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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Nov 19, 1896

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 22, No. 46.

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KOREA

"AND those who have wisely taught shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and those who have turned many to righteousness, as the stars forever and ever." Dan. 12:3, Boothroyd.

KOREA.

KOREA is a kingdom occupying a peninsula in the eastern part of Asia. On the east is the Japan Sea, and on the west is the Yellow Sea. It is about four hundred miles long and one hundred and forty miles wide, and has a population of about twelve millions. It is called by the natives "Chosun," which means "Land of the Morning Calm."
The form of government is that of an absolute monarchy. The reigning monarch, named Li Hsi in Chinese, succeeded to the throne in 1864.
The people of Korea are tall, well formed, and strong, and in color are lighter than the Japanese.
The Korean girls are given names which they retain until they are married, names that mean "Blessing," "Amiability," "Fair," etc. When married they are known as the wife of such a man, or the mother of such a one.
The Korean language has an alphabet of fourteen consonants and eleven vowels. The Chinese is used in all official and literary writing. The Korean language and the way of writing it are hard to learn.
The Korean costume is made of silk, linen, cotton, and grass-cloth, and is long and loose in style. In color it is generally white, tho red, blue, and green are often seen. It is padded in winter.
Mrs. M. F. Scranton writes of the dress of the Korean boys and girls: "The boys, when dressed up, have on long pink or red coats and white loose trousers, fastened about the ankle with a band of a bright colored cloth or ribbon. They wear white wadded socks and wooden shoes. Their long black hair is parted in the middle and hangs in a braid down their backs, and is tied with a black ribbon. The girls generally wear red cotton skirts, with short jackets either green or yellow in color. Their hair is combed like the boys, only they wear a plum-colored ribbon instead of a black one."
The Koreans have but little religion and much superstition. They believe that they are surrounded by spirits who are powerful, and who can be propitiated by prayer and gifts. In private houses are found small wooden tablets on which are inscribed the names and titles of ancestors, and before these incense is burned.
Rev. G. H. Jones writes: "The religion of Korea is of a triple character. Ancestor worship, with the Confucian code, is the state religion; Buddhism has a large number of monastic communities patronized by the people when they have occasion; Spiritism, a form of Shamanism, is the religion of every home."
Korea made a treaty with the United States in 1883, which opened the country to foreigners. In 1884 Dr. R. S. Maclay, of the Methodist mission in Japan, visited Korea, and arranged for the establishment of a mission there. In 1885 missionaries of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and of the Presbyterian Church of the United States, arrived in the country and established missions, that have ever since been growing in influence and numbers. To them have since been added missionaries of the Church of England, of the Presbyterian Church of Canada and Australia, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and of the American Baptists.
Rev. G. H. Jones writes: "In Korea the Protestant mission work is carried on at forty different places. The storm of war and desolation has driven us ten years nearer our ultimate goal. The chief results have been the relief of Christianity from misconceptions of the people, the mastery of a hitherto unknown tongue, and the successful inauguration of a Christian foundation. Woman's work has been specially successful."
In Korea the Protestant missionaries number 82. Of these 35 are Presbyterians (31 from the United States and 4 from Australia); 26 are Methodists from the United States (24 of the Methodist Episcopal Church and 2 of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South); 12 are of the Church of England, from England; 5 are Baptists from the United States; 4 are independent.
In October, 1895, there were reported in the Protestant missions in Korea 42 congregations, 528 baptized members, 567 probationers, or inquirers who had given evidences of conversion and were applicants for baptism; 445 Sunday school scholars.
The Korea Mission, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was commenced in 1885. It now reports 9 male and 15 female missionaries, 122 members, and 288 probationers.—Gospel in All Lands.