RELATIONS OF CHINA AND JAPAN.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8090, 7 January 1903, Page 4

RELATIONS OF CHINA AND JAPAN.

One of the most interesting, and probably the most important, feature in the evolution of trade, industry, and education which is going on in the Far East is the rapidly-increasing influence of Japan on the immense empire.of China (writes Engineering). Before the war with Japan the Chinese rather despised the Japanese, and .thought they had nothing' to learn from them; and they, considered their recent developments ".as, to a very great extent, simply imitations, of Western methods and systems. In., former days the. Japanese ■owed the chief features of their, civilisation to China, \ and therefore it was riot surprising that the Chinese should." have, for some time, very grave dqubts'as to the value of the attempts of 'the Japanese to adopt the methods of -'Western"nations l .. Even these nations did not have very much faith in the permanency of Japanese! efforts. They gave them the credit of being very clever imitators, but denied them : any power of original design or sufficient determination, and perseverance to carry out the systematic training required, for success in the applications of science to industry and trade. The sound of -the cannons at' the Yarn-River not only marked the defeat of the Chinese, it also, awoke the people of Europe and America to the fact that Japan was now a nation, which not only, claimed an : equal place with the nations of the world, but was also, if necessary, prepared to defend that right. The army and navy of Japan had not only become of considerable importance, but they were, handled with the greatest skill, while the bravery of the men won the admiration of all, even of hostile critics.. Probably the most important result of that war has been the recognition by the Chinese of the superiority of the Japanese in all the points in which they'are deficient'and i the willingness to accept their advice and assistance in bringing, about'a changed state of matters. They, are 'wisely-if of the Japanese in laying the foundation in improved education," and-numbers of Chinese students' : are :; -rio"w : 'fihdihg their way to the universities,.colleges, and technical schools in Japan. > A special commissioner from China has been.making himself acquainted .Witt the details of the system of education in Japan, and President Kikuchi, of the Imperial tjuiversity, Tokio, arranged a special course of lectures by men of distinction ..inthe Japanese "world of science, so that information might be obtained from the most reliable sources. All such arrangements, however, are only preparatory to the in- ! auguration of an improved system of education in China, and in the carrying out of "this.-the Japanese are certain to take a very important part. Professor .'Hattori, a ■ distinguished' Japanese educationalist, has been appointed to a responsible position in the University of Peking, and will tlius be able to influence the education in a large part of China. Mr Watnabe Ryosei has been engaged for educational purposes in Chi-li, and Mr Tono has been appointed at Wuhu as educational adviser to the Viceroy, Chang Chih-tung. The training of teachers' in China is also receiving attention, and Me. Mirimoto, of the .'High 'Normal School, is to go to Szchuan to act as adviser to the Governor of that province, and negotiations are being carried on for the appointment of additional Japanese educators. In trade, industry, and engineering enterprise the Japanese are also taking a very active part in China, in fact for manufacturing purposes the immense resources of China are at the disposal of Japan, and this opens up immense possibilities for the future. The development of trade and industry in Japan during the past 30 years has been a most interesting study, and the interest will be increased in the future, when we observe the effects it has on her unwieldy and hitherto immovable neighbor.