Publisher's Synopsis
Some excerpts from the INTRODUCTION:
JAPAN, superficially, is now pretty well known to the world, but as regards her internal affairs she still remains quite a dark country to the Occident. Her women, for instance, are misunderstood to a great extent, for it is impossible that visitors who have hitherto written upon Japan could see them in their true light, without any acquaintance with their homes. We, therefore, publish this pamphlet to place them just as they are before the eyes of the world on this occasion of the World's Fair. It must be understood, however, that this small treatise cannot but leave many points untouched.
How do the Japanese women compare with their American or European sisters? This question it is our object to answer, not by means of argument or criticism, but by a series of facts, which will enable readers to judge for themselves.
Firstly, we shall speak of Japanese women in political affairs. Their interference in them was sometimes for good, and at other times for evil. Our politics were by no means free from certain well-known evils, produced by their interference, but we will pay more attention to the good results effected by their political acts. Women used to play an important part on the political stage in ancient times. This is, indeed, one of the reasons why women were in general highly esteemed in old Japan.
Secondly, of the contribution of women to literature, and their standing in the lettered community.
Thirdly, of what women have done in religion, as patrons and votaries.
Fourthly, of the domestic life of women, as daughters, wives and mothers.
Fifthly, of the industries of women.
Sixthly, of the accomplishments of women, such as music, tea-making (tencha), incense burning (ko), flower arranging (ikebana), painting, etc.
Seventhly and lastly, of their present educational and benevolent labors....
....As time went on, scholars and artists appeared among them and their influence was felt, especially at all social gatherings. The court ladies were very influential and respected on account of their skill in poetry, which has been from time immemorial one of the most cherished accomplishments of the Imperial court. In the tenth and eleventh centuries court ladies were such excellent poetesses that they had no equals in our history. They stood, indeed, on an equality with men in the estimation of society.
From the Genji-Monogatari, a novel by Murasaki Shikibu, who lived when female culture was so high, we can gain considerable insight into the women of those times. We there see them described something like the following:
They were mistresses of feminine accomplishments, as music, literature, painting, chirography, incense burning, etc. In literature they paid by far the greatest attention to Japanese poems. It was held unwomanly to learn Chinese, and even those who had some knowledge of it tried assiduously to conceal it. But it was not rare among gentlewomen to read Buddhist sutras in Chinese, from which was drawn their moral codes. They strictly observed the rules of etiquette. They paid much attention to the toilet. They practiced sewing, dyeing and weaving as well as cooking, from the high est woman to the humblest girl. In every family it was their duty to decorate the rooms, especially on ceremonial occasions. It was their part to educate the girls. They freely mingled in society and were, in consequence, bright and charming, not like their descendants, whose shyness and reserve are almost proverbial. However, they held nothing so bad as to put on airs and to let their tongues glide too freely. They were severely warned against boasting of their learning. Murasaki Shikibu, herself, who was a profound scholar, is said to have looked like one ignorant of even the numerical figures....