The Washington times., 1907-12-29
JAP PANESE SEND
NEW VERSION Of
IMPERIAL EDICT
Mikado Urges His Sub
iectS to Adhere to
Old Standards.
Moral Teaching Based
Upon ReScript Now
Newly Translated.

J
new and better translation of the
imperial rescript from the AIikado Of
japan to his subjects fixing the stand
ard OF moral education has been sent
10 the Smithsonian Institution by the
department Of education of the Flowery
Kingdom.
In the rescript the japanese are ad-
jured to love their brothers and guard
and maintain the prosperity OF Our
Imperial Throne coeval with heaven
and earth" The department of educa-
tion urges the adoption of all that is
good in Western ideas and ideals, the
dismissal Of what Is not considered for
the betterment OF the japanese nation,
and strict adhesion to the ethics Of the
Flowery Kingdom.
Emperor's Rescripr.
The rescript follows:
Know ye. Our subjects:
"Our Imperial Ancestors have founded
Our Empire on a basis broad and ever
lasting and have deeply and firmly inn
planted virtue: Our subjects ever
united In loyalty and hlial piety have
from generation to generation illustrat-
ed the beauty thereof. This is the glory
of the fundamental character Of our
Empire, and herein also lies the source
of Our education. Te, Our subjects,
be hlial TO your parents. affectionate to
your brothers and sisters; as husbands
and wives be harmonious. as friends,
true; bear yourselves IN mUdesty and
moderation; extend your benevoIence to
oil Loo fa awfa
and thereby develop intellectual facul-
ties and perfect moral powers; further
more advance public good and promote
common interests; always respect the
Constitution and observe the laws;
should emergency arise. offer yourself
Courageously 10 the State; and thus
guard and maintain the prosperity Of
our Imperial Throne coeval with heaven
and earth. So shall ye not only be
Our good and faithful subjects, but
render nlustrlous the best traditions OF
your forefathers.
The Way here set forth Is indeed the
teaching bequeathed by Our Imperial
Ancestors. TO be observed alike by Their
Descendants and the subjects, infsllible
for all ages and true in all places. II
IS Our wish to lay it TO heart I'm ali
reverence, in common with you, Our
subjects, that we may all thus attain
TO the same virtue.
The 30th day Of the 10th month OF
the o5rd year of Meiji."
"GnperlaI Sign Manual Imperial
Sealj"
Comments on Rescript.
In transmitting the rescript the De-
partment of Education says in part:
AT the early dawn of our new era,
His Majesty the Emperor was pleased
70 proclaim the need Of seeking knowl-
edge in all quarters of the globe. In
obedience to this proclamation the Gov
ernment took necessary measures to i'm
prove social and political systems and
institutions after the most enlightened
models. and the work OF education re-
ceived the greatest share OF attention
I'm the nth year of Meiji dST0. a
comprehensive law relating to the sys-
tenn Of education was issued. which had
chiefly I'm view the introduction and cul-
tivation of modern sciences. The edU-
cational institutions Of tho European
nations had been carefully investigated
end the curricula Of our elementary,
so as 10 benefit BY the valuable addi-
tions of those studies which had helped
these nations to build up their civiliza-
ton.
Our education has had no connection
with religion since olden times, and the
new system is also entirely free from
any sacerdotal influence. Secular NOR
aIlty has always been taught in the
schools and forms the distinctive fea-
ture Of our system
Provides Moral Standard.
..On October 1S. in the twcnty-third
rear OF EIeiH qS9O), his majesty, the
Emperor, summoned Count (now Mar
ouis) Aritomo Yamagata, the then prime
minister. and Mr.. (now ViscounD Aki-
masa Yoshikawa. the then minister Of
education, and graciously delivered to
them the rescript on education.
Thus the people at last received a
guidance which became a light for them
20 follow amid the chaos OF theories
and opinions, and all the schools in the
empire found it IN a uniform basis Of
moral teaching.
Although several English versions
Of the rescript exist, they have been
found deficient for conveying the exact
sense of the original. Of which a com
plete literal version into any other Ian
guage is indeed a matter OF great diff
Guilty Toward the end Of the last year
the educational department seeing the
possibility of improving the translation.
convoked a number OF scholars 10 dis
cuss the matter. The accompanying
version is the result. We row dis
tribute copies for the benefit of those
foreigners who may wish TO know the
principle of our moral education"
TETTTNc OFF STEAM