Note 3 — XIII.—FABLES AND PROVERBIAL LORE.

Chinese proverbs regarding “Heaven” as the supreme arbiter of human affairs are more numerous than one would expect to find amongst a people so idol-ridden as the Chinese. It is noteworthy that in this connection “Heaven” is invariably used as we use it in popular sayings to imply “the one great Cause.” Thus, as we say, “Man proposes, God disposes” the Chinese say A thousand human schemes may be wrecked by one scheme of heaven.3 Similar sayings are so numerous, that they suggest an as yet (apparently) unrecognized belief in a one all-powerful cause. Every student of Chinese is of course acquainted with the popular acceptation of the term. But it would almost seem (if the collection of proverbs before us is to be accepted as a guide) that the word more nearly expresses the Christian idea of the Creator than any other in the Chinese vocabulary.