription in modern Chinese character (to the right), and (2) an account of its history (to the left). Taken from Dr. Bushell's "Chinese Art". [Illustration: MAP] LIST OF MAPS 1. The other small maps will explain each section more in detail. 2. This map is intended to give a general idea of the extremely limited area of the empire in the sixth century B.C.