CHAPTER XI.

EDUCATION IN KOREA.

By Mr. Poм K. Soп,

Formerly member of the special embassy of Korea to the United States.

In the northeastern part of Asia, located east of China and west of Japan, in latitude 30° to 40° north, longitude 125° to 130° cast, lies the peninsula of Korea. This country, known in history under many names, is most familiar to the Western world as Korea. It really dropped this name when the dynasty of Koriu ceased to exist, about 500 years ago. Since that time it has been known to the Oriental world as "Ta-Jo-Son" (Great Morning Calm), which is the name of the reigning dynasty.

This little country, about the size of the State of Minnesota, is similar to Florida in shape, and resembles California in physical features. It is bounded on the east by the Japan Sea and on the west by the Yellow Sea. Its northern boundary is the Ap-Nok River, which separates it from China, and the Tuman River, which separates it from Russia, together with a small portion of rocky country, its only connection with the main land. Well protected on all sides by water, it has sturdily resisted all foreign invasion and has justly earned for itself the soubriquet of the "Hermit Nation."

Ranges of mountains, well covered with pine and a great variety of hard wood, traverse the country from north to south. It is watered by many navigable rivers, which furnish communication between nearly all parts of the country. The most important of these are the Han and the Ta-dong.

Kang-won-do, a province of the eastern coast, possesses many remarkable physical features. The most wonderful of these is the Gumkang-san, or Diamond Mountain, famous not only in Korea, but throughout the entire Chinese Empire. Entirely bare of vegetation, its sharp, angular surfaces, reflecting the light, present the most brilliant and changing colors. Under favorable conditions a remarkable mirage is often seen from the top of this mountain. Hundreds of human figures, sometimes on horseback, sometimes with waving flags and banners, are reflected against the clear sky, and even whole cities have been sharply outlined. So far no explanation has been given of this phonomenon. A giant's causeway, far exceeding in beauty the one on the coast of

Ireland, is found here. It is composed of numerous groups of pillars, rising 40 feet and upward into the air, each group consisting of hundreds of pillars of glistening whiteness.

The country is rich in gold, iron, coal, and other minerals. More than one-half of the vast mines which are known to exist are gold mines. Only two or three, however, are opened, and the gold dust, which is an important article of commerce, is washed out of the streams. Iron is also found in large quantities, and since the country has been opened to foreigners coal has been mined and is gradually being used as fuel.

The climate corresponds to that of the Middle Atlantic States. The soil is fertile, and abundantly supplies grain and pasturage with little trouble to the people. Most of the fruits and vegetables grown in the United States are common to Korea, besides many not known to America. The fruits are abundant and of excellent flavor, though small. The tuberous vegetables grow to an enormous size.

The cattle are of excellent breed, being large, strong, and quite equal to those raised on the prairies of America. They are peculiar in having a very quick gait. It is estimated that if the cattle were equally divided among the people there would be one for each adult. The native horses are strong, but small, and are used only for riding. The waters abound in fish of great variety. Whales, which have been driven from other seas, make their home in the seas around Korea, where they live undisturbed, the people of that country not knowing their value.

The principal occupation of these people is agriculture, but many skilled mechanics find employment, and the arts and sciences, although not so flourishing as in former centuries, are still cultivated. The women are employed in embroidery, weaving, dressmaking, and the silk industry.

Many years ago the Government employed large numbers of female assistants in hospital and other charitable institutions, but this practice has now fallen into disuse.

The southern part of Korea has always been its most flourishing section, and to-day the industries of the country are most prosperous in the provinces of the old Sin-la dynasty.

Although Korea has held herself aloof from the rest of the world, she has instituted manufactures and maintained them from her own resources. Most of the Japanese works of art so prized at present are the result of Korean skill. During many centuries the Japanese have been taking from Korea vast quantities of fine manufactured goods and works of art, which they have imitated and claimed as their own. Silk, cotton, linen, and grass fabrics, embroidery, paper, mattings, brass, iron, lacquered and bamboo wares, as well as shoes, hats, cotton wadding, and furniture, are among the manufactures which have been carried on for thousands of years by this "Hermit Nation."

In 1883 three seaports were opened to foreign commerce. At that time these ports, which to-day are bustling with commerce, were a mere wilderness. Since intercourse was established with other countries the imports and exports are about $5,000,000 annually. Grain valued at $2,500,000, together with great quantities of hides and gold dust, are among the exports. The commerce is yearly increasing.

The Koreans are among the oldest people of the world. They have a written history dating back 3,000 years, but their origin is shrouded in doubt. In the year 1122 B. C. the viscount Ki-ja emigrated from China to Korea with 5,000 men, both skilled artisans and men versed in literature and science. Several hundred years later a small portion of the northern part of the country was invaded by the Chinese, possibly leaving in Korea a few hundred soldiers. Again, during the reign of the Emperor who built the great wall of China, about 200 years B. C., another emigration of learned Chinese occurred. The Chinese some centuries afterward conquered two of the kingdoms in the central part of the country, and three hundred years ago, during a war with Japan, Korea asked assistance from China, when, doubtless, more Chinese soldiers were left in Korea.

It may readily be seen that in about 3,000 years there have been seyeral times when the Chinese and Korean races may have mixed. Considering the small number of Chinese and the long periods which elapsed between these immigrations there is little reason for supposing that the original Korean type has been materially changed by this commingling with the Chinese.

No record exists of an early immigration from Japan, but during the many wars waged between these two nations it is probable that many Japanese soldiers remained in Korea. In fact, the Japanese records mention that during the last war, which continued eight years, many soldiers deserted from the army. These men, for their protection both from their own army as well as from the natives, assumed the Korean dress and manners, and lost their identity as Japanese.

Both from the history of the western nations and from Korean history, it is learned that Arabians settled in this country and exported from it to Bagdad and Damascus ginseng, aloes, camphor, cinnamon, ginger, deer horn, nails, saddles, porcelain, and satin.

There are circumstances tending to establish the belief that the inhabitants of certain portions of Korea may have had a Caucasian origin.

Both men and women were tall and well-formed, and in personal appearance and manners more likely to command the respect of foreigners than either the Japanese or Chinese in their original conditions. Their faces were broad and features large, with finely shaped heads. The stolid, impassive expression of the Chinese, or the sly, crafty appearance so commonly observed in Japan and China, was rarely noticeable among the Koreans. We thought them frank and honest in expression, pleasing though timid. Their complexion was of a redder tint than that of the Japanese or Chinese. The hair varied in color from black to light reddish-brown.-(Extract

from a small volume issued by the Navy Department written by Mr. Foulk, naval attaché of the United States legation, afterwards chargé d'affaires.)

The Kingdom of Korea, having an area of 92,000 square miles and a population of 28,000,000, is divided into eighty do or states, with governors appointed by the King. These do are subdivided into 360 parts under second-class governors, and again divided into smaller parts under petty officers. Besides these divisions there are four military districts under governors-general and about forty military posts, situated on the sea coast, governed by military generals.

There are about two hundred fortified towns belonging to the different do, and hundreds of postal districts under the jurisdiction of the postmasters attending only to the Government mail.

The capital city is Séoul, with a population of about 250,000. It is governed by a mayor appointed by the King.

GOVERNMENT.

The Government is an absolute monarchy. It has written laws, but no constitution, and each executive department (state, war, etc.) has rules approved by the King and Parliament. This form of government has existed since 1394 A. D. and in a modified degree since the fourth century B. C. It has three branches, legislative, executive, and judicial. The legislative power is in the hands of the King. Three prime ministers and an indefinite number of senators are always in session. They make laws with the consent of the King, and can demand a hearing, whenever they consider it necessary to amend any law. These three ministers form the highest court, and among other matters have the oversight of the private conduct of the King.

A body of 1,000 noblemen, both civil and military, of nine ranks, forming an upper and lower house, meet in session when any matter of importance, in their opinion, requires attention. The upper house is formed of the three higher ranks and the lower of the remaining six. The king often calls either one or both of these houses to confer with him.

Another party holding power which was granted to it by law is composed of literary men from all parts of the country, and is really the voice of the people. In all matters of importance their advice is asked by the king and petitions presented by them receive respectful consideration. Originally the power of this party was limited to moral and educational matters, but they have so far stretched the significance of these terms that their voice is heard in all political matters.

When it is considered necessary for them to petition the king they meet at the capital, and proceeding to the gate of the palace in a body, about 1,000 men, leave their petition resting against the gate. The king's private secretary, who acts as a medium, takes the petition to him. While the king is considering their request, they remain outside

seated on mats. Sometimes this conference lasts for days, the people of the city paying for the mats, tobacco, and lights.

There is an old law to which recourse may be had to obtain rights from the king. This law allows to the people, high and low, civil and military, the right to petition the king. Should this fail, still another law allows them to remove "the evils around the king." This means revolution. Although these laws have never been enforced, their existence gives to the petitions of the people a power respected by the king. In the executive there are seven departments: First. The civil, who certify to the highest officers and second-gra de governors. Second The treasury department. Third. Department of official etiquette. Fourth. The war department. Fifth. Department of public works. Sixth. Department of the interior. Seventh. Department of foreign affairs. Each department is administered by three ministers and chiefs of divisions.

The judicial branch is divided into six distinct courts: First. Sä-humboo (highest court, having no parallel in this country). Second. Gumboo (star-chamber). Third. Parliament or supreme court. Fourth. State court. Fifth. County court. Sixth. Department of justice. The judges of the first, or Sä-hum-boo, are the highest authority in the country, almost equal to the king. They can correct the administration and private conduct of the king. They have power to impeach all high officers, supervising all other courts. The second, or Gum-bŏŏ, tries high officers and high criminals of any rank. This is the only court where the king presides during the trial of criminals. The third, fourth, and fifth, supreme, state, and county courts, correspond to the courts of the same names in America. When the supreme court fails to give satisfaction to a subject he has a right to appeal directly to the king. This is confined to the common people who have no influence at court. There are two ways: either to ring a large bell placed at the palace gate for this especial purpose, which can be heard for miles, or by attracting the attention of the king when he is out of doors by striking a gong before his palankeen. The man is at once taken in charge by the police and his case is listened to, and if he has been unjustly treated his wrongs are righted. The sixth or last, the department of justice, keeps a record all the courts and executes the sentences of all the other courts in the capital city and has restricted power over all the courts of the country.

The ancient Koreans worshipped God in the mountains, and, although this old religion is nearly lost in the present religions of Confucius and Buddha, they still hold in great respect the mountains where the ancient Koreans used to worship. Buddhism was introduced into Korea from India and Confucianism from China. The first is the religion of the people and the second that of the court.

Although Confucianism is counted a religion, it is really a system of sociology, and has none of the elements of a religion. It refers in no