Two schools of philosophy are recognized in this country: the ancient Korean philosophy, which teaches that there are five elements--metals, plants, water, fire, and earth; and the Buddhist philosophy, which makes only four-earth, water, fire, and air or wind. Philosophy is a subject which interests Koreans, and much study is devoted to it.

In the twenty-third century B. C. the Koreans were I think a lettered people, and in the twelfth century B. C. they had schools to teach reading, writing, music, and etiquette. From the third century B. C. up to the present time education has gradually increased, and during the last five hundred years it has attained a much higher degree of excellence. During the present dynasty free schools and many other kinds of edu cational institutions have been established, and, with the exception of a few serving girls, all men and women can read and write. Education in Korea is held in the highest esteem, and a literary man is received with less formality by the prime minister, who is almost equal to the king in rank, than the nobleman or high officials. Not only are the respectable classes educated, but even the dancing girls must study under teachers dancing, walking, horseback riding, music, poetry, reading, writing, and painting before they can profitably fulfill their professional duties.

Books were first printed about ten centuries ago, when the reigning king ordered 150,000 printing blocks to be made for the purpose of printing several hundred volumes of special Buddhist books. These blocks, · 18 by 20 inches square by 1 inch thick, are carved in wood, in both Korean and Chinese. At present they are seldom used, but are stored in buildings devoted to this purpose. They have become the property of some Buddhist temple.

Every nobleman, however poor, has a large private library of thousands of volumes. These are loaned to all who ask, and are kept in almost constant circulation.

The scholars frequently spend their entire time in writing books, both of prose and poetry. They are written on both sides of the thinnest possible sheets of paper and piled upon the floor till they reach to the chin. Many of them accomplish two or three "chins" during their lifetime, and so great is their respect for literature that on no account would they step upon them or destroy a single written word.

The Korean language and literature have become so mingled with the Chinese that it is difficult to convey to a foreigner a correct idea of pure Korean pronunciation and idioms.

The Chinese language is to the Korean what the Latin is to the English. It is never spoken by the Koreans, and is read only by the educated men. Their scholars study its old records and quote largely from it as a classic. Many important books and all official documents are published in Chinese. This language has two styles, the colloquial and formal; but they are so far removed, each from the other, that a person familiar with the former could hardly understand the latter.

This language, which is merely a collection of hieroglyphics, is very difficult to learn, since every child must know not less than 1,000 of them in order to study the language. These must not only be committed to memory, but must be learned so they will be recognized at sight. Its introduction into Korea has had a very marked tendency to retard civilization. Its poetry and songs have also suffered by this admixture, many of the musical tones of the Korean language being lost.

The Korean language, like the English, has 25 letters and the words are of one or more syllables, while the Chinese words have generally but one. Many Chinese words have been incorporated into the Korean language; for example, all words or syllables ending in ng have a Chinese origin. The Korean language for centuries has preserved its grammatical construction, which, like its alphabet, is based on scientific principles. Like the Chinese, it is written in perpendicular lines, and the principal words of the sentence have the modifying words grouped directly around them. Metaphors and personifications are more used in the Korean than in either the Chinese or Japanese languages.

COMPARISON WITH CHINA AND JAPAN.

Superficially considered, the Koreans resemble the Chinese and Japanese in many respects; but, closely observed, they are found to be a nation of marked characteristics, with views broader than the Japanese and theories more rational than the Chinese. On account of their unfavorable geographical position, they seem to be behind Japan in adopting modern ideas, but to the student they are really in many respects an advanced people, and, although not considering themselves superior in everything to their neighbors, they are very proud of their culture. They speak of themselves as the "nation of culture,” and of China and Japan as the "barbarous nations."

The slight body, the color of the hair and skin, the use of rice as the principal article of food, the style of dwelling, the wearing of loose garments, and the existence of Buddhist temples and followers of Confucius are the chief points of resemblance between Koreans and the people of China and Japan.

Examining the particulars mentioned, it will be seen that they point as surely to differences as to resemblances. In stature the Koreans approach much more nearly to the Caucasians than do either the Chinese or Japanese. The complexion of the Chinese is decidedly yellowish, that of the Japanese is brownish, while the Koreans are lighter than either and of a reddish tint. Rice is to the Asiatic races what bread is to the European; and the differences in the way of cooking and serving it are as marked among the different Asiatic nations as are the varieties of bread among the Europeans, while in other foods used by the Asiatics the difference is greater; for example, a Korean must have

beef twice a day, a Chinese has pork, and a Japanese either raw or cooked fish. Except in Korea, beef can not be found among the natives.

The men's dress in Korea is of a style peculiar to that nation, while the black dress of the Japanese, except in color, is borrowed from the Chinese. The dress of the Korean women is similar to the dress of American women, except the small waist, while the Chinese and Japanese women wear the loose dress like the men.

Buddhism and Confucianism are found in each of these three nations, and the mental tone of the people is shown in the manner of treating these religions. It is hardly possible in a brief space to explain a matter so complicated, but it is fair to say that China and Japan pay attention to the ceremonial service at the expense of the religious teaching, while Korea devotes her attention to the sacred teachings and the study of the religious doctrines and theories of philosophy.

Korea may allow to China the glory of a more ancient history, and to Japan the late reformation in her government and the more skillful manufacture of silk and lacquered wares; but Korea's political institutions, which mark her independent characteristics, were organized on scientific principles many centuries ago. The feudal system was abolished in Korea about the time it was adopted in Japan. Free schools, public hospitals, almshouses, and civil-service examinations are old institutions to Korea, unknown, except civil service in China, in both the other countries.

The morality and general culture of Korea is on a much higher plane than that of China and Japan. Loyalty to the court is considered a strong element of morality in Japan, but in Korea patriotism ranks before it.

Carefully studied, the differences between these three Asiatic peoples will be found to be more pronounced than the differences between the Americans, Germans, and French, not only as regards physical, but mental qualities.

PRIVATE SCHOOLS (HAK-BANG).

The private schools of Korea are to the Koreans in some degree what the public schools are to the United States, since through them the great mass of the people receive their education. Educated men, who are at the same time engaged in some other employment yielding an insufficient support, conduct these schools and receive from each pupil a small tuition fee. The number of pupils, always boys, never exceeds forty. They begin going to school from 6 to 10 years of age and usually finish their education at these schools in 6 years.

The first book used is the chunja or 1,000 words. It is written in Chinese characters and no word is repeated. With each Chinese word is learned the corresponding Korean word.

The lines are of four words each and generally refer to natural facts; for example, first line: "The heaven is dark and the earth is yellow;"

second, "The sky is broad and the land uneven;" third, "When the cold comes the heat goes." The lesson of four words is assigned by the teacher in the morning. Questions are asked by the pupils and explanations made by the teacher; then the children, seated on cushions before desks with their faces to the wall, repeat the lesson aloud twenty-five times, four times each day. Each child has a counter on which he records his progress. These are made of a kind of very stiff, oiled paper, beautifully decorated, about 7 inches long and 2 inches wide. At the top is a little opening, like a door, which marks 100; a short distance below is a group of five similar openings, which denote 10; still lower another group of five for units. When the child has repeated the task once he opens one of the doors of the units group. He continues opening the doors till after the sixth repetition, when he closes the last one opened. When he has closed all the five doors of the units group he opens one in the group of tens and begins once more with the units group. When he has opened and closed all the doors of the tens group he opens the top door and the lesson is completed for the day. Should any little Korean steal a count or misbehave he is made to stand on a block or is whipped on the leg. The principal work of the teacher after the lesson is given out consists in watching that the pupils keep an honest count, in listening to the repetition of the lesson which the child has memorized, and in correcting the pronunciation.

Classes are not formed, but each child finishes one or more books, according to his ability.

Before beginning a new book, each child must be able to repeat the chunja from the beginning to the end.

Penmanship is considered one of the most important branches of learning, and the child begins the practice of this art when he begins his education at school and can continue it through life, for he learns only Chinese characters, and as there are fifty thousand of these, he can always find new matter for practice. The child begins this study by following, with a brush dipped in India ink, an outline of the character about 4 inches square, which has been faintly drawn by the teacher. Twenty or thirty of these characters constitute a lesson, and are usually learned in one day.

About the second year he begins the primary lessons for boys. This book is a collection of moral laws and sentiments; for example:

Between the heavens and the earth the human being, on account of his moral qualities, is superior among all things, therefore we are governed by these five rules, viz: (1) Respect between king and subject. (2) Affection between parent and child. (3) Decorous bearing between husband and wife. (4) Loyalty between friends. (5) Preference to elders.

The same method is pursued in studying this book. It is committed to memory by constant repetition. When it has been thoroughly memorized the third book is taken up. This is also moral law and contains ten volumes. At this time the study of poetry, geography, local and

Asiatic, the four fundamental rules of arithmetic, and the rudiments of government and law begins. The names of the twenty-eight kings of the present dynasty, and the names of the years, which form a cycle of 60 years, are also learned. These studies, however, except the books on moral law, are not compulsory, but are pursued by means of pleasant games peculiar to the Koreans. During the summer famous poems are studied and then committed to memory. In the winter poetic composition receives attention; and great facility is acquired by games.

The study of geography has been somewhat limited, as the Koreans until within a few years have not recognized any world outside of their own and Asiatic counties. They learn from a book the names of the counties and provinces and the most famous mountains and rivers in each province of Korea. This is supplemented by reading the papers issued daily by the government. A person not perfectly familiar with the 400 names of the counties is considered very ignorant of this branch of learning. Asiatic geography is also learned by means of games.

Arithmetic is taught by the abacus, counting-sticks, and many peculiar ways, and the tables through the nines are thoroughly memorized. The abacus is used in business calculations, and counting-sticks are employed by the Koreans in all their higher mathematical calculations.

A book of many volumes of Ancient History of Korea and China is also studied. The rudiments of government and law are taught by means of a chart. This completes the education of the ordinary Korean boy.

HOME SCHOOLS (GUL-BANG).

Nearly every rich Korean supports a school in his own house. He invites to this school the sons of such of his friends as he deems worthy of his liberality and desirable associates for his sons. Only highly educated men are accepted as teachers, who take entire charge of the education of these boys, and also have a general supervision of their characters. They receive a liberal salary, board, and clothes. They are on the same social plane with the family, and the relations between them are of the most friendly character. Often a house is given them for their family, who also share in their generous treatment. The invited pupils, usually the sons of poorer men, receive the same attention as the sons of the family. The early studies are generally the same as those taken at the huk-bang, though much more thoroughly taught.

The branches considered necessary for a liberal education are studied under these men. They are Chinese and Korean classics, with the biography and writings of the most famous authors. Their lives are carefully read and their best works committed to memory. Then follows a book of Confucian doctrines about the size of the Bible, divided into seven books of about fifty volumes.

After this a Book of Ceremonies, which consists of many volumes, con