203
the Muitsai
Before they attempt to answer the questions referred to them, Conflicting the Committee desire to point out that Lord Kimberley in 1882, and opinions, as to the League of Nations in 1931, were unable to reconcile the conflict- System. ing statements regarding Muitsai. People acquainted with the prac Appendix Nos. 11 tical working of the system, fail to agree whether the system is harmful and 21. or not to the children. This question is not referred to the Com- mittee.
The Chinese Government, however, has legislated against the Muitsai System
abolished by system. Muitsai ought now to be called
and adopted daughters
law in China, treated as such.
Appendix No. 18.
China often in:
Legislation by the Republic of China has been often in advance Legislation in of public opinion and has failed in consequence to prevail against advance of established custom. In South China and Hong Kong opposition to the custom: system is already strong and is increasing.
of too rapid
Many thoughtful Chinese, and most Europeans who have practical Chinese fears knowledge of the system, fear that a too rapid change, or a change suppression. without proper safeguards, may, without being of any real advantage to the body of children, do definite harm to others.
Nations suggests
The League of Nations also seems to deprecate the suppression League of of systems of servitude unless practical measures are taken before measures of suppression to prevent injury to the subjects of the system. This con- protection before, sideration applies with increasing force to a system governing un- married girls considered by the community to be definitely of inferior
status.
Sir George Maxwell draws particular attention to the foregoing Danger in sup- view of the League of Nations.
pressing any form of servitude without proper safeguard.
give rise to
While the origin of the system of taking Muitsai by Chinese ladies Social condi is obscure, there can be little doubt that until the closing years of tions which the nineteenth century the absolute right of the Head of a Chinese the system. Family to sell his children was unquestioned, and the sale of children was openly practised, with general approval. This was often the only means of preserving their lives and of maintaining the family.
There was nothing in the sale of children to offend the Chinese mind, because all transfers from one family to another by marriage or otherwise took the form of a sale.
In the past nothing offensive to Chinese
in the idea of sales
of children.
regards Chinese
The present generation of Chinese find the idea of selling children Untrue as abhorrent. On marriage or adoption all reference to sale or money generally. is rigidly excluded.
this change. Appendix No. 17.
Dr. Sun Yat Sen and his associates thought that many of the major Reasons for difficulties of the Chinese had their origin in the older customs. These they set out to destroy. About the same time educated Chinese women began to demand sex equality. The first step towards securing this was the destruction of the idea that the head of the family could dis- pose of the women of the family at his will.
The importance of the demand for sex equality in relation to the The importance future of Muitsai cannot be over-emphasised.
of sex equality in relation to the Muitsai Problem.