The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-08-02
INFLUENCE OF THE WOMEN
 OF JAPAN IN OLD DAY

OF JAPAN IN OLD DAYS.
 The status and influence of the wom- en of Japan in the past is subject that is very interesting in view of the position of that country in the puo- lie eye just now. A writer in an Eng fish magazine has the following;
 Tn Japan the chivalrous devotion to woman which characterized medieval civilization in Europe. covering mul- tude of cruelties and. under varying conditions; hampering her development. never existed. but some thousand and more years ago. her position was al- most on an equality with that of man, and she played an important role in the making of Japanese history. Around the person of lingo Kogo. the great empress-conqueror of Korea, hang many legends. Her husband entirely refused to place any credence in the mission with which lingo believed her. self entrusted by the gods. He was d. man of some ability, and insisted on governing his country on his own not altogether successful lines. Only after his death could lingo assert herelf, ouelling home rebiilion and arming ex- petitions for conquest. It was through the conquest Of Korea that Chinese civ ilization and Chinese learning found their way to Japan. Thus the great empress was in a measure responsible for the power which in the future was to undermine the position of her sex For the Influence of Chinese customs with regard to the position of women undoubtedly modified Japanese thought in this respect It is curious to note that the glory of Jingo's achievements have not been allowed to remain glory to her sex. Legend, the vehicle of Buddhist priests, ascribes her won derful career to the influence Of her unborn son, who so distinguished him. self In life as to be accorded the posi- ton of the War Spirit in the Walhalla of the Japanese gods.
 But the debt which Japan owes to her women does not end here. When Chinese learning and Chinese culture threatened tho language of the coun- try it was the brilliant literary women of the period who maintained 1t In its exquisite purity and grace. We see something of this feminine influence In the extraordinary novel, Genji Mono- gatorf,' written by a. woman. Murasaki Shikib, in the tenth century. The young scholars of the universities were then not too proud to sit at the feet of their professors daughters and to learn of them. One oi these ladies Is described as having such flashing
 
 scholars would find themselves unable to cope with her and would be reduced to silence Rut 1t Is significant that even in those days tile Japanese youth resented the superiority, for he re- marks that though 1t is no doubt true that our wife or daughter should not lack intelligence. yet, for the life of a woman like this Almost impercep- tibly, yet yery steadily. the position of women in Japan declined. She became merely the housewife. admirable with in her limitations: ruling in her sphere for tho most part wisely and well, but with no influence outside her home. Her Individuality was stunted by complete subservience. first to her parents. then to her husband and his parents. Women says the Buddhist proycrb. have no homes of their own in the Three States of Ex- istence'; they had none in this Uni verse of Desire, as regulated by Jap anese custom. The treasure flower of the paternal hearth Is only a sojourner; all too soon she must take root else- where. Marriage. even today. means a very different parting in the Japanese home to what 1t does in the European It Is actually reversal of the old proverb. Your sons your son till he gets him a wife The daughter, so petted by her parents. Is now to great extent, cut off from their love: they have little power to influence her future happiness. That lies on the knees of her motherin low. The fact that this lady paramount has ex- pressed approval of her new daughter law elect and has expressed affection for her means more than the most rap- turous love on the part of the bride groom. For her motherin-law will rule her life in the future"