Rules for the Department of Young Ladies (Shōgaku Joreishiki zukai) c. late 19th century

Editor: This is "Rules for the Department of Young Ladies" by Adachi Ginkō. It has such a calm, formal quality. What’s your take on the two scenes depicted here? Curator: Well, I see a world meticulously constructed, a mirror reflecting societal expectations for young women in Meiji-era Japan. Imagine these girls, learning calligraphy or embroidery, their lives orchestrated like a carefully composed poem. Do you sense the weight of that expectation? Editor: I think I do, yes. A certain stillness permeates both scenes, perhaps born from constraint. Curator: Precisely. And yet, within that stillness, doesn't there exist a quiet strength, a resilience hinted at in their focused expressions? Editor: I hadn't thought of that—the work becomes less about rules and more about character. Thank you!