University of Nanking - Linguist Yearbook (Nanking, China)

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GOING TO PEKING S1 PEKING OR PERISH. i 5 ln the preceding paragraphs we have tried to give the reader an Idea of the pleasant and profitable way in which we spend some of our time outside of school hours. The trip to Peking, which is becoming an annual affair was the best of all. Without going into detail, we will give a resume of our experiences and the places visited. Peking or Pet-ish, was our slogan, and we saw Peking. There is no doubt about that, and Peking also saw us, eighty-seven Strong. To accommodate this number of passengers arrangements were made for two private cars. Barring the absenqe of a few panes of glass which allowed the wind and rain to enter, we managed very nicely. A person can sleep on the hard side of a board if he is tired enough. What did we care about rain and cold of our first day's journey? A bad start, a good ending? Didn't we come into Peking in grand style, with our private car attached to the finest express train in China? Trulyg there's no rest for the wicked' and the good people of the North China Language School saw to it that we were kept busy. For the benefit of future parties who will make this trip, we give Z1 list of the most important places visited. First on the list comes the beautiful Temple of Heaven and Altar of Heaven, the Temple of Agriculture, Lama Temple, Confucian Temple, Gbservatory, British Legation, Central Park, Forbidden City and Museum, Bell Tower. Drum Tower, Great Wall, the P.U.M.C., Summer Palace, jade Fountain, Winter Palace, Coal Hill, Hall of Classics, North China Language School, Y. M. C. A., and countless Curio shops, rug factories and stores of all descriptions. VVe were privileged to at- tend two receptions given for our special benefit 5 one by his Exellency President Li of China and the other by the students of the Language School. We also had the good fortune of meeting General Feng Yu- Hsiang at his camp near Peking. General Feng is known as the Christian General of China, and it was a pleasure to see for ourselves the fine type of man he really is. He is exerting a great influence Overhis own men, and its affect will be felt throughout the whole country before long. China needs many leaders of just this type of men. men who have the welfare of their country at heart and who are not afraid to-stand up for the principles of right and justice. The success of our trip to Peking is largely due to the untiring efforts of Mr. Petrus, Mr. Barkman and others of the North China Language School, Dr. Liu and Mr. Crouse of the Methodist Mission and others. We are very grateful to them for the kindly interest through their willingness to help us at all times. .Louis C. Bvsriitn. A

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80 'THE LINGUIST sixty seven strong, including our Dean and his mcther Mrs. Keen and Dr. Reichelt, an authority on temples and ceremonies and other things Buddhistic, who acted as our official guide. After a train ride of two hours and aclimb over' a Chinese highway CFootpathJ for six miles we reached the monastery set in a rambling grove of trees high up on a mountain ridge. After the lunch in the refectory-an experience to many of us-one of the chief priests conducted us from one hall and courtyard to another. Dr. Reichelt interpreted and explained. ' The Monastery of Pao I-lwa Shan is one of the oldest and most noted of the Buddhisqmonasteries in China. Some ofthe buildings are said to be about two thousand years old. At the time of our visit some six hundred monks and priests were quartered there. At certain times of the year especially during the ordination ceremonies- of the priests, two thousand and more priests assemble at this one place. We were shown the ordination platform, said to beagift direct from Heaven, where the candidates are required to recite whole volumes of Buddhist literature from memory without a mistake- X1Vhen the candidate to the priesthood accomplishes this task his head is shaved and the nine or twelve holes are burned in the top of his head, which is a sign that he is a full fledged member of Buddha and is on his way to Nirvana. XVe saw some ofthe priests in their living quarters, which are small, dark and smelly. In such places they study and memorize their manuscripts. Further in our rounds we came to the great kitchen where enormous quantities of rice are cooked. It was a cold day with llurries of snow and there was much stamping of feet to keep warm. But we thanked the courteous priest for his kindness set out forthe six mile hike to the station- And the train was two hours late. But it was great day, not to be forgotten. And the lessons of it will linger in our minds. For the task that lies before us was made clearer by the moreimtimate glimpses into the strength of the Buddhist order and into the devotion of its adherents. Yet despite the persistence of Buddhism, it has failed to save the people or the civilization. 5 '., ,, :fgpfliii f p ,tglll aM'e'Z if 45321 H ,pf L fan- H w

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THE LINGUIST GOING TO PEKING. It's an event in anyone's life To go to Peking, ' Next in importance to seeking a wife, To prowl about Peking. City of palaces sights to behold, City of parasites for plunder too bold, City of propaganda such as cannot be told, Unrivalled Peking. Attractions abound on every side, Marvellous Pekingg Streets may be narrow, or streets may be wide In dirty Pekingg The Temple of Heaven, to pious souls dear, The National Museum, to greatness so near, The ancient Observatory, instruments queer, Historic Peking. The alleys, the lanes, and the hutungs, In crisscross Peking, May be trying to folk of bad lungs, In dusty Peking, But the busy, great, main thoroughfares, Where the merchants exhibit their wonder war And camel trains bring in the desert airs, Are the boast of Peking. You'll want to see the Temple of Llama, Religious Peking, It is the scene of continuous drama, Dramatic Pekingg ' All States underheaven have legations, Missions are there from all nations, And schools representing all stations, Jealous of Peking. P. U. M. C., Tsing Hwa, and the Y's, Of foreign Peking, Yen-king, Hwei-wen, bless your eyes, Scholastic Peking, But when you have seen all there is to be seen, And been everywhere there is to be been, O men chae sie ren still best on the screen, Alluring Peking. The senators strut and all have their say In static Peking, Perhaps scarcely more than butterfly play, Fantastic Pekingg CS Thick walls, and wide gates, of imperial mould, Within this enclosure the new and the old Contend for whatever is there to be sold,- So it seems in Peking. -Anonymous, l