The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-21

Most people who learn anything about
Korea are hopelessly perplexed. In view OF
the utter weakness of a nation which is
physically and Intellectually qualified to
show itself superior to both its neighbors.
The Koreans are handsomer than either
the Japanese or Chinese. and there was a
tire when they were far ahead of both in
civilization. Yet for several centuries the
millions Of this lovely mountain psninsu a
have been abjectly at the mercy OF China
and Japan alternately. and now they are
certainly doomed to become subjects OF
Russia. though not before a terrible strug-
gle has ensued between the Car and the
Mikado for this great prize.
Devil worship of the most abject order
is the secret of Korean decadence. Such
expert scholars as Dr. Landis of Chemul.
pc, and the Rev. Herbert Jones, OF the
same Korean city have devoted so much
attention to this subject OF the demonola-
try of the hermit nation that they have
been able by their researches to divuige
the exact reason for what otherwise must
have been inexplicable. Groveling supersti-
ton and fear OF countless evil spirits, with
the faint hope of propitiating a small mi,
nority of kindly demons, must be held ac-
countable for the miserable degeneration
Of the people whom nature did not fail to
qualify for a splendid destiny. Buddhism
and Confucianism have both been over
thrown by Shamanism the keynote OF
which is always sorcery.
Korea is the home OF the most complex
and all-pervadihg witchcraft the world
has ever seen. Ii is not cruel. like the
fetichism of the Congo, but it Is so servile
and puerile that 1t has Slapped the virility
Of stalwart and attractive race. The
Koreans are the most omniverous and vo-
racious gluttons on earth. They simply
live to eat. The typical Korean is eating
nuts. fruit. and confectionery all day long
between his regular meals, imbibing also
great quantities of wine at intervals: but
he can commonly eat three pounds OF meat
at a meal, and he eats his portion of flesh
all the more delightedly if 1t is black dog
that happens to be in season. What can
be done to elevate such people? The ma
tional fibre has been destroyed by gross
materiailsm, and the religious cult has
actually helped the deterioration.
Wizards and witch doctors are the real
rulers of Korea. What is most singular.
perhaps. in this degrading system ic that
parents are counted particularly lucky il
they happen TO have a son born blind
He can become a Pan Su," or blind sor-
cerer. and is sure to be able TO gain a
handsome livelihood for the whole family.
The Pan Su" wizards are supposed to be
gifted with supernatural instead of nat
ural vision. The helpers of the male
Shamans are the female soreerers or
witches. who are everywhere in evidence
The functions CT these two classes of Sha-
man devotees is to propitiate the spirits
which swarm in the air, at least three
fourths Of these demons being altogether
malign. The Pan Su" and the '3Iutang'
will not by any means exercise their of
fees at a low figure. Their fees are most
exorbitant. and it is computed that Sha-
manism costs the country not less than
G500.0G0 annually, Nowhere can the poor
Korean escape from the accursed burden
of this lifelong bondage to unseen foes.
According to the popular creed. the
naEgn spirits I'LL every portion OF space.
The chimney is crowded with them; they
live by thousands in the kitchen they
have tleir mansions in the roof; Trey squat
in every jar; they sit on every beam; they
waylay the wretehed citizen by Thousands
when he travels forth along the rold; they
dance around him in earth, air, and water.
Arithmetic cannot compute their number
for they exist in thousands of billions The
'Mutang'' or sorceress is the most i'm
portant sort of woman among the Koreans.
She is everywhere In as much request as
the blind Pan Su," and as she can move
about freely, not being blind as he is. she
leads a much more active life. Yet. strange
to say. this elI-importaGt persoHage is So
cially an outcast- The Koreans ho-d WON
an in lower esteem than any other civil lied
people, and the .Mutang'' is relegated to
the lowest place of all, although she is
the mediator between natural ard super
natural agents.
Children are sold TO devils by very many
families. To sell a child to a spirit is
by a Korean father to be the
surest method Of assuring its prosperity
The children thrs consscrated still live with
their parents. lat they are considered to
belong to the "Mutang." II is extraordi-
nary that system so unuttershly ludi-
crous should prevail over an intelligent
and keen-witted people. All classes are
bswitchet by it. The late Queen. a beau
tiful and talented woman, was profound
believer in Shamanism, aud Tesorted con
tinually to the demon oracles But they
could not save her from her cruel fate. She
was foully murdered by japanese assas-
sins. For that crime the Japanese Will be
bitterly hated by Korea for many a gen
Grafton. The pl-.cc where her remains were
cremated has become one OF the most
yenerated OF spirit shrines
Most of the spirit shrines in Korea are
grotesque places, adorned with eaudy
paintings OF gigantic earicatures of hui
manity, like exaggerated Chinese sen-
erals. The inscription usually is, 81. the
spirit, dwell in this place" The Koreans
on coming to a shrine act as do the Rus
slams when they catch sight of a holy icon.
but they have habit in addition, of ex-
pectorating before passing on. To sick
people are often given fragments of a
feast offered at a shrine, with the conf
dent hope that cure will thus be effecfed |
The effect is often fatal. For instance, |
many a typhoid patient is thus stuffed |
with pork Yet the sad result seems 10
bring no revulsion Of opinion. For in |
Korea the dark r-ign Of superstition mas !
eclipsed all the light of common sense
LONDON Morning Herald.
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