The attitude of the Chinese toward their women is paternal, but when the women become mothers and raise a family (especially if there are sons) their power and influence increase with the years, and the mother who lives in her son’s home is a person of great importance to her son and his wife, who must serve her. Her wishes are deferred to and she is granted willing service and obedience by all the household. [↑]
[2] In China the favorite lily is red. [↑]
[3] In China four names are given to a boy.
1st. The “mother name,” which is given the child by the mother when it is born.
2d. The “school name,” given when he begins school and which he keeps throughout his school days, his degree being given to him in this name.
3d. At sixteen, when he becomes legally of age, he takes a “given name,” which is a variation of his school name and is the name by which he is generally known throughout life.
4th. About the time his education is completed the young man selects a name by which he is known only to his most intimate friends. [↑]