Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-06
Women in Corea.


According to the reports of the French mis-
sionaries, the women of Corea lead more Sc
questered life than is usual in other countries
Of Asia. which is everywhere the prison of
womanhood. Professor w. E. Griffis, in his ex
celent work on "Corea," just published by
Charles Scribner's Sons, holds the same view
and gives these interesting details: In the
higher classes of society etiquette demands that
the children of the two sexes be separated after
the age of eight or ten years. After that time
the boys dwell entirely in the mems apart
ments, to study and even to eat and drink.
The girls remain secluded in the wOmen's
quarters Tle boys are taught that
it is shameful thing to set foot in the female
part of the house. The girls are told that it is
disgraceful even to be seen by males. SO that
gradually they seek to hide themselves when
ever any of the male sex appear. These GUS
toms, continued from childhood to old age. re-
suit In destroying the family life. Corean of
good taste only occasionally holds conversation
with his wife. whom he regards as being far
beneath him. He rarely consults her on any
thing serious, and. though living under the
same rCo of, one may say that husband and wife
are widely separated. The female apart
ments among the higher classes resemble
The men chat. smoke, and enjoy them
selves in the outer rooms. and the women re-
ceiye their parents and friends in the interior
apartments The same custom, based upon the
same prejudice, binders the common people
from remaining In their own houses The men
seek the society of their male neighbOrs, and the
women on their part unite together for local
gossip. In the higher classes when young
woman has arrived at manageable age, none
even OF her own relatives, except those nearest
who are excepted from this rule must address
her with the most ceremOniOus reserve.
After their marriage the women are inaccessi-
BILE They are nearly all confined to their apart
ments, nor can they even look out in the
streets without permission of their lords So
strict is this rule that fathers have on Occa-
sions killed their daughters, husbands their
wives and wives have committed suicide, when
strangers have touched them even with their
fingers. The common rOmances or novels of the
country eXpatiate on the merits Of manga Core an
Lucretia. In some cases, however, this eXagger-
ated modestv produces the very results it is in
tended to avoid. If bold villain or too eager
paramount should succeed in penetrating secretly
the apartments of noble. lady she dare not
utter a cry, nor oppose the least resistance
which might attract attention, for then. whether
guilty or not, she would be disnOnOred for
ever by the simple fact that a man had en-
tered her chamber. Every Corean husband
is Caesar in this respect. If. however. the
affair remains secret her reputation is saved.
There Is. however. another side. Though
counting for nothing i'll society. and nearly SO
In their family. they are surrounded by certain
sort OF exterior respect They are always ad-
dressed in the formulas OF hOnOrihc language.
The men always step aside in the street to allow
woman to pass, even though she be of the
poorer classes The apartments of females are
lnvIo!able even to the miniOns of the law. A
noble who takes refuge in his wife's room may
not be seized. Only in cases of rebellion Is he
dragged forth, for in that case his family are
reck0ned as accomplces in his guilt In other
crimes the accused must in some way be entced
outside. where lie may be legally arrested.
When peddler visits the house to show his
wares he waits until the doors of the wOmens
apartments are shut. This done. his goods are
examined In the outer apartments, which are
opentO all. When man wishes to mend or 90
upon his roof. he first notifies his neghbors in
order that they may shut their doors and win.
doWS, lest lie risk the horrible suspicion of peep
ing at the women. As the COreans do not see
IMAM iii the moon" but only rabbit pound
ing drugs or lady banished there for certain
1au!t, according as they are most familiar with
Sanscrlt or the Chinese story. the females are not
afraid OF this luminary nor are the men jealous
of her, the moon being female in their ideas of
gender.
Marriage in Chosen is a thing with which
woman has little or nothing to do. The
father OF the young man communicates either
by call or letter. with the father of the girl
whom he wishes his son to marry This is
often done without consulting the tastes or
character OF either. and usually through a
middie-man or gO-between. The fathers set
tie the time of the wedding after due discus
sion of the contract. 4 favorable day is APP
pointed by the astrOlogers and the arranra
ments are perfected. Under this aspect mar
rage seems an affair of small importance but
In reality IL is marriage only that gives one any
civil rank or influence in society Every
unmarried person is treated as child
He may commit all sorts of fOOlishness without
being held to account. His capers are not no.
tced, for he is not supposed to think or act Sc
rOusly. Even the unmarried young men of
twenty-five or thirty years of age can take no
part in social reunions, or speak Oh affairs OF
Importance, but must hold their tongue-be
seen but not heard. Marriage is emancipation.
Even II mated at twelve or thirteen years of age
the married are adults The bride takes her
place among the matrOns, and the young man
mas right to speak among the men and to wear
hat The badge OF single or of married life is
the hair. Before marriage the youth who goes
Dareheaded, wears simple tress hanging
down his back. The nuptial tie is in reality
knot of hair, for in wedlOck the hair is
bound up on the top of the head and is cult
waited on all parts Of the scalp According
to old traditions men ought never to clip sin
gle halr; but in the capital the young gallants.
in order to add to their personal attractions
with dash of fashionable defance-trim their
locks SO that their couture will not increase in
size more than hens egg. The women on the
contrary, not only preserve all their own hair
but procure false switches and braids to swell
their cOiffures to fashionable bulk They make
up two large tresses, which are rolled to the
back and top of the head, and secured by long
PIN of silver or copper. The common people
roll their paits around their heads like turban
and shave the front of the scalp. Young per-
sons who insist on remaining single, or bache-
lOrs arrived at a certain or uncertain age and
VINO have not yet found a wife. secretly cut off
their hair or get it done by fraud. in order to
pass for married folk and avoid being treated as
children. Such a custom, however, is gross
violation of morals and etiquette.