The Imperial Rescript on Education in

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Japan*

T the early dawn of our new era, His Majesty the Emperor was pleased to proclaim the need of seeking knowledge in all quarters of the globe. In obedience to this proclamation the Government took necessary measures to improve social and political systems and institutions after the most enlightened models, and the work of education received the greatest share of attention. In the fifth year of Meiji (1872) a comprehensive law relating to the system of education was issued, which had chiefly in view the introduction and cultivation of modern sciences. The educational institutions of the European nations had been carefully investigated and the curricula of our elementary, middle and normal schools were formed so as to benefit by the valuable additions of those studies which had helped these nations to build up their civilization. Our education has had no connection with religion since olden times, and the new system is also entirely free from any sacerdotal influence. Secular morality has always been taught in the schools and forms the distinctive feature of our system.

As a result of foreign intercourse a phenomenal progress of new theories, ideas, manners and customs ensued. The radical advocates of the new régimé were for giving up everything native and for blindly following all things foreign, while their opponents obstinately clung to the old systems and turned a deaf ear to all suggestion of improvements. As regards the moral system of the nation, some would have it based on the principles of pure ethics, while others insisted on having Confucianism, Buddhism or Christianity for its standard. Conflicting doctrines and wild views filled the atmosphere, and the people at large were at a loss which to follow. In such

*This interesting paper was sent to us by the Bureau of Education in Washington, and is thought to be of sufficient importance to merit a place in this number of EDUCATION.-THE EDITOR.

circumstances the morality taught in the schools had no fixed basis. The Educational Department at one time attempted to base it on the wise sayings and deeds of the ancients, but soon found them inadequate. Thoughtful men regretted this state of things and tried in vain to find a remedy. It was in this state of uncertainty that the following historical event took place at the Court.

On the thirtieth of October, in the twenty-third year of Meiji (1890), His Majesty the Emperor summoned Count (now Marquis) Aritomo Yamagata, the then Prime Minister, and Mr. (now Viscount) Akimasa Yoshikawa, the then Minister of Education, and graciously delivered to them the Rescript on Education. The next day the Minister of Education caused a copy of it to be sent to every school in the empire with instructions to those who were engaged in the work of education, to bear constantly in mind the spirit of this Rescript in the discharge of their responsible duties. On ceremonial and other suitable occasions, they were instructed to read and expound it before the assembled pupils.

Thus the people at last received a guidance which became a light for them to follow amid the chaos of theories and opinions, and all the schools in the empire found in it a uniform basis of moral teaching.

Although several English versions of the Rescript exist, they have been found deficient for conveying the exact sense of the original, of which a complete literal version into any other language is indeed a matter of great difficulty. Toward the end of last year, the Educational Department, seeing the possibility of improving the translation, convoked a number of scholars to discuss the matter. The accompanying version is the result. The scholars thus assembled considered their work by no means perfect, as the difficulty of rendering into a foreign language all the shades of meaning found in the text is almost insurmountable; yet we feel confident that it is a great improvement on all previous versions. We now distribute copies for the benefit of those foreigners who may wish to know the principle of our moral education.

THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, JAPAN,

Know ye, Our subjects:—

June, 40th year of Meiji (1907).

Our Imperial Ancestors have founded Our Empire on a basis broad and everlasting and have deeply and firmly implanted virtue; Our subjects, ever united in loyalty and filial piety, have from generation to generation illustrated the beauty thereof. This is the glory of the fundamental character of Our Empire, and herein also lies the source of Our education. Ye, Our subjects, be filial to your parents, affectionate to your brothers and sisters; as husbands and wives be harmonious, as friends true; bear yourselves in modesty and moderation; extend your benevolence to all; pursue learning and cultivate arts, and thereby develop intellectual faculties and perfect moral powers; furthermore advance public good and promote common interest; always respect the Constitution and observe the laws; should emergency arise, offer yourselves courageously to the State; and thus guard and maintain the prosperity of Our Imperial Throne coeval with heaven and earth. So shall ye not only be Our good and faithful subjects, but render illustrious the best traditions of your forefathers.

The Way here set forth is indeed the teaching bequeathed by Our Imperial Ancestors to be observed alike by Their Descendants and subjects, infallible for all ages and true in all places. It is Our wish to lay to heart in all reverence, in common with you, Our subjects, that we may all thus attain to the same virtue.

The 30th day of the 10th month of the 23d year of Meiji.

(Imperial Sign Manual. Imperial Seal.)

Italian Education and Immigration

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MRS. ELLEN MAY, WILMINGTON, MASS.*

WISE man once said: "Investigate the condition of the schools, and you will get a good idea of the civilization of the people." But to-day Italy is slowly but surely rising (like the fabled Phoenix of old) from the dead ashes of a decadent past, and the time is not far distant when the illiteracy of the lower class shall no longer be a stigma upon her beauty. Prodigious results have already been achieved during the past thirty years along commercial and educational lines; schools and institutions in every branch of industry, art and science being now maintained at the expense of the government for the benefit of students from all walks in life-to equip them for whatever occupation they may choose to adopt.

Reliable statistics show that among the young men enrolled as military conscripts in 1860, at least eighty per cent were unable to read or write; while in 1905, the number of illiterate conscripts had fallen to thirty per cent. And again, in the former year, 1860, the number of couples unable to sign their names to their marriage certificates exceeded eighty per cent, but in 1905 the number had dropped to one third.

Thanks to the indefatigable efforts of Prof. Guido Baccelli classes for the study of agriculture have been instituted in the public schools; and his earnest appeal to the public brought him (with free and clear titles) more than five thousand small lots of land to be used by the students enrolled, for experimental farming; and these embryo farmers have taken hold of the work with so much enthusiasm as to produce most encouraging and satisfactory results, and showing an industry and aptitude very gratifying to those having this branch in charge.

They also show a commendable pride in the looks of the plots given them for practical experiments in gardening and agriculture.

*Twenty years resident in Naples, Italy.

While all too frequently the hordes of Italian immigrants landing upon these shores are looked upon with distrust and disfavor by Americans, the dire necessity that deprives his beloved country of its very blood and sinew is just as bitterly deplored by the educated and thoughtful Italian at home.

But since the accession to the throne of the present wise and progressive young king, Victor Emanuel, the condition of the peasantry has considerably improved; for realizing the privation and strenuousness of their lives, steps are being taken for the improvement of the condition of these tillers of the soil. In his address at the recent opening of Parliament in Rome, Professor Sonnini said: "In bettering the condition of the peasant, immigration will diminish; so let the people of the Southern states find in the government the organ of their redemption."

Regarding the annual exodus of the agricultural laborer from his loved fatherland, a writer in the New York Balletino says: "Italy is, of all the world, the largest exporter of manual labor, which, to the country receiving it, is a score of incalculable wealth-but to the fertile lands waiting to be cultivated by the rightful sons of the soil, is most disastrous. May the day soon come, when, instead of the great steamers leaving our ports crowded with immigrants, the Italian flag shall float over cargo boats only, bearing the rich products of our beloved country to every quarter of the globe."

But alas, as yet, the old proverb that "coming events cast their shadows before," seems likely to be verified in the tide of immigrants who will leave Southern Italy this year, in search of the bread denied them by their own country. Volcanic eruption still holds the stricken Calabrian villages in its remorseless grip, leaving destruction and dire poverty in its wake; while four months of incessant rain pouring down upon the orange and olive groves of the "Garden of the Sun," as prolific Sicily has been rightfully named, has destroyed the crops of an entire season, thereby bringing great financial loss to the farmers and consequent privation and distress to hundreds of families. In view, therefore, of these unfortunate circumstances the influx of immigrants will probably reach its highest