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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
the Russian scheme did not greatly differ | their parents." This, however, does not from that of the British Minister, an seem to be a rule without exception, as a opportunity was thus offered of bringing tendency to wish to take the upper hand the two into harmony. Although the is sometimes shown-a curious example King's visit had been arranged indepen- being given where a Japanese pupil said to dently, it was plain that the two could be the Master, “If you please, Sir, we don't made to work together, and that a few want to read any more American history, friendly words would go a long way in
we should like to read a book on
the facilitating a settlement. It is to spoil this, construction of balloons."-This does not on a subject in which Great Britain has no look very much like the respect for right to interfere, that the extreme wing of authority which the paternal instruction the Liberal party is now lifting up its voice. in the home is said Bo greatly to Two years ago the Congress of the United foster; but it is stated that this kind of States, it may be remembered, made a thing bas of late been put down similarly foolish attempt to interfere in and the writer adds that it is beyond Russia's internal affairs. Now it has been dispute that the Japanese student is more long ago ruled by the common sense of conscientious, and more persevering than nations, that unless a country is prepared his European comrades: he is more conscious to back up by action its remarks, it has no of the utility of study; he isi vain and self business to interfere in the inner concerns sufficient and does his best to succeed in of its neighbour. If any other rule pre- anything which he undertakes. In this he vailed government would, in fact, become resembles the American student." It might impossible. It is because it has not the perhaps have been said that in this he very ability to comprehend this simple fact, but much resembles the grown up Japanese, is perpetually facing both ways for Sunday, and it gives a good idea of Japanese nation- that the present Government is rapidly al character to find the trails with which we losing the confidence of the country.
are familiar in aduits so markedly displayed at an early age.
EDUCATION IN JAPAN,
(Daily Press, 11th June.)
An interesting article upon the effects of the modern system of education in Japan, appears in the Recue des Deus Mondes from the pen of MR. VAY DE VAYA. The subject is dealt with in a thoroughly philosophical but at the same time a thoroughly practical manner; and the remarks which are made incidentally upon the habits and character of the Japanese as shown by the children at the lower schools and the students at the Universities are of great interest as show ing what the people, who will be the Japanese nation of the near future, are likely to become as formed by the system of education upon foreign lines which has now been generally adopted in the Country. The writer gives a careful history of the progress of the new education in Japan from the time when the Daimio-Schools were closed and a public school established at Tokyo uuder. American professors who were invited to take charge of them. This was the beginning of public instruction in Japan upon modern lines, and it has developed into the establishment in the present day of 27,000 primary schools, 260 high schools and two Universities, namely these of Tokyo and Kyoto. With this
movement in favour of male education that
of the women had also necessarily to be reorganised and it is now obligatory that both boys and girls over the age of six be sent to one of the primary schools, which on the whole are much like the same establishments in other countries, but, bear most resemblance to those in the West of America and in Southern Europe.
It appears that the carly teaching in the home of filial piety which Japanese, like Chinese, children receive forms a good basis to work upon in the primary schools. The Japanese iu their homes make a great deal of quite young children, bestowing upon them an amount of care and attention, which would seem almost excessive, but which has the effect of developing in them not only devotion to their parents but also obediencs | to authority and loyalty to their sovereign. "Children brought up with such senti- ments," says MR. VAT DE VAYA, are excellent subjects for the primary schools. The masters have no difficulty in maintain- ing discipline and the children make rapid progress as they all study with perseverance, if not from pure love of study, at least out of self respect, and in order not to dishonour
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[Jane 18, 1908. encounter difficulties at the earlier stages of the great change which they have introduced, but we may confidently rely upon their sound sense to meet them and in the end to attain to a system which will embrace what is good in foreign learning, but still retain- ing much that is desirable in their old system.
Complaint is made that the introduction of foreign studies has had a tendency to induce a materialistic or sceptical tone. The natural genius of the Japanese has played its part in this. In a general way Japanese youth show a special aptitude for applied and practical science. This is easily understood, if for no other reason than that such science is definite and tangible, and there can be no doubt of the facts with which it deals, while the highest speculative philosoply must in its nature always re- main vague and to a great extent matter of skilled opinion only. The Japanese students are perplexed with the variety of opinions of European philosophers and metaphysicians, and the result of their studying them has been a general discontent leading in some instances to despair and even suicide. The authorities, however, are well alive to this In regard to the higher education at the state of affairs, and are endeavouring to Universities the case does not appear to remedy it by the introduction of moral be quite so satisfactory. The adoption instruction and all that appurtains thereto. of European clothes does not scem to It may thus be hoped that the evils which improve the Japanese. As soon as they the change from their old system of necessity go to higher school, they adopt a soi produced will be counteracted to a great disant European costume of black cloth extent, but it is clear that very much depends and leather shoes, and in quitting their upon the nature of the moral teaching which primitive attire, seem to lose at once their is introduced. The whole system of educa- cleanliness and their attractiveness." Portion in Japan is based upon freedom of haps the writer attaches a little too much opinion as to religious matters, and it is importance to this esthetic, shortcoming, not likely that an attempt will be made to but he is careful to say that he notes this enforce any one specific creed. Something, fact among others of the same kind, as a however, will have to be found that will proof of the difficulties of the amulgama ing take the place of the old principles of filial and adopting the ancient regime with the affection, which have become weakened, but modern. He however points out that it is it is probable that they will not be abandon- only a small indication of more serious ed; that their general tendency will be defects, and states that in his opinion the adhered to with some necessary modification. change from the old to the new hs been This, at least appears to be foreshadowed in made somewhat too rapidly, and that there a Rescript upon education which was pro- is a danger, of losing much that was valuable mulgated by the Emperor of Japan in 1890 in the old system-and this chiefly in the in which he commands students "to be direction of moral development. The obedient towards their fathers and mothers, parents were the first to complain. They and affectionate towards their brothers and saw with apprehension their children, as sisters; to live in harmony with their soon as they had escaped from their charge, wives; to be faithful friends; to bear them- throwing aside all paternal authority and selves with modesty and moderation; to they had too often to deplore the conse- extend kindness to all, to effect progress in quences of this. The traditional, refiued science and to cultivate the arts. manners, the discipline, the filial piety-the the summary of duty which the Rescript solid foundation of the family life and of gives of the old system of filial piety, and the Monarchy-all this threatened to dis- it must be admitted that the principles set appear under a system of instruction which forth form an admirable basis for the moral found no place for the development of these teaching, the need of which is felt in order faculties of the soul." This defect, however, to counteract the tendency to materialism, appears to be thoroughly recognised by the which a too rapil introduction of Western Japanese authorities themselves, and it may thought has temporarily produced. be hoped that some remedy will in one form or another be found for it. To some extent it is the natural outcome of so great a change as that which has been worked in Japan; and if it is fairly faced, it ought not to be beyond the power of remedy. The Japanese baye never been mere imitators, though it has often been assumed that they
were so.
Time however, has shown that iù adopting systems which are new to them they have always been careful to seize what is essential and reject what is merely neces sary. They did so in regard to Chinese civilization in former days, and there is every reason to hope they will succeed in doing the same with respect to Westeru civilization. That tuey have recognised that general education is one of the most important steps in this direction is in itself a fact which augurs well for them. It is not surprising that they should have to
Such is
CHINA'S FOREIGN TRADE
IN 1907.
(Daily Press June 12th.) With one exception in the last decade, there has been no year in which the gross value of the foreign trade of China exceeded that in 1907, when the total was over 706 million taels-imports Tls. 429,071,662, and exports Tls. 277,050,990. The exception was 1905, when the gross amount attained to Tls. 718,176,470. In the intervening year, the figures were Tls. 682,767,231. The figures for the ten years show that while the aggregate has latterly fluctuated, pro rata with the gross imports, the exports have been steadily augmenting from year to year, with temporary checks in the Boxer year and in the first year of the late war between Japan and Russia. The net
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