El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-03-13
Wife In Japan, Adopted Child
Husbands Of Il and Wives Of Is
Years Is the Rule. and Divorce
Is Possible For Those Over
30 Years Of Age
BY Madison c. Peters

Under the influence Of western
civilization the manners and
- customs Of the Japanese. in the
large cities. ana among the middle
classes. are changing considerably. hut
those OF the lower classes are not, as
vet. affected TO any extent
In old Japan all the members Of the
family are subject to the despotic rule
of the master, q woman being SUBJECT
TO the three ObedienceS+; as a maiden.
TO her father. as wife. TO ner nusDand
and his parents. as a widow, to her old
est son whether real or adopted Leg
aIIv the family can have but one re-
SpOnsible head: the grandfather, Ialheri
or eldest son, and il is usually the ED
est son. because the parents generally
resign active authority as soon as the
eldest son is able TO take charge
Females must obey the males and
the Younger members Of me TamIIy are
subject 10 the older. the rule of pre-
cedence being enforced and Obeyed
even in small matters
Wife m Adopted Child
In Japan, marriage slgnlues adop-
ton and a wife ranks only IS an adopt
ed child in her husbands family.
The Japanese motherinlaw is an awful
tyrant but it is always the wites
motherinlaw.
4 husband for a daughter is also re-
ceived in a family as an adopted son
and either the adopted bride or bride
groom IS subject 10 the parents anu
may be dismissed by their decision
Marriage is not a matter OF attec-
tiOn 10 be decided by the young people
themselves. but one Of the chief duties
Of filial piety. Today. as in old Japan.
il is a rite Of the family religion and
is performed at the home zuc not at
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 registrar by both
parties with two Witnesses but the
right Of marriage is only free to the
head Of the family, ne can do as he
pleases. All others must ask the par
ents' consent or that OF the ramIiy
council Men under 80 and women
under - cannot marry without the con-
sent Of the head Of the family
The main feature Of the wedding
ceremony is the "sam-san-ku- do
(three-three- -times); both the
bride and groom drink rice wine three
times out Of each Of three cups OF dlf-
fereut sizes.
Girls Marry AT 10.
The marriageable age is i full years
for men and Is full years for women.
The marriage is purely a socfa1 -unc-
tiOn and takes effect when notice Of
the fact is given TO registrar. and
here is where many Japanese Chris
tians sometimes make a serious mis-
take as without registration marriage
is not legal The ceremony by
minister OF the gospel has no cOnnec-
tiOn whatsoever with the law = nus
band and wife are mutually bound 70
support one another. A husband man
ages his wife's property unless he is
not fit TO do so. when she may man
age il herself With regard TO house
hold matters, as wife, she is her hus-
bands agent.
Divorce Only After 80.
Divorce is effected either by ar
rangement in a similar way 70 mar
rage or by judicial divorce. but no
divorce can be effected by persons un-
5e- e0 Years ~ ace vrffhr5frr consent ~
the person or persons by whose con-
sent the marriage was effected
COnfucianism. which mOulds the
morals OF Japan. conceives Of woman
hood with infinite contempt and il is
difficult TO disa buse the minds Of Chris
tian converts of this ingrained preju-
dice.
A missionary tells Of a convert who
wanted the Christian ceremony mOdi-
fled. Teacher" said he, kindly con-
descend 20 deign that I be not com
PEELED 10 stand side by side with a
woman before spectators" Informed
that he must stand beside his wife
there and fOrver after, he pleaded:
AT least deiEn 10 let IL be so that
shall not have TO touch her hand" He
was informed that q Christian cere-
mOny must be a Christian ceremony
and at the fateful words. 'iOin your
tight hands" this martyred bride
groom actually clenched his teeth and
shut his eyes fast and stuck out his
hand as though to the stroke OF an
axe