The Washington herald., 1908-04-29
CHINESE STUDENTS IN TOKYO
By FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.
Special oouuspOndsnos TIE washington Herald.

BY FKEDEkI
Special Correspondence The Washington Herald.
Tokyo, March ls.-The most extraordi-
nary student migration in history Is the
influx of Chinese pupils to the capital OF
Japan. As these young men come from
every province In China their exodus
may we'll be called a national movement.
Among them are hundreds from the
westernmost province, Szeehwan, which
stands before the gates OF Thibet To
journey from the interior OF this province
TO Tokyo is a greater undertaking. in
point OF time, than to travel around the
world. A more striking fact that illus
trates the extent to which China is wax
ing up. is that the largest number OF
students from any one province have
come from Human. which was the last
part Of China to admit missionaries. and
which less than ten years ago was resist
ing the introduction OF the telegraph.
The surprising thing about this move
ment is the rapidity with which 1t has
come about. The first officially commits
stoned students from China to Japan were
two boys sent here ten years ago. Six
years ago the number was less than q
score. The movement continued to in
crease for few years. until the end of
lhe Russo-Japanese war, when it deyel-
Oped into rush. Il Is said that more
than a thousand students came TO Japan
on a single vessel The height OF the
movement was reached last year, when
the number was about 1900 From that
time until now there has been a rapid de-
cline. and the total is now less than
7.oO0.
There are two reasons which have been
advanced In explanation Of this great de-
crease. One is that the Chinese have
become suspicious OF Japan's intentions
regarding their country, and are inclined
TO shun their neighbors on this account
The other cause assigned Is the general
misunderstanding among the Chinese
about the length Of time required to Sc
cure an eduoataion. and the expenses at
tached thereto. In two Of the central
provinces Of China the report was started
that learning was entirely free in Tokyo.
and thai graduates were turned out OF
universities in six months. As a conse-
quenCe OF this absurd story, over 2,O0O
ambitious young Celestials hastened %
the land of promise, with the result that
most Of them had 10 be sent home al
government expense. Among the short
term students. father and son would
otten be found in the same class. No
matter how poorly equipped these disap-
pointed seekers after learning might be-
they invariably tried to pose as finished
educators after returning home. This
was shown by a sign which appeared in
village street in one Chinese city
English taught from A to P"
The underlying cause Of this great mass
or Chinese students in Tokyo Is that the
sleepy old Flowery Kingdom has at last
begun to stir under the influence OF West
srn civilization. Her friends have long
seen that this would be necessary If she
was to preserve her national existence.
For years it has been evident that she
must make changes in her educational
system, in her monetary system, in her
transportation system. in her mining sys-
tenn, and her judicial system In fact.
It has long been clear that il China
wishes TO hold her own she must be COM
pletely overhauled and reformed.
Seeing how Japan succeeded after send
ing its young men abroad to study in all
departments that would help them to
buiid up their country. China decided 10
DO likewise. There a=s several reasons
why the bulk of Chinese students flock
to Japan instead of going 70 Europe or
America. Japan is an Eastern nation
whose language resembles their own. so
that within a few months or a year they
can learn enough to attend classes in the
Japanese language If they have not
time TO learn japanese, complete courses
offered In law and commerce in their
an language. Besides this, the expense
Tas great factor in determining Tokyo
qs their destination. They can study here
or year on what the transportation to
ither England or America would cost.
In the early stages Of the migration
ully half Of the students were sent TO
Japan by the various provincial and
logical governments of China. but it is
said that or those now studying in Tokyo
probably not more than one-third are
supported by government funds All such
are given $50 & month. which they must
make cover their entire expenses. Others
have been sent by wealthy families, by
groups of poor families. by guilds. and
by various other organizations and So
cieties- The motives actuating these
young men are various Some have come
out Of mere curiosity, others have been
Influenced by the thought that study in
Japan would be a sure path to political
preferment. Then, too, there is the great
body OF young men of radical political
views who have come here to escape
the restrictions and copventions which
hedge them about In China. In Chinese
inns and tea houses there IS a sign.
Don't talk politics" Young men who
IN To 70 ba @roo
galed themselves with the literature of
socialism, have drunk deep with Tolstoi.
and ended by banding together in radi-
cal revolutionary societies.
While a certain number NAV spend
their time in idling, in political agitation.
and In dissipation. it may be said that,
generally speaking this great body of
students is dominated by serious pur-
poses. They have been drawn largely
from the highest and best classes of
China Many OF them have had good
training in the Chinese literature. and
not a few Of them are degree men. A
census taken under the direction OF the
Chinese government shows that the
average age of the students is twenty
three years. As rule, they cut off their
cues and adopt European dress. That
the percentage OF female students is
small is shown by the fact that there
are less than hundred girls IN all.
The Chinese students in Tokyo 60 In
for club life. The representatives of each
OF the eighteen provinces have a club
Of their own convenience to the schools
which they attend Each of these pro-
vincial clubs chooses a director, and the
eighteen men thus selected are the board
of managers OF the general Chinese Stu
dents Club. This club is quartered in a
handsome building and is equipped and