VIII. THE VILLAGE THEATRE 54 IX. VILLAGE SCHOOLS AND TRAVELLING SCHOLARS 70 X. CHINESE HIGHER EDUCATION--THE VILLAGE HIGH SCHOOL-- EXAMINATIONS--RECENT EDUCATIONAL EDICTS 111 XI. VILLAGE TEMPLES AND RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES 136 XII. COÖPERATION IN RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCES 141 XIII. COÖPERATION IN MARKETS AND FAIRS 146 XIV. COÖPERATIVE LOAN SOCIETIES 152 XV. SOCIETIES FOR WATCHING THE CROPS 161 XVI. VILLAGE AND CITY RAIN-MAKING 169 XVII. THE VILLAGE HUNT 174 XVIII. VILLAGE WEDDINGS AND FUNERALS 179 XIX. NEW YEAR IN CHINESE VILLAGES 196 XX. THE VILLAGE BULLY 211 XXI. VILLAGE HEADMEN 226 PART II.--VILLAGE FAMILY LIFE XXII. VILLAGE BOYS AND MEN 237 XXIII. CHINESE COUNTRY GIRLS AND WOMEN 258 XXIV. MONOTONY AND VACUITY OF VILLAGE LIFE 312 XXV. UNSTABLE EQUILIBRIUM OF THE CHINESE FAMILY 317 XXVI. INSTABILITY FROM FAMILY DISUNITY 324 PART III--REGENERATION OF THE CHINESE VILLAGE XXVII. WHAT CAN CHRISTIANITY DO FOR CHINA? 341 INDEX 353 List of Illustrations Chinese Villagers at Home _Frontispiece._ SOUTHERN VILLAGE SCENE } _Facing Page_ 16 A DETAIL--THE VILLAGE WELL } SAWYERS PREPARING LUMBER } " " 24 ITINERANT BLACKSMITH'S EMPLOYED BY VILLAGERS } THE VILLAGE COBBLER } " " 35 VILLAGE BROOM-MAKER } WAITING FOR THE BOAT } " " 40 CROSSING THE FERRY } STRINGS OF CHINESE CASH } " " 51 PREPARING THE STRINGS } THRESHING } " " 77 AN AFTERNOON SIESTA } THE WORLD'S OLDEST SACRED MOUNTAIN, T'AI SHAN } " " 141 SCENERY ALONG THE RIVER LIN } GOING TO MARKET } " " 148 CHINESE MARKET SCENE } CROP-WATCHER'S LODGE } " " 162 REAPING MILLET } A BRIDAL PAIR } " " 188 TEMPORARY FUNERAL PAVILION } ENTRANCE TO A YAMEN } " " 218 CHINESE COURT OF JUSTICE }