JAPAN AND KOREA Japan and Korea QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR MISSION CIRCLES AND BANDS BY MISSIONARIES OF THE PRESBYTERIAN BOARD PHiCE FIVE CENTS 1907 THE WOMAN’S FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 501 Witherspoon Building Philadelphia Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016 https://archive.org/details/japankoreaquesti00unse_1 JAPAN 1. Give a general description of Japan. The Empire of Japan lies off the eastern shore of Asia. It is composed of four large islands and many small ones, which are grouped to- gether in the shape of a new moon. 2. How do travelers go to Japan ? Either by sailing from New York to England, from there across Europe, through the Suez Canal, and around the south of Asia ; or by railroad to San Francisco or Vancouver, and thence across the Pacific Ocean direct to Yoko- hama. 3. What is the difference in time between New York and Japan ? The sun rises in Japan fourteen hours before it rises in New York. 4. What was the old Japanese belief about the origin of their country ? That Japan was made by the gods and was for a long time their residence ; a common name for the country among the people is the “ Land of the Gods.” They believed also that the emperor was descended from the gods. 5. What is the Emperor called? 3 By foreigners the emperor is usually called the Mikado, but the Japanese generally speak of him as the Tens/iisama, which means the Son of Heaven. Two or three hundred years ago an officer hearing the title of Shogun usurped the chief authority, and from that time until the year 1868 the Shoguns were the real rulers of the country, although the Mikado was the nom- inal head. 6. How was the Mikado restored to power ? For some time before the year 1868 many of the Daimios or feudal lords had wished to de- throne the Shogun or Taikun (Tykoon) as foreigners used to call him, and to restore the Mikado to power. The feeling against foreigners was very strong, and as the Shogun had admitted them into the country his enemies had a good excuse for carrying out their plans ; accordingly an army was raised, several battles were fought, and the Mikado was restored to his rights. He then removed from Kyoto to Yedo, which had been the residence of the Shogun, and the name of Yedo was changed to Tokyo, meaning Eastern Capital. 7. Is the government now opposed to for- eigners ? Before 1858 the party of the Mikado was strongly opposed to foreigners ; but his advisers were wise enough to change their policy, be- 4 coming progressive and favorable to foreign in- stitutions. 8. What was the result ? Wonderful progress was made in introducing Western methods of government and education. Christianity shared in the favor shown to every- thing foreign and spread with great rapidity. 9. Do the people sympathize with the govern- ment ? About 1888, a reaction took place among the people, many of whom disapproved the policy of the government and disliked all foreign in- fluence. After the war with China (1894), made successful by foreign methods, the opposition subsided. 10. What is the government? Since February, 1889, when the National Con- stitution was adopted, it is a Constitutional Monarchy with a Diet, consisting of a House of Peers and a House of Representatives, which met for the first time November 29, 1890. ix. What advances have been recently made by the government ? By the revised treaties with the Western nations (1899) Japan was recognized as a civilized people and placed upon an equal footing with other nations. The adoption of the Civil Code (1896) gave Japan jurisdiction over alliforeign 5 residents in the Empire, abolishing the system of foreign courts. 12. Is travel restricted? The whole country is now open to the com- merce and residence of foreigners. 13. What occurred in 1904-1905? A war between Japan and Russia, in which Japan was victorious. The wonderful energy and ability displayed by the Japanese raised them to a high place in the esteem of foreign nations. 14. What do the Japanese call their country ? Niphon or Nippon, which means Source of Light, and the land is often called the “Land of the Morning,” or the “Land of the Rising Sun.” 15. What is the climate? It is damp and somewhat debilitating to for- eigners. As Japan is surrounded by the ocean, the summer heat is tempered, while the warm current washing the eastern shore mitigates the severity of the winter. 16. What of the scenery in Japan ? The damp atmosphere makes the ground fer- tile and the foliage luxuriant. It is a land of fruit and flowers, and the eye of the traveler is especially struck by the wonderful beauty of the mountains and valleys. 17. What is the most celebrated mountain in Japan ? 6 Fujisan or Fuji no Yama. It is an extinct volcano, a solitary peak rising more than 12,000 feet above the level of the sea, its summit covered with snow during most of the year. The Japanese are very proud of Mount Fuji, and constantly paint it upon fans, porcelain and lac- quer-ware. In the summer-time, when the snow is gone, bands of pilgrims dressed in white, each with a staff in his hand and a little bell tinkling from his girdle, may be seen jour- neying to the top of the mountain to worship. iS. What is the population of Japan ? About 50.000,000 people. Its three great cities are Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. 19. Describe the people. They are generally small with black hair and slightly oblique black eyes. They are kindly, impressible, gentle and contented, but lack many of the higher moral virtues. 20 In what sort of houses do they live? Most of their houses are only one story high. The better ones have tile roofs ; others are cov- ered with little shingles, while in the country many of the houses are thatched. They have light, paper-covered doors that slide backward and forward on grooved sills. 21. How are the houses furnished ? The floors are covered with mats about two 7 inches thick, each mat six feet long by three feet wide and all the rooms in the houses are made to hold a certain number of mats ; so that one often hears people talking about four-mat , or eight-mat or twenty mat rooms. Usually there are some pictures hanging on the wall, or sentences written in Chinese ; not framed like ours, but on rollers like our maps. There is scarcely any furniture ; no chairs, for the people sit on the mats with their feet doubled up under them; no bed-steads, for every night they spread comfortables on the mats to sleep on; no stoves, but instead, little fire-boxes of metal or porce- lain or wood lined with copper, in which they burn charcoal. 22. What food do the Japanese eat ? They may almost be said to live upon rice, fish and tea. They have also sweet potatoes and other vegetables ; of fruits they have oranges, figs, grapes, pears and persimmons as large as apples. They eat eggs, and also chick- ens and other birds ; some of them are begin- ning to eat beef and mutton. Their candy shops always have for their sign a great white ball covered with points — an imitation of one of their commonest kinds of candy. 23. How do they eat? With chopsticks as the Chinese do. These are generally made of wood rather longer than S a lead pencil and about half as thick. Both sticks are held in one hand between different fingers, and the Japanese use them very skill- fully. They have also iron chopsticks to handle the charcoal in their fire-boxes, and the rag- pickers go about the streets with a bag in one hand and a pair of chopsticks three feet long in the other. 24. How do the Japanese dress ? Men, women and children all wear a sort of gown ( kimono ) cut straight and very narrow, and confined by a girdle around the waist ; besides this the men sometimes put on a kind of wide flowing trousers. On their feet all wear a sort of low sock made of white or dark blue cotton goods, and shaped like mittens with a finger for the big toe. When the Japanese go out of doors they generally put on wooden shoes, which are kept on by a thong that passes between the big toe and the others. Among some of the higher class and at tha court, European dress has been adopted. 25. How do they wear their hair? The men now cut their hair like Europeans, but some of the women still adhere to the old elaborate Japanese fashion, employing a hair dresser, who goes from house to house. They have their hair dressed only once or twice a week, and to keep it in order they sleep with a 9 little wooden pillow about six inches long and two inches wide under their necks. 26. How do the Japanese amuse themselves? They are very fond of going on excursions and picnics, and all Japanese delight in their native music. A game called “Go,” which is not unlike chess, is a great favorite among grown people. The children have some of the games familiar to American children, but the great game among them is kite-flying. In the City of Tokyo one can sometimes count two thousand kites flying at once. The Japanese kites are not flat like ours, but bowed, and each one has a couple of strings stretched across it ; when the wind blows the strings hum like giant bumble bees. 27. What are the principal industries of the Japanese? The industries peculiar to Japan are silk and tea culture and the manufacture of the bronze, lacquer and porcelain wares which have be- come famous in Europe and America. 28. What of the Japanese language ? In Japan there are many different styles in both the written and the spoken language, and these are so well defined that to confuse them either in writing or talking is considered a mark of great ignorance. The forms to be used in addressing persons higher in rank are very 10 unlike those which are used when speaking to equals, and for inferiors still another form is considered necessarj'. 29. What is the religion of the Japanese? Shintoism was the early faith of the country ; Confucianism also has had many followers ; but the first of these is a political principle rather than a religion, and the second is more strictly a system of philosophy. Buddhism is the pre- vailing religion of Japan. 30. Who was the founder of Buddhism ? Sakya Mouni, or Gautama, surnamed Buddha (The Enlightened One), who lived in India about 500 B. C. He claimed no divine honors, but has been worshipped by his followers ever since his death. 31. What does Buddhism teach ? Buddhism teaches that the world and all things in it came into being without a creator ; that the soul at death passes into the body of some new-born human being, or some animal, according to the amount of merit made while living ; that it may be thus born thousands of times ; that the thing most to be desired is to make so much merit that the soul will at last go where Buddha has himself gone, into “Nepon,” which is a kind of eternal sleep 32. Are there any temples in Japan ? 11 There are three sorts of temples. First : the Shinto temples, very simple structures, with little in them excepting a large mirror. Second: the shrines erected in honor of celebrated per- sons. These are the most beautiful buildings in Japan ; they are highly ornamented with carv- ing and paintings and magnificent lacquer- work. Third : the Buddhist temples, which are filled with idols, and where most of the people wor- ship. 33. What progress have the Japanese made under foreign influence? They have now men-of-war, mail steamers, railways, street cars and all the inventions that mark the latest civilization ; there are telegraph lines running all over the country, and an effi- cient postal system ; they have also newspapers, a university, military and naval colleges, schools of medicine, law and agricultnre ; an excellent common school system, in which are taught the various branches of study pursued by boys and girls in America. MISSIONS. 34. How long ago was Christianity intro- duced into Japan? Christianity was first introduced by Roman Catholic missionaries under Francis Xavier in 1549 ; but they attempted to interfere with the 12 government and were expelled from the coun- try. On account of this the Japanese came to hate and fear Christianity, and passed laws for- bidding any one to profess it on pain of death. 35. When were Protestant missionaries first sent to Japan ? Soon after Japan was open to foreigners Prot- estant missionaries were sent to the country, but on account of the old hatred of the name of Christianity very little could be done for a number of years. 36. When did the Presbyterian Church begin work in Japan ? In 1859, when Dr. Hepburn went there as a medical missionary, to prepare the way for the preaching of the gospel. The first Japanese church was organized in 1872. 37. What is the later history of Presbyterian missions in Japan ? After missionaries had been laboring in Japan for many years from our own Church, from the Reformed (Dutch) Church and the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland, it was de- cided to unite and form in Japan one Presby- terian Church. After a few years the Presby- terian Church (South), the Reformed (German) Church, and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, joined those above named, making six organizations in all to form the “United 13 Church of Christ in Japan,” a self-governing Japanese Church. In 1890 the word 11 United ” was dropped from the name. 38. How large is this “Church of Christ” (Kiristo Kyokwai) ? There are 35 self-supporting churches ; 40 churches are assisted by our Missions. The church members number about 15,000. 39. Where are the mission stations of our own Presbyterian Board ? In Eastern Japan, Tokyo, the capital, and its seaport, Yokohama ; the Hokkaido station in the north, including Sapporo, Otaru and Asa- higawa. In Western Japan, Kanazawa, Fukui and Yamaguchi on the coast ; Osaka aud Hiro- shima on the Inland Sea ; the ancient city of Kyoto, near Osaka ; Matsuyama, Kur£ and Shimonoseki on the southern islands. 40. What schools for boys and young men are connected with the Presbyterian Board? The Meiji Gakuin at Tokyo is an important institution, comprising a preparatory school, college, and theological seminary. The course of instruction is thorough, and to this institu- tion we look for a native Christian ministry, well educated in English branches. 41. What schools for girls aud young women are under the care of the Presbyterian Board ? 14 At Tokyo there is the Joshi Gakuin (formed by the union of Graham Seminary and the Bancho School), in which there are three depart- ments— preparatory, intermediate and advanced — with over 250 pupils. There is a school at Dai Machi, Tokyo, established by a Japanese Christian gentleman, in which our missionaries teach, as they do also in schools carried on by Japanese at other stations. There are also girls’ schools under the care of our mission at Kana- zawa, Osaka, Kyoto, Yamaguchi, Sapporo and Otaru. A Bible School for the training of women in Christian work is carried on with great promise in Tokyo and there are day schools and kinder- gartens for boys and girls at the different stations. 42. What literary work has been done by missionaries? The Bible has been fully translated and largely circulated ; a Japanese and English dictionary has been prepared by Dr. Hepburn, and pub- lished ; commentaries, tracts and many religious books have been written or translated by mem- bers of the mission ; and two religious papers are published, one partly in English, the other entirely in Japanese. 43. Are the laws against Christianity still in force ? *5 By the Constitution of 1889 toleration is secured to all religions. 44. What Protestant Christians are working there besides those included in the “Church of Christ”? Baptists, Congregationalists, Methodists, Friends and the Episcopalians of England and America. 45 . What is the estimated number of Protes- tant Christians? About 51,000. 46. What effect had the Russian war on mis- sion work ? It gave opportunities for reaching thousands of soldiers in camps and hospitals, and they have since carried Christian teachings into all parts of the country. 47. Why does Japan especially need the gos- pel of Christ? The people are rapidly gaining all that mere civilization can give them, and they are drifting away from their old false faiths. The danger is that they will drift into atheism, and the Church in America should, with all the earnest- ness and speed possible, offer to them the only faith which can make their country truly civil- ized and blessed. 16 Language and Pronunciation. The Japanese use Chinese characters largely in writing ; besides these they have letters of their own, each of which represents a syllable. In writing the Japanese with Roman letters the consonants have the same sound as in English ; but the vowels have the Italian sound, and there are no accents. / in the middle of a word and u at the end are scarcely heard. a has the sound of a in father. £ <( «( << ey in prey. i << «< t< i in machine. 0 “ “ “ 0 in no, so, U “ “ “ 00 in moon. ai “ “ “ eye. Geographical Names. Pronunciation Fukui Foo-koo-e Hakodate Ha-ko-dah-tay Hiroshima He-ro-she- 7 tiah Kanazawa Kan-ah zaw-wah Kiushu Kiu-shiu Kobe Ko-bay Kyoto Kee-o-to Nagasaki Nah-gah-sa kee Osaka O-sah-kah Otaru O-tah-ru Sapporo Sap-poro Takata Tak-kah-tah Tokyo To-ke-o Toyama Fo-yah-mah Tsukiji Tskee-jee Yamaguchi Yah-mah-goo-chee Yeso (or Hokkaido) Ye-so or Hok ki-do Yokohama Yo-ko hah-mah 17 Coins and their Value. Yen Silver dollar (fifty cents in gold). Sen A cent. Rin The tenth of a cent. Go-riti A half cent. Gold and paper money are also in use. Weights and Measures. Kin i l A lbs. Sun One inch. Shaku One foot. To About a quarter of a bushel. Tsubo Six feet square. A house is built for a certain amount per tsubo. Distances. Ri (Ree). Equals two and one-half English miles. Native Words Found in Missionary Literature. Pronunciation Cho (Chinese) Street Daitnio Dai-mee-o Feudal Lord Dashi Dah-she Festival Car Doskisha Do-shee-shah The Congregational College in Kyoto Futon Foo-ton Quilted bedspread Gakko School Gaku-in School or college Gekkin Organ Geta Ga-tah A clog or wooden shoe 18 Hai Pronunciation Hah-ee Yes Haori Hah-o-ree Outer garment Hibac/ti He-bah-chee Fire box, or brazier Hirakana He-rah-kah nah Japanese letters In A hall Itchi kyo kwai Union church Jesu kyo or Yasu-kyo “Jesus doctrine,” Jin Christianity Man Jinrikisha Jin-reke-shah Two -wheeled car- Jizo Je-zo riage drawn by men A heathen god Kago Kah-go Bamboo basket sus- Kanji Kan-jee pended from a pole and carried by two men Superintendent Kiaro Ke-ar-o Hand stove carried Kimono Ke-mo-no in the sleeve Garment or robe Kiristo Kyokwai Ke-risto-keo-kwai Ko Church of Christ ( Presbyter ’ n church) Child Kocho Ko-cho Principal of a school Koto Harp Kuritna Ku-ree-ma Public conveyance Kwaido Church building Kwan High official Kwazoku Kwah-zok A nobleman Kyo Kee-o Teaching, doctrine 19 Pronunciation Mac hi Street “ Mata Kimasu ” Mah-tah Ke-mas “ I will come again” Malsuri Ma-tsoo-re Religious festival Mia Me-ah Shinto temple Mikado Me-hah-do Emperor Mo chi Mo-chee Rice cake Obi Obe Sash or girdle Okkasan Oh-kah-san Mamma, or mother Okusama Okoo-sah-mah A lady Riki Power Rojin Aged person Satnisen Sah-mee-sen Common guitar Sampan Boat San Mr. Mrs. or Miss (put after the name) Sensei Sen-say Teacher Sha Wheeled vehicle “ Shikataganai ” She-kah-tah-ga-nai “ It is inevitable ” Shiki Kerchief Shimbokwai Shim-bok-kwai Shim bun A social gathering Newspaper Shin kyo New doctrine, also Shogun Shogoon Protestantism Formerly the high- Shoji Sho-jee est official of Japan Paper partitions, or sliding doors Sobetsukwai So-ba-tsu-kwai 20 Pronunciation A farewell meeting Soroban Counting Taiso Calisthenics Talatni Tali-tah-mi Mats 3x6 ft. in size Tenshisama Ten-she-sah-mah “Son of heaven ” Tera Ta-rah Buddhist temple Torii Tore-ee Gateway Salutations. Pronunciation O-hai-yo “Good morning,’’ to 8 or 9 o’clock Kon-ne-che-wah “This day,” from 9 to sunset “This night,” or after sunset Sah-yon-ah-rah “Good night,” or “Farewell, if it must be so The Japanese bow in meeting or parting from each other, but they are learning to imitate for- eign customs and shake hands with foreigners. St. John, 3d chapter, 16th verse (in Roman letters) : “ Sore Kami wa sono umitamaeru hitorigo wo tamau hodo ni yo 710 hito wo aishitamaeri ko wa subele kare wo shinzuru motto ni horo- burti koto naku shite kagirinaki inochi wo ukeshimen ga tame nari." "Ohayo" “ Koti ttichiwa" “ Koitbati" “Sayottara” 21 KOREA. 1. Where is Korea ? Korea is a peninsula of Asia, west of Japan, and lying between the Yellow Sea and the Sea of Japan. 2. Describe the country. A chain of mountains extends through its whole length. Three provinces lie east of the mountains, and five west. The western side is more fertile and attractive than the eastern, and is watered by more rivers. 3. What is the area of the country? Korea is as large as the combined areas of Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Ver- mont, Connecticut and Rhode Island, together with New Jersey and Maryland. 4. What is the population ? It is estimated at about 12,000,000. 5. What is the climate? The winters of the north are very severe ; further south we find all the varieties that are met with between New England and Virginia. 22 6. What are the products of the land ? Corn, millet, wheat, rye, rice, barley and beans, upon which the people depend for food ; hemp, cotton, tobacco and ginger; the pine, palm and a variety of fruits of fine quality. The mulberry and scrub-oak are cultivated as food for silk-worms. 7. Tell something of the history of Korea. The ancestors of the modern Koreans were from Manchuria, and after wresting the penin- sula from the Chinese, held it for several cen- turies. £.bout the tenth century the thirty-two monarchies of the country were united in one dynasty, under the government of Wang. In the fourteenth century this line was overthrown by Ni Taijo, who was made king. The same dynasty still continues, though not in the direct line of descent. A yearly tribute was paid to China until 1894, when by the assistance of the Japanese, Korea was declared independent. A period of great political disturbance followed, and the Japanese influence which was at first supreme, was for a time supplanted by that of Russia. This brought on a war between Japan and Russia (1904-1905), and at present the Japanese have eutire control of Korea. 8. What is the condition of the people? 23 There is little education, though some schools are maintained by the government. Most of the people are very poor, and many of their houses are of mud, thatched with straw. The rich dress in silk and the poor in cotton. They have many holidays and public merry-makings. Women are considered as inferior, but are not treated with such harshness as in some coun- tries. 9. What is the religion of Korea? In the early ages the religion consisted in a superstitious devil-worship. Buddhism was in- troduced in the fourth century, and Confucian- ism later. Taoism also exists in Korea, but without much influence. Ancestral worship is an interesting feature of Korean religion. Tablets are erected with the names and virtues of ancestors, and sometimes handsome temples are built to their memory. Food is offered to the departed spirit, and prayers and wailings are part of the worship. 10. What is the state of religion among the people to-day ? Buddhism has lost much of its control over the people ; Confucianism is not much more than a system of morals ; and their supersti- tious devil-worship, or the “natural religion,” that finds a god in everything, has no longer 24 much sway over the people, so that the whole nation may almost be said to have no religion. 11. What does this show ? It shows that God, by breaking down the superstitions of the people, is preparing the way for the gospel. 12. What was the first missionary work in Korea ? Roman Catholic missionaries entered the country at several times and gained many con- verts. The suspicions of the government and the native priesthood were aroused in each case, and the missionaries were driven away, while their followers were obliged to flee, to recant, or to suffer horrible tortures. 13. When was the first treaty made with foreign governments? After unsuccessful efforts of both France and America, Japan succeeded in making a treaty with Korea in 1876, and six years later a satis- factory treaty was made with America. 14. Who was one of the first Protestant con- verts among the Koreans ? Rijutei, a Korean, was sent to represent his government in Japan. Soon after reaching the country some Christian books fell into his hands. He read them with eager interest and 25 was introduced to one of the American mission- aries, from whom he received instruction. He accepted Christianity and was baptized. 15. What was the result of Rijutei’s conver- sion ? He immediately began to prepare a Bible which his countrymen could read, by intro- ducing certain marks among the Chinese char- acters. He begged that missionaries might be sent to Korea, and Dr. H. N. Allen, then living in China, went in 1884. 16. How was Dr. Allen received? The American Minister appointed him physi- cian to the legation, which insured his safety. Soon after his arrival a number of Koreans were wounded in a political outbreak, among them a nephew of the king. He and several others recovered from their wounds under Dr. Allen’s care, and his skill gained him the favor of the king and his court. 17. What was at first the most prominent form of missionary work in Korea ? The medical work. The Government hos- pital at Seoul, the capital, was for years under missionary control, and medical women had large opportunities among the women. A fine new hospital, the Severance Memorial, is just completed. 26 At each station there are hospitals and dis- pensaries — eight in all. There are ten mission- ary physicians. 18. What success has attended evangelistic work in Korea ? The success with which God has blessed evangelistic work in Korea is wonderful, and the progress has been greater than in any other country since apostolic times. 19. What facts show that this is so ? Dr. Allen reached Korea in the fall of 1884, and the first ordained missionary came in the spring of 1885 ; the first convert was baptized in July, 1886; the first church organized (Presby- terian) in the fall of 1887, and before the close of 1888, the baptized converts of the two missions, Methodist and Presbyterian, numbered over 100. 20. What is the condition of the work now? The whole number of Protestant believers is estimated at 50,000. The Presbyterian churches of our mission have now 12,546 communicants and over 11,000 catechumens gathered into 628 churches and congregations. Most of these churches have built their own chapels, and support their own work. The church at Pyeng Yang will hold 1,700 people. 27 21. In what way has this work been carried on ? Periodical trips have been taken through the country for the sale and distribution of books, the preaching of the gospel and baptism of con- verts. Sub-stations have been established, col- porteurs have been employed to visit regularly certain districts ; and a theological class has been carried on for some years. Many of the country Christians come twice a year to some central point for classes in the study of the Bible, which are held for two weeks. Last year more than six thousand students were enrolled. 22. How is the work carried on among the women ? They are visited in their homes, and as far as possible special services are held for them. On Sunday the attendance is often so large that three successive meetings have to be held. Durinethe wept al«n various classes for women 'mes and at the m>«- _ 0 . n ucie arc iuc principal scnooisr At Seoul is an excellent girls’ boarding school and a school for boys with 150 pupils. The Pyeng Yang Academy for young men has 160 pupils. The girls’ school has 53 scholars, of whom 14 are boarders. Primary schools are maintained by most of the churches. 28 24- What stations are occupied by our mis- sionaries ? Seoul, the capital ; to the north, Chai Kyong, Pyeng Yang on the Taitong River, and Syen Chun in the extreme northwest; in the south, Taiku, 60 miles inland, and Fusan, on the southeast coast. Most of our Christians are in the northern provinces. There are 628 out- stations. 25. What other Protestant churches are work- ing here? American Methodists, Southern, Canadian, and Australian Presbyterians, and the Church of England. The “ Korean Presbyterian Church ” includes the four Presbyterian Missions, and they unite with the Methodists in supporting schools and a publishing house. Language and Pronunciation. The language of Korea is similar in construc- tion to the Japanese. Many of the words have been imported from China, but neither Japanese nor Chinese is understood when spoken, al- though Chinese is read by all scholars. With the exception of a few slight differences in dia- lect, the language of Seoul can be understood all over the kingdom. The written characters are read from the top down, and from right to left. 29 Geographical Names. Pronunciation Chemulpo Chee-mul-po We- Jew Eui Ju Fusan Gensan Korea Foo-san Ghen-san Ko-ree-ah Peng Yang Pyeng Yang Seoul (or Kyung-gi-do) Sa-oul Coins and their Value. Cash — a small copper coin — is the only money. Large numbers of these are carried by a cord passed through a hole in the centre, i puri is 5 cash. 400 cash are equal to a silver dollar. Korean weights are the same as Chinese. A Keun or Catty is equal to 1J/3 lbs. A Nyang or Onnus is equal to of a keun. A Ton is equal to x \y of a nyang or onnus. The measures used in the city differ from those used in the country. Land is measured by the quantity of grain used to sow it, or the time taken to plough it. Grain is measured by so many heiip or hand- fuls to make a sym or bag. Weights. Measures. 30 Distances. Chi — equals one inch. Cha — equals one foot. A Li is really measured by time — io li means an hour's travel by coolies on the plains ; the distance is less on the mountains because the coolies travel more slowly. Native Words Found in Missionary Literature. Abagie Father Ahrnounie Mother An-pang Women’s apartmeuts Chinas Outside silk garment Chogories A little jacket or waist Hapmun ox Ingum King Kamsqh High official, governor Kile hung Guest house Mee Kook saram Americans Pung sok Custom Quagas Government examinations San Mountain Sarang pang General reception room Tai Great Tai In Great man, foreigner Wae Yamen Foreign office Yang ban Gentleman Yangeen European Yoe Guilt Yong num Official residence Yun Kite 31 St. John, 3d chapter, 16th verse (in Korean characters) : U. £ o| £ Cl? I 1 tr D l M °1 D 7T 1 at *i± tE cE? 9' of w- s o| *ii A