John Lindsey
25th May 2000, 06:01
The following was taken from the book: Japanese Girls and Women by Alice Bacon (1891). I found this following section very interesting...how time have changed http://216.10.1.92/ubb/smile.gif
The dislike of anything suggestive of trade or barter of services and actions springing, not from duty and from the heart, but from the desire of gain has strongly tinted many little customs of the day, often misunderstood and misconstrued by foreigners. In old Japan, experience
and knowledge could not be bought and sold. Physicians did not charge for their services, but on the contrary would decline to name or even receive a compensation from those in their own clan. Patients, on their side, were too proud to accept services free, and would send to the physicians, not as pay exactly, but more as a gift or a token of gratitude, a sum of money which varied according to the means of the giver, as well as to the amount of service received. Daimio did not send to ask a teacher how much an
hour his time was worth, and then arrange the lessons accordingly. The teacher was not insulted by being expected to barter his knowledge for so much filthy lucre, but was merely asked whether his time and convenience would allow of his taking extra teaching. The request was made, not as a matter of give and take, but a favor to be granted. Due compensation.
however, would never fail to be made, of this the teacher could be sure, but no agreement was ever considered necessary.
With this feeling yet remaining in Japan,this dislike of contracts, and exact charges for professional services, we can imagine the inward disgust of the samurai at the business-like habits of the foreigners with whom he has to deal. On the other hand, his feelings are not appreciated
by the foreigner, and his actions clash with the European and American ideas of independence and self-respect. In Japan a present of money is more honorable than pay, whereas in America pay is much more honorable than a present.
The dislike of anything suggestive of trade or barter of services and actions springing, not from duty and from the heart, but from the desire of gain has strongly tinted many little customs of the day, often misunderstood and misconstrued by foreigners. In old Japan, experience
and knowledge could not be bought and sold. Physicians did not charge for their services, but on the contrary would decline to name or even receive a compensation from those in their own clan. Patients, on their side, were too proud to accept services free, and would send to the physicians, not as pay exactly, but more as a gift or a token of gratitude, a sum of money which varied according to the means of the giver, as well as to the amount of service received. Daimio did not send to ask a teacher how much an
hour his time was worth, and then arrange the lessons accordingly. The teacher was not insulted by being expected to barter his knowledge for so much filthy lucre, but was merely asked whether his time and convenience would allow of his taking extra teaching. The request was made, not as a matter of give and take, but a favor to be granted. Due compensation.
however, would never fail to be made, of this the teacher could be sure, but no agreement was ever considered necessary.
With this feeling yet remaining in Japan,this dislike of contracts, and exact charges for professional services, we can imagine the inward disgust of the samurai at the business-like habits of the foreigners with whom he has to deal. On the other hand, his feelings are not appreciated
by the foreigner, and his actions clash with the European and American ideas of independence and self-respect. In Japan a present of money is more honorable than pay, whereas in America pay is much more honorable than a present.