re taught. In Tien Tsin there is a
seminary for women teachers.

Sie Tou Fa, a prominent Chinese administrative official (who is also a
governor and a lawyer), recently delivered a lecture in Paris on the
status of the Chinese woman. This lecture contradicts the statements made
above. Among other things he declared that China has produced too many
distinguished women (in the political as well as in other fields) for law
and public opinion to restrict the freedom of woman. "The Chinese admits
superiority, with all its consequences, as soon as he sees it; and this,
whether it is shown by man or woman."[119] According to him there can be
no woman's rights movement in China, because man does not oppress woman!
He declares that the progress of women in China since 1905 is a
manifestation of patriotism, not of feminism. According to our
experiences the opinions of Sie Tou Fa are attributable to a peculiarly
masculine way of observing things.

JAPAN AND KOREA[120]

Total population: 46,732,876.
Women: 23,131,236.
Men: 23,601,640.

Previous to the thirteenth century the Japanese woman, when compared with
the other women of the Far East, occupied a specially favored
position,--as wife and mother, as scholar, author, and counselor in
business and political affairs. All these rights were lost during the
civil wars waged in the period between the thirteenth and seventeenth
centuries. War and militarism are the sworn enemies of woman's rights. A
further cause of the Japanese woman's loss of rights was the strong
influence of Chinese civilization, embodied in the teachings of Confucius.

The Japanese woman was expected to be obedient; her virtues became passive
and negative. In the seaports and chief cities, European influence has
during the last fifty years caused changes in the dress, general bearing,
and social customs of the Japanese. During the past thirty years these
changes have been furthered by the government. While Japan was rising to
the rank of a great world power, she was also providing an excellent
educational system for women. The movement began with the erection of
girls' schools. The Empress is the patroness of an "Imperial Educational
Society," a "Secondary School for Girls," and "Educational Institute for
the Daughters of Nobles," and of a "Seminary for Women Teachers." All of
these institutions are in Tokio. Women formed in 1898 13 per cent of the
total number of teachers.