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While the fate of women in India was shaped by Manu's Code of Laws, in China it was decided by the orders of Confucius, the famous sage, born in the year 550 B. C. and in popular histories of his life praised in the lines:

"Confucius! Confucius! How great was Confucius! Before him there was no Confucius, Since him there has been no other. Confucius! Confucius! How great was Confucius!"

In the rules, which this savant gave to his followers, he demanded full subordination of woman to man; also, that the two sexes should have nothing in common and live separated in two different parts of the house. The husband must not mingle in the internal affairs of the home, while the wife must not concern herself in any outside matter. Also women should have no right to make decisions but in every-thing be guided by the orders of their husbands.

Women have likewise no proper position before the law and cannot be witnesses in any court. The father may