Page:The problem of China - Russell 1922.pdf/90

88Rh The Chinese Emperor was the Son of Heaven, so the Mikado came to be descended from the Sun Goddess. The Chinese Emperor, whenever he happened to be a vigorous man, was genuinely supreme, so the Mikado must be made so.

The similarity of the influence of China in producing the Restoration of 645 and that of Europe in producing the Restoration of 1867–8 is set forth by Murdoch as follows:—

The two students who went to China in 608 "rendered even more illustrious service to their country perhaps than Ito and Inouye have done. For at the Revolution of 1868, the leaders of the movement harked back to the 645–650  period for a good deal of their inspiration, and the real men of political knowledge at that time were the two National Doctors."