This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1904 edition. Excerpt: ... the ancient doctrine which preceded the Shintoism of the twelfth century B.c., and it appears to have been the sole religion of China under the successive rulers of the Patriarchal dynasty--Fuh-hi, Shin-nung, Hwang-ti, Shaou-haou, Chuen-hia, Ti-ko, Che, Yaou, and Shun. It remained in more or less of its natural purity through the succeeding dynasties of Hia and Shang, and was consistently taught as part of the ancient doctrine by the founders of the Chow dynasty, Wan-wang and Wu-wang. It was not until the times immediately prior to the birth of Laotze that a marked spiritual decadence was observable in China; and of this more will be said in the concluding part of the present work. "That which unites them," says Laotze, speaking of the Three Emanations, "is the immaterial Breath." This term has a peculiar signification throughout the philosophies of the world, and its employment in this place is of great interest. In the Indian philosophy we find the name Brahma given to H the Creator. It is derived from the root brih, " to expand," and from this we have the English verb " to breathe." The Hebrew words ab and abba, i.e. " father," have the same signification, while the Hebrew bra, "creation," is undoubtedly a cognate of the Sanskrit word brih. In the Genesis we have the expression, Ruach Elohim merechapeth ol peni hamayim, i.e. " the Breath of God fluttered upon the face of the waters." The Logos, Verbum, or Word, has the same connotation, and by the Word, Voice, or Breath of God all things were made. Conceivably this "breath" is a living, quickening force, working in the original essence of things to the production of forms of life. Those who are acquainted with the phenomena of sound-forms will understand more clearly than others how...