South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-06-29
The
Three ObedienCeS
How the Japanese Wife
Rules Her Life

Does a wife owe implicit obedience
ito her husband our ideas on this
subject are changing changed
and they have had much influence on
the manners and customs OF the Jap
anese. in the large cities and among
the middle classes
In old Japan all the members Of
the family are subject 10 the despotic
rule Of the master, a woman being
subject 10 the three ObedienCes:" as
q girl 70 her father; as wife, 10 her
husband and his parents; as a widow.
10 her oldest son, whether real or
adopted. Legally the family can have
! but one responsible head-the grand
father. father. or eldest son. and il
/ is generally the eldest, because the
parents usually resign active author
| ity as soon as the eldest son is able
TO take charge
Females must obey the males, and
! the younger members Of the family
are subject 10 the elder, the rule of
precedence being enforced and obeyed
even in small matters.
In Japan marriage signifies adop-
ton and a wife ranks ONLY as an
adopted child in her husbands fam
lily. The Japanese mother-in-law is
an awful tyrant. but it is always the
wife's mother-in-law.
a husband for daughter is also
received into a family as an adopted
son, and either the adopted bride or
bridegroom is subject TO the parents
and may be dismissed by their de-
cision.
Marriage is not matter Of affec-
ton 10 be decided by the young peo-
pie themselves, but one of the chief
duties of ilial piety. Today as in old
Japan, il is a rite Of the family re-
ligiOn, and is performed at home, and
not at a temple.
If the parents Of the bridegroom are
dead, the ceremony takes place before
their mortuary tablets The marriage
ceremony is very simple; notice of the
fact is given 10 a registrar by both
parties. with two witnesses but the
right of marriage is free only 10 the
head OF the family; he can do as he
pleases.
All the others must ask the parents
consent or that of the family council.
Men under 30 and women under 25
cannot marry without the consent Of
the head of the family.
The main feature Of the wedding
ceremony is the san-san -ku-do (three
three-nine-times) both the bride and
groom drink rice wine three times out
of each OF three cups of different sizes.
The manageable age is l full years
for men and 10 full years for women.
The marriage is purely a social func-
! ton. and takes effect when notice OF
the fact is given to registrar. and
here is where many Japanese Chris
| tians sometimes make n serious mis-
take. as without registration a mar
riage is not legal
The ceremony by a minister Of the
gospel has no connection whatsoever
with the law. A husband and wife are
mutually bound 10 support one an
other. A husband manages his wifes
property. unless he is not fit 10 do
so. when she may manage it herself
| With regard to household matters, as
wife she is her husbands agent.
Divorce is effected either by ar
lrangement is a similar way TO mar
riage or by judicial divorce, but no
divorce can be effected by persons
under 30 years Of age without the
consent Of the person by whose con-
/ sent the marriage was effected.
] Confuciaism. which moulds the
morals of Japan, cOnceives of woman
hood with intimate contempt and IL
/ is difficult TO disabuse the minds Of
Christian converts of this ingrained
| prejudice