The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-16

VI - W. 'VSOttlNs IISltibSI COoDVtttiSCIy
o ~combatively, those Of strangers
going non-tangent ways. anything that
contributes in either nation to a clearer.
fairer understan ding Of the character.
purposes n methods of the other h
IA factor for international peace and
comfort. Even IL tales of japanese
shrewdness and duplicity In preparing
for American feet the way Of d%estruc-
li0n were true. and IL Japanese-Ameri-
can war were on the books. we should
be the better fitted to meet the enemy
the more we knew of him. including
his past. But suci, suggestions are
infinitely remote from the peaceful
pages Of Mr.. Lombard.
Japan's first intellectual awaken
ing" came about with the influence Of
Buddhism in broadening the mental
n spiritual horizon of the Japanese
people and "thc mora sanctions Of
Confucianism' giving vitality to
vague Shinto conceptions Of duty"
From that time. in the seventh GEN.
fury, to 1858 the author traces the
history of govcrnmentaliy supervised
education and of private educational
enterprise. lie describes the training
for citizenship. In which regulated
physical exercise and ethical culture
were important. and the education OF
women: and states the present day
educational problems.
AS "A teacher in Japan the author has
noticed racial characteristics which
throw light upon the ~expectable ad-
vance of the people. The Japanese are
essentially young" keeping through
life the mental attitude characteristic
Of youth. combined with the Self-re-
specting dignity which BELTS the ma
ture man. II il racial adOQe GER
The Japanese are precocious. They
show interest in abstract, philosophical
ideas before the young Westerner 10
conscious that such reasoning exists.
Their educational system has always
put stress upon form and expression,
developing "a logic chopping ability de-
ccptive To self and often TO Others"
Thev are periodic" alternating be-
tween faces of great effort and OF de-
preston. They lack the power OF
sustained and persistent labor. says
| tie Doshisha professor. and are subject
to encouragement. This is not the
general Western view of the Japanese
temperament: but. anticipating cita-
ton OF Port Arthur in objection. the
author says they fought there in the
presence of their ancestors. and hem
selves admit they fought as they
would have done IN no other field. IT
is spun a little fine. but IL compre-
hensibie. success is the conclusion.
seems necessary to their success. and
| sl,,t ,.,aA,aI hv Fnacsarftl nnfinn
rather thar by d%rudgery." The Japa-
rese are idealistlc, and the thinking OF
the students to-day is not of IL practi-
cal type; to them the ideal is most
real
\ statement that deserves spec.a!
consideration bears upon the common
view Of the Japanese as a nation OF
imitators. unable To originate. In the
pedayogue's way of looking at things.
the ability To initiate and adapt
| springs from constituencies To cnv
| ronment and susceptibility to sugges-
| ton. But Mr.. Lombard says that the
inventive powers and initiative genius
of the Japanese ave been underesti-
mated. They are representative to
criticism and opposition. They can
he led but not driven. Their spirit Is
communal. Se.f-sacr!ace !s the basis
Of their morality; a view opposed to
the much circulated one Of immortality.
Western nations strive for develop
ment Of the individual. The Japanese
loses himself in the community. 1t IL
a quality that makes for national
strength.
American school children of to-day
might study with profit the versified
maxims which, coming from China.
| were the early tex books of Japan:
The whole universe. at the creation, was
one wide waste.
The sun reaches tho meridian and doclines:
the moon waves and wane..
In divisions and constellation. the stars are
arranged.
Heat and cold isumme and wintcr) al
tcruately prevail.
The autumn is for ingethcring. and the
winter for boarding up.
when YOU know Your own errors, then re-
form;
| And whom YOU have made acquisitions DO
not lose them.
4 foot of precious Jade stone Is not tn be
valued;
Blu, for an inch Of time you ought earnestly
to contend.
Be watchfu| a. though near an abyss or
walking on Ice.
Always rising early to attend IN the com
fort of YOUR parents.
Then your virtue will rival tho epidcn-
drum In fragrance,
And in rich cNuherancc he like the luxuri-
ant pine.
Dejigh; In reading and in studying books.
BE very cautious In speaking hastily or
ra.hly.
In spls;ulary correspondence be concise,
speaking 10 III" point;
And In verbal ausN crs be discreet and ex-
pl.cit. "
To support fire. add fucl. SO cultivate the
roo, ~ happiness.
Md YOU viii obtain eternal peace and end
less felicity.
In the ninth century students in tho
Imperial University had for classics
the Kokyo. a primer of ethics. and tho
.Analccts of ,~'nnfu'ius. They had texts
in Chinese history, but not in that OF
their own country. IN the study of
law they were - primitive us to con-
fine attention Ia the Constitution and
Regulations. There were courses in
military service and in mathematics,
both using Chinese text books. PEN
manship ard phonetics were Chinese,
and in composition Chinese q
were followed. Examinations were held
annually: students answering two
thirds of the requirements were passed
us excellent. those over half were pro-