Excerpt from The Sacred Books of China, Vol. 1: The Texts of Confucianism; The Shu King, the Religious Portions of the Shih King, the Hsiâo King

II. Confucianism is the religion of China par excel lence, and is named from the great sage who lived in the fifth and sixth centuries B. C. Confucius indeed did not originate the system, nor was he the first to inculcate its principles or enjoin its forms Of worship. He said of him self (analects, VII, i) that he was a transmitter and not a maker, one who believed in and loved the ancients; and hence it is said in the thirtieth chapter of the Doctrine of the Mean, ascribed to his grandson, that he handed down the doctrines Of Yao and Shun, as if they had been his ancestors, and elegantly displayed the regulations Of Win and W0, taking them as his models.'

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