In the Sung dynasty a rigid code Jot ethics brought prostitution under control. It was said, "Womai chastity is more important than starvation." Later, the coming of the Mongol, Yuan dynasty brought Jo return of prostitution. Wives and Jdaughters of the defeated officials of the Sung were forced to enter the profession. Moral principles rigidly Jéet into operation under the Sung Jdynasty broke down. Following the Yuan, the Ming dynasty also allow-Jed prostitution to flourish, In the capital of, Nanking the banks of the river ca tial had houses for the prostitutes on both sides. It war said that the civil examinations held Nanking drew prostitutes to serve the needs of the men taking the Jexaminations; social culture permitted. this.
The open regulation of the problem in many cities in China to-day indicates the continued permission lof this social pattern. In Peiping 1919 there were about 400 re-Jgistered houses. In Shanghai to-day Jone may choose to which one will The Fight for Equality However, men still have the majority representation in a ley tive system which passes laws regarding family relationships. It was fan almost entirely men's group which drew up the new criminal code with the provisions regarding adultery.
The provision with regard ' to punishment in case of adultery first read as follows: "A wife who has a husband and commits adultery. shall be imprisoned for two years or under." Under this new law woman was still the party liable punishment. No punishment was to be made for the husband who committed a similar offence. In fact, for him it was not an offence, In the autumn of 1934 the criminal Jcode came before the legislative yuan for revision. At that time, [Chinese women became vocal and active in their agitation against the "unfair restriction upon women." They went from Shanghai to the capital in Nanking to present their appeals for equality. They sent petitions from their organizations. "They wrote articles for newspapers and" magazines. They eagerly de manded "a new morality for a new age."
In October of 1934 the articles came before the legislative yuan for feonsideration and action. Both sides the term. Ramsay MacDonald's socialism may have "mellowed," to use the cant phrase, but that has not disturbed his passionate belief in the right of humanity to find its full expression. And he has not hesitated to apply that practical idealism to the wider humanity [beyond the bounds of the Empire in }which he has played so honourable a part. presented their points of view. Those who held to the old" standards Jolleged that it would be an impossibility 4o put into prison every man who committed adultery. Tt would undesirable, they said, because it would leave the man's family with-jour a means of support. It would tend to Tead ¢o an increasing amount Jot divorce and family disorganization. Proof on the part of the state (Continued on page 450.)
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.