Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-12-29
MARRIAGE IN cOREA.
Woman's Position There Is by No
Means EnviabIe.

"There is perhaps no country about
the wOmankind of which SO little is
known as of COrea,' writes G. J. r.
Gluckner in 1.-The Nineteenth Cen
tury' "The Coreans have the curious
habit of not counting their daughters
as members of the family-at least, not
in public. If a father is asked how
many children he has got, he always
gives as answer the number of his
sons. One can only learn of the ex-
istence of a daughter by very particu-
lar, close inquiries. They have special
| names only up to the age of seven,
after which they only bear the fathers
surname, and are henceforth known
only as daughter, sister. or wife of
some man.
I'm education the separation be-
tween boys and girls takes place in the
eighth year. The boys then are taught
all branches of knowledge considered
necessary for their future calling, but
the education of girls in a good family
is limited to the study of maxims of
morality and to the knowledge of the
ceremonies in connection with the re-
ligious cultus of ancestors; in the huts
of the poor people the girls are taught
only dressmaking and all sorts of
needlewOrk. AS matter of fact, the
women of the lower class are particu-
larly clever in the use of the needle.
This is easily proved by the garments
exhibited in the Museum OF Eth
biography in Berlin, and in the Brus-
sells Museum. The embroideries on
the silk undergarments are executed
with extraordinary skill. In Berlin
there is, among other articles, also
one of the famous white garments
which the Coreans are particularly
fond of wearing, and which owe their
existence to the uncommonly long
period of mourning for their dead. AS
the Coreans are obliged to dress in
white for three years for every case of
death, and as once three kings died
within ten years, by which deaths
mourning was imposed on the whole
nation, the majority of people chose
rather to dress continually in white in
order to avoid the great expense in
volved by a repeated change Of cloth
ing.
1.-THE women make these garments,
and every time they have to be washed
they are entirely taken to pieces, and
these are beaten for hours with
wooden bat in order to obtain the me-
tallic gloss which is considered par
ticuarly beautiful. In the Berlin
Museum there is one of these bats,
which is made of cedar wood, and in
shape is like moderately large Wine
bottle flattened on one side.
The custom connected with Corean
marriage are as follows: The man sends
f,,, x.-,.ift fs,r, nj
the hand of the girl whom he has chosen,
and her family send a written reply II
the offer is accepted. there follows an eX-
change Of papers Of identity. in which
particular attention is given to the exact
date and hour of birth. as they have to
FIX the day of the calendar which ~, Is
intended marriage. On thai day tht place
for the ceremony is prepared at the house
Of the bride underneath t." out %Mts aTo en-
dressed in the proper garments, comes
driving or riding, accom-! l'3Vd 10y his "a,
walks. with his face turned to the north.
There the brEdrsioon. in kneelins posi-
which consists of Il wild goose. in default
of which a carved one can be substituted:
he bows twice. retireS a short distance.
and then stops. with his face turned to
the west The reason of the existence of
this curious present is to be found in
legend which tells how hunter had once
ways seen the goose come PACK 10 . Tislt
the spot where her mate mad been killed
This present. therefore. means TO lntl-
mate the hope and expectation that the
wife shall show equal faithfulneSS to her
husband and after it has been given the
two parties give each other the promise OF
eternal faith by using the following
words: Now. our hair is as black as the
feathers of the wild goose. but even if it
should turn white as the fibre Of the
dubious root, we will still hold together as
faithfully we do this day. -,
first time in her life the complete Corean
woman's dress. Her face IS powdered the
eyebrows are painted black. the lips
colored with salftlower: Three hairpiths
head covered with a light hat. An upper
garment of variegated pattern. with pur-
pie shoulder bands. and a neither garment
of scarlet are held around the waist BY
white grde five inches wide. White
cuffs. covering the hands. white stockings
and silk shoes of red. purple. green or
blue. complete the costume .
" h low sters: supported ~ tire:
festively dressed waiting women. the bride
descands the staircase. steps on the place
prepared for the ceremony, and stops;
with her face covered with the fan and
10 the bridegroom who returns the same
compliment After that two vessels one
adorned with red. the other with blue
ribbons are filled with wine by two maid
servants and HANDED By bet them Sntb to Take ehe
sip at the same time. and this act con.
cludes the ceremonial Of the wedding.
Then they are separately conducted INTO
are invited to the banquet; at which ali
fine relations of the bride take part. After
its conclusion the bridegroom drives nome
TO his house, but the bride does not follow
him till the next propitious calendar Gay
for the COrean wife. she may not