MORAL LIFE OF THE JAPANESE. 



345 



Concubines are rarely, if ever, employed by unmarried men— 

 at least among the Japanese ; I do not refer to the foreign element 

 — it being regarded as a grave breach of social laws. Where the 

 mekakes mostly find a place is in the home of a long-married or 

 childless couple. How does the wife tolerate the presence of the 

 concubine ? In the majority of cases, very well ; for but few Jap- 

 anese wives expect absolute loyalty on the part of their husbands. 



The Dai Butsu at Kamaktjra. This is the second largest figure of Buddha in Japan. It 

 was formerly inclosed in a temple, but the latter was destroyed hy an earthquake sev- 

 eral centuries ago. 



Although, as a rule, the husband remains true to his wife, he nev- 

 ertheless is not bound to do so by any legal or moral obligation. 



There have been several efforts made by reformers to discoun- 

 tenance the system of concubinage, and to make it illegal. But 

 it would be decidedly a case of " people in glass houses," should 

 the present Emperor of Japan enforce any such law, or allow it to 

 be enacted. For not only is the Emperor himself the child of a 

 mekake, but so is also the present heir apparent to the throne, 



