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ON THE CHINESE NAME FOR GOD.
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(Letter to Professor F. Max Müller, chiefly on the translation into English of the Chinese terms Ti and Shang-ti,' by James Legge, Professor of the Chinese Language in the University of Oxford ; Trübner, 1880), and which by this time has, no doubt, reached you, you should think it right to withdraw the charges which you have brought against us. I have the honour to be, Gentlemen, Your obedient servant,
F. Max MÜLLER. OXFORD, Dec. 19.
A more elaborate answer was written by Dr. Legge himself, and published as 'A Letter to Frofessor Max Müller, chiefly on the translation into English of the Chinese terms Tî and Shang-TI, London, Trübner, 1880.
I here subjoin an article from the pen of the great Chinese scholar, John Chalmers, públished in a Hong-Kong paper, 28 Dec. 1880, and not easily accessible to European scholars.
THE INTERMINABLE QUESTION. The Interminable Question is about a word for the Deity in Chinese. There are three views held by powerful sections of the Missionary army, whom, for brevity, we will designate the Romanists, the Reformers, and the Rumpers. I. The view of the first is negative. There is,' they say, 'no word for God in Chinese, we must make one. We make the expression Heaven-Lord (F * Tien Chu) to stand for God.' This is the Catholic faith as decreed by the Pope some two hundred years ago. 2. The Reformers hold that the Chinese word for God is Ti, or E Shang-ti, and that the word which the people use for their objects of worship generally means ghosts. This party includes all Germans, all English and Scotch Presbyterians, all Wes
