WOMEN IN JAPAN

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 81, 31 December 1918, Page 2

WOMEN IN JAPAN

THEIR TRAINING AND POSITION

lnazo Jlitobe, Ph.D., LLD., professor in the Imperial University of Tokio, has written a most interesting book on "Bushido—the Elusive Soul of Japan." In it lie devotes a chapter to the women of his country. Professor Njtobe writes as a man thoroughly conversant with Western standards and Western culture —he needs no translator. He opens his chapter on women by paying thut they (the women of .Japan) have been called the "paragon of paradoxes," because the intuitive working of (heir minds is beyond the comprehension of men's "arithmetical understanding," That is a most' delightful admission, and is here commended to the study of all those who think they can judge v.omen in the mass as it were, and so dismiss them with a wave of the hand. In (he main Bushido praises those women ■ most who "emancipated themselves from the frailty of their sex and displayed nu i.eiuiu fortitude, worthy of the strongest and the bravest of men." Girls were trained to repress their feelings and also lo use weapons, especially a long-handled sword called "nnginata." A girt, when she reached womauhood, utis presented with a pocket poniard. This teaching in the. uso of weapons had a threefold object, the principal being that a mother might be able to help in the warlike training of hoi- sons from a very early uge. The others, that if she so needed 6ho could defend herself, or,'as alas! so often happened, take her own life. Every girlhot only geishas—had to learn singing, music, and dancing. .Amongst the Samurai these" accomplishments were solely for tho home; to entertain father or husband. .As the men of Japan had loyalty to their country so bred into them as to cause absolute self-renunciation, so the women had loyalty to husband, home and family. To help or protect these no sacrifice was too great. The part she played in respect of her men was recognised as "Naigo"—"the inner help." "In the ascending scale of service stood woman, who annihilated herself, for man, thai he might annihilate hinfielf for the Master, that ho in turn might obey heaven." An eternal doctrine of service, differing from Western ideals in that we require of each individual responsibility to heaven. Respect and kindness were paid to woman, but there never seems to have been any suggestion of treating her as an equal! Nitobo reasons that as there are so few..men at all equal among themselves it is rather idle to trouble about a discussion on the equality -of tho sexes! .

"Until wo learn to discriminate be.twecn difl'erenco and inequalities, there will always be misunderstandings on this subject."

To conclude, lie defines Bushido, itself, as the unwritten code of moral principles which the knights were required or instructed to observe. "An organic growth of decades and centuries of military career."

Two Reliable Ways of Cleaning Silver. .Any busy housewife nowadays is glad of labour-saving devices, and the following for cleaning silver have both been tried aril proved good:—To a leaspoonful each uf washing soda anil common salt add a quart of boiling water in an aluminium vessel. Immerse the silver for u, few minutes, ri::.-e in clean water, and dry; it needs no special rubbing, and will rook quite bright, lint, remember, the vessel must be aluminium. The other is useful for bigger things, Tu the proportion of half a cup of whiting to a cup .if household ammonia make a mixture sufficient to thoroughly wet nune old towels. Hang them in the sun lo dry, then fold up and keep in n box for use. vfipe the article to be cleaned with a (lamp cloth, then polish lightly with a prepared towel, rub the dust off, and the result will be n surprise.

Mrs. Thomas Pettmnn, accompanied hy Master L. P. Pettmnn and Miss B. J. Pettman, left by the Aruwa yesterday for England, Mrs. ,T. H. Strauchon, daughter of Mr. G. Allport, Secretary to tho Marine Department, left for England yesterday by the Arawa. Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Sims, of Christchurch, left by the Arawa yesterday for Newport News. Mr. nnd Mrs- M. Myers are staving at the Mountain House, Mt. Egiuont! Mrs. E. S. Bayley is the- anest of Mrs. It. Bayley; New' Plymouth. ' Mrs. and Miss Richardson are staving at Rahui, New Plymouth. Mrs. B. Braithwaite, of Hastings, is spending a short holiday in Wellington. Mr. and Mrs. YY'. Hamilton, who have been staying in Napier, have gone to Taupo by motor. Miss Elder and Miss Komlier are visiting Hastings as are also Mr. and Mrs. A. Warburion. Nurse Bartlctt left for England yesterday in the Arawa. Mrs. AT. P.' E. Cowan was also u passenger. Mrs. G. T. Hall, wife of Colonel Hall, Now Zealand Headquarters Staff in London, left by the Arawa yesterday to join her husband. Miss Ruth Russell, a "special" writer on the staff of the Chicago "Daily News," spent two weeks as an employee in a munition factory in order to write of tho work from personal knowledge.