rules of conduct are drilled into them; these are: To obey the father, respect the elder brother, be loyal to the king, be respectful to the wife, and be true to friends. These rules are strictly Confucian. After these rules are firmly fixed in the minds of the pupils they are taught to compose letters; next comes the study of history; after these studies Confucius and the Chinese classics are taken up, and finally the art of poetical composition. These studies go on through life. A gentleman will study classics in winter, composition of poetry in spring, and in summer study those subjects which will fit him for official duties. The king appoints judges to examine candidates for office; the number appointed may be three, seven, or twelve. The student for examination is locked up in a room for three days without books. The subjects usually selected for examination are from ancient poetry and classics, as follows: 1. Long-word poetry of seven words. 2. Short-word poetry of six words. 3. Problems in classics. 4. Clearing up doubts in classics. 5. Criticising famous men of olden times. 6. Considering what system of morality is best to correct or modify bad customs. 7. Suggesting what kind of military organization is best to defend and control the country. In these various examinations it is claimed that poetry reveals one's nature, that problems in classics show one's knowledge, that clearing up doubts in classics demonstrate one's powers of decision, that criticising famous men indicates one's knowledge of persons, that judging of the best system of morality and deciding as to the best kind of military organization displays one's mental attributes.[1]
In olden times Korea had public schools; for centuries it has had none. Private schools are kept in private houses; no special school building is known in the land. In many Confucian temples free classes are supported by the priests, but only Confucian doctrines are taught. Buddhists have no schools, but have stated times of teaching and expounding.
Position of Women.—The condition of women in Korea is unhappy and degraded to the last degree. Among the more favored classes the women are kept as prisoners within the house; in rare instances they may visit relatives. This seclusion begins after a girl reaches the age of ten or twelve. Four or five hundred years ago they had greater freedom. The women often refer to these times, and the intelligent classes express sympathy and pity for their present unfortunate condition. The seclusion of the women from the men is so strict that it is customary in the cities
- ↑ The swindling and thieving character of Korean officials, their torturing and murdering subjects without trial, and the degradation and helplessness of Korean to-day, stand in curious contrast to this ennobling list of studies and examinations, and indicate a depth of hollow pretense and hypocrisy which is simply appalling.
