The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-01-30
THE A 3 c,s OF THE FAR EAST.

THE A 3 c's OF THE FAR EAST.
From what is the name Japan" de-
rived?
! From the Chinese I-ih-pen, meaning
''sun-source,' which was given to the
country because it lay toward the sunrise
from China. Japan is often called the
Sunrise kingdom Its native name is
Nihon, a corruption of the Chinese word.
What is Japan and where is it?
Japan proper consists of four large ISL
ands, three of them lying end to end, of
the coast of Korea and Siberia. north
Of China. Because OF it's relations to
Asia it has been called the England of
! the Orient
1t comprises altogether only 16l 900
square miles ard is little larger than Cali
fornia, although its population is almost
half as large as that of the United States.
How far is Japan from America?
Between 4.O00 and 5000 miles; about
fourteen. days by steamer.
How far north does it lie as compared
with the United States?
1t lies between the same parallels of
latitude as the Mississippi valley states
and its climate varies from that of Mime
sofa to that of Louisiana, although the
extremes of heat and cold are not so
great. The southermost Japanese pos
sessions are tropical while the main ISL
and shows the common aspects Of tenn
perate zone.
Is the country mountainous or level?
Mountainous The level ground is only
about Y per cent of the area 4 range of
high mountains runs through the main
island
Who are the Japanese?
They are a mixed race of Mongoloid
type. closely related to the Koreans and
Chinese.
What are their physical characteristics?
They are of short stature. the men aver
aging about five feet in height The av-
erage weight of large number of young
men of Toxic was found to be only 121
pounds.
What are the Japanese traits?
The people are intelligent and quick to
learn. They are exceedingly courteous and
are great lovers of nature. They COM
bine stoieal qualities with keen ability
to enjoy life. Their serenity generosity
and unselfshness are strongly marked.
Money seeking is not a prominent char
acteristic
Are the Japanese justly regarded as an
artistic people?
Yes. Aesthetic ideals are widely diff
fused. The Japanese mechanic is an art
isan Painting has been highly developed.
it is more conventional than western art,
but has many admirable features even
from the western view point. Sculpture
and carving have been carried to high
pitch of excellence The japanese have
made an especial study, too of landscape
gardening and the arrangement of flow
ers.
Are the Japanese fond of flowers?
There are many floral festivals in the
year. October 9, for instance, is chrysan-
themum day. Other holidays are devoted
to chey and plum blossoms, to the wis
taria, the lotus and the morning glory.
On these days the country is vast flower
garden.
What is the government?
A constitutional monarchy. Up to 1889
it was an autocracy. In that year a con-
stitution was promulgated The mikado
can declare war, make peace and nego-
tiate treaties. He makes laws with the
consent of the Diet, consisting Of a house
Of peers and house of representatives
The suffrage is limited to taxpayers
There is a complete system of local self
government
What is the national religion?
There is no state religion, but most of
the people are Buddhists or followers of
ShintO. This last is rather a system of
life than a religion. Its chief injunctions
are: Follow your national impulses and
obey the laws" 1t teaches prayers to
deified ancestors and to personifed pow
ers of nature. There are about 10000
nominal Christians in the empire
What is the condition of education?
1t is compulsory. About AZ million |
pupils are in the common schools, 1900 |
in technical schools and $500 in the uni
versities.
VIVA is Japans CHIEF industry?
Farming, done on small scale. A
farm of twelve acres is considered large |
The average size is two acres
What are the chief products?
Rice barley, wheat. maize beans, po-
tatoes and onions. Plum trees, peach
trees and cherry tres are cultivated, but
for their flowers rather than their fruit. |
Tea. tobacco and silk worms are inpor-
tant products.
Is the country wealthy?
No, it is very poor. Wages average |
from sixteen cents a day for coolies and
weavers, to thirty-six cents for stone
masons. Out of every thousand irhabit- |
ants it is estimated that only seven make |
SLIGO a year. Only thirteen men in the |
country are supposed 10 have an annual |
income above $40, 600.
What do the Japanese regard as their |
mission?
For one thing. the awakening of China. |
They believe they can be the leaders in |
Oriental civilization and that China will /
respond to their leadership. although it /
would not comprehend a purely western |
form of culture. Another aim. expressed |
by the president of the Bank of Japan. is |
TO make the island empire the grand !
park of the nations" Japan is to be q /
nation Of artists, making itself infinitely |
beautiful and infinitely charming kan !
sas City Star.