THE MIKADO'S EMPIRE. JBOOIi I. HISTORY OF JAPAN, From GGU B.C. to 1872 A.D. HOOK II. PERSONAL EXPERIENCES, OBSERVATIONS, AND STUDIES IN JAPAN, 1870-1874. BY WILLIAM ELLIOT GRIFFIS, A.M., I.ATK OF THE IMPERIAL UNIVERSITY OF TOKIO, JAPAN. FIFTH EDIT10X, WITH SUPPLEMENTARY CHAPTERS: JAPAN IN 1883, AND JAPAN IN 18St;. NEW rORK: HARPER & BROTHERS, FRAXKLIX SQUARE \ o Entered aceoniin_' to Act of fonpv-?, in tin.- year 1*7'. t-y HAIU'KU \ IMIMTIIERS, In the Oilici- of tin.' Liiji-aiian of < 'oinrre^.-, at Washin.ctoii. Copyright, IsSo, by HAHI-KI; X ]>ROTHK.US. TO JAPANESE LOVERS OK KNOWLEDGE IN EVERY AGE . THE DEAD, WHO FIRST KINDLED THE SACRED KIRK, WHO PASSED ON THE TORCH, THE MAHTVIIS, WHO SUFFERED DEATH FOR THEIR LOYALTY, PATRIOTISM, DEVOTION TO NATIONAL UNITY, RESTORATION, AND REGENERATION; THE STUDENTS, WHO, IN NOBLE THIRST FOR TRUTH, FOUND HONORED GRAVES IN ALIEN SOIL; THE LIVING, WITH WHOM RFSTS THE FUTURE OF THEIR BEAUTIFUL LAND, THIS SKETCH OF THEIR COUNTRY AND PEOPLE, MADE IN TIIK INTEREST OF TRUTH, AND SET DOWN WITHOUT EXTENUATION OR MALICE, IS, WITH FRATERNAL REGARD, DEDICATED RY THEIR COMRADE AND FRIEND. THE AUTHOR. PREFACE. JAPAX, once in the far-off Orient, is now our nearest Western neigh- bor. Her people walk our streets; her youth sit, peers and rivals oi our students, in the class-room; her art adorns our homes, and has opened to us a new (rate Beautiful. The wise men from the \Vest are, at this writing, opening their treasures of tea, silk, gold-lacquer, bronzes, and porcelain at the, tirst centennial of our nation's birth. \Ye hail the brightness of the rising of this first among Asiatic na- tions to enter modern life, to win and hold a place among the fore- most peoples of the earth. It is time that a writer treated Japan as M>meth'mg else than an Oriental puzzle, a nation of recluses, a land of fabulous wealth, of universal licentiousness or of Edeiiic purity, the fastness of a treacherous and tickle crew, a Paradise of guileless chil- dren, a Utopia of artists and poets. It is time to drop the license of exaggeration, and, with the light of common day, yet with sympathy and without prejudice, seek to know what Dai Xippon is and has been. It has been well said by a literary critic and reader of all the books on the subject that to write a good history of Japan is difficult, not so much from lack of materials, but from the differences in psychology. This I realize. My endeavor, during eight years' living contact with these people, has been, from their language, books, life, and customs, to determine their mental parallax, and find out how they think and feel. I have not made this book in libraries at home, but largely on the hoil of the mikado's empire. I have slight obligation to acknowledge to foreign writers, except, to those working scholars in Japan who have written during the last decade with knowledge of the language. To them I owe much ; first and most of all to Mr. Erne-t Satow, who, in the special department of historical research, stand-- leader. To Messrs. \V. Dixon, Aston. Mitford, Hepburn, Brown, Blakiston, Yon Brandt, and Parkes, I am also indebted. I am under many obligations PREFACE. to tin: editor f Tin- Jitjxm J////7. This scholarly paper, published in Yokohama, is a in^t valuable mirror of contemporaneous Japanese histon. and a ric'n M"iv-hou-e of facts, especially the papers of tin- Asiatic Society of .Japan. Tic ,/djnnt HtrulJ and The Jujxtn Gazette have al-o KM; n of LTivat service to me, for which I here thank the proprietors. The constant embarrassment in treating many subjects has been from wealth of material. I have been obliged to leave out -everal chapters on important subjects, and to treat others with mere pa inu' allusions. In the early summer of l^G^, two Hi^o student-. 1-6 and Nuina^a- wa. arrived in the United States. Thev were followed bv retainers of the daimiOs of Satsiima and Echi/en. and other feudal prince-. I was -urpri-ed and delighted to find these earnest youth equals of Ameri- can students in tjuod-breedinpf, courtesy, and mental acumen. Some of them remained under my instruction two year-, other- for a .-hort- t-r time. Ainoii^- my friends or pupil- in New Brunswick, New Jer- sey, are Mr. Vosliida Iviyonari, II. I. .). M. Minister I'leiiipotentiarv at NVa-hinu'ton ; Mr. Takairi Samro. II. I. J. M. Yi"e-con-ul at San Kran- I'is.-u; Mr. Tomita Tet-uno^uke. II. I. ,J. M. < 'on-ul at New York : Mr. Ilatakeyama Vosiiinari, President of the Imperial University of .Ja- pan : Captain Matsumura Junxo, of the Japane>e navy. Amoiiii oth- .!- were the two sons of Iwakura Tomomi, Junior Prime Minister of Japan; and two yoiiiii:' nob!e< of the Shimady.fi familv of Sat-iima. I a!-o met Prince Ad/mna, neph..\v of the mikado, and manv of the prominent men, ex-daimios, Tokim'awa retainer-, -oldier- in the war of 1 ^ti*. and repri'-etitative- of every department of > r r\ ice uinlei- the old -ho^iinate and new National < lovi-rnnieiit. Six white marble -hafts in the cemetery at New Jlrun-u i'-k, \r\v .Jer-ev, mark the iv-tin^-place of Ku-iikab('' Tai'o. of I'ukui, and hi< fellow-countrymen. \\ho. \ : . \'erbeck. to _;.. out to ov--,i!,i/i' a -ei.-ntilic -c'nool "ii the American prineiple in J-'-ikui. Iv-hi/'-n. and Li'ive instruction in r.-maiiied until Jii! v L'.")' h. 1 V 7 1. 1 >iii-in^ all m v iv-ideii'T t en jovei] tin- -o.-jctv of culti\ated M-holar-, arti>t-, pri'--l-, anti>jiiarii'S and student-, b 'th in the pro\ iii.-ial and nali-nal capita!-. l-'r-in the li\in_; - 1 liore letti r- of introduction to the pr-'iniiirnt m--n iti tin- Japanese (Juvi-rn- m'-iit. and tliu- were u r i Vi< ii t" ne- opp irtunitie- f.,r iv-t arch and ob-er- vatioii not often aiTord.-d to for.-i-j.-n- r-. Mv facilities for regular and PREFACE. 9 extended travel were limited only by my duties. Nothing Japanese was foreign to me, from palace to beggar's hut. I lived in Dai Nip- pon during four of the most pregnant years of the nation's history. Nearly one year was spent alone in a daimio's capital far in the in- terior, away from Western influence, when feudalism was in its full bloom, and the old life in vogue. In the national capital, in the time well called "the flowering of the nation," as one of the instructors in the Imperial University, having picked students from all parts of the empire, I was a witness of the marvelous development, reforms, dan- gers, pau'cants, and changes of the epochal years 1872, 1873, and 1874. \Yith pride I may say truly that 1 have felt the pulse and heart of New Japan. 1 have studied economy in the matter of Japanese names and titles, risking the charge of monotony for the sake of clearness. The schol- ar will, 1 trust, pardon me for apparent anachronisms and omissions. For lack of space or literary skill, 1 have had, in some cases, to con- dense with a brevity painful to a lover of fairness and candor. The title justities the emphasi> of one idea that pervades the book. lii the department of illustrations, I claim no originality, except in their selection. Manv are from photographs taken for me bv natives in Japan. Those of my artist -friend, O/awa, were nearly all made from life at my sun-o-ostion. I have borrowed manv tine sketches from nnfti'c look*, through Aime Humbert, whose marvelously beau- tiful and painstaking work, "Japon Illustre,'' is a mine of illustra- tion. Few artists have excelled in spirit and truth Mr. A. \Virgman, the arti>t of The London Illustrated AY/''.v, a painter of real uvnius, whose works in oil now adorn many home parlors of ex-residents in Japan, and whose gems, line gold, and dross til! the sprightly pages of Tlic Jiii/i/n Pnnclt. Manv of his sketches adorn Sir Rutherford Al- cock's book on the vicissitudes of diplomatists, commonly called "The Capital of the Tycoon," or "Three Years in Japan/' I am indebted both to this gentleman and to Mr. Laurence Oliphant, who wrote the charming volume, "Lord Elgin's Mission to China and Japan," for many illustrations, chieilv from native sketches. Through the liberal- ity of my publishers, I am permitted to use these from their stores u f plates. I believe 1 have in no ca>e reproduced old cuts without new or correct information that will assist the genera! reader or those who wish to study the various styles of the native artists. Jive of which are herein presented. Ilokusai, the Dickens, and Katio. the Audubon of Japanese art, are well represented. The photographs of the living 10 PREFACE. and of tlic renowned dead, from temples, statins, or oM picture-, tV"in tin- collection- of daimio- and nobles are chiefly by t'chida, a native photographer i-t' rare a!>ilitv, skill, and enthusiasm, who unfortunately died in 1^7"). Foai \ i^iicttes are copied from the steel-plate enufrav- iiii;-- on tin' LH'eenback- printed in New York for the CMio National r.ankin-' Companv of Tokio, bv the Continental Dank-note Company f Neu Ym-k. 1 '_;Ta'efuli\ a' k ni\\ leduv the assistance derived from native iichi, Takaka-hi, and Ideiira. mv reader- and helpers. To the member- of the Mei Roku Sha, who ha\e honurcd me with inembeiship in tlieir honorable body. 1 iv;:ini m\ be-t thank-. Tin- chib >f .-mthor- and reformer- inelude< -ueli men as Fukuzawa, Arinori Mori. Nakamura Ma-anawo, kato Hi- i-o\iiki, Ni-hi Shin, the Mit-uknri brothers. Shiuhei and Uin-!io. I'ehi- da Ma-a\\o. Ilatakeyaina Yo-hinari. and others, all name- of tame and honor, anil earne-t \\orker- in the reuviu-ratioii of their eonntr\. To m\ former student- now in New York, who have kindly a>si-t-d me in proof - reading', and la-t and first of all to Mr. Tosui Imadate, m\ friend and con-taut fompanion durinn 1 the last six year-, I retiirn mv thank- and obligations. 1 omit in this place the name- of hivji otli- eers in the .)apane-e ( io\ ernnient. becaii-e the re-poii-iiiilit \ for an v oj.inioii advanccil in ;hi- work rest- <>\\ no native of ,lapan. That is all mv own. To my -i-ter, the companion, diirin-j.' two \ ear-, of -c\ - nil of mv joiirin v- and vi-it> in the home- of the i-land empire. ! u\vo manv an idea and inspiration to research. 'Y the pul'li-her< of the X^rlh Aunr'inn, Ru'h"'\ . \ rl ,l. I;,,*' Jnnntnl. and TL< I .!,(,< -./,/./ my thank- are due f. ,r permi--ion to print part of certain cjiaptei- tir-t piibli-hed in the-e periodicals. I tru-t th'' tone of I he work will not -eeiii dogmatic, f -nbmit with itioij, -t;. what I have written on the Aim'*-. I am imTm.'d to believe that India i- their ori-'inal ho : that the ba-ic -tock <>!' the .lapaif-e ji.M.pli. i~ Aino ; and that in thi- fact "lie- the root of the marveloii- .lilf.-reiice in the p-\-cliolo^v of the ,lapane-e and tic ir r.,-iirlil'or>, . -e. "('aii a nati' n be born at once!'" "\\ith *iod all tiling- are po PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. A XEW issue of this work having been called for in a little over four months from the date of its publication, the author has endeav- ored to render the second edition more worthy than the first. This has been done by the addition of valuable matter in the appendix and foot-notes, and the recasting of a few pages, on which oviginal has been substituted for compiled matter. Critics have complained that in Book I. the line between the mvth- ical, or legendary, and the historic period has not been clearly drawn. A writer in Tlw Japan Mail of November ^5th, 1870, says: "After an introductory chapter on the physical features of the country, the author plunges into the dense mists of the historic and the prehistoric uu;es, where he completely loses his way for about a millennium and a half, until lie at length strikes into the true path, under the guidance of the Ai/to/t Guui .b'AiV Did the critic read Chapter III. } The author, before essaying the task, knew only too well the difficulties of the work before him. II' made no attempt to do the work of a Niebuhr for Japan. His object was not to give an infallible record of absolute facts, nor has he pre- tended to do so. He merely sketched in outline a picture of what thirty-three millions of Japanese believe to be their ancient history. lie relied on the intelligence of his readers, and even on that of tin- critics (who should not skip Chapter III.), to appreciate the value uf the narratives of the Kojiki and the Xt1ion//ii\\^ oldest extant bunk-. in the Japanese language, and on which all other accounts of the an- cient period are based. He was not even afraid that any sehnni-bov who had been graduated beyond his fairy tales would think the drag- on-born Jimnm a character of equal historic reality with that of Ca-sar or ( 'harlemagno. On the other hand, the author believes that history begin- bef"iv writing, and that he who would brand the whole of Japanese, tradi- in* i'iu-:i'.\< /: TO THE >/;' c.\7> i-:i>rn\. \\..\\ I'ef.'iv lip- -ixth eeMurv A. i). :i- "all luit vahn le-- " mii-t dem- "ii-trate, and ii"! meivlv allinn. The author preferred 1" introduce lin^ii ainl Vainati' Pake t<> < >ccidental readers, and let them take tlu-ii changes hefor {lie li-'hi of re-eaivh. \Yill thi- eeiitury see the -cholar and hi-torian eajial-le of ivr!in<_;- oil' the thread i 'f pure hi-lorv, clear and without fracture, from the cocoon of Japanese myth, legend, and laiiLTua^'e .' 'l';p author, even \\ith his profonud reverence for Anido- Japane-e -cholar-hip, h"pe- for, yet du!>t< it. In one point (lie author ha- lieeii misapprehended. He nowhere it- to explain whence eanie the dominant (Vainato) tri!>c i.r tri'' - to Japan, lie oelieves the Ja]iane.-e people are a Tiiixed race, a- m pa^-e Ml ; luit where the ori-'inal -eat- of that coiKjuerinij; p'-.'ple ina\ have lieeii on whom the li-ht ,if written, tindoiilited hi :\ dawn- in the -eventh eenturv, he ha- nt -tated. That the-c u ere in Mantcluiria i- jirohaMe, since their invtliolo^y i- in -omc point-; hut a traiisfi^iiratioii of Mantelui life. The writer left the .pic tioii an open one. lie i- ^-lad to add, \\ithoiit cnininent. the word- of the .]/"/'/ critic, \\lio i-, if he mi-take- not, one of the mo>t accoin- [ili-hed lin-'ui-t- in Japan, and the author of -tandard -'raiuniar- "1 tii-- writ!'. !i and -pok<->) lanu'uau' 1 ' of Japan : "A?- n-j'.iril- tin- ]M'-ition nf t!;- 1 Jai'inir.-i 1 l-.iii^iiM^' 1 , it L'ivr- no duliinii-. iv -I' Ml-c. .I;!'.-.!]!!--! 1 li;i- ;ill tin- -t met lll';il ;l!ul - \ lit ;n-t ii-.i] ] "< '11 !i;l!'i t !'- c.iniiiiuii t' tli<- Alat\:'!i ; I" fa! -A Hair uT'Hip; ami ih'- i vidcncc nl' tin,- iiiiy-inuMiuitfical tc-ts j'l'int- iinmi.-t-ikat'ly in thr -'inir iiri^in I'. M- tin- [n'liple. 'I'l-,.- -liurt, rniiinl -kull, il.'- oljliiiiiL 1 '-;. -. tlf pinniiiii'iit eh' -rk -In in.--, the dark tmiHii hair, and tiie cciinl i"..:rd, all pr.irlaini t!" M and Cmvans a- tin ir in-ari-l '--:;-' IIlr cour.-.- i if their lii-t<.-n arc ini-niii- ia\ ut In r c.'iu-lii-iiiii than that Cnrca i~ tlii- mate !> wliirh the iin- t.: : _r.i'!t tr'.'"- rn-i'li' th'-ir pn-:!^- 1 inln Kia-hii: iV.'iii tip ir ai:'-' -tral M.nitchu- rian - "ili' ' '.' the cliapti r mi the A-hika^a ]" ri-'d. u!ii h ha- 1-eeii complained "f. ai'"-'-. not fr..ni anv laek ( inateriai-. !'iit I'ecaiHe the writer thi- epoch de>erved a -pecial hi -t"i'ian. Another' I'ca-o'j tl.a! ' --i'.n-. iiital>!v, that ol an\ di tailed 1'et- iTi-ni-e ?o Japai il. i-, t! .' ' ii- xi'lunie i- ii"| an encyclopedia. Tin- anil - hi- hearts 'hank- to hi- Japatie-e friend-, and thi critic- -iulin\ ha- '-naM'-d him in anv wav '" improve v.otk. ' \v. i-:. <.. CONTENTS. BOOK I. HISTORY OF JAPAN FROM GOO B.C. TO 1872 A.D. CHAPTER PA<;K I. THE BACKGROUND 17 II. THE ABORIGINES rjtj III. MATERIALS OF HISTORY ',](> IV. JAPANESE MYTHOLOGY , 4o V. Tin; TWILIGHT OF FABLE 54 VI. ^P.IIN, THE ClVILIZEU CO VII. YAMATO-DAKE, THE CONQUEROR or THE KUANTO OS VIII. THE INTRODUCTION OF CONTINENTAL CIVILIZATION 7.1 IX. LIFE IN ANCIENT JAPAN w;_ X. THE ANCIENT RELIGION (Hi XL Tin; THRONE AND THE NOBLE FAMILIES 101 XII. THE BEGINNING OF MILITARY DOMINATION lir> XIII. YOKITOMO AND THE MlNAMOTO FAMILY 1:24 XIV. CREATION OF THE DUAL SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT 140 XV. THE GLORY AND THE FALL OF THE IIO.jo FAMILY 140 XVI. BUDDHISM IN JAPAN 15S XVII. THE INVASION OF THE MONGOL TARTARS 1T(i XVIII. THE TEMPORARY MIKADOATE 1x2 XIX. THE WAR OF THE CHRYSANTHEMUMS 1 s *? XX. THE ASIIIKAGA PERIOD , !'.:; I XXL LIFE IN THE MIDDLE AGES 107 XXII. THE GROWTH AND CUSTOMS OF FEUDALISM '.'14 ! XXIII. XOBUNAGA, THE PERSECUTOR OF THE BUDDHISTS .'.>'. I I XXIV. HIDEYOSIII'S ENTERPRISES. THE INVASION OF COREA .'.'ijiJ XXV. CHRISTIANITY AND FOREIGNERS '347 XXVI. IYEYASU, THE FOUNDER OF YE no '-'<'> I I XXVII. THE PERFECTION OF DUARCIIY AND FEUDALISM ,... '.'70 i XX VIII. THE RECENT REVOLUTIONS IN JAPAN '-'.'I BOOK TT. PERSONAL EXPERIENCES. OBSERVATIONS. AND STUDIES IN JAPAN, 1S70-1S7.-;. I. FIRST GLIMPSES or JAPAN ; !-7 II. A RIDE ON THE TOKAIDO : >3 ; -> ..HI-ITU ,, \,, r III. IN Ti'Ki'i. TIII: F. \-TF.HN ( 'APITAI ::i;:i IV. MI iii r.- AND So; MI- i\ \ PA t, AN Ti: Niri.i; ;;;s \". MI mi:- IN I HI: ( \ri i \i ;;'.i- \'I. AMONI, MII: MI.N MI Ni;\v JAPAN :;',i'. VII. IN i in: Hi: AKT OF JAPAN 4^;, VIII. Hi.. iriinN i--- rin: DAIMI<\ M v M i DEVI s -j-jt; IX. I.IFI: IN \ .1 \i-ANi>i: lloi >]-: .):;5 X. < illl nUKN'- (iAMK- AND Sl'DlJl- -).V3 XI. ll-ir-i:iiou> t'r-io.M- AND SI-J'EI;-TITK>N- 4r,t; XII. 'I'm: M VMIH AI. /<>i: I'KI)VI:I:I!- r)U4 XV. Tin: LAST VKAI; OF FKIDALI-.M r.1'2 XVI. A TKAMl' T H KOI 1,11 .1 AI'AN .VI 1 X\II. Tin: I'o-ITlON OF \Vo.MAN .Vtl XVIII. .\i:\\ JAPAN.., :,.;' >Uri'I.KMKNTAHY ClIAl'TF.U: I. JAPAN IN 1 ^i II. JAPAN IN ISMJ NOTES AND APPENDICES: Tin: JAPANK-E OKI'-IN OF TIIF, NORTH AMEKICAN INDIANS i'>n."> A-^' H IATED IDKA- IN AKT AND POF.TKV in7 Tin: TF.--T AM FNT < >Y I YI:V A -r rs OF JAPAN F< n: 1>7'J AND l^T'J (Jl'J MINI:- AND MINF.UAI. KL.-OUKCIIS fil-t " J.vND AND A'.KK '"i.Trui: I'il7 MINT AND I'rr.i.ic WOKKS til'.' SII.K CHOP OF i^rri f,->(i \Vi:i.,ilT.- AND MEASritES 'i'JI MoNKY <''^ Nor vT!"N (>! TIM K ( '<'- >: > FOI;I:II,N TP.ADF. OF JAPAN tl-ii LI:I,I Ni.Ain AKT AT THE CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION 'rJ7 Ti: \ (_'KI .p OF l^To 0:;i Tin: CKUAMK AUT OF JAPVN 'i-!l DK. J. C. lii.pm'KN'ri METEOKOI.OI,ICAL TAHI.I:S. FIMM OH.-EUV \TIONS MA UK FIIOM !>;:] TO 1 S 'J'.', iNri.i~.-ivL t;:U INDEX Los LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. Map of Dai Nippon (the Empire of Japan) faces page 17 1. Xichiren and the II "jo Fxecutioncr. (llumliert, from a temple painting) Frontispiece. 2. High and Fow Type of Face. (Ilokusai school) 30 3. All Aim". Chief from Ye/o. (Photograph by JVhida) 32 4. lli> Imperial -Majesty, Mutsuhito. (Photograph l.y Uchida) 37 ,">. Pa-saue in the Inland Sea. (Alcock) 57 !. Mikado's Method of Travel in very Ancient Times. (Native drawing) 02 7. Imperial or f iovernment Seal. (Native draw ing) CO x. Imperial Crest, or Mikado's Seal, votive drawing) . The Mikado on his Throne. (Native drawing) 102 I''.. A Samurai in Winter Traveling-dress. (Alcock) KM! 17. A .Iapane.se Fanner. (Hokusai) 107 ix. View in Hi- Inland Sea. (Alcock) 118 I'.i. View near Hioiro. (Alcock) 120 2". Tamctimio defying the Taint Men. (Hank-note vignette) 121 21. The .Mountains and Luke or' llakone. (Alcock) 12!> 22. War-junk of the Twelfth (,';:ntury. (l>ank-note vignette) Utfi 'ii. Kojima writing on the Cherry-tree. (Hank-note vignette) 153 24. Nitta Yoshisada casting the Sword into the Sea. (Hank-note vignette) l- r >") 2.\ Kobe. Hai^hi. (Photograph from a temple statue) l' 1 '- 2tl. The Mother's Memorial. (Naukoku O/awa) 167 27. iielfry of a Hnddhist Temi-le. (Alcoek, from a phototrraph) 171 2. lie-pulse of tiie Mongol Tartars. (Native painter) 17'> '1\'- Ashikaira Takauji. (Photograph from a temple statue) 1S5 30. Temple-hell from Kioto, (llnnil.eit) 2IK) 31. ChaMiiL;- Floral Designs on Copper. (Humbert) 21):; 32. Picnic H.M.th. (Mumliert) 2U", 33. Court I.adv in Kioto. (Humbert) 2o9 34. kusuniiki Ma^atsnra. (Native drawing) 220 3.1. The Challenge. (Mokusai) 223 : T <>1* II- 1< ' ">' /'/.'. i T II. i- l'"ur Cla-M-- of >,H-:,-ty. (Naiikoku O/aa^ 1 iri-l.iok.mt- in \Y.li>. i Native .Irauinc. Kro.a.l.-" Myle) M.itMMaira 'i c".ltma-,'a, lA-l'aiinio of Krhi/i-n. (i'huto-ra|'h) Ki-iki. i he l.i-t M-.Viiii of .'a;.. in. (,1'hotoL'rai'h) I'lt-h-cart in Yokohama. \ll"Kii;ii; or " I'nli-man Cur" of.lai.an. ^'hoto-ni'l -rik Yon:)- i.irl i-arryiiin lit-r Uil-y Hn.iher. (AU-oek) ................................... ;c>4 ( 'ixilie waiting tor a lull. (Ai.-ork) .................................................. :!.-,5 rnii]*TS I [MI i], in- a \':it. (,1'u I'M ct il"ku>ai) ......................................... ;i:.7 l'ri)--:-'._ tin- IN'kuu'"' Kivcr. (llnkusii 1 .............................................. :\i\i) Nit^uki. c.r hi'f> lint ton. (Oli]iliuiit) ................................................ ;ir.5 r.iitcni lH-M_'iu-r. (llnkur-iii 1 ....................... _ .............................. lit;-, Niln'M T.a-lii " in 'lokio. Tin- Ko-iat-u. (NaiiUnku ( i/.ma .......................... UiIT \ !,-\i ,,' 1 u ii, !Y"in SuniL'a I'ai. (llnliici-d " linnaik- " I'lciinT ........................ :;~i Artist at \Sork. (Hnkusii) ......................................................... ;I71) r,:_'...!a >i in. or Kiu-'lo. ( llrocadi- " iiii-tuivi ...................................... ;(M A I I'.MIT I air at Ni_'ht in lokio. (Na;ikuku O/aw a ................................ ;!>.'. Sakiii-;i'la AM-IMU- ami Kasuiniya Stn-i-t. (" l;ro>a'li- " jiii-tuiv) ........................ ;-,;t."> 'l'iMVi-li-r-> in a Snow-storm. 1 uji ban. (Nativi- ili'.iwin^) ............................. 4'l4 r.ii'i'liii^t I'll^nins. (AlriK-k) ....................................................... 407 Tin- Saini-cn. (( iliplianti ........................................................... 41 H . 1 '.rin. 'in- Wat IT to a^h TnucluV 1-i-i-t. Jlokn>ai) .................................. 41ii A N.'iiniono. lAU.R-k ............................................................. 117 \'i!!. !-_',. in Ki-liixi-n. '\ati\v drawiiiL'! ............................................ t.'l . 1 ;n-->iniilc ct ' Kin^,a-n. K^ur ot ' isi'.'.i .............................................. \^r, (in tlu- T..w-],atli. dlnkusii ...................................................... 1-J'l A I.itt-c Daiinio. (riioto-ra|,li l.y t'rlu.la) ........................................... 4'.". Servant l-!on- hi- \Ia>t r. ( Alrork) ................................................ l;tu . Stiuk-nt l.iiniin- Miilni-ht Oil. ( l'iioto_-ni]>h) ....................................... 4:1-2 . Tin- Stticliini^ (at<--ki-i-].<-r. , .Natiu- ilra in.'i ....................................... 4Hti . Tin- Wi-.l.litiu' 1'iirty. - Al.-o.-k, Iroin nativi- paint in_- .................................. 4:is . Hoys i.layin.' on I'.amlH.n liars (Hnkusai; ........................................... 411 . Tli'c driji "' Victory, vllokn-ai) ..................................................... 11-2 . 1'innH in a I!nr U.-o.-k) ................................................. Ifi . Ni.'lit S,-,.],,. on tin- Ilivi-r 1 laN. .Hokif-ai 1 ......................................... 4 17 . 1-atlnT ami CliiMn-n. ( lliuni'crt ; ................................................... l.'.u . Ciiil.lp-n'-i (iainc^ am! >;iort-. (.Hnnil-cr: ......................................... 4.'.:1 . liovx 1 (,anicv (llnnilu-rt 1 ......................................................... 4.1i . I5(iyv' Ciuni-i. (Ili-.nili-rt ........................................................ 4.VJ .. Tin- l'.-a~t of U..1N. (Nankoku O/awa- .............................................. i'U . Cliil.ln n'- --i-ort-. MluintuTf ................................................. 4i'4 . 'I'll.- Ji-uloiis Avt-u.'Cr. (Nankoku O/jiwai ........................................... -175 . i he llain I 'ra_on. , Kan. ' ......................................................... 4711 . 1 ut.-n. tin- \Viml-iiup. (Native drawing ......................................... 4-'i . K.I l.-n. tin- Thiiiiilt-r-'lruniiniT. > Native ilrawintr .................................. 4-4 . Te;:_-:i ninj on a I'i.-liir. (!lokllliiiiin 1 m --. (AK-ork 1 ............................................ "-^ I. TI,.. sii-ta (Hokn-ai) ............................................................ W . The Cain.- of Pakin. or - P..1.-." (AU-o( k, fp.ni nath- ilrawinir! ...................... ">:' oiK.-.lik.-^. or - Snak.--l.a-ki ;-." (Al. o,k,) .......................................... :.:!! Mv Mou- I'lik- a ].! .'.41 .V.4 '.'''I 50'j BOOK I. HISTORY OF JAPAX FROM 600 B.C. TO 1872 A.D. THE OlITITOCPiAPIIY AND PKOXUXCIATIOX OF JAPANESE \\'<>KI)S. * IT i- mrp"--iMi' to represent .Tapanc-i- words exactly l>y any finvlirn alpha- bet : !'iit a knowledge nl' tin; .-omul:- In anl in Japan. and 1>\ II-MIL: h-i ter- \\ Inch have each niie in\ ariaMc value, will enaide a tnivin'inT In repn 'dun 1 Japane-e name- :'.h t'>lerai>ie aeriii'aev. When tin- liativt- alltlmr- and ^Taliimarian- d>> HIM a_Tiv. aii-nlute unanimity aiimii:;' t'Mvi^ii -elml;;r- i~ n^l t<> i" 1 rxpi-ctt-d ; 1'iit palpal'li- ai'-nrdilii 1 -, iini" i>-i!dr ciiiiiliiiiatiiPii' nl' li-tti-iv. and ini-laki-- ari^ini: 1 mil nl pun' iu'iH'rantT nl' tin- lanu'tiau'f mav In 1 avn'uli'd. 'I'll'- ~\ -ti'in ^i\ -n lu-lnw, and ll-rd tlirniii;'iiniit tlii- work. i-. al lra-i. ratinnal. and i> ba--d mi lln- -trndurc and la\\~ '1 rninbinatinn iii Ihc lan^ua^'' it-. -IT. Tlii- -y-triii i- >iilist:uitial!\ (tin 1 dil'- - aiming \<> -i-rurc invati-r .-ii!ii>lirit\ i thai ni' Hr]'!iiii-ii'~ .lapuni -' ]-".ni:T;-h and Kn^li-li-.Jai'a!ii--r, and ul' rjatuw'.- I-!ii^!i-h-.Iai>:un--f ilirtinliary ; tin IJuniaii- i/i-d VtTr-i ...... I tlif Scriptures, iMiMMinl !.\ thr Ann-rii-an liii.l.' Sn, jr;y : nf th,- Aiiu-riraii ( 'yclnpa'dia ;" the n-vir-ud I'llitimi-. nl' Wm-fr-tcrV, an! Wt-h-tcr's, dii- lii inary ; ii: limwn'.-, A>tmiV, Satow'^, HrincklryV. aixl Ili']'!'urn'- u'ranunar and \vi>rk> nil I!H- .lapaiii'.-f lanu'iiai;'c : Mmit rith'-, Mitclii-lt's, ( '"nit 11'.-, AVarivn's, and llai'pi-i''- I Aliu-rii-ui i, and tin' SiudriitV i l-'.n^li-li i u'i- i-'i'aiiliy and at!a-; Mill'nrdV ' Tai - nfl )ld Japan ;" Adani-'- " Ili-tnry nlMajuin :" tin- nllidal tlofii- uiriii- n!' th" Japan- - (in\ rrninrnt, Drpartni'-nt nl' Kdih-at inn, -i-linid.-, and cul- IfH'r- ; llir l'>riti-li and Ann I'icall 1.- ^atinll- and ('u||-lll:tti> : tin Alnrln-J:i|':ir.i-r ]'!!--. and a!inii-t ail r-i'lmlni-- mid \vriU'i> whn maki' accuracy a mat tiT ol' t-nn- C'M'II. Tin' -tandard lan-iia^v i imt the local diali-d i nf Tnkin n,i\\ Hi" !:t.T;iry a- wdl a- tin- politit-al ( apital nl' tin- nation U takm a- thu ha-i-, and tin \v,.rd- an- tln-n trails-lit rrat"d I'mni tin' lcnt,i;i,n,n ^\-\\\\\^. a- ^iwn \ in.r ; n ha- I ,ulc. or '.'. in hunt ; >< ha- ;ln- xioini ul'< ill I'uii'. MJ. - :'.'' \ '!-.''.. i. n "'<; i- -, iiind'd a- >>'<'' : i"a.-//",- /. nr <', a- in j>i'< >j ; 1'ilt - , .v;.y- hard, and -u ril, 11- in >'.>'/'. in ;;>.;,>" : ' '/. ^ r-oiianV: /, ;.nd the di^i'apli- /'- and ?** ./W\K*X;X% '- ..<] . r rwk v ..i- : i ^xv^,/\ ,.^ v ! 2 '/ ^"^/^\ > ^f^^^ ^ K- x .*S L _^' SS-. -* _V>~ --^v -<>^;c ^r- ^_./ ; / \-'.'""W", t * ;% , v^ THE MIKADO'S EMPIRE. i. THE BACKGROUND. IT is manifest that to understand a people and their national life, the physical conditions under which they live must he known. To enjoy the picture, we must study the background. I'ai Nippon, as the natives call their beautiful land, occupies a sig- nificant portion on the globe. Lying in the Pacific Ocean, in the temperate zone, it bends like a crescent off the continent of Asia. In the extreme north, at the island of Sakhalin, the distance from the main-land of Asia is so slight that the straits may be crossed eas- ily in a canoe. From Kiushiu, with the island of Tsushima lying be- tween, the distance from Corea is but one day's sail in a junk. Foi 4000 miles eastward from the main island stretches the Pacific, shored in by the continent of America. From Vezo to Kamtchatka, the Ku- riles stretch like the ruins of a causeway, prolonged by the Aleutian Islands, to Alaska. The configuration of the land is that resulting from the combined effects of volcanic action and the incessant mo- tion of the corroding waves. The area of the empire is nearly e<|iial to that of our Middle and New England States. Of the 150.0(10 square miles of surface, two-thirds consist of mountain land. The island of Saghalin (Ceded to Russia in May, 1875) is one mountain chain; that of Ye^o one mountain mass. On the main island,* a solid backbone of mountainous elevations runs continuously fri>m * Dai Nippon, or Nihon, means Great Japan, and is the name of th> entire em- pire, not of the main island. The foreign writers on Japan have aliuo-t unani- mously blundered in eallintr the largest island ' Niphon." Hondo i< the name iriven to the main island in the Military Geography of Japan < Ileiy.i Nippon Chiri Yoshi, Tokio, 187:3) published by the War Department, and which is used in this work throughout. is Ilikiioku to Shinano. \\hcnce it branches oil into subordinate chains that arc prolonged irregularly to Na^ato and into Kitishiu and Shiko- kii. Speak itr_r L,'enerally, the heights of the mountains gradually in- crea-e from ihc e\tivmitie- t" tin- centre. In Sakhalin, tlu-v arc low; in Ye/o. th<-\ arc higher: increasing- gradually on the north of the main i-!and, thev cuhninate in the centre in the lofty rank's of Shi- naiio. and the peaks of Nantai/.an, V-itsiiLTadakr, Ilaku/.an (nine thou- sand t'c'-t liiu'i'). and Fuji, whose summit is over twelve thoii-and feet ab"\<- tlie sea. Thence toward the smith thev ^raduallv decrease in height. '['here are few hi<_ r h nioiintains alon^ the sea-coast. The land slopes up gradually into hills, thence into lesser peaks, and tinal- 1\ into 1, .ft v ranges. A- Fuji, with his tall satellites, s\ve< ps up from the land, so Japan it-elf ri-es up. peak-like, from the sea. From the shore- the land piutiiiv- abruptly down into deep water. Japan is but an emerged rest "f a submarine mountain perhaps the ednv of hard rock left bv the subiiK-rirenee of the earth-cru-t which now tloors the Sea of Japan and the (Julf of Tartary. There seems little reason to doubt that Sakhalin, ^ e/.o, Hondo, and Kiu-hiu \\cre in ^eolou;ie a^cs united ing one island. Surrounded on all sides by swift and the island- ovcrvwlicrt 1 on the sea-borders exhibit the etb-.'t of their action. At mo-t points the continual detritus is such a- to -rrioiislv encroach on the land area, and the belief holds amoii-- certain native sja-coast dwellers, streiiirtheiH'd by the tradi- tional tale- of pa-t ravages, that in process of tune the entire countrv, devoured !i\ -ucce-s ive LTna\\inu r - of the ocean, will linallv sink into it- in>atiablc mau . Th-- L r ' '"logical formations of the country the natural foundations :(]' rp'1 : ; - yet iicciiratelv dftermiiH'd. KnoUirli, liowevcr, is known to L;"I\I- ii- a taii - outline of fact, uhich iutui'e research and a thorough sur\e\ inn-t till up.* < >f the soil, more is known. * I',..,-..:, i; in :i paper n- :l ,l hrfori 1 tl:<- (Jcnln^if:!] Society of Merlin, J'HM 4th. \"~.- ' /.(- tin' ^i-olniry of Jajian : The ur-t and e:i.~t ]>r- tiull (if thr ll_'-. r r: _',i''' ' n',\ (.1 Ihe ,l;l]i;ill'--'- i-l;Hld~ i- ill CViTV \\11V the direct cnll- tiliUUl'pill "1 the ili'illiil III uhicll OCClIpie. tip- .-M|i;h-e;l-teni ].'ir:iiill nf ( 'hiiiii. the uxhil ch tends IY"!ii 1 he fn 111 lid- f . \imum t" the i-l.uid , fChr.-iiii. ill tin 1 ilii r \\ :, S.. ]'.. :i() N. It i- necompunied ,,n eillier I-', !'- !'V n nuiiil'ef el' ]M!' .;:>: !:,:'. .-. T)..- j . r> i ! i ' n ::, i ! i . > ; i of thi.- trroiip of linear ..--. - thr'HiL'h the i -:.,:! .,1 K i 'i-h ill to the ^reat Lend uf J:ip;ui MiniL'si .t.d >!..' mm 'I Ill-mi i_ r h Kiu-hia an.i \}-,<- -en; hen. part of tin 1 main i- land, the -t , ' .: /!' the hiilr and the ruc'ka >1 \\hieh they ;,ru made Up i ch ielly til urial! THE JJACKGliOL^'D. 19 Even in a natural state, without artificial fertilization, most of the tillable land produces good crops of grain or vegetables. On myriads and Devonian strata, accompanied by granite) and the lines of strike are the Kline as tho^e observed in South-eastern t'hiinu This system is intersected at either end by another, which runs S.S.NV., N.X.E. On the west it commences in Kiushiu, and extends southward in the direction of the Liu Kin Islands, while on the east it constitutes the northern branch of the main island, and, with a slight deviation in its course, continues through the islands of Ye/o and Saghalin. A third system, which properly does not belong to Japan, is indicated by the S.W. and N.F,. line of the Kuriles. The above outline throws light on the distribution of volcanoes. The first system,' where it occupies the breadth of the country for itself alone, is as free from volcanoes, or any accumulation of volcanic rocks, as it is in South-eastern China. The second system is accompanied by volcanoes. But the greatest ac- cumulation of volcanic rocks, as well as of the extinct volcanoes, is found in the places of interference, or those regions where the lines of the two systems cross each other, and, besides, in that region where the third system branches off from the second. To the same three, regions the volcanoes which have been active iu historic times have been eonlined. In the ideological structure of Kiushiu, the longer axis is from N. to S.,but in- tersected by several i-olid bars made up of very ancient rocks, and following the strike of W. :-i(PS., I-'.. :!0 X. They form high mountain barriers, the most cen- tral of which, south of tin' provinces of Iligo and Bungo, rises to over seven thousand feet, and in extremely wild and rugged. In Satsuma, the various fam- ilies of volcanic rocks have arrived at the surface in exactly the same order of succession as in the ease of Hungary, Mexico, and many other volcanic regions, viz., first, propylite, or trachytie greenstone; second, andcsite; third, trachyte and rhyolite ; fourth, the basaltic rocks. The third group was not visited by him. Thomas Antisell, M.U., and Professor Benjamin J. Lyman, M.E., and Hen- ry S. Munroe, M.E., American geologists in Ye/o, have also elucidated this inter- esting problem. From the first I quote. The mountain systems of Ye/o and farther north are similar to those in the northern part of the main island. There are in Ye/o two distinct systems of mountains. One, coming down directly from the north, is a continuation of the, chain in Karafto (Sakhalin), which, after pass- ing down south along the west shore of Yczo, is found in Kihuoku, I'u'o, I'/cn, and farther south. The second enters Ye/o from the Kuriles islands and Kaint- chatka, running X. 0-:*."i E. and S. :20-:35 W., and crossing in places the first svs- tem. It is from the existence and crossing of these chains that Ye/o derives its triangular form. The two systems possess very different mineral contents for their axes. The first has an essentially granitic and feldspathie axis, produced, perhaps, by shrinkage, and is slow of decomposition of its mineral-- forming the soils. The second has an axis, plutonic or volcanic, yielding basalt-, traps, and diorites, decomposing readily, producing deep and rich soils. Hence the dillerent kinds of vegetation on the two chains. Where the two chains cross, also, there is found a form of country closed up in the north and ea-t h\ hills, the valleys opening to the south and west. This volcanic chain is r-econdary in the main ir-laml of. Japan; but in Yc/o and in Kiushiu it attain* great prominence. Professor Benjamin S. Lyman, an American urologist, has also made valuable surveys and explorations in Ye/o, the results of which are u'hvn in the " Keports of Horace Capron and his Foreign Assistants,' 1 Tokio, Ib^.j. 20 lilt: MlKAUu'S EXPIRE. of rice-lields. which have vielded richly for .ILTOS. the fertility is easily maintained by irrigation and the ordinary application of manure, the na- tives beinif proficient in doth these branche.s of practical husbandry. The rivers <>n such narrow islands, where steep mountains and sharply excavated valley- predominate 1 , are of necessitv inainlv useless for navigation. Ordinarily they are little mure than brooks that llow la/ilv in narrow and shallow channels to the sea. After a >torm, in rainv weather, or in winter, they become swollen torrents, often miles wide. -weeping iv-i-tles-lv over larire tracts of land which they keep perpetually de-olate wildernesses of >tom s and gravel, \\hcrc fruitful tichi- ouirht to be. The area of land kept permanently wa-te in .la- pan on this account is enormous. The traveler. who tn-dav cro--es a clear brook on a plank, mav to-morrow In- terrified at a ri-ariiiL,' flood of muddv water in \vhich neither man. beast, nor boat can live a mo- ment. There are. however, some larire plain-, and in tho-e \\e rnu-t look to tind the navigable river-. In the mountains of Miinaiio and Kod/uke are found the sources of most of the stream- useful f. and Kchi^K, are a few rivi-r> on which <>ne mav travel in boats hundreds of mile-. One mav !_T" bv water from Tokio to Niiirata bv makinir a few portage*, and from O/aka \ the end \' Lake Hiwa bv iiatural \\ater. In the north- ern part of Hondo arc -everal 1"H^ river-, notably the Khatami and Sakata. In Ye/.o is the I.-hikari. In Shikoku are -everal fine -tivams, which are lar-^e f'-r the si/e of the i-land-. Kiu-hiii ha- but one or two of any importance. Ahno-t everv one of the-e river- abouncU in ti>h. atTordiiiu r . \\ifli the surrounding ocean, an inexhaustible and ea-ily attainable ->:p]>ly "f f""d of the be-t (jiiality. I lefoi-e their hi-tory bcifan. the ab. li^inal i-lamlers made tin- lirain-nouri.-hinc; f } ihi-ir chii-f diet, ;mii through the recorded centuries to the (jUJck-witted Jap- aue-c pr_feo!o'_nc a^e- volt-anii 1 action mu-t have bci-n evtremelv vio- lent, a- in hi-torii- time it ha- be. n almo-t continual. IlundreiU. at lea-t. of mountain^. ni\v -jtii'-t. were mice bla/iriLT furnace-;. The ever- ifreenerv that d' k- them fo-.|av n mind- 'ne of the i\y that mantles the rnin-, or the []. ,\\ .-r- that o\ , r^row the ne^li-,-tecl camion on the bat- ','e-field. Kvell uithill tile Il|el)|,,r\ of ll|e|| ] ; o \\ 1 i V i 11 If have the t!lo-t a v. ful and di-adlv exhibition- ,,f voli-anic d'-"lation been \vitin--etl. Th. annal- of Japan are replete with the record- of the-e llaiii'-ari'l- la\a-\ oinitiii" mountains, ami the mo-t harruwinpr tales of human life THE BACKGROUND. 21 destroyed and human industry overwhelmed are truthfully portrayed by the pencil of the artist and the pen of the historian in the native literature. Even now the Japanese count over twenty active and hun- dreds of dormant volcanoes. As late as 1874, the volcano of Taromai, in Ve/.o, whose crater had long since congealed, leaving only a few pulling solfataras, exploded, blowing its rocky cap far up into the air, and sc;:.tterinn' a rain of ashes as far as the sea-shore, many miles dis- tant. Even tin; nearly perfect cone of Shiribeshi, in Ye/o, is but one of many of nature's colossal ruins. Asama yama, never quiet, puffs off continual jets of steam, and at this moment of writing is groan- ing and quaking, to the terror of the people around it. Even the superb Fuji, that sits in lordlv repose and looks down over the lesser peaks in thirteen provinces, owes its matchless form to volcanic ac- tion, beinii' clothed bv a garment "f la\a on a throne of granite. Ila- kuzan, on the west coast, which uprears its form above the clouds, nine thousand feet from the sea-level, and holds a lakelet of purest water in its bosom, once in tire and smoke belched out rocks and ul- cered its crater jaws with floods of white and black lava. Not a few of these smoking furnaces by day are burning lamps by night to the mariner. .Besides the masses and fields of scoria one cvervwliere meets, other evidences of the tierce unrest of the past are noticed. Beds of sulphur abound. Satsuma, Liu Kin, and Ye/o are noted for the larii'e amount they easilv produce. From the sides of Haku/an huge crystals of sulphur are dug. Solfataras exist in active operation in maiiv places. Sulphur-springs mav be found in almost even prov- ince. Hot-springs abound, manv of them highly impregnated with mineral salts, and famous for their geyser-like rhythm of ebh and flow. In Shinano and Ediiu'o the people cook their food, and the farmer may work in his fields by night, lighted by the inflammable gas which isMies from the ground, and is led through bamboo tubes. ('onnected with volcanic are the seismic phenomena. The records of Japan from the earliest time make frequent mention of these devas- tating and terrifying visitations of subterranean disorder. Not only have villages, towns, and cities been shaken down or ingulfed, hut in manv neighborhoods tradition tells of mountains that ha\e disap- peared utterly, or been leveled to earth. The local hi-torie>. so nu- merous in Japan, relate many such instances, and muiicrnu- gullies and depressions produced bv the opening and partial closure ol the earth-lips arc pointed out. One, in the province of Echizen, is over a mile long, and resembles a great trench. In :i.Miti"M t" a u r "'"l -"'-I- Japan ha- \-<-n ^.!icnii>ly endowed dy tin- Creator vv'nh iiiiii'-ral riehe-. M"-t of tin- u-eful \arietie- uf -tone are found t hro;;--!]. >ut the empire, 'iranite ami the harder roek-. through varioii- decree- >f -oftne-s, down to the ea-ilv ear\ed or ehipped -and-toiie- and -eeoiidarv formation- u-eful for t'crtitii-ati-ms huildiii'j--. ("in!'-, walk-, or wall-, c\i-t in alnio-t every pro\innn <>f iiia^iieti.' oxiiU-. It oi-curs in the dilu- vium of rivi-is and aion u r the st-ji-coast, !yinu r in I'ed-. of'trii ..f ^q-eat thi'-kne . The tirM ijualitv of in-n may In- extraeted from it. Ir.,n- stone and man\ other \arietie-> of ore are al>o f.nnid. retroleum i>^iie^ fr-'in the ground in Hehi^o, Suniifa, Kelnxen. "\ f iieei.min^ to the empire proper what foiv>1-elarwa\ i- to l-!n_dand. Vamato. on ih. fid. i- al-o fanioii- for il- fo|'e-t>. ran^iiiL'' M'"m talli -t e\ e JTI-I t re'-- of ^ri'al -i/e, tin em--- of ^i-ain. and -! ren^t h of HI .re. to the vi. ft a; i ea- \ whittled pine-; hut the ince -ant dunand- for tii'- in_ r and e.arp'-ntr\ make .h-\ a-t at i !)_; inroad- on the -'r"wiii'j; timlier. Split vvoi.d . . :;!id ehareoal f^r warmih. iiere--itate the -vs- tein . .f fo;- .t i _ n -,.._-:> in -ome part- of t lie empire re. jnirinu' a tl'i-e to lie , I for e\ el'V o]|e r'llt do\V|i: alld ll!|!'-e]-ie- uf V.il]n'_ f foi'e-t tl'ee- al'e I , lit. though the ''ll-tolll i- Hot UIli\el'>al, M"- ot the tree- and manv ',f the p|;in;- are e\ . r^f'en. thu- k'-epm^ THE BACKGROUND. 23 The various varieties of 1>aml>oo, graceful in appearance, and l>v its strength, symmetry, ho] low ness, and regularity of cleavage, adapted to an almost endless variety of uses, are almost omnipresent, from the scrub undergrowth in Ye/o to that cultivated in luxuriant groves in Satsuma so as to be almost colossal in proportion. There is, how- ever, as compared with our own country, a deficiency of fruit-trees and edible vegetables. The first use of most of the bread grains and plants is historic. In very ancient times it is nearly certain that the soil produced very little that, could be used for food, except roots, nuts, and berries. This is shown both by tradition and history, and also by the fact that the names of vegetables in Japan are mostly foreign. The geographical position of the Japanese chain would lead us to expect a flora American, Asiatic, and semi-tropical in its character. The rapid variations of temperature, heavy and continuous rains, suc- ceeded by scorching heats and the glare of an almost tropical sun, are accompanied and tempered by strong and constant winds. Hence we find semi-tropical vegetable forms in dose contact with Northern tem- perate types, in general the predominant nature of the Japan flora- is shrubby rather than herbaceous/'' The geographical position of Japan hardly explains the marked re- semblance of its flora to that of Atlantic America, f on the one hand, and that of the Himalaya region, on the other. Such, however, is the * In tlu- "Enumeratio Plantarum," which treats of nil the known cxo^-ens and conifers in Japan, KJ'.H) species arc enumerated, distributed in 04:! genera, which arc collocated in 1:" orders. In other words, an imperfect botanical survey of the Nippon chain of islands shows that in it arc represented nearly hull' the nat- ural orders, ten per cent, of the u'enera, and nearly three per cent, of the species of dicotyledons known to exist on the surface of the u'lobe. Future, research must larin-ly increase the number of species. t Very lar^e and splendidly illustrated works on botany exist in the Japanese lanuunu'c. The native botanists classify according to the Linnivan system. In their Kiiumeratio Plantarum" (Paris, 1ST4). Drs. A. Franchet and L. Savatier have Driven a //' im/e of all the known dicotyledonous plants in Japan. It is a work of li'reat research and conscientious accuracy. I have seen excellent and volumi- nous native works, richly illustrated, on ichthyology, eoneholoiry, zoology, vtl - tomoloiry, reptilolon-y, and mineralogy. Some of these works are in ninety vol- umes each. Ten thousand dollars were spent by a wealthy scholar in Mino in the publication of one of them. They would not satisfy the requirements of the exact science of this decade, but they constitute an invaluable thesaurus to the botanical investigator. I am indebted for most of the informaiion conecrniiur the Japanese flora to a paper in the Jiipnu. JA/iV of September :.'."; ;h, 1ST5, from the pen of a competent reviewer of Dr. Savatier' s areat work, L'4 Till-: MIKADO' .S i:Ul'lRE. fact : tin- Japanese flora resembles that of Eastern North America nioiv than that of \Ne-tern North America ur Europe.'* The fauna f the i-laixl is a verv meagre one, ami it is also onite prohable that the larger dome-tic animals have been imported. Of \\ild hea-t-. ihe hear, deer, \volf, badger, fox, and nionkev, and the sma!l'T Around animals, are. most probably indigenous. So far as .studied, however, t ho types approach those of tlie remote American ratlp r than those of the near Asiatic continent. Il is mo-t probable, and nearly certain, that prehistoric Japan did not pos-ess the co\v, hor-e, sheep, or v;oat. Kven in modern Japan, the po\i-rtv of the fauna >trikes the traveler with surprise. The birds are mostly those of prev. Katies and hawks are abundant. The rrows. \\ith none to molest their ancient multitudinous rei-jn, are now. as always in the pa-t, innumerable. The twittering of a noticeably small iiumlier of the smaller birds is occasionally heard; hut bird-soii<; seems t<> have heeii omitted from the catalogue of natural glories of this i-land empire. Two hirds. tlie stork and heron, now, as ancient- ly, tread the tidds in statelv beauty, or strike admiration in the he- holder a< they sail in perfect j^raee in mid-air. The wild ducks and jjfee>e in tloeks have, from time immemorial, summered in Ye/o and wintered in Hondo. The d"me>tic fowls eonsi-t alnio.-t eiitirelv of ducks and diickeiis. The othi-r~ have, doiil'llc", hei-n imported. Of sea-birds there are le- !_ r ions on the uninhahited eoa^t-. and from the ro-'ks the fishermen leather harvests of e^^s. Surrounding their land is the irreat reservoir of food, the ocean. i. The seas of Japan arc probably unexcelled in the world for the mul- titude ;md \arietV of the ehoic'e-t -pecies of edilile tisll.. The lliallV bays and Bull's indenting the Maud- have been for a^es the happy huntinLT-urounds of tlie ti-herman. The rivers are well -locked \\ith * Tin' r. -n't- f Dr. A-a dray'- invc-tiir:iti'>n> "f tin' ln'rl-iiriiitn brought to the Uniti'il Si ;' - . ':. I'I-ITV cxjuHlitinii ;in- siiinrnt-d ii]i as folhuv.s : I- ; o-i '. !.,;'! :: rr-p' iiidlnj K!irn)ic:iii rr;-r,'MMit itivi-". ';', ' " \\'i -:!:!] Nnv;!i AnuTii :m roprecpntntives, Cl " " " K.s'""i; N 'fth AnnTi'.in rfprehcutativea; while i7 i IT cpi'.t. \ri'"<.' i U-iitii'a! \v':!, Iv; r ''iic;iti -[.( :-, I'd ' " \\"i--rr-; N' i ; !, A'D'-ri'Mii Hix'ripw, "!)]. fliviv'.- repel-' war- (Iri'.wii up in l~-.".s^ \\h-n Jupanr-e t-ntany wos liitlc kii"\vi.. aii'l coti-iili.'raM 1 .' iiH<-r:itiuu Tniirlit In- niado in liis figures; but there tan be little duiibt that the general re.-'uit wuuiil be t!ie --aine." THE BACKGROUND. 25 manv varieties of fresh-water tish. In Yezo the finest salmon exist in inexhaustible supply, while almost everv species of edible shell-fish, mollusra and Crustacea, enlivens the shores of the islands, or fertilizes the soil with its catacombs. So abundant is tish that fish-manure is an article of standard manufacture, sale, and use. The variety and luxuriance of edihlc sea-weed arc remarkable. The aspects of nature in Japan, as in most volcanic countries, com- prise a variety of savage hideonsness, appalling dcstructiveness, and almost heavenlv beauty. From the mountains burst volcanic erup- tions; from the land come tremblings; from the ocean rises the tidal wave; over it blows the cvdone. Floods of rain in summer and autumn give rise to inundations and land-slides. I hiring three months of the year the inevitable, dreaded typhoon may be expected, as the invisible au'ent of hideous ruin. Along the coast the winds and currents arc very variable. Sunken and emerging rocks line the short'. All these make the dark side of nature to cloud the imagina- tion of man, and to create the nightmare of superstition, lint Nat- ure's u-lorv out-hinos her temporarv gloom, and in presence of her cheering smiles the past terrors are soon forgotten. The pomp of vegetation, the splendor of the landscape, and the heavenly gentleness of air and climate come to soothe and make vivacious the spirits of man. The seasons come and go with well -nigh perfect regularity; the climate at times readies the perfection of that in a temperate zone not too siiltrv in summer, nor raw in winter. A majority of the inhabitants rarelv see ice over an inch thick, or snow more than twen- tv-four hours old. The average lowest point in cold weather is prob- ably ~l(y Fahrenheit.* "1 he surrounding ocean and the variable winds temper the climate in simimer; the Kuro Shiwo, the (.inlf Stream of the Pacific, modifies the cold of winter. A sky such as over arches over the Mediterra- nean bends above Japan, the ocean walls her in, and ever green and fer- tile land is hers. A\ ith healthful air, fertile soil, temperate climate, a land of mountains and valleys, with a coast -line indented \\ith hays and harbors, food in plentv, a cotintrv resplendent with natural beau- ty, but liable at any moment to awful desolation and hideous ruin, what influences had Xature in forming the physique and character of the people who inhabit Japan ? THE JI1KA1W3 J-:. Ml 'IRE. II THE A 1\ -eckitiLT tho origin of the Japanese people, we must take into consideration the ideographical po-ition <>f their i-land chain, with ref- erence to its proximitv to the main-land, and i;- Htuation in the ocean currents. Japanese tradition- and history may have much to tell us mi!' ,-rninjf the present people of Japan whether tin v are exclusively an indigenous race, or the composite of -everal ethnic stocks. From a -tudv. however imperfect, of the lanu'ua^'e, physiognomy, and liodilv eliaracteri-tics, survivals of ancient culture, hi-loric ^eolo^y, and the relies of man'- struck 1 with nature in the earlv a^e-. and of the act- ual varietie- of mankind now included within the mikado's domin- ions, f we mav learn much of the ancestors of tin present .Iapane-e. The horn- of the ere.-cent -shaped chain of 1 >ai Nippon approach the A-iatic continent at the southern end of (',>rea and at SiKeria. Nearlv the whole of Sakhalin is within easy ivach of the continent l.y canoe. At tin- point called \orato, a little north of the tifty-ec- ond parallel, the opposite shore. !>ut live miles di-tant, i- ea-ily >eeii. The water i- here so -hallow that junk- can not cross it at low tide. At't'-r IOIILT prevalent f.uoi'al'le winds the ground is left dry, and the *[:- n almri^iiirs " fur tlir -ake of convv-nii'iict 1 , bi-inir I'y no means nl'.-'>lu;-'; - . ' th"-f I MI ili'-iiriuiti 1 were tin 1 !ir-t ].i'n|.|i- //- situ. It lias l.i-i-n i-,. [ii] h, lil |.\ -cine native srliolar- tint tlnTi was in .lai>;ui a prc- Aiim ';'.;:,/.' : ; tliuuuli "f thi- tlnTc i- scarci-lv a r-hailow nf jirunf. ;i- then- i- |irinif fin t Malay i-i\! :atinn higher 1 lian tin' juT-i'iit (.nnditinn nl' the Mal:i\- l'c. i 'I tlirali the ]>'.-i >],>!< r.pinnl ni; thr .-nil a! the clau !, .rf hi-1 t In cuiiii . 1 have U-''il, in aiMil';.>!i t" in\ nwn mat'-fia: :iinl th-it dcrhi-d f'-i-ni . . -tuil.-n!-. aii'l n^ideut- in Yrzo, the rarrful iml.-s ni' the Kii'.'li ' ' ['tail;- I'.n.l'j < f. ml am i lilaki.-1iin.an;! M r. Ki'iv-t S.it'iw, ami t he iv] ' : 1 1:1 f I In 1 Ai'i'T'l'-ali engineer.- ;ilnl L r i'"lo- J - in Hi,- ser\ie, "I th' K.ii 'I':,K:"l Shi I > ! . rl n i< in l'..r thr Develnriin-nt of \ \W\\\\\ !-''/.'''> tie- ]| I !'!||ll'-li! ,,l'.T:i;i;ll). ( )f the-!' lat t. > I. u 11 an, I ( :,r> > MuDi'iu 1 . and Tljuinu? , M.I). THE ABORIGINES. 27 natives can walk dry-shod into Asia. During three or four months in tin; year it is fro/en over, so that, with dog-teams or on foot, com- munication is often a matter of a single hour. In Japanese atlases, on the map of Karafto, a sand-liank covered l>y very shallow -water is figured as occupying the space between the island and the conti- nent. A people even without canoes might make this place a ^ate of entrance into Saghalin. The people thus entering Japan from the north would have the attraction of richer supplies of food and more genial climate to tempt them southward. As matter of fact, com- munication is continually taking place between the Asiatic main-land and Saghalin. Japan occupies a striking position in the ocean currents which ilow up from the Indian Ocean and the Malay peninsula. That branch of the great equatorial current of the Pacific, called the Kuro Shiwo, or Black Stream, on account of its color, flows up in a westerlv direction past Luzon, Formosa, and the Liu Kin Islands, striking the >oiilh point of Kiushin, and sometimes, in summer, sending a branch up the Sea of Japan. \Yith great velocity it scours the east coast of Kiushin, the south of Shikoku ; thence, with diminished rapidity, enveloping both the group of islands south of the ]>ay of Yedo and Oshima : and, at a point a little north of the latitude of Tokid, it leaves the coast of Ja- pan, and Hows north-east toward the shores of America. With tin- variable winds, cyclones, and sudden and violent storms continually arising, for which the coasts of Eastern Asia are notorious, it is easily seen that the drifting northward from the Malay Archipelago of boats and men. and sowing of the shores of Kiushiu, Shikoku, and the west- ern shores of Hondo with people from the south and west, mii-t have been a regular and continuous process. This i.s shown to be the fact in Japanese historv, in both ancient and modern times, and is taking place nearly every year of the present century. It seems most probable that the savages descended from the north, tempted >oiith by richer iisheries and a warmer climate, or m^vd nly after centuries of ti^htiiii;' \\eiv they thoroughly -ubdued and trainmili/ed. The traveler to-dav in the northern part of tin main i-land mav sec the barrow- of the Ainu-' bone- -Iain by Japaiie-e armies more than a millennium a^'o. < >m- of the-e mounds, ir-ar Morioka. in llikuchiu. very lar^e. aiid named "\ >/.<> mori " (Aino mound), i- e-peciallv famous, containing' the bone- of the aborigines -!au'_ditcivd, lieaps upon heap-, bv the .lapaiie-e -ho^iin (general). Ta- mura, who \\a- noted for hein-j; -i\ teet hi'_rh. and for hi- maiiv bloody \ ii-t' >ries over the Kbi-U. l-'or centuries more, the distinction between coiniiieror- and coii- (jiiered. a- between Sa\on and \orman in Kujjand. \\ a- kejit up: but at length the fusion of races wa- complete, and the hoiao^vneu.- Jap- an.'-,- people i- the re-ult. The remnants of Ainu- in Ye/o. -hut otf by the -traits of Tsiiu'aru from Hondo, ha\e pre-er\ed the aboriginal bi I in p i The traditional origin of the Ainu-, -aid to lie ^iveii by them- -cl\e-, th"U-j;h I -ll-peet tile story to be all invention of the con.|Uer- oi-s, or of the .lajiaiie-e. i- a- follo\\-: A certain princ". named K'amui. in one of the kingdom- in A-i.-i. had three daughter-. < >nc of them ha 1 , inn' become the nbj.-i-t of ;he ince-tilou- pa--ion ( .f her father, by \^!ii.-h her bodv became covered \\ith hair, (jiiit hi- palace in the middle of the ni-'ht. and tied to the s, a-sln>iv. Thej-e -he found ;t di--ei'te(| canoe, on lioard uhi'-h \\as on!\- a lar^'e d"--. Th<- \oun_r u'iri r'--oluii-l\ embarked \\ith In-r onlv cuinpanion to |ourin-\' to -..me place in th- 1-la-t. After many month- of tra\-l. tin- youni:' prin.-e-s n-arhi-d an uninhabited p!a>-e in th>- mountain-, and tln-iv <_r;\\-i- birth to t\\o chi: ll'en. a bo\ and a ^irl. Tip--.- \\ el'e the an.-c--1..r- of the Ainu race. 'I : - ir " tV -pi-inu in turn married, -..nn- amoii^ ea'-h other, other- uirh th'- bear- of th'- mountain-. Tin- fruit- of thi- latter un- ion Ken- m. ii ..f i \traordinar\ valor, and nimbje hunter-, uh". after a lon_r lit'.- -p> n vicinity of their birl li. departed t" tin- far north, where they -till !i\,- on the hiu'h and inacce->ible ta:.' 1 --iand- abo\i- t!:e mountain- : an-1. b. in-- immortal, lin-v dir.-.-t. 1>\ tin ir mau r - i.-a' iiolin-ii'-e-. th.- action- and the d>--tiii\ of men. that i-. the Aino-. Th'- '- rm " Ainu " i- a r.imparalivi 1\ mod-rn ' pit In t. ajipii'-.i by the THE ABOPJGLXES. -2Q Japanese. Its derivation, as given by several eminent native scholars whom I have consulted, is from inn, a dog. Others assert that it is an abbreviation of at no k<>, "offspring of the middle;' 1 that is, a breed between man and beast. Or, if the Japanese were believers in a theorv called of late years the " Darwinian," an idea by no means unknown in their speculations, the Ainos would constitute the "miss- ing link," or "intermediate" between man and the brutes. In the ancient Japanese literature, and until probably the twelfth century, the Ainos were called Ebisu, or savages. The proofs from language of the Aino ancestry of the Japanese are von* strong. So far as studied, the Aino tongue and the Altai dia- lects are said to be very similar. The Aino and Japanese languages differ no more than certain Chinese dialects do from each other. Ainos and Japanese ha\c little dillii-ulty in learning to speak the lan- guage of each other. The most ancient specimens of the Japanese tongue are found to show as great a iikeuesss to the Aino as to mod- ern Japanese. Further proofs of the uvneral habitation of Hondo by the Ainos appear in the geographical names which linger upon the mountain* and rivers. These names, musical in sound, and possessing, iu their significance, a rude grandeur, have embalmed the life of a past race, as the -wect names of "Juniata" and " Altamaha," or the sonorous onomatopes of " Niagara," " Katahdin," and " Tuscai'ora " echo the ancient glories of the well-nigh extinct aborigines of America, who in- deed may be brethren of the Ainos. These names abounding in the north, especial! v in the provinces north of the thirty-eighth parallel, are rare in the south, and in most cases have lost their exact ancient pronunciation by being for cetiturio spoken by Japanese tongues. The evidences of an aboriginal race arc still to be found in the rel- ics of the Stone ALTC in Japan. Flint, arrow and spear heads, ham- mers, chisels, --crapers, kitchen refuse, and various other trophies, arc frequently excavated, or may be found in the museum or in homo of pmale persons. Though covered with the soil for centuries, thev seem as though freshly brought from an Aino hut in Yezo. In scores of striking instances, the very peculiar ideas, customs, and super.-; :i i' >ns. Amid>t many variations, two distinctly marked type- of fralures are found amotiLT the Japanese people. Amon^ the upper classes, the tine, loTiif, oval face, with prominent, well-chiseled features, deep-sunk- en eye-sorkets, oblique eyes, IOJILT, drooping eyelids, elevated and arch- ed e\'el>r>u fun-head. Pnni'lcd no-e. luul-liki' IlliHltll, [minted chin, siu.-tll hand- and feel, contrast strikiiijflv \vitti the round, flattened face. ie>s ol.ii.jiie eyes aluio-t le\ el \\itli the face, and straight ii"-c-, expanded aii'l upturned at the ro.'t-. The former type pre\ails aiii"!!^ the higher clae: the nobility ami gentry : the latter, aiinm^ the au r ricultural and lal"irini: dae>. The one i~ the Ainu, ur nurth- ci'ii t\jie; the utluT, the southern, or \aiuato tvpo. In the aecoin- Kat-r Aristocratic nncl rU-bc-i.-ii). ;i,nd |paiiviii'i cut tl'i- ditfeivnce i- fairlv -h"\\n in the stroiiirly cinitrastiiiij: tvjics nf the .lapaiic-e lad\' and II.T servant, or child'- ninve. The ni"d>T!i Aiiu'K are f.iiind inhaliitiiiL' the i>la?nls nt \ f/.n, ^a^halin. the Kiiri'c-. and a few >f the >'iiti\inu r inland-. 'I !n \ nuinln-r |.-ss tliaii tuent\ tli. 'ii-aiid in all. A- the \ino .if ti'-'lav i- and lives, so .lapaiie-e art and traditi.iiis dt ]>]' hiiii in tin- dawn <.f lii-t.irv: of ]\\ stature, thick -set. full- l'eard'-d, '',-'. hail' of a true Mack, eves -et at nearlv ri^ht angles v, it!) tic- 1 1 . \> i:i.-li j~ >horl and thick, and c'hip|iMl at the did. inu cular in fr;ini' n . uith !'i_ r hand- and fe.-t. Hi- lan^'iia^e. i'e- li_ r i.'ii. div--. and L r < ni ral luaniier .>f life arc the same a- "t old. lie iia- ii'i alpha!"';. \\i\ \\!-itin'_ r . !i" !iuinli<-r- alu.vr a th. 'ii-.'ind. II:- ri.-e, t.iliacco. and | '!["-. c.itt.'ii ^anin-nt". and \\ . -i--!iip of Yo~.hit.-uiH' 1 . are .if course lat.-r inii"\ ati"ii .teji- in the -call ..f civilixati"ii. Sine,, ihi- Iie-t"rati"U of 1-0^. a nninl'i-r of Alno- of l...th r-exo> have lieen !iv- THE ABORIGINES. :U inu' in Tokio, under infraction of the Kai Takii Shi (Department for the Colonization of Ve/o). 1 have hail frequent opportunities of study- ing their phvsieal characteristics, language, and manners. Their dwellings in Ye/o are made of poles covered over with thiek straw mats, with thatched roofs, the windows and doors being holes covered with the same material. The earth beaten down hard forms tiie floor, on which a few coarse mattings or rough hoards are laid. Many of the lmts are divided into two apartments, separated bv a mud and wattle partition. The tire-place, with its pot-hooks, occupies the centre. There being no chimney, the interior walls become thick- Iv varnished with creosote, densclv packed with flakes of carbon, or festooned with masses of soot. Tliev are adorned with the imple- ments of the chase, and the >kulls of animals taken in hunting. Scared v anv furniture e\ce[)t cooking-pots is visible. The empyreu- matical odor and the stench of tish do not conspire to make the visit to an Ainu hut verv pleasant. Rai-ed benches alonu- t\yo walls of the hut afford a sleeping or loiinu'iiiLi 1 place, doubtless tlu: original of the tokonoma of the modern Japanese houses Tliev sit, like the Japanese, on their heels. Their food is niainlv ti.-h and -ea-weed, with rice, beans, sweet-potatoes, mil- let, and barlev, which, in Southern Ye/.o, thev cultivate in small plots. They obtain rice, tobacco, sake, or rice-beer, an exhilarating beverage which they crave as the Indians do " tire-water," and cotton clothing from their masters, the Japanese. The women weave a coarse, strong, and durable cloth, ornamented in various colors, and ropes from the barks of trees. Thev make excellent dug-out canoes from elm-trees. Their dress consists of an under, and an upper garment having ti^ht sleeves and reaching to the knees, very much like that of the Japanese. The woman's dress is longer, and the sleeves wider. They wear, also, straw leiiv'uin's and straw shoes. Their hair, which is astonishin^v thick, is clipped short in front, and falls in masses down the back and sides to the shoulders. It is of a true black, whereas the hair of the Japanese, \\lien freed from unguents, is of a dark or reddish bn>\\n. and 1 have seen distinctly red hair amonu' the latter. The bean! and mustaches of the Ainos are allowed to attain their fullest develop- ment, the former often reaching the length of twelve or fourteen inch- es. Hence, Ainos take kindlv to the " hairv foreigners," Kn^Ii-hmen and Americans, whose bearded faces the normal Japanese despise, \\ hile to a Japanese child, as I found out in Fukui. a man \\ith nni-tache> ap- pears to be only a dragon without win^- or tail. Some, not all, of the older men. 1'iit very few of tip- youn^r. have their Kodies and liml>s covered uitli thiek 1-iaek hair, al>out an ineli loii'_r. The term " hairv Kurile-," applied 1" tlicin as a I'liaraeti-ristii' liairv race, i- a nivthiral e \piv--i i 'ii ot' 1"" ik-niakors. as the e xee>-ivelv hir-utc eov erin^r -upp"-ed to l>e universal ainon^ tin 1 Ainos i- not to he found l>v the inve-ti- pitor on the ground. Their skin is in-own, their eves arc horizontal, and their n<>-e- lo\\. with the lolx-S \Vell rounded out. The women are of proportionate 1 -tature, to the men. hut, unlike them, are verv u^h. I ne\er met \\ it h a hand-' >nie A mo fe- male, tlioiiLi'li I ha\e Men main of the ^ e/i > \\ < mien. 'I'Jieir mouth- -rein like i ho-e of o'jfiv<. and to -treteh from ear t car. T!ii- ari-e- from the faet that they tattoo a An Aim"' i hicf from Vc/.o. (From a phot.ii_'r:ii.h \vid.- lialld of dil'tv Mile, like i.ik.-n in Tr.kin, 1-7-J.) L . , ' . ,, . t lie Woad ot tile allelelit I >I'lt- on-. ai'ound their lip-, to the extent of three-quarter- of an ineh, and -till longer at thr tapering rxtreinities. The tattooing i- -o eoiii- plefel\ done, that many per-mi- mi-take it for a daul> of l>lnr paint, like the artificial oxaiLT*'ratioii of a eireu- e]o\\n'- mouth. The\ in- lTea-e their l;ideoU-lle. 1>V joillill^ their eVeliroU- dVel 1 the llo-e |.\- a fiv-li hand of tattooing. Thi- praetier i- re-orted to in the ra-r of inarrii'd \\omen and female- \\lio are of a^v. ju-t a- that of Llaekeii- iiiLr ill'' teeth and -having the eyehrow- i- amoirj; the .l.-qiane-e. Tlh \ are -aid t l>r faithful \\i\e- and latiorioii- helpmate-, their moral |Ualilie- . iinpeii-atin^ for their laek of phv-ieal eliarm-. The \voiiieii a--i-i iii hunt in Lf and ti-hmi:'. o| ten po-^i --in^ equal -kill \\ ith the 11,1 n. '1 h' \ '-arr\ their hal'ie- pi'-kapa-'k. a- the ,)apaiie-e nioth- i'is ewpt that the -traji pa--inu r under the child i- put round the nii'ther'- forehead. l'"!\_ r am\- i- prrniitted. Their \\eapon- are of tip- vide-t f'.rm. T!i thivr-piMn'jyd -pear is usi-il f . ,r the -a!ni''ii. The -in--l,- - 1. laded l;uicr i- f.-r the !n-ar, tli.-ir nio-i ti-rrilili' eii'-m\', \\hi'-h the\ regard \\ith -uper-tiiiou- re\-erenee. 'Iheir I'.AV- are >implv jieelcd houjfh-, three feet lon^. The arrows CUE ABORIGINES. 33 are one foot shorter, and, like those used hy the tribes on the coast of Siberia and in Formosa, have no feather on the shaft. Their pipes are of the same form as those so common in Japan and China; and one obtained from an Ainu came from Santan, a place in Amurland. The Amos possess dogs, which they use in hunting, understand the use of charcoal and candles, make excellent baskets and wicker-work of maav kinds; and some of their tine bark- cloth and ornamented weapons for their chiefs show a skill and taste that compare verv fa- vorably with those exhibited by the Xorth American Indians. Their oars, having handles fixed crosswise, or sculls made in two pieces, are ilmost exactly like those of the Japanese. Their river-canoes arc dug out of a log, nsuallv elm. Two men will fashion one in five davs. For the sea-coast, they use a frame of wood, lacing on the sides with bark fibre. They are skillful canoe-men, usine,- either pole or paddle. The language of the Ainu is rude and poor, but much like the Jap- anese. It resembles it, so closely, allowing for the fact that it is utter- ly unpolished and undeveloped, that it seems hi^hlv probable it is the original of the present Japanese tongue. Tliev ha\e no written char- acter, no writing of anv sort, no literature. A further stndv mav pos- sibly reveal valuable traditions held among them, which at present they are not known bv me to have. In character and morals, the Ainos are stupid, good-natured, brave, honest, faithful, peaceful, and gentle. The American and English trav- elers in Yexo au'ree in ascribing to them these qualities. Their meth- od of salutation is to raise the hands, with the palms upward, and ticks of wood two or three feet lii;i. vvhich thev whittle all around toward the end into shaving-, until the -month wand contains a ma-< of pendent curl-, as seen in the cn^nn inn". pau' 1 ' '>-. Thev insert several of ihe-e in the !_Totmd at certain place-, which they hold sacred. The Ainns also deifv mountains, the sea. which furnishes their daily food, hears, the foiv-N, and other natural object-, whieh they l)elieve to p,>--e-s intel- ligence. These wand> with the curled .-having- are set up in every place of supposed danger or evil omen. The traveler in Ye/o sees them on precipices j;oi-"vs of mountains, dangerous pa e-. and river- banks. AYhcii deseewlinti the rapid- of a ri\er in Ye/o, he will notice that hi- Aino boatmen from time to time will throw one of these wands into the river at everv dangerous point or turning'. The Aino- pray raising their hand- above their head-. The Iluddhi-t bon/e- have in vain att'-mpted to convert them to Huddhi-in. They have rude xm^s, which, the\ chant to their kami. or u'od-, and to the deitied -ea, fd'e-t, mountain-, and liears, especially at the close of the limiting and 1i-h- inj; -ca-oti, in all all'air- of ^reat importance, and at the end of the year. The following i- ;_:''. \eti a- a -pc-cimen ; "To the -ea wll'lcll nourishes U-, \ the jol'e-t that pl'Mtect- I!-. UC pri'-ent our grateful thanks. Y,,II ari' tuo limthei 1 - that n-'iiri-h the same child : do not be an^'rv if \\'c leave one to ^-o t. . t h" other." " 'I'he Aino- will alwav- be the pride of the foiv>t and the sea." The in.juircr into the origin of tin* Japanoe mu-l i-e^n t that as \ et we kii"W comparatively little i.f the Aino- and tlh-ii 1 lan^uan'c. An\ "pininn ha/arded on the >ul|ect ma\' be pronounced ra-h. ^ et, after a studv "f all tin' obtainable facts, I believe they unmi-takaMv llUfupiit-l'Mlilii "- . .: \>--.v ycnr's, ]':l]M'lc'il ill tin fc-liv.ll-. :M'il ;,; i;nc\]n-ctcil 'ililr- ;t:nl I'litffs fli I tin ! ': :-n -]>r, ];,;,,;-. It \v:i- lik. :i -11 in i -. nt' I if.- in t lie :l!lt> .'111 II \ hill Wf ill !. nr n| :c : , i, 111 I ll'li;l. ili-lK-c (li'U''tl'--> i !M'\ (Mllir, Id M-i 1 e\ i- (|'-!H-'-- I'f'tlii- mil |in-v:ili'til fnni! i.t'iMi'];. ri-ii^iuii. l'.ui!ilhi-t jiricst-; \\ i HIM I h.ive coil-lilt' '1 :itlir:n. \\ith -niih \v;ir!iil!i, tli:i1 !!i--\ ;irn-i' in 111" " \virK- < '\ tain n|' A-hik;iL r a." Ili"ii-!i tli- 1 I,:IM Tit v uf liativi -. learned :iliii intle;inn-il. -:i_V ih'-v .e-.- t!ic rdii-. <.\' tin' iiiit-ii n! i i-i.jili-. ..) ii'.nrbiiie-. Iii !-;.' tin' inikiido's li'i\i n. Illi-llt prnhi!'i!'-i| till' -.:! nr c\|'-'I!-"- nf li,.--c I'lllhli-lll- ill iniV lullll "] - mil'-, tnj-i 'In r witli tip- in"!''' :ir!i-tii' i-ii-i-i-iiitii--, | i.-tap-s, I.ii'/Ks, farviii^'-, and nh"t"_'-".q'ii-. -L-nt nut IVniii the -t'i'lii.- of I'.iri- uiul l.'ind'in. THE ABORIGINES. 35 point to the Ainos ;is the primal ancestors of the Japanese ; that the mass of the Japanese people of to-day are substantially of Aino stock. An infusion of foreign blood, the long effects of the daily hot baths and the warm climate of Southern Japan, of Chinese civilization, of agricultural instead of the hunter's method of life, have wrought the change between the Aino and the Japanese. It seems equally certain that almost all that the Japanese possess which is not of Chinese, Corean, or Tartar origin has descended from the Aino, or has been developed or improved from an Aino model. The Ainos of Ye/o hold politically the same relation to the Japanese as the North American Indians do to the white people of the United States; but ethnically thev are, with probability bordering very closely on certainty, as. the Saxons to the English.* * I need scarcely, except to relieve, by borrowed humor, the dull weighing of facts, and the construction of an opinion void of all dogmatism, notice the as- sertion elaborated at length by some Americans, [Scotchmen, and others too. for anu'lit I know, that the Ainos are the ''ten lost tribes of Israel," or that they are the descendants of the sailors and gold-hunters sent out by King Solo- Dion to U'ii-in spoil for his temple at Jerusalem. Really, this search after the ioM tribes " or have they consolidated into the Wandering Jew "i is hi-coining absurd. Thry are the 7nost discovered people, known. They have been found in America, Britain, Persia, India, China, Japan, and in Ye/o. I know of but one haystack left to find this needle in, and that is Corea. It will undoubtedly be found there.. It has been kindly provided that there are more worlds for these Alexanders to compier. It is now quite necessary for the arelneological respect- ability of a people that they be the u lost tribes." To the inventory of wonders in Japan some would add that of her containing " the dispersed amonn; the (icn- tiles," notwithstanding that the same claim has been made for a do/en other nai imis. The Aitio Arrow-pohon. Dr. Stuart Eldredge, who has studied the properties of tin. 1 Aino arrow-poison, states that it is made by macerating and poundmir tin- roots of one or more of the virulent species of aconite, mixing the mass into a pa>tc, with (perhaps,) inert ingredients, and burying it in the ground for some time. The still', dark, reddish-brown paste is then mixed with animal fat, and about ten "Tains' 1 weight of the paste is applied to the bamboo arrow-lips whieh are used to M-t the bear-traps. The, wounded animals are found dead n.-ar the trap, and I heir llcsli is eaten with impunity, though the hunter cut* oil' the part:- immediately near the wound. The Ainos know of no antidote for the poison. (See "Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan, 1*70."; III. M. 1 77.7,' /. i /. * n r JffS T( > I! Y. P.KioKE attempting a hrief .-ketdi of .lapatie-c hi-torv. it mav he inlcrc-iiirj- to the reader to know something of the -..iirce- of -uch hi-tory, and the charaeter and amount of the material-. A >lvna-lv of ruler- who ostentatiously hoast of twentv-tivv centuries of unl.roken siiecession should ha\e solid foundation of fact for their lia-t. The aiiiMi-t ivpre-eiitatives of the mikado Mut-u hito. :/: the one hundred and twenty-third of the imperial line of i >ai Nippon, who, in ihe pres- ence of tile I'lv-ideiit and CoiiLlTess of the I'liited State-, and of the -overei'j;n- of Kin-ope, claimed the immemorial antii|uit\ of tin- ,!ap- ane-e inijM rial rule, should have civdentiaL- to sati-t'v the foreigner and silence the skeptie. In tlii- eiiliiditi lied aii'e, \vhen all aul IP >rit v i- challenged, and a <-cnt- urv afti-r the m..-- of "Mivion lia- covered the hi-t"ric ^rave of the doctrine of di\inc ri_ r hr. the .Iapane-c -till clin-- t,. the divinitv of the mikado, not onlv making it the do-'ma of religion an'!i..| :!.. 1 I ' - -. !!-. . -j-l'-r (.(' li-liij.i Tii'lak:!, ;. .-.-:: ' - l.di-li i>!i tlii- 1 o'li of tin' 1 . ' ' ! -'' ' . ; in; )'-- \ -.:'.-.'.. in 't li. r . 'I t Ic 1 . in ! . r< .r. i- ui'tii'' :. r Ku i v .- .i- . '. ;... ; r M! . ..nin- 'i'ui-;rn, n...nt!.. i-:;:.. His Imperial Japanese Majesty, Mutsuhito, Emperor of Japan, and the 12lld Mikado of the Liue. MATElilALti UP HISTORY. :51) necessary qualifications to the task of composing a complete history of Japan, /. c., knowledge of the languages and literature of Japan, Chi- na, C'>rea, and the dialeets of the Malav Archipelago, Siberia, and the otht-r islands of the North Pacific, historical insight, sympathy, and judicial acumen, has liefore him a virgin field. The body of native Japanese historical writings is rich and solid. It is the largest and most important division of their voluminous liter- ature. It treats verv fully the period between th" rise of the noble families from about the ninth century until the present time. The real history of the period prior to the eighth century of the Christian era is very meagre. Jt is nearly certain that the Japanese possessed DO writing until the sixth century A.D. Their oldest extant composi- tion is the Kojiki, or ".Book of Ancient Traditions." It may be called the Bible of the Japanese. It comprises three volumes, composed A. n. 71 1. Tli'. It is said to have been preceded by two similar works, written respectively in A.D. o-M) and A.D. (>si ; but neither of these has been preserved. The tiist volume treats of the creation of the heavens and earth; the gods and goddesses, called kami ; and the e\ i nt> of the holv a^v, or mythological period. The second and third irhe the hi-tory of the mikados* from the year 1 (GOO n.c.) to the iL'-^th of the Japanese era. It was first printed during A.D. Kii'4- 1(14:.'. The XHtomji, completed A.D. 7-MJ, also contains the Japanese co-iuo^-oiiy, records of the mythological period, and brings down the annals of the mikado to A.D. 00'.). These are the oldest books in the language. Numerous and very valuable commentaries, upon them ha\ e been written. They contain so much that is fabulous, mvthical, * "The term 'mikado' is in uvneral adhered to throughout this work. Other titles linn id in tin- native literature, and now or t'ormcrl y in coin in en use, are. Ten- !*lii (Sun of Heaven i; Tenno, or Ton < ) ( I Iea\ en-kin;: 1 ) ; Kotei (Sovereign linlcrol Nations) ; Kinri ( The Forbidden Interior): Dairi (Imperial Palace) : C'liolei (Hall oi' Audience) ; O-o, or T)ai (Great Kinn'i; O I'ji (The (ireat Family); ( 1'ahice). Jn usiim 1 these titles, the coin in on people add an/tit, a respectful terin. after them. Several of them, as is evident, were. Used originally to denote place-, it was quite common Cor the people in later time to speak of the mikado a- Mia- ko sum a. or I've sain a (Superior Lord), in distinction from the shoirun, \\ ln>m t hey designated as Yedo >ama. Tin; (Chinese characters employed to expre-s the term 1 mikado ' mean Ilonnrahle Gate, tin idea akin to the Turkish Sublime Porlo. Sa- tow, however, derives it from wi, threat, august, awful ; and in ( : and Hei- ka (Foot of the Throne, or of the Step- leading to the Da'i-i, are u-ed to denote the imperial person. A term anciently Used was. Nin ( .' iKini;' ol'Men)." or e\aLT:Icrated. that their statements, especially in respect of date-, ail lint l>e accepted a- tHle lli-torv. According to tile I\i>/iki. Jiiiinii Teiino \\a- the iir-t emperor: vet it is extremely doubtful \\hether he vva- a hi.-Iorical personage. The be-t foreign scholars and critic, regard him a- a mythical character. The accounts of the tir-t mikado-, are verv meagre. The acees>ion to the throne, marriage and death of the sovereign, with iiotice> of occa-ional rebellion- put down, tours made, and wor-hip celebrated, are recorded, and intere-tinir u'hmp-e.- ( ,f the proinv-- of chili/ation olitained. A number of \vorks, containing uhat is evidently u' 1 hi-t->rv. illu-trate the period I >et \\eeii the eighth and eleventh centurie-. A -till richer cullect ion of l.oth cri^inai work- and modern compilations treat of the media'val period from the eleventh to the -ixteeiilh cent- ury the au'e of inte-tine -trife and feudal war. The li^'ht uhieh the -lately pn>M' of hi-tory casts upon the pa-t i- further In i^hteiiecl l'_v the man\- poem-, popular romance-, founded i-n historic fact, and the da--ic coinpo>itions called mniin'jiit'iri, all of \\hich hdp to make the pt'J'Spectivo of I'V-U'olIC ceiltliries lllelt ati-fv < '.-ei/i.-ntal ta-te-. The profound jn-aee \\ hidi follo^rd th- victories ,,f ]\e\a-u. and which la-ted from I tiin i-l sr,s ,},,, .-ch"la-tic era of Japan u'.'i\c the peaceful Id.-uri- nece.--arv for the ,-tudv of ancient !ii-t'.r\- and the creation of a lar^v lil'i'ary of hi-tor- ic-al literature, of which the niauniitii't'lit work- called the ]>ni .\,/n,/t >'/-''( II i-t u-y of /'A/ ( " .lapaiie-e Outer, or Military Hi-tory"). are the l.c-t example-. l"n h ; i ! ! TokiiLi'awa -hr.^un- ( 1 (0:i-l S(;s) lilerty to explore, diron- ii-lc. and anal v/e t lie pa-t in hi-tor\- was ^i\ en : l>ut the -,,-al of silence, the liaii of i-eii-o]v]iip. an 1 the mandate forbidding all piiMication wt re put ii|i"ii t'ne pi'odu.-tion of contemporary lu-torv. Hence, the peace- *':il j.eriod, Itiuu to J -.",:;. i- lr known than other- in earlier time-. Sey, -ral '_r"'d native annali-ts ha\e treated of the po-t- Terry period ( 1 SO:?- I ^7^' ). and tli-- event- leading to the \[> -i oral! oil. coin-, \vi-ajioti-,. 111 i-. '11111-. memorial -tone-, tabli t>. temple records, etc., tln-r- 1 i- much valuable material. Scan-dv a vear pa-->'- but -OHM! >\ -r i- announced t" delight the numeroii- native areha-olojj^;-.. Th" .la]>aiie-e are inteii-e|\ pp'iid ot their hi-torv, and take i;'!-eat 41 care in making and preserving records. Memorial -stones, keeping L>Tcen tlie memory of some noted scholar, ruler, or benefactor, are ainonu' the m<>t exclusively from the actual life, past or present, of the Japanoe people, is often tlie most faithful mirror of actual historv. Few peo- ple seem to be more thoroughly informed as to their own historv: parents delight to instruct their children in their national Ion-; and there are hundreds of child's histories of Japan. Besides the sober volumes of history, the number of books purport- ing to contain truth, but which are worthless for purposes of historical investigation, is legion. In addition to the motives, equally operative in other countries for the corruption or distortion of historical narra- tive, was the perpetual desire of the Buddhist monks, who were in many cases the writers, to glorify their patrons and helpers, and lo damn their enemies. Ueiice their works an- of little value. So plentiful are these garbled productions that the buver of books always asked fni'jttxu-rokiii or "true records," in older to avoid the ",:.'-:^//," or "editions of /u," so called from /u, a noted Chinese former of history. In the chapters on the history of Japan. I shall occasionally tandard IfiMories in literal :ran-Iation. I shall feel only too happy if I can imitate the terse, \ i^onnis ami luminous style of the Japanese annali>t-. The \i\idiu-<> and pictorial detail >f Tin- ela--ic hi-1oriai!- fa-e'matc the reader uho can analvze tin' clo-rlv ma ed svntax. Manv of the paijv- of the Xihnii ed '!oi |!ience that springs from clear ilisccriiiiH'nl and conviction of tnith. gained after patient sifting of fact-;, and ^ropin^ through dillieulties that lead to di>covery. Many of it> sentence- are 1'pi-Tani-. To the -indent of Japane-e it is a narrative of inten-e-t int. n -t. The l\j'ik'i and JV///o//y/. \\hicli ^i\e the onlv n nls of verv an- cieiit Japan, and on \\hich all other \\ork- treat iii'j; of this period are I .;,-. -d. c;(|| Hot \>C accepted a- -ol'el' Ili-lorV. Ilelice, in outlining 'he events prior to the -econd eeiiturv of the ('hri-tian era, I head the chapter>, not a< the " I >a\\ n of Hi-tory," hut the " T\\ ili-'ht of Fahle." From ihe-e l>o, and the collections of ancient myths ( A' W/ //'/>///,), a- \\ell as the critical coinnientaries and explanations of 1 he ,Iapane-c I'al ionali-t-. \\hich, l>v the a-- 'stance of native -cholar-. I ha\e heeii ,'il'le to coii-ult, the tuo follouin^; chapter- have Keen Compiled.* "* In tin'- lulldwinii clinpI'M'-. I ii-i- tlinniLi'hout t!ic modern names nl' plitci'r- and I'r.'\ iiiei'-. to iivnid riiDl'ii-i'Mi. '1'lie niH-ieiit num.' <{' Kiu-liiu wa- 'I'-iiku-lii, uliieli v\a- iil-n ai'i'l'u-d t" thr then iinit''d ]'rovii:ee- nf ( 'liil\u/en and ( 'hik iiu'u. I'll/I'll and l''!i"_'' \veri 1 alieii'iitlv utn 1 pruvinee, called Ti>v<>. Hi^'o and Ilixrll ai-e nii'di-ni di\i-iiiii> "i Hi m, ki;ni ."Tin 1 Land uf'Fire"). Tamlia. en'Ti:|ited IVi'in T.iiiiNva, and Tanu" ' " Kaek of Taniw a " i \\ rrr t'nnnrrh nnr. Kadxu-a and Sliiiii'i-a. i'"ii! rai-t'-il :V"tn Kami t -u-lu-a ;ii:d S!iim> ' i -u t'n-a i /,''/;//'. u: '1'i-r; ,v//-'///';, I ; fu*i, a pruj.rr imme, ta.--rl i. \\l'i r" and " i.uw- : " KI-. Ai! the rc^i.m mirth id' F.idii/i'ii. knuu n and unkm>u n. including I'.-hi- /. ::. Kt eli ill, Ki-lii^n, K '_ ;. Nut". I"/' 'P. and I'^o, \va-; inrliided under tlir naiiic K"-'hi ii'ikuni. Later -ynniiym- I'"|- Kin-hia :uv Saikoku { Wi-.-trni I'rn\ im-i ), /'i in ' > '!\ -. ( 'hiiin'i 'kn i ( 'i-iit ral 1't 1 ' iviiu 1 '-- 1 ir- a; 'plied t" the ivuin I rum T.iiiiSa t'i N. '_,.!'>. K.iiniuaia N a \amir term lor llic euuiUrv at'cund anu tuwurd K|M!. . T!". L . itilr- t'ur thr -ttidv nf tin 1 Japanesi' l;ini:i.aL r e and the eri tie i] ,|, i .1 i: - te\ t- i- D ( i\\ , t hank-- tu Anu i" .l.ipaiierr :..'huhu>. i'ut h i xei-lli - '1'hr I'uilu^ iiiLi' ar-- -iicli : 1 1 1: \ MM \ r;s \V. ( i. A. ;!!,'- i ,...',, - :i;.i-e" i N. ,_.!-, iki. iM'.'.t,. ; ,i|, 1 drammar ..( lie \Vi-;tt' i: !..':_ : , _ \ .!, : u . \\ jt.li ., -Inc't ( ii n--t "in.i i h \ :" Lundun, l s i'.' : M-CIUH! r. lit;. in. 1-77. K. >.i! UN - K ... ,MI II : . '::, KM-H IM- :n the Vedu ( '.diui|iiia!, I'm- tic- l"-e i,l S: , , ' i S,,l -. ' I \u!~. ; Vuki.hailia. 1^7:,. .1. .1 II. ill man. " A .I.e.Mii' - (, ii,,ii, 1^70. S. K Uniwii. t ul!u- ',,,.' .F.i; .HH'-e ;" -. ., . .. '.-'... I'-, lider-.,-:'- M.i-li-r\ Sy-tem. ada]'li-d tu He >t;i'iy nt'.I,i] - , 1 '._ '; . 'h.nii,!. I-;.", DICTION A iui> .1. ( . He],- 1 _ I' . - - ; .'.-: -hall-li.ie. IM,; : -.-i-nm! , ,|i- inuiatie.il int ' >i].ii)_h,e-, I-?'.': pnekei I'ditiu'i. N'e'A Vurk, - ' and F-i,iti;i-lii. " Ki _ '- , .' : ai -i I)ietiuiuiry i.| th> Sp"ken L.iu- ' 1^7i > ,.:-.-,. :.. paper-?!; Mi.-.->rs. Satuw, A-t-.n. l)all:i-, li -^'n- ' : ! e Tr:c,-.. ',.;,. ,., : i,, .\-i.,ti" S." ' ' ,.' .!., .,,." JAPANESE MYTHOLOGY. 4:5 IV. JAPA NESE MYTHOLOG Y. T\ the beginning all things were in cluios. ITeavon and earth were not separated. The world floated in the cosmic mass, like a fish in water, or the yolk in an eirir. The ethereal matter sublimed and formed the heavens, the residuum became the present earth, from the warm mold of which a ^vriu sprouted and became a self-animate be- inir, called Kuni-toko-tachi no mikoto.*" T\vo other beings of like e.;en- esi* appeared. After them came four ])airs of beings (/en mi). These were all single (lutnr't-num'i. male, sexless, or self-begotten). * It will he seen at once that tin: Japanese scheme of creation starts without a Creator, or any First ('ause; and that tlic idea of space apart i'roni matter is foreign to the Japanese philo-ophical system. Mikotu (masc. ). iniknini (t'crn.), mean " auirustness." It is >i<>( tlie same term as mikado. A'c is the particle of. The opening sentence of the Kojiki is as follows: At the time of the bc^inn'mir of heaven and earth there existed three htixhira-yami (pillar or chief kmni, or U'ods). The naniL- ut'one kami was Anit : -iw-naka-nunki->io-ktt>tii (Lord of the Mid- die of Heaven); next, Taka-mi-itiitsttbi-no-fcami (Ilii^h Inetl'alile 1'roereatori : next, Kaiiii-in'i!i.b[-nu-ki.i-n'>-ti>kii-t-iiiik<>t<>, etc., etc. The .\ih<.tr/i ojjens as follows: (If old, when heaven and earth were not yet separated, and the in /male, active, or positive principle) and the //' (female, pa-s- ive, or negative [irineiple) were not yet separated, chaos, enveloping all things, like a fowl':- cii'i, contained within it a ^erin. The clear and ethereal Mih-tanec t'.\[iandinir, became heaven; the heavy and thick substance au'u'lut 'mat inn 1 , became earth. The ethereal union of matter was easv, but the thickened r-ub-tanee hard- ened with dillienity. Therefore, heaven cxi.-ted firsl: the earth \\ a- lixi'd at'ier- ward. Subsequently deity (k'Unit was liorn ( u>/mr>( \. Now, it i> said thai, "in the beirinninu; of heaven and earth, the r;oil floated about like a ti-h lloaiin^ on the top of the water,'' etc. Evidently in the Kojiki we have the purely Japanese theory ol' creation, and in the Xiliuinji the same account, with Chinese [iliilo?ophieal ideas and term- added. In both, matter appears before mind, and the deities have no existence before matter. 1 1 IVocct-diliiT no\\ ti, the work of creation, the kami .-eparated the primordial -u!>-tance into the live element: wood, tire, im tal, earth. and \\ater and ordain* -d t" eaeh its pn>pertie- and combination. A- yet. the di\i-i"ii into sexes had not taken place. In [<'hiiie-e| philo- >"phieal laiiiruaire. the male (//") and female (//<) principles that per- vade all tliin-j.'- had not yet appeared. The tir-t manife-tation of the male e--e]ice \\ a- I~nnle water- lieiieatli them, and \\ithdra\v- iiiiT it. the triekliinr drop- formed an i-land. upon which they de-ci-nd- ed. 'I he creative pair, or divine man and \\oman. de-i^nimr to make tiii- i-land a pillar fora continent, -eparated the male to the left, the female to the I'i^'ht t" make a journev round the i-land. At their meetinir. tin female -pirit -poke tir-t, "Jlow jo\ful to meet a lovely man '." The male s]>irit. "tl'ended that the tu'-t u-e of the toiiirne had i,ei-n 1'V a \\oinaii, reijiiired the circuit to In- repeated. < Mi llnii M-eo!id nieetiiii;', the man cried out, "How jnvfnl to meet a lovelv uomaii!" The\- w ern the tir-t couple; and tliis was tla- ln'iriimiiin- ( ,f the art of love, and of the human race. The i-land ( Av\ aji ). with -e\,-n other lar-e. and manv thoii-and -mall ones, In-came the l-]\erla-t- iiiv;' r;;t lire, nr liaVr lll-;il-i| ili I'nli.i.jlli;.! ll-r. are a- t'lill'lU-: 1. \ !/i!' I hi' \\ ' >ni- /./'. ni:- hi, nr a 'i " I -Mil, (!a\ ' alnl /. "// i I'enl , . iri^ill. I "'^ Mil. i ML: ; Ill-lux- Stllll'i-i'. I );e.v ii. nr I la\ -] T; !._'. .la pa II i- thr \< 'l'i iirne. 1 '"- ciirnipli>ll "!' t lie ( iiil.r.-c II. 'II:,- tialln- llia\ ha\.- t"-i-|| i;'i\i-n i'\ tin- I liilir.-i- nr ( 'nr,-:iilr- ; lip-in, \\ln-in-i- Hi, -Mil !(.-,-. nr !.y !!. ,- 'i:, jilernrr- i-niil- i i . _ I mi: i Main-] nri.t. l>\ u'av nt ( 'ni'i-a, ea-t waril. ( )r. it may lia\ i- ari-rn aiu-i, nllv ' . - nl' th'- \vr-tiTll prnvilicr- n!'.!a|all. It i- t"Ulnl ili t'ililieM' tillif uf tin' Tall- il\lia-tv iC.lx-'.iiCi A.D.I, '.'. I hi', \, >,.,,< l\,,!,n i iini! ,-: . ' .1 ,: .i: . '.',. ii Y'tJiiiii'i a-' Km, i iCniilitrv nl tic- l'.i_!.i di'i-at 1-li'inl- ' . I, : _: anil l/.anaini. I. t >, .,/.:.};,,. ,i il-laiui nl' tin- ('me iri-al'->l I' 1 iVnin ill- \,'\\ ,-!,-, 1 faicliii'ii iir-piarnl Ixaiiaii'i, .">. >/,;/,-; >',/,:,.; Ii ll -i name ruin III nti ill 1 " " ' I 1 \ . a 1 1 1 i r, |r] i in- In t Ih'ir In- ,"_ -jiv, -tniirr- ill a .Ia| aiu--'- ^anli'ii. i 1 ,. "/',,,, ,, /,.//-,( .!/,'>,/ A'-/- 1, ( - ".M-i'ii Hi ivi-n ami I-'.artli-. 7. T>,;>'H Kmii i Dmirnii tl\- i -,-ml'lanri- t- > 1 hi- in-- - t w itli i' - \\'inu- nut-pi', ail. : I .- I 1 - .'. i-i-i Ha-- 1 c .i. "/ )'.,,, i/. * ,,,, A',/,.; i I' Tl - - ii r- an- n a.l It'-/ l\..k !-v tin- Chim--e, v.-'-- ' -' : ! / A'' /.-'. Fii-n i~ Ilir mum- n! a 1 1.- ( > -.- -1 aliility. 11. 11,1 l\i,!:n i ..---, :: - ; A' - i n.,;\ Spi-it-.. i:;. A".-,,,- i I,..,! lalill. nr I. lie Ii : -i ...- A'".--' I. ami ,'!' Hi,' i ..rt,-:i:\ .. ..n allu>iuii t" th'. h L.-,-t,d tliai ., < 'him -w c-mn tier c-amc to JAPANESE MYTHOL OGY. 45 in being more powerful, a female child was born, greatly to the cha- grin of the father, who wished for male offspring. The child was named Ama-tcrasii o inikaini, or, the Heaven - illuminating Goddess. She slioiie l>eautifully, and lighted the heavens and the earth. Jler father, tlierefore, transferred her from earth to heaven, and gave her the ethereal realm to rule over. At this time the earth was close to heaven, and the goddess easily mounted the pillar, on which heaven rested, to her kingdom. The second child was also a female, and was called Tsuki no kami, and became the Goddess of the Moon. The third child, Iliruko (leech), was a male, but not well formed. \Vhen three years old, beinu' still unable to stand, his parents made an ark of camphor-wood, and set him adrift at sea. He became the first fisherman, and was the God of the Sea and of Storms. After two girls and a cripple had thus been born, the father was de- lighted with the next fruit of his spouse, a tine boy, whom they named Sosanou no mikoto. Of him thev entertained the highest hopes. He grew up, however, to be a most mischievous fellow, killing people, pulling up their trees, Mid trampling down their fields. He u - ivw worse as he grew up. He was made ruler over the blue sea; but he iu'ver kept his kingdom in order. He let his beard u'row down over his bosom. He cried constantly; and the land became a desert, the rivers and seas dried up, and human beings died in great numbers. IJis father, inquiring the reason of his surly behavior, was told that he wished to go to his mother, who was in the region under the earth. lie then made his son ruler over the kingdom of ni^ht. The august scape-grace still continued his pranks, unable to refrain from mischief. ( 'ne day, after his sister, the- Sun-goddess, had planted a field with rice, In 1 turned a wild horse loose, which trampled down and spoiled all her work. Au'ain, having built a store-house for the new rice, lie defiled it so that it could not be used. At another time, his sister was >ittin^ at her loom, weaving. Sosanod, having skinned a live horse by draw- ing its skin off from the tail to the head, tiling the reeking hide over the loom, and the carcass in the room. The goddess was so frightened that she hurt herself with the shuttle, and, in her wrath, ret i ml to a Japan in search uf the elixir of immortality. He brought a troop n!' \ mmir men and maidens with him. Dyinu' in Japan, ho was Imried in Kii, and the younrr couples, marrying, colonized Japan. IT). 1\<> Kkn (The Mikado'- Kmpiivi, Land ruled I iy a Theocratic Dynasty. Id. Til l\okn \ilion (The Kinpire ruled ly a Theneratic Dynasty, or, Japan, the Empire ^overned bv Divine Hulers). 4 m Tin: JUKMXJ'S EMPIRE. cave. .-';. i-ini; tlb 1 mouth \\iih ;i la rife rock. Heaven, earth, and the t'niir ipiarti rs Lecanie en.-hrouded in darkness, and the distinction Le- iween da\ and tii^ht eea>e "k advantage of the darkness to make a noise like the luix/inir <>f t'ie-. and the confusion wa- dreadful. Then ail the e.-od- (ei'_fht hundred thousand in number) asseniMed on the li.-avfiily riser-plain of Ya-u, to discuss what was to he done [ii i-e tlie aiijyr of tiie ^Teat -'odde-s. The wi-e-t of the p>d* wa- intrusted with the charge of thinking out a Mratauvm to entice her forth. The main part of the plan was to make an ima^e of the -df-inipri-oned ^"ddess, \\hieh was to lie inure l.eautiful than herself. and thu- e\eiti' at OIHT IK-T curiosity and her jealoiisv. It \\a.> to he a I'oiincl mirror like the MIII. A lai'^'e rock troiu near the soiir.v of the river was taken to f ( >nn an ainil. To make the hcllows, tln-v look the \\hole >kin of a deei'. and, \\ilh ii'on from the mines of heaven, the hlaek-mit h-u'od made t\\o mirror.-, \\liidi >ii'-ee>-i\ elv failed \ plea-e the ii'<>ds. lirin^ too -mail. The thii'd wa- lar^'e and heaiitiful. like the sun. The lna\eiily aiti-an- no\v prepaivij to make the finest elothes and je\\elr\-. and ;t -plendid palaee for the Sun-bodiless, \\hen >lu' >hoiild eoine oiu. Tuo ._.,, d< planted the paper-m H 1 1 >errv and hemp, and pre- pared Lark and tiLiv ; \\hile thi'ee other ^ods \\o\e them into coarse, striped, and tine doth, to deck her daintv liml-. Tw.. uod-. the tir-t eai'pciiter-. i\\\-jf Jiolc- in the ground \\ith a -pade, erected po>ts. and I'uilt a palace. Another ddtv. the tir>t jeweler, made a -ti'in^ of //'"- /////////"/ (curved jeud-). the material for a necklace, hair-pin-, and Lracdet-. T\\o other e-i.il- lieM in their hand- the -acred \\alid-. called luiini-iinajii. TV.. > ^od- uere then appi'iiite.j to find out, Lv divination, whether tin- Bolide-- wa- likelv to appear. Tliev caught a l>uck. tore out a Lope tVi.m olle "t It- forelcj;-, aild -et It tlee a^'alP. '1 lie liolie \\a- placed ii: a tire of cherrv-Lark. and the crack produced Lv the heat in the Llade i.f theLoiie wa- considered a -ati-factorv omen. A -akaki-tive wa- tln-n pulled up Lv tin roots. TO the upper Lraii'die- wa- hiiicj; the iiecklaci- of jevvi-1-, to ihe middle was attaehe},,<. A lar-v niimher of perpt 1 ually , rose, and approaching the 4S Till-: .1//A'. !/>"'>' A'.U/VA'/:. door -li^htlY. and a-ked \\li\ I'/iiiiu' 1 danced and the puls laughed.' l/lllne replied. " 1 dance I'ccall-e tlll'iV 1- all llOllDRlblc tll'ltV W l|o -lir- iia--e- \oiir "'low." A- -in 1 >aid thi-, tin- I'xm.'diui'lv beauteous "-ml Km. .,1.11:1;; -howvd the mirror. The Sun-ijoddi'ss within, astonished at her "wn lo\eline-s, \\hirli -he now tir-t hehcld in the reflection, step- ped mil a iittlr further t" gratify her curiosity. The (' stood concealed, pulled the rock door open. caught her l.y the hand, and draped her forth. The wisest .f the L f ds, uho -nperiiiteiidi'd tlie whole proceedings, took a 1'ope of t\\i-i- 'd rice-stm\v. passed it hehind her. ami -aid. " ! >o not ^o In-hind thi-." T!ie\' then removed the Sun -goddess to her new palace, and put a >tra\\ rope around it to keep off e\il ^od>. Her wicked l>n>ther was (uini-hed 1'V having eaeh particular hair of hi- head pulled out. and hi- tinker and toe nails extractetl. He was then l>ani-hed. l/anaiiii's fifth child, the last in \\ho-c coiieejition the two -,!-. -liared.ua- a -on, called the (Jod of \\"ild 1'iiv. In hrin-'iiiL;' him fortli the <_;-odde sutTered u'l'eat pain; and from the matter which -he vomited in her aiT'-iiv >[I]-UIIL;' the < Jod and < ioddess of Metal. She aft- erward created tin j^ods of ('lay and l-'iv-h Water, who \\eiv to pacif\ the ' and purification, manv v,-ods were created. AcconliiiLr to one \er-;oii, \matira-ii wa- produced out of hi- left eve, and So-aii"o out oi hi- no-e. Tlio-i- deitie- created out of the tilth from which In cleansed him-' It liecame the \vicked L;od-. who DOW war a^'ain-t the iT 1 LT"ds and ti'oiihle mankind. The (,,,d of Cla\ and the (i.-dde- ot I'fe-h \\ater married. 'I'heii- otT-prin^ wa- Naka mii-uhi. l'V"in his head '_;Teu the mn!!H rr\ and -ilk-worm, and from hi- nave] -prmrj 1 '\i<- Ii\e cereal-. I'iec, wheat, loan-, millet, and -c.p_ r hum. AlP'theC leLfell-l, e || all U'i 1 1 Lf tile -e \ of Sn>!H|()O. SSIVS tile Si [I I --'. " Id < -poke to So-aijoi") (tin- M ' .oii-'j'odde-- ). who rein'ned joimlv with her JAPANESE MYTHOLOGY. 49 OUT tho high plain of heaven, and said, "I have heard that there is a food-possessing goddess in the central country of luxuriant reedy moors (Japan). Go and see." Descending from heaven, he came to the august abode of the Goddess of Food, and asked for refreshment. The goddess, creating various forms of food, such as boiled rice from the land, tish from the sea, beasts, with coarse and tine hair, from the hills, set them on a banqueting-tablc before Sosanoo, who, enraged at the manner of -the creation of the food, killed her. Reporting the matter in heaven, Amaterasu was angry at Sosanoo, and degraded her (the Moon-goddess) from joint rule, and condemned her to appear only at night, while she. the Sun-goddess, slept. Ama- terasu then sent a messenger the second time to see whether the Food-goddess was really dead. This was found to be the case. Out of the dead body were growing, millet <>n the forehead ; silk-worms and a mulberry-tree on the evebrosvs ; grass on the eves; on the bellv, rice, barley, and large and small beans. The head finally changed into a cow and horse. The messenger took them all, and presented them to Amatera>u. The Sun -goddess rejoiced, and ordained that these should be the food of human beings, setting apart rice as the seed of the watery iields, and the other cereals as the seed of the drv fields. She appointed lords of the villages of heaven, and began for the first time to plant the rice-seeds. In the autumn the drooping eais ripened in luxuriant abundance. She planted the mnlberrv-trees in the fragrant hills of heaven, and rearing silk-worms, and chewing cocoons in her mouth, spun thread. Tims be^an the arts of agricult- ure, silk-worm rearing, and weaving. When Sosanoo was in banishment, there was a lin^e eight-headed dragon that had devastated the land and eaten up all the fair virgins. Sosanoo enticed the monster to partake of an intoxicating liquor >rt in eiu'ht jars, and then slew him while in stupor. In the tail of the dragon he found a sword of marvelous temper, which he presented to Amaterasu. This sword, called "Cloud-cluster," afterward became one of the three sacred emblems constituting the regalia of the Jap- anese sovereigns. In these last days of commerce, Sosmoo'-, exploit, i- pictured on the national paper money. lie i- also said 1" h.i\e in- vented poetry. Bein^ 1 as irregnlarlv anioroii- as the Jupiter <>! anoth- er mythology, he was the father of manv children b\ various mothers. < Mie of the most illustrious of his oll'>priii'_r was Daik'nku. now wor- shiped in every household as the (Jod of Fortune- In th' later stages >f the mythology, heaven and earth are found peopled \\ith myriads .-.i) /V//: .I/MM //">' KMl'lRK. of kami. .-oine of whom have inhahited heaven from the b \\liil. till--.' nil thf i-;irih have lieeii ruling (r contending together from an nnl' -finite period. Rnally, before ushering in tin.- third T tinal stair- 1 "I thf mythical hi-tory, there arc Lreneral war ami confu- -ion ani"M_: tin 1 ^od- on earth, ami Aniaterasu re-olve- to l>rini; order 1 lit i-f the troiiMcs, and to .-uKdue and develop the land for herself. S!i. d>-iivd 1" make a -on of her own a ruler over the terrestrial world. < >ne had l>een produced from her necklace, called O-hi-ho- ini ii" niikoto, \\li.i married Tamavori hiine no milo-to. nnc of the i'liiL'hteix ( ,f \/.:\\\;i^\ and 1/anami. Their i>tT-]>rmi:' \va> Xiniiri !i" niikoto. After much delay, caused 1>\ the di-patdi and failure nf eiivo\-< to the e/.'d- of the earth, lie prepared to de>e,-nd from hea\eii to hi- realm ..n earth. The Sun - e.-odd--s- <^a\c lier --rand-nn vari"!i< tri-a-iirc-. e!ii.-f nf whieh were the mirror, cmldein of her own -oiil, and no -,\ worshiped at I-e. the sword ('loud-fluster, taki-n 1>v So-anoo from t!ie dra^'-n's tail, and a stone or -eal. Concerning the mirror -In- >a:d. "Look upon thi- mirror a- my -pirit : keep it in the -a me hou-c and on the -anie tloor with \our-elf, and wor-hip it a- if von were wor>!iipiiiLT ni\' actual pre-eiici 1 ." Another version of thi- dhine in\e-titure i- ^iven in the-e word-: " l-'or eeiiturie- upon n-nturics -hall thv follower- I'ule thi- kin^iloni. H'-rewitli reeeive from me the -ucce ion and the three crown tali-- man-. Should you at anv future time d>--iiv to >ee me, look in thi- mirror. (Jovern thi- coimtrv with the pure lu-ti'e that radiate- fi'oia it- surfaee. 1 >. ai w'nli t!iv -ulijeeT- \\ilh the ^entli-iie whieh the -mooth roiiiidin-j; of tiic -tone upiiie-. ('oiuliat the eiiemier- of tii\ kingdom \\ith thi- -word, and -lav tie in on ihc ed^' 1 "f it." A mpanied !'\ a numher of inferior '_;-od- of iioih si-xcs, lie de- scended on the ' -M-v of heaven, mi which the tii'-t pair had stood *'!; ii -' [laratiii'j; the dr\' land 1 1 1 ' m the water, to the mountain of Kiri-hi: n Iliu-ra and O/umi. in Kiu-hiu. After hi- di- -eent, th" -'in and eai t ii, \\ tiieh had aln-adv iveeded from eaeh other to ; Coli-'ul' |'a!'|e di-ta!|ee. I.eeallle fllllll''!' -epal'at I'd. alld e, 'lilll.Uliiea- tioii li\ the tloatiir_ f heaven een-rd. Aeeordinu; to the eom- rin ntator- on t ; k-. a- ,1-ipan la\ liireeth oppo-ite to the - in \v h'-n it -epai'ati d t rom the eai ?h. it i- e|car ( t a d'-v out .lapane-e) that Japan lie- on th- -ummit <( the -],,!,.. A- it wa- created tir-T. it i- . -peeially the [,ai f the (i,. !-. tin Hoi\ Laud, the Country of I >':, ';;,, Spirit-. All otlcr e,.r.ntrie- were formed later hy th" -.. o U - con-olidatioii of tin- foam and mud of the - v;! . A!! f. T- MYTHOLOGY. 51 eiii'n countries were of course created by the power of tlie heavenly u'ods, hut they were not begotten hv Izanagi and Izanami, nor did thev give birth to the Sun-goddess, which is the cause of their in- feriority. Japan is superior to all the world for the reasons given above. The traditions current in other countries as to the origin of the world are of course incorrect, since, being so far from the sources of truth, they can not be accurate, and must be greatly distorted. From the fact of the divine descent of the Japanese, people proceeds their immeasurable superiority to the natives of other countries in courage and intelligence. This opinion, long held bv Japanese in o-eneral, still lingers among the fanatical Shinto scholars, and helps to explain the intense hatred and contempt manifested toward foreigners as late as within the last decade. Xinigi no mi koto descended on Kirishima yama, and was received with due honors by one of the kami of the place. He had a son, who lived live hundred and eighty years. This son married a sea-monster, who appeared to him in the form of a woman, and by her he had a son, who became ruler, and was succeeded by a son born of an aunt. Xinigi, the heavenly descendant, was thus the great -grandfather of Jimmu Teimo, the first emperor of Japan. It is not easy to weave into a continuous and consistent, whole the various versions of the Japanese accounts of creation and the aets of the gods, or to be always safe in deciding their origin, sex, or relations to each other; for these spirits act like Milton's, and "as thev please, they limb themselves." These myths arising among the primitive Japanese people of various localities, who never attempted to formulate them, are frequently at hopeless variance with each other; and the in- genuity and abilitv of the learned native commentators on the sacred books, especially the ^Xihonyi and Kojiki, are exercised to the highest degree to reconcile them. One author devotes twenty volumes of comment to two of the text of the Kujiki in these earnest efforts, making his works a rich mine to the student of Japanese antiquities. Translated into Kn<_:'lish >[>irit of a devout Japanese, an exalted Biblical or Millonic si\ !< be used. Mr. Aston thus renders a passage from the A*'/-//' lutriii, one of the most ancient monuments of the language, <], - the descent of the god Xinigi to the earth (.Japan): "The} him to thrust from him heaven's eternal throne, to tlinii' open heaven"; eternal doors, to cleave with mi^ht his \vav from out heaven's many piled clouds, and then to descend from heaven." .-,!' Till-: MIKMJO'S A literal, IT even fn , tran-lation into plain English could not, however, he mad'- in a \>'<>c read, iinexpurirated, in the family circle. Man\ phv.-iolou-ical ill-tails, and not a tY\v references prohablv, pur.' t" tin- native pure, \soiild not he suffered l>y tin- tastes or moral cod' 1 - in voj^iH 1 ;iiiion^ tin 1 mass of reader- in Europe or America, Like i!ie m\ tliolo^v of (i recce, that of Japan is full of heauty, pathos, [MM tic fancv, charminu' >t<>rv, and valorous exploit. Like that, it form- tli. -"i! of the national art, whether expressed in l>n>nze. porcelain, colors; or poetry, son^, picture, the dance, pantomime, romance', svm- lio!i-m ; or the ji-sthotics of religion. In -pile of l>uddlii-m, rationalism, and skeptical philosophy, it has eii'i !'. d a> fullv into the life and art and faith of the people of Japan a- the mythology <>f the Aryan nations has entered into the life and art of Kurpe. Like that of the nation- eias-i' to u-. the Japatie-e i!ivtho!oM-y % when critici-cd in the li^ht of morals, and a- divorced tVoiu art. looked at ly one of alien dime, race, and faith, contains much that i- hideous, absurd, impure, and even revolting. .Indeed as the uTouth and Creation of the imagination, faith, and intellect of the primitive inliaMtaiiN of Japan, inthienced h\' natural >urroiindinu r >, it i i - i- a faithful mirror of their countrv, and condition and character, Ipcfore the-e were irn-atlv modified hy out-ide reliirion or |)hilo-o- ph\. Jud^'i'd a- a religions inlluence upon the descendants of the an- cient Nihoiie-e the Japanese, as we kiow them it mav l>c fairlv helil r('-p..n-iMc for much of the peculiar moral trait- of their eliarac- l,-r. liot'i --o,,,', mid f. il. The Japane-e mvtliolo^v i- the doctrinal l>a- -i- of i heir ancient and indi^'eiiou- religion, called Kami no miclii. or Shinto I u a\ or doctrine of the ifod-, or, l>\ literal I'elidi'l'inil. theoloe.-\ ). < iie of the ur \i\al- of primitive culture anioii 1 ^ the native-, or to tra"e in their cu->- t"mx tiie f;i-hion- and ci reiiionie- current ten- of eeiilurie- a^". vsho-e LfelH-i- i- to he -oiHit ill the au'e of the LTod-. I'>e!ieath the poetic and mvihi'-a! co-tiiine are nianv lieaiitiful truth-. ( M:e of the man\ Japaiie-e ration;ili-tic writer- explain- lh>' hidini: of Amatera-u in tin cave a- an eclip-e of the -un. l'11'i-ii, the third child of the lir-t pair, i- n..\v wor-hiped a- the < lo.l of haily Food. !>h I'ein^ the -taple of ,la]iaiie-e diet. He i- u-iiallv repre-ent( d a^ a j Iv angler, with a red ti-h (/ne need ie>! -" far from Kioto to tiud the id'-nti-'al -pot- "f c.iiiinii .n earth \vhi.-h the fertile imagination of JAPANESE MYTHOLOGY. :\ tlu- children of Nippon has transfigured into celestial regions. Thus, the prototype of "the dry bed of the river Aine no yastr' is no\v t<> be seen in front of the city of Kioto, where the people still gather for plea-ure or public ceremony. The " land of roots,'' to which Sosanoo was banished, is a region evidently situated a few miles north-west of Kioto. The dancing of Suzume before the cavern is imitated in the pantomimic dance still seen in every Japanese village and city street. The mirror made from iron in the mines of heaven by the Blacksmith- god was the original of the burnished disks before which the Japanese beauty of to-day, sitting for hours on knee and heels, and nude to the waist, heightens her charms. A mask of Suzume, representing the laughing face of a fat girl, with narrow forehead, having the imperial spots of sable, and with black hair in rifts on her forehead, cheeks pulled out, and dimpled chin, adorns the walls of many a modern Jap- anese house, and notably on certain festival days, and on their many occasions of mirth. The stranger, ignorant of its symbolic import, could, without entering the palace, find its prototype in five minutes, bv looking around him, from one of the jollv fat girls at the well or the rice-bucket. The i>t.f innocent jov, and to the latter, sources of fresh surpri-e and eiij'>\- nient of a people in themselves intenseh intere>tiiiLi'. Till-: MIkMxi'S LMl'IRE. |'>KT\VKKN the li'tii: niirht ex- alt the imperial familv. They are a living and luxurious e-fowth of fancy around the ri:in> of facts that in the slow decav of time have lo-t the -hape hy which recognition is jmssihle. Chinese history doe- indeed, at c, n (in p^int-. corroii,.rate what the Japanese traditions ,),.- clare. and thus e/jves n-^ some sure liu'ht : hut for a clear understand- ing of the p.-rind antedatiiiLT tin 1 second century of the Chri-tian era. the nativ" mvtholi.^y and the faliulous narrations of the Knjik', u-e 1'iit a- iii' < 'iiii-'ht. .lirum'i TI nil'"', tiie tii'st mikado, was the fifth in de-ceiit from tin Siin-^odde^-. \\]< original name \\a- Kan ^"aniato 1 \\are Ilik" no mik"to. 1 he title Jimmu '1'einio. meaning " spirit of v,ar." uas po-t- liiiinou-!\ a] ; ; I t" him manv ditturie- afterward. \N h> n the A'"- j-k'i \vi- e 'i;ipi !. pur:' Japanese name- oiilv were in use. Ilenc.-, jn tliat i k ' \\ith many very l"iiu r (piaint names and title- \\hich, \\hei - : Chinese eipiivalents. are Breath' ahhivvi- ated. Th if the \\ritteii eliaracters of ( '!,ina at a later ["riod :.! ' to express aliuo-t all their own wo|-.|-, '.\ii--ther i,am---. tract idea-, in ( 'hine-e a- \\ell a- .lapa- I.'--'. I !,-, , of Japan t\\o lair^ua^e- exi-t -id'- '>\ ~lde, o,- i,,,!,, dd . ' r. Till- applie- f the Uofd- ,-!,!.' ,lapa::.--e -\ntax. I- -in-' ii. - iv-er\ed it-.-lf alni"-t ei,::ivi\ THE TWILIGHT OF FABLE. ,55 upon liis conquests. Ho was accompanied by his brothers and a few retainers, all of whom are spoken of as kami, or gods. The coun- try of Japan was already populated by an aboriginal people dwelling in villages, each under a head-man, and it is interesting to notice how the inventors of the J\njiki account for their origin. They declare, and the Japanese, popularly believe, that these aboriginal savages were the progeny of the same gods (Izanagi and Izanami) from whom Jim- mu sprung; but they were wicked, while Jimrnti was righteous. The interpretation doubtless is, that a band of foreign invaders land- ed in Iliuga, in Kiushiu, or they were perhaps colonists, who had oc- cupied this part of the country for some time previous. The territory of Iliuga could never satisfy a restless, warlike people. It is mount- ainous, volcanic, and one of the least productive parts of Japan. At the foot of the famous mountain of Kirishima, which lies on the boundary between Iliuga and Ozumi, is the spot where Jimmu re- sided, and whence he took his departure. Izanagi and Izanami first, and afterward Xinigi, the fourth ancestor of Jimmu, had descended from this same height to the earth. Kvery Japanese child who lives within sight, of this mountain gazes with reverent wonder upon its summit, far above the sailing clouds and within the blue sky, believing that here, the gods came down from heaven. The story of Jimmu's march is detailed in the /fo/V/v, and the nu- merous popular books based upon it. A great manv wonderful creat- ures and men that resembled colossal spiders were encountered and overcome. Even wicked o-ods had to be fought or circumvented. His path was to l.'sa, in Buzen ; thence to Okada : thence by ship through the windings of the Suwo Xada, a part of the Inland S^a,* * Tlic ''Inland Sen'' (Scto Uchi)is a name which has been <_:'iven by foreigner-, and adopted by the Japanese, who until modern times had no special nanif I'ur it as a whole. Indued, the whole system of Japanese ideographical nomenclatuiv proves that the u'enerali/ations made by foreigners were ab.-ent from their C- into one body. The Ibni: rivers possess each, not one name, but many loe;d .ip pellation> alonu' their length. The main island was namele-s, so wen- Shikuku and Kiushiu fur many centuries. Ye/co, to the native, is a region, i!t an i-l.md. Even for the same street in a city a Miiiclc name, as a rule, i< nut in Use, each block receiving a name by itself. This was quite a natural proceeding: wh' n the ni>ivci>c, or "all beneath heaven," meant Japan. The Scto IVhi lias been in .lap- anesc hi.-tory what the Mediterranean was to the course ofcmpire in Kuropi , due allowaiitrt. beinir made for proportion.-, both physical and moral. 1 1 extends near- ly cast and \vc-t two hundred and fortv miles, with a bivadlh varvini:' from ten to .-,,; riir .i//A~ i/">'> /: MI 'i /;/:. iandin:-: in Aki. Here he !>nilt a palace, ami remained seven years. H,. then \\,ni In llie tv/toii "f lii/en. and. after dwelling there ei^lit \ear-. in- -ailel t" the Ka-t. The waves were verv roiie'li ami rapid a! I],,. ,t,,,i n,.;ii the piv-eiit >itc of Ozakjl,* when 1 he tinallv succeeded in landin.:. and lie u'ave the >p.>t the name Xm/ti Jlai/u (<\\ift waves). Thi- aft' ruard became, in the eolloijuial, and in poetry, Naniwa. 1 111 1,,-riii the career of the invaders had Keen one of vietorv and ea-\ e.'ll.HUM, but they How received their tir>t IVpllUe. After severe ti-li! in--, .liiiiinn wa- defeated, and one of his brothers was \voiinded. A council of war wa< held, and sacred ceremonies celebrated to dis- , ,.\ i r the caii-e of the defeat. The solemn verdict was that as chil- dren of the Sun -ii'oddos they had acted with irreverence and ptv- Mimptioii in jouriievin^ in Apposition to the course ot the .-un from \\e-t to ea-t, in-tead of moving, as the sun ino\es, from eaM to west. Thereiipf.ii thev rooked to turn to the south, and advance westward. I,ea\in_r the ill-omened -hoiv-, they coa-ted round the M.uthern point tliirp. inili--. witli iiKtny n-.irrn'.v ] inquires. It lias >i\ divi-ions (ninhn, tnkinu Ihfir naiiif - tVuni tin 1 j'i'"\ iii'-c- \vln.-i- >liui'i'> tliry \va-li. It ciiiituiiis ;i \ - a>t 1111111- In v nt i~!;iiiil-, 1'tit l'.'\v kii'fAii at'r anil cdiivrniriit idicliorau'es, dottril \\itli lii.uiv lar^f tn \\ii- and prc.x iin-'.al capital- and ca-tled eilir-, and nutrcl t'nr tin- a<-thi' trade "I ' i! - ii,ha''itaiit-. It i f'laiininirato \\ ith tin- I'acilic l.y tlic rlian- ll'-l- i't' Kii "11 tlie e.l-t. 1'illll-M ell the Milltil, ami |.y the Stl'ait- of Sllilllunu-eki I thf < ii ; >r;dtar ul' .lapan " ), liall' :i mile wide, on the \\ , -t. It. can \n- na\ i^ated >at'ely at all -ea-on- "!' the year !>'. day, and now. uiiiier nrdinary eii-eiiin-tanee-, I .y n'uh:. t!iank> tn tin- v\>t em uf 1'm'ht- In ni-i-- tin- roiii. r lilyri|uiii|'i-d with the latent iu-tram i.!- "I i>;.iie.d -eiencc, ineiudi:r_ r di.iiitrie and e.itDi.li-i,-. ii\e,l ;,nd revulv- ih'_', \\ hi'.f .in 1 1 ciihuvi li^ht-. in e.irtli'iuake ] i-i ml' tnu er-. t i-ei-t. (1 l.y Knuli-h eii- ^ r iiif -- ii: tin- -er\iee of the mikadi.'- ( iiivernmeiit. Tin tide- and 'urreiit-- nf tin- S. ; t-. 1 iii are n.il a- yet pei-feetly km.wii. Imt arc fiMiiHl to In- regular at tli" e.i-' .'.i.'l u. -1 entraii' --. the tide wave- euininir IV-im the I'aeiih-. In maii\ part.s tie \ I':.', '.viih Li'l'ea! Veiui ity. The ellt nil paiye .")7-ihi\v- fine nt'tlie-e narniw ]':i--;i_;. - wlii'I'e the edd\ ilm' clllTcllt- ni-h ji i-t a ruck in mi'l eliiinilel. -ei)|inilL r 'he -l,f ii'' -. .I'ld h'a\ iii_ Mi-t en i "iiuh I'm .in fur the pa-~au'c n| a l.iri;e -t.-iiner. A \ r\ >!. -' nieti\e .[(. ii- nf iindlll-k inhaliit- the lid.unl Sea. vvhieli perfe.- I'.ite- tim 1 "'!', makiii:;' h"!e- ..|i. -third nf an indi ill iliani-'iiT. >ailiiiL;' - \'e--el-> in.iiii'1 tn \ iLM-aKi -"lie 1 im - liin! it I" tter in \\ in i. r t,i \\ n|-|\ tin-, .u-h the |nl;m,] S--a ,-.'.: ; r than t I" .it IMIIIH! < 'ape < hich;dv>'l' a^ain-l the Kuri. >hiu u. 'I hi.- lat- r ! it i- - ' dillieiili th..t -.:ii'ii- are ;ipt 1.. .'.r-.p ihf IV" m tin- .lapani'M' name i >:.!:. i... "I thi- c.q.ei ;/,.'-,- -.' .iinl turn i! int., all |-'.:;-!i-h nr II. hre\\ w.ird. "I'll"-.; v\ h.i are tr\ iii'_' tu IIIMVI th-it tin- .F.i].aii'-i- an- I lie " |n-l t ril.e- " mi- lit make if Hi. ir !' -t aririim. nt- tr-m I hi- t.ie| Kaempf. ;-. ii nniv lie -.tuteil, il.-i'iveil ih" .1." ,. - . !.\ rapid tran- it. fi .111 1 1.. 'l'"-.\, ,,( Hal.. I. ai n. Siheria t.. the i-hiiid-. '("!. -j'ellin^ nt' < i/.aka i.i'-ceiii ,,|, t ].,. , , . i- i n :i ,., ..yd.mee \\ it h 1 he re. jiiire- - "f . I., pane-.- rule- nf orthography, and the u-atrc nf the p^'plc in (j/aka 1 K. .;. THE TWILIGHT OF FABLE. 57 of Kii, and landed nt Arasaka. Ik-re a peaceful triumpli awaited them, for the chief surrendered, and presented Jimimi with a s\v<>rd. A representation of this scene, engraved on steel, now adorns the green- back of one of the denominations of the national hank-notes issued in l' s '7_ ; . The steps of the conqueror were now bent toward Vamato. The mountain-passes were diilicult, and the way unknown; but l>v act of one of the gods, Miclii no Oini no mikoto, who interposed for their guidance, a gigantic crow, having wings eight feet long, went before the host, and led the warriors into the rich land of Vamato. Here, they were not permitted to rest, for the natives fought stoutly for their soil. A X;UTO\V Passage in the Inlaml Sea. On one occasion the clouds lowered, and thick darkness brooded over the battle-field, so that neither of the hosts could discern each other, and the conflict stayed. Suddenly the i^loom was cleft by tin- descent from heaven of a bird like, a hawk, which, hovering in a flood of golden effulgence, perched upon the bow of Jiminu. II is adver- saries, dazzled to blindness b\* the awful light, fled in dismay. .lim- mii, bein<_r now complete victor, proceeded to make his permanent abode, and fixed the i/f im- posing magnificence. Tie distributed rewards t<'> his soldier- and offi- cers, and chose his chief captains to be rulers over provinces, appor- tioning them lands, to be held in return for military service. It will l>e noticed that t!ii- primal form of vvneral e.- ( , V ernment was a species <>{' feudal:-m. Su.-h ;< political -\-tem \\ a> of the mo-t rudinieiitarv kin.! ; oiih a litti<- Better than the Council of the Six Nation- of the Innjiioi-. or \\;,- similar to tiiat of the A /.tecs of Mexico. 'I'!,.- i\ I.eini: 1 now traiKjiiili/ed, weapons \veiv laiil aside, and a!!' niioii was ^i\ n t tin- art- of peace. Aiiion-' the Jir-t thine> ac- C"U;j iished vva- til'' -"lemn deposit of tlie tlllVe -acred eml'lelll: Illil'- i :. -\\ord. and Kail in the palace. Sacrifices -were offered to the Sun _ ..Id.'-- i >\\ T irimiiio \ ama. .limmu married the prince-- Tatars, the mo-t Keautiful woman in l-ipan, and daughter of one o! hi- captain-. I luring hi- life-time his hii-f energies were -pent iii consolitlating hi- po\\cr, and eivili/iiiLT hi- -ui'jects. Several relieiiiniis had to I.e put down. After clu-o-inu; an heir, he died, leaving three diildn'ii. at the au'e of nno liundivd and tueir. \--cv e;i years, acc,.i'(linL:' to the Xilmiiyt. and of one hundred and tllil'lX --eV ell, according to the Kuj'iki. \\ \- ic, no means certain that .limmu \va> a historical character, 'i .ie onlv |M>,I]<- de-crili'niu' him are lull collection- of invths and fa- I'lc-. in which cxi>ts, perhap-. a mere -k.'let"!! of hi-torv. Kveii the .lapatic-e writer-, a-, for in-'aiicc. the aiitlior nf a popular liistorv (/J.i' .V/V/fi// Knk'i l\'i /!"i/,' Ym-ii.'i A"/), intcrjitvt the narratives in a ra' ional:-; je m, inner. Thus, the " civ^lit-headi'd >erpent-'' in the A'"/-.'''' an explained to l>e p. '-i-tcnt aivh-ivl.els, or- valorous eiiemie-; t he " j.-roiind pider-." to lie ivliel- of le--er not' 1 : and the -pider-pits or h"le-," the reliel-' lurking-places. The --i^aiitic i:ro\v. \\itli win^- ei-'ht f. et li'ii^'. that I'd the ii"-t into ^'al!:a^' v\a- prohaMy. -a\ - the native writer, a fam"U- eaptain vv ho-e name wa- !\'ara-u (ITMNV ). \\lio i-'d the advaiice-tniard into Vamatu, \vith -u< h \a!'>r. direct ne--. and rapidit v . tliat it seeim-il miraculous. The m\th , ,f a-eril'ini; 1 the u'uid- aii'-e "t ill-- armv to a r\;,\\ was pr!,a!'l\ invent'-d later. A larj;e numl'iT .if th" ineid'-nt- related in the l\jon n- fu-'d to receive the inhefi t atiee ; \<\}: the ladiT. knowing that hi- father 'l'iilt. The reigning emperor refers to him a> his ancestor from whom he claims unbroken descent. The 7th day of the Fourth month (April 7th) is fixed as the anniversary of his ascension to the throne, and that day is a national holidav, on which the iron-clad navy of modern Japan iires salutes, from Krupp and Armstrong o-iins, in his honor, and the military, in French uni- form-, from S:iid >r and Remington rifles, burn ai, monnriani powder. The era of Jimmu is the starting-point of Japanese chronology, and the year 1 of the Japanese era is that upon which he ascended the throne ai Kashiwabara.* A large number of Japanese students and educated men who have been abroad, or who, though remaining at home, have shed their old beliefs, and imbibed the modern spirit of nihilism, regard Jimmu as a myth. The majority, however, cling to their old belief that the name Jimmu represents a historical veritv, and hold it as the sheet-anchor of their shifting faith. A youim; Jap- anese, fresh from several year.-. 1 residence in Furope, was recent Iv rai- iii-d concerning his belief in the divinity of the mikado and in the truth of the Kojiki. His final answer was, " If is, mv duty to he-Hew in them." * Dr. .]. .]. ilnll'iiKiii, who has. written the best Japanese trrammar yet published, in expressiii'j; the exact date uivcn in the Kajiki, in terms of the Julian stvlc. says tin- r.Hh n f February ((Kit) n.c.) was the day of Jiiiiinu's ascension. Pn> ti-ssor F. Kaiser has found out by ealeulation that at eiirht A.M. on that day ol the said ye;;! 1 there was a new moon at the 'minkn. ''Therefore," savs tin- ^rain- marian. h-ajiinir on the winu:s of his own lo^ie to a tremendous coiielu-ioii. ainl seitlinu' down into assured satisfaction, "the correctness of the Japanese ehro- noioii'y may not lie called in (|iiestion." ('See page 157, and note of "A Japanese Grammar, '' J- J- Huil'man, Leyden, IbUS. ) Till-: .MlKAlJU'* EMl'IKK VI. THI-: C FROM tin- death of .liiuiim Tenno to that <>f Kinmiei, in \vlmsc [I- 1 1 r.iiddhi-in vva- introdiieed (\.i>. ,">7 1 ). there \veiv, acconliiiu' to ih'' lini .'\",lin S/it, thirt\-one mikados. i Miring tliis period of t \\el\i- hundred ami thiru-si\ \ear-, l>elie\ed to In- historic l>y in-t intere-tiii^ -nl'jeet- tu l>e noted arc the reforms of Sfijin 'I'miin. the military expeditions to Kasicrn .lapan 1>\ Vamatct lak'-. tin 1 in\a-ion df Corca ly the Min]M-r .linu r u K'ou'o, and the in ti-'lui-tii'ii of ('hiiie-e i'i\ ili/ation and <>f l>nddlii>in. The X'llon'j'i detaiU the history and e\|iloits of these aiieieiit nili-r- with a niinuteiie . and exaetne-^ <>t en-emnstanee that are \erv sn-- ]ii<-i"l!-. It ^i\e-lln- JU'ee'lM' hil'tlldavs alld a^'es of the fllljiel'ors. \v!|o in tho-r da\- attained an ineivdiUe lon^vvitv. Takonouchi, the ,lai>a- !ic in- uviT one hundred Years old. ( >ne of them I'uled iiu- ln;!i'iiv.l and one vears. The rei^n- of ihe lir-t seventeen avc-r- ;i--,-d over M\t\"lie \ ear>. I'Volil the StVellteelltli to the t hill V-Hl'st, the a\ ' ra'ie n-i^n i- little over twelve veais. In the li-t tin-re are maii\ \\ !:'-'' li'' ' I-, though (-xaLT^erated in the mirage f taMe. ai'e, in the ln:ii:i. lno-1 [ >i'i .! i;i! >! \ hl-t' >ne. >ni'm. al-o i-niii-d Shnjin or Sunin (n.c. '.iT-^in), \vas aee. >rdin<_:' t<> ih.. /'ietv. The trait- of , , .i;r;. u -.' and encr^x \\hieh eliaraeterixed hi- vouth ^ave him in inaiilioo.i -i^nal tiliie-- t^r hi- eiio-eii ta-k of eIe\atiiiL.' 1 hi- [ieoj)le. lie l!|olini'-d o\ U ii'kedlle--. alld eali.'d lljioll tllelll to f..r-all,. liein^ -till unrepentant, tli'- pion- nioiiaieh rii-.. e;ii'l\ n tip- iiioi'iiin^. fa-ted, and piiriiied his -.l.-inii pul>iie w..r-hi|i the --d- an-v.i-r.-d him. and the plague aKati-d. A revival of r.'Ii^ioii- feelm- 1 and w.,r-hi|i f'>ll"\v.-d. In hi- n i-'n date- th>- LuiidiiiLT "t" -peeial -hi'in.-- f. ,f the adoration df the Lfods. SKWiV, THE CIVILIZER. 61 * Hitherto the sacred ceremonies had been celebrated in the open air. Further, the three holy regalia (mirror, sword, and ball) had hith- erto been kept in the palace of the mikado. It was believed that the efficacy of the spirit \vas so great that the mikado dwelling with the spirit was, as it were, equal to a god. These three emblems had been placed within the palace, that it might be said that where they were dwelt the divine power. A rebellion having broken out during his reign, lie was led to believe that this was a mavk of the disfavor of the u'ods, and in consequence of his keeping the emblems under hi^ own roof. Reverencing the majesty of the divine symbols, and fearing that they might be denied by too close proximity to his car- nal bodv, he removed them from his dwelling, and dedicated them in a temple erected for the purpose at Kasanui, a village in Yamato. He appointed his own daughter priestess of the shrine and custodian of the symbols a custom which has continued to the present time. The shrines of TJji, in Ise, which now hold these precious relics of the divine age, are always in charge of a virgin princess of imperial blood. Later, being warned by the goddess Amaterasii to do so, she- carried the mirror from province to province, seeking a suitable lo- calit\ : but having grown old in their search, Yamato him e* continued it. and finally, after many changes, they were deposited in their pres- ent place A.D. 4. (.'opies of the mirror and sword were, however, made by Sujin, and placed in a separate building within the palace called the "place of reverence." This was the origin of the chapel still connected with the mikado's imperial palace. From the most early time the dwelling and surroundings of the mi- kado were characterized by the most austere simplicity, quite like the Shinto temples themselves, and the name nuijti was applied to both. In imagining the imperial palace in Japan, the reader on this side the Pacific must dissolve the view projected on his mind at the mention of the term "palace." Little of the stateliness of architecture or the splendor and magnificence of the interior of a European palace belongs \--> the Japanese imperial residence. A simple structure, larger than an urdinary tiist-da-s dwelling, but quite like a temple in outward appear- ance, and destitute of all meretricious or artistic ornamentation within, marks the presence of royalty, or semi-divinity, in Japan. Kven in Ki- oto, for centuries, the palace, except for its size and slightly givater el- ,;._, Till-: M/KADd'S edition, could not he distinguished from the residences of the nobles, or from a temple. Al! tin- was in keeping with the saeredness of the personage en-hrined \\ithin. For vain mortals, sprung from inferior or wicked i;'od-. for upstart generals, or low traders bloated with wealth, liixiirv and di-pla\ were tjiiite seemly. Divinity needed no material -how. The eireiimstaiiees and attributes of deity were enough. The indulgence in iraudv di-plav was oppo-ed to the attributes and char- acter of the living representative of the Heavenly Line. This rigid -implicitv was carried out even after death. In striking contrast with the roval burial customs of the nations of Asia are those of Japan. The Mik:i(|.>'< MrtiuHt of Travel in vi-rv Ancient Times. All over the F :I M. the tombs of dend dynasties are edifices of all oth- er- the Min-t ma-j;niticent. The durable splendor uf the homes of the departed far exceed that of the palace^ of tlie li\ni<_r. Hut in Japan, in place of the i_fM|-j.-eous maii-ol. ]] 1 1 1 - and the eo]o>sal masterpieces of nioi'tuarv architecture of continental A-ia. the sepulchres of the mika- do> seem niomnneiit- of eha-te po\ ( -rtv. N'earlv all of the imperial tomli< are \\ithin the three province- of Yamato, Vamashiro. and Set- t-u. A simple ba-e of -tone, -uriiioiinteii b\ a lo\\ shaft, set upon a hillock, surrounded bv a tivneh, and inelo-cd with a neat railing of timlier. mark- the iv>tinir-place> /:.)/;//,/:. iniijiiitv tin' stealing of "i' 1 ' >' '' |( ' mines, or horses on the prairies, is tin 1 draw HILT I'iT water from a neighbor's field. In those oM nulr tillles. 1 In- Japanese Water-thief, when dl'tOl'tcd, FOCl'lved but littlf more meiv\ ih.-tn the horse-robber in tin- \\ e>t. The immense labor neces- sar\ to "-aaiii the rojui-itr water-supply ran only he appreciated by one \\ho has studied the tlumcs of ( 'alifoniia, the tanks of India, or the various appliances in Southern A>ia. In Japan, it is yery eoin- terrace, with LTi'eat labor, the mountain gulches, and utilize the stream in iiTi^atin^ the platforms, thus ehan^iiiLj a imisy, foaming sir. am into a M!, -tit and u.-eful servant. In many cases, the water i< led f, ,r miles aloii^ artitieial eanals, or ditches, to the fertile soil which needs it. On flat land-, at the l>a>c of mountains, hn^e reservoirs are i-\ea\ated. and tapped a^ often as dcsiri'd. In the boxiin of the Ha- koiii' 1 Mountains, between Salami and Suniu;a, i- a deep lake of pure eold water, over five thousand feet above the --('a-level. < hi the plain below are few or no natural >t reams. Centuries a:: 1 ", but loii^ after Sujin'- time, the mountain wall was breached and tiimu-led by man- ual labor, and now through the rocky sluices flows a flood siillieieiit to enrich the millions of acre> of Suruu'a province. The work be^un by Sujin wa> followed up yi-.fi'rou^ly by hi- Mir-eessor, as we read that, in the year A.D. t>, a proclamation was issued ordering canals and >luicc> to be .'iu^ in over ei^'ht hundred plaee<. The i-mperor had two -nils, whom he loved eijuallv. 1 liable to de- termine which of them should succeed him. he one day told them to tell him their ;livam> the 1 next morning, and he >liouM decide tin; i>.sue b\ intrr].retatioi!. The \oim-- princes accordingly washed their bodies, changed their garments, and s] r pt. Next day the elder >on said. " 1 dreamed that I climiu'd up a mountain, and, facing the east, I cut with the sword and thru-t with the -pear ci^ht times." The yminu'i i -aid, "1 climbed the same mountain, and. stret<'hiii<; snares of coi'ds ,,(i c\t-ry side, tried to catch the -parrou^ that destroy the LTrain." The emp'-ror tln-n interpieteil the dream, "Vim. my son," said he to the ( Ider. "looked in one direction. Vmi will - to the l']a>t, and bee. iin.' it- governor." ''Vmi, in\ s,,n,"saicl "he to the youn _;' T, "looked in e\ciy direction. Von will ^'"Verii on all .-ides. ^ mi will become my heir." It happened a- the father had ,^ai the Northern Department, lying north of Yamato and along the west coast, holds a high place of renown among the long list of famous Japanese warriors. It is said that when, just after lie had started t,o join his command, he heard of a conspiracy against the mikado, returning quickly, he killed the traitor, restored order, and then resumed his duties in the camp at the Xorth. His son held com- mand in the East. In the following reign, it is written that military arsenals and magazines were established, so that weapons and rations were ready at any moment for a military expedition to repel incursions from the wild tribes on the border, or to suppress insurrections within the pale of the empire. The half-subdued inhabitants in the extreme* of the realm needed constant watching, and seem to have been as restless and treacherous as the Indians on our own frontiers. The whole historv of the extension and development of the mikado's em- pire is one of war and blood, rivaling, if not exceeding, thai of mir own country in its early struggles with the Indians. This con-taut military action and life in the camp resulted, in the course of time, in the creation of a powerful and numerous military class, who made war professional and hereditary. It developed that military genius and character which so distinguish the modern Japanese, and mark them in such strong contra>t with other nations of Eastern Asia. The loiiir- sustained military operations also served to consolidate the empire. Oh TV/A* MIKADO'S /:.V /'//,' A". In tlic-o ancient il:i\ '-. however, there was no regular army, no special i-l:i>- of warriors, us in later times. I'ntil the eighth century, the armie- were extemporized from the farmers ami people generally, as ivca-ion demanded. The war over, they returned to their daily ein- plovni' nl-. The mikado-; \\eiv military chiefs, and led their armie-, or nave to their -on- or near relatives onlv. the chaise of expedition-. It i- not my purpo-e to follow in detail the loiiir series of I'attlo, or even court con-piracie- and intrigue-., which till the .lapaiie-e hi-- toric-. ;,iid !c;iil -"me reader- to -uppo-i- thai war \\a- the normal con- dition of the palad- and empire. I prefer to -n<.w the condition of the people, thf-ir nuthoil- ,,f life. ctiMoin-, idea-, and l.elicf-. Al- though \\ar- without and intrigue- within \\ere fri'|Ueiit, the-e ]>\- no meaii- mad-- up the life <,f the nation. lY.ie,. had it- \ictorie-, no le-- n-no\Mit-d than tlm-e of war. A -tudv of the life of the people. -howin-- their pro'j-re-- from 1'aiTari-m to <-\\ ili/atioii, will. I think, he of niofe intefe-t to th" reader than <\< tail- concri-nini; 1 imerial n-lx-U. In the .(.-ipane-e hi-tofie-. and in of!!' ia! lati'_ r na'j,-e. literal u re, and eti- jiii-tte of late]' dav-. there e.\i-t- the con,-,.ption of t\\o ^ivat -pheri-- t activity and of t\vo kind- of Iran-action-, re.nirin^ two method- of THE CIVILIZES. 67 treatment. They are the nai and yuai, the inner and the outer, the in- terior and exterior of the palace, or the throne and the empire. Thus the Xihon Guai Shi, by liai Sanyo, or " External History of Japan," treats of the events, chiefly military, outside the palace. His other work, jVihon Seiki, treats rather of the affairs of the " forbidden in- terior " of the palace. In those early days this conception had not been elaborated. [mperial Crest, or the Mikado's Seal, for Private or Palace Business. Leaf and Blossom of the Pitulon-iiiii ruipcnalii (.kiri.) The mikado from ancient times has had two crests, answering to the coats of arms in European heraldry. One is a representation of a chrysanthemum (kiku), and is used for government purposes outside the palace. It is embroidered on rlau's and banners, and printed on official documents. Since the Restoration, in 18G8, the soldiers of Ine imperial army wear it as a frontlet on their caps. The other crest, representing a blossom and leaves of the Ponlowrti/t i/njicrinU^ (kiri), is used in business personal to the mikado and his familv. The an- cient golden chrysanthemum has. since 1 80S, burst into new bloom, like the flowering of the nation itself, and has evcrvwheiv di>plaeed the trefoil of the parvenus of later feudalism the Tokugawas, the only military vassals of the mikado who ever assumed the preposter- ous title of " Tycoon." THE MIKADO'S VII. YAVATO-flAKJ':, THE CO.\qrEKOR OF THE KTAXTO* A NEW hero appears in the second century, whose personality seems so marked that it is impossible to doubt that within the shell of fabu- lous narration is a rich kernel of history. This IHTO, a son of tin- twelfth emperor, Keiko (71130 A.D.), is pictured as of fair mien, manly and spacefill carriage. In his youth he led an army to put down a re- bellion in Kiushiu; and, wishing to enter the enemy's camp, he di- gnised himself a- a dancing-girl, and presented himself before the sen- tinel, who, dazed hv the beauty and voluptuous figure of the supplied damsel, and hoping for a rich reward from his chief, admitted her !o the arch-rebel's tent. After dancing before him and his carousing guests, the delighted voluptuary drew his prize by the hand into bis own tent. Instead of a yielding girl, he found more than his match in the heroic youth, who eized him, held him powerless, and took his life. For this valorous effort he received the name \ amato-1 >ake. or, the Warlike. Thirteen years after this victory, A.D. I 1", the tribe- in eastern Japan revolted, and Yamato-I>ake went to subdue them. lie stopped at the shrine of the Snn-ojoddess in 1-e, and, leaving his own sword under a pine-tree, he obtained from the prie-te-- the sacred sword, one of the holy emblem- en-hrined bv Sfijin. Armed \\ith this palladium, lie penetrated into the wilds of Suni'_ra. to fi_dit the Ainos, who tied before him from the plain- into the woods and mount- ain fa-tne--e-. The Aino method of warfare, like that of our North Ameri -an Indian-, \\a- to ;i\-oi,l an encounter in the open field, and to * Kuanto (e.et ofthe harrieri. The t< Tin Kuanto was, j.ndialily a- early :ir- the nint! 1 . century, a | 'pi ii-d to that par! f .Japan him: c:i-t of t lie Lruard irate, or 1 'ai- rier, at Ozaka. a -mall villa::-'- uti t in liurdi-r- \' Vania-hii-n ami Onii. It inehnl'-d thirty-tlin-c iirnvinci--. Tin- n iiiainin.'.- Hiirty thr. < prn\ ini-c- \\n-c called Ku.in- :-!! ( wc^t "f th>- I'arri' r >. hi IIH M'I' rn t 'HIK-- and at |.p--ent. the term K nan in i \s rit - t'-n al-n Kan In) is ap!>!;< d t" tin- citrht |-r.n im-i- i Kiian lia--h'nn ea-t < if the l| ;l k'liii- ranirp. c-nji^istiiiir nf S:iir:irni, Mu-a-hi. Kud/uKi'. Sliim<>1-uke, Kad/,u-a. A\MI. Shiiim-a. and Hitachi. S(>m>'1 ini'-- Id/.u. Kai. and th<- pnixinee- of lloiid" noi'tli uf the thirty-eighth parallel, t'onnej-lv eaiied Mut.-u a;:d bi'-ua. are ul.-o ineliuh I YA1TATO-DAKE, THE CONQUEROR OF THE KUAXTO. (i<) fight in ambush from beliind trees, rocks, or in the rank undergrowth, using everv artifice by which, as pursued, they could inflict the great- est damage upon an enemy with the least loss and danger to them- selves. In the lore of the forest they were so well read that they felt at home in the most tangled wilds. They were able to take advan- tage of every sound and sign. They were accustomed to disguise themselves in bear-skins, and thus act as spies and scouts. Fire was one of their chief means of attack. On a certain occasion thev kin- Japan died the underbrush, which is still seen so densely covering the un- eleared portions of the base of Fuji. The flames, ur^ed by the wind, threatened to surround and destroy the Japanese annv a si^hl ^hieh the Ainos beheld with yells of delight. The Sun-^-oiM, " tlu-u ap- peared to Yamato-Pake, who, drawing the divinely bestowe.l ^\\ord Murakumo. or "Cloud-cluster" cut the fjrass around Iiiin. So invin- cible was the blade that the flames ceased advancing;' and turned to- ward his enemies, who were consumed, or fled defeated. Yamato-1 >akc 7d TllK MIKADO'S EMPIRE. then irrate fully acknowledging to the f tin 1 sword to Kusanairi (Grass-mower). < 'ro.--iii^ the Hakoiic Mountains, he descended into the threat plain of the K.i-t, in later dav s called tlie Kuanto, \vliich stretches from the ha-e of the central ranges and talile-land uf Hondo to the shores of the I'a'-itic, and from Salami to hvaki. On reaching the Hay of Yedo at about Kainixaki. near I raj^a, olf which Commodore Perry anchored with his -[earners in is.}:}, the hills of the opposite peninsula of A\va -.eiiied so \ery close at hand, that Yamato-1 >ake supposed it would lie a trilling matter to cross the intervening channel. Jle did not know what we know so well now, that at these narrows of the hay the \\inds. tides, currents, and weather are most treacherous. Having embarked with his host, a terrific storm arose, and the waves tossed the boat so helplessly about that death seemed inevitable. Then the frightened monarch understood that the Sea-trod, insulted bv hi- di parau'in^ remark, had rai-ed the storm to punish him. The only way to appease the wrath of the deity wa> l>v the sacrifice of a \ictim. Who would otTer .' One was ready. In the l>oat with her lord was hi- wife, Tachibaiia hinie. Bidding him farewell, she leaped into the mad wa\es. The blinding teiupe-t drove on the helpless boat, and the victim and the -a\cd were parted. I>ut the sacrifice was accepted. So,.n the storm ceased, the sky cleared, the lovely landscape unveiled it; serene n p. >-e. Vainat o- 1 ake landed in Kadxu-a. and subdued the tribe-. At the head >f the priiin-ula, at a site -till pointed out within the limit- of modern Tokio, he found the perfumed wooden comb of hi- v\ife. which had floated :.shoiv. Krectin^ an altar, he .ledicate.l the preci..u- I'elie ;i- a votive otTerinif to the eo.l-. A Shinto shrine still occupie- the -ite vshi'Tc her -pirit and that of Yamato-J >ake are wor- shiped by the tl-hernieii and -ailoi's. wlio-e junk- til! the (lay of Ye.lo with animation and pictniv-.jue beautv. A- usual, a pine-tree stands liear the -hrine. The arti-t has put Mount I ; uji in the di-tance, a beautifiil view of which i- had from the stiand. Yamato-I take then advanced n. irthvsapl. through Shimo-a. sailiiiLT alon^r the coast in boat- to the liol'der. as the Japanese claimed it to be, between the empire proper and the -ava^es, which lay at or near the thirty-eighth parallel. The two Lrreate-t chief- . .f the- Aino-. apprised of his c<.m- iirj, e.illectecl a '_ r r.'it army 1o overwhelm the invader. Se"ini_ r his ('.<< approaching, ati'l aweil at the -Hit. they were struck with coii- -teniation. and said. "The-.- -hip- mu-t be from the n;ods. If so. and wi draw bow atfain-t them, \\e shall be destroyed." ^ I ' u Courier liad YANATQ-DAE, THE CONQUEROR OF THE KUANTO. \ Yamato-Dake landed than they came to tlie strand and surrendered. The hero kept the leaders as hostages, and having tranquilized the tribes, exacting promise of tribute, he set out on the homeward jour- ney. His long absence from the capital in the wilds of the East doubtless disposed him to return gladly. He passed through Hitachi and Shimosa, resting temporarily at Sakura, then through Musashi and Kai. Here he is said to have invented the distich, or thirty-one- syllable poem, so much used at the present day. After his army had been refreshed by their halt, he sent one of his generals into Echizen and Echigo to tranquilize the North-west and meet him in Yamato. Junk in the Bay of Yedo, near the Shrine of Tachibaua him6. He himself marched into Shinano. Hitherto, since crossing the Hakone range, he had carried on his operations on the plains. Shi- nano is a great table-land averaging twenty-five hundred, and ri.-in;i in many places over five, thousand, feet above the sea-level, surrounded ami intersected by the loftiest peaks and mountain ranges in Japan. Ninety-five miles north-west of Tokio is the famous mountain pa of Usui Togo, the ascent of which from Sakamoto, on the hi^'h plain be- low, is a toilsome task. At this point, t\ventv--ix hundred feet above Sakamoto, unrolls before the spectator a magnificent view of the Bay of Yedo and the plain below, one of the most beautiful and impress- ive in Japan. Here Yamato stood and gazed at the land and water. ,-_> TIII-: Mix.iijo's i:\ii -IRK. draperied in th 1 ' a/tire of di-tance, and. recall'MiLT the memory <>f his I .clove 1 \\ ifc. \\ : . !i:i : -a Till'-'- I her I iff for him. he murmured, sadlv, "Ad/.uma. ad/:!:ma" i M v \\ife, mv \\iiV). The plain of Yedo is still, in po, ;i \ , ' a 1. -1 Ad/uina. < Mir of the prince- of the l.lc>..'/<>//- i\\ of i he .lapaiie-e na\\. i- christened Ad/.nma-kuaii. '!'. > ri'i'ss ih,. tlu'ii ahr.i^t u:ikti"\\n nii'iintains <>f Shinaim \va- a ' ikiii^'. \\lii''h diil\- a chief <>f sl.>u! heart \\uld cssav/" 'i i i ra\ el in the t In nl \ populated mountainous portions of Japan e\ en .it the piv-eiit time, at lea-t to uiie accustomed to the comfort of the cars of ci\ iii/ation. is not plm-ant. In tho>e dav>. roa. Air and \\ater and solid earth \\eiv p"p- ulous \\ith the creature- of their imagination. KMTV ealamitv \\as the manifestation of {he wrath of the loea! ifods : every stieeess a proof that the _; 1 kami were -pe.-iallv favoring them and their leader-. Tin- cloud- and !'"_;- were the di-cointitinu' snares of e\il deitie- to cail-e them t" ]o-e th'ir path. The a-ph\ xiatini;' exhalation- from volcanoes, or from the earth, \\hidi to thi- dav jet out intlailimal'le -a-. Were the poi.-oiiotis 1'i'eath of the mountain !_:'<"1-. in-iilied l.\- the daring intru-ion into tln-ir sacivd domain. < >n one occa-ion the <_;. .,1 of the mountain came to "\ amato-I >ake. in the form of a \\ hite d'-er. to troiil'le him. ^ amato-I >ake. sii-pectin^; the animal. ihivu some v.iM irarlie in it- eye, can-ill'.: it to -mart so \ii.lentl\ that the deer di.'d. * Tli 1 ' : Shinaiii i- -i \ i-rc, aipl fir' 1 - arc !ii- h : , ,. K ; \\ tall- ni' -nuvv in \\inirr m.iUr tra\ i-lii!^ tcili : ll ill i ' ' ' ' V ato DaU.-'.- julirilcv in Is?:; , ,i,i| ; '. ._- ., ; ;:.- t.nnilri -1 mill - A- I have U'"'H' "n \\>\ nvrr tiie iii.iiint.ua : 1'akal i . ;.. 'I'nUin, in Mu-..~lii, ainl liki'wi-e l.avi . 1 u\n- lie- pa nt'St. Hrrnanl, I tliink. nil thiiiir- c":i-i'i !. 1 .! V -i! ' 1) :.' i-.jiiul in ('.iiirai;-. 1 . .-kill, .lariir_', pat i> : . . : : I n!'N i DTI. Ttu 1 tmiri-I today i ; a:i. A-ama yama, Va: . - Iliis thrum 1 r<"itn nt' nat- niv in -lataiL In ! : tin ri,-],,-! silk dir-trid in a'l Japan, tin' irnlil-'ii ' n-:iil. mv.-rin:,' ttic tl.MT- i 1 ahim-t i-vi-ry li"-.-' ilur'a:_' t\\ .1 11,1 : ihr d. f; I'm^i-i 1 :- nf-Iai' .-. : ' ' " i :i l'ii-ih TA.VATO-L'A KJ':, THE CONQUEROlt OF THE KUANTO. 7;j Immediately tlie mountain was shrouded in mist and fog, and the path disappeared. In the terror and dismay, a white dog a good kanii in disguise appeared, and led the wav safely to the plains of Mino. Again the host were stricken l>y the spirit of the white deer. All the men and animals of the camp were unable to stand, stupefied by the niephitic gas discharged among Them bv the wicked kami. Hap- pily, some one bethought him of the wild garlic, ate it, and gave to the men and animals, and all recovered. At the present day in Japan, partly in commemoration of this incident, but eh idly for the purpose of warding off infectious or malarious diseases, garlic is hun^ up be- fore gates and doors in time of epidemic, when an attack of disease is apprehended. Thousands of people believe it to be fnllv as effica- cious as a horseshoe against witches, or camphor against contagion. Descending to the plains of Mino, and crossing through it. he came to Ibuki yama, a mountain shaped like a truncated sugar-loaf, which reals its colo:-v:;l Hat head in awful majesty above the clouds. Yama- to-lJakc attempted to subdue the kami that dwelt on this mountain. Leaving his sword, ''Grass-mower," at the foot of the mountain, he advanced unarmed. The god transformed himself into a serpent, and barred his progress. The hero leaped over him. Suddenly the heav- en- darkened. Losing the path, Yamato-J )ake swooned and fell. On drinking of a spring by the way, he was able to lift up his head. Henceforward it was called Same no idzumi, or the Fountain of Re- covery. Reaching Otsu, in Isi>, though still feeble, he found, under the pine-tree, the sword which he had taken off before, and forthwith composed a poem: "0 pine, were vou a man, 1 should u'ive you this -.word to wear for your fidelity." lie had been absent in the Kiianto three vears. ][e recounted before the gods his adventures, difficulties, and victories, made votive offerings of his weapons and prisoners, and <_rave solemn thanks for the deliverance vouchsafed him. He then re- ported his transactions to his father, the mikado, and, bcinu' weak and ni^'h to death, he begged to see him. The parent sent a me-senu'er to comfort his son. When he arrived, Yamato-I >ake was dead. He was burii'd at Xobono, in Ise. From his tomb a white bird tle\v up; and on opening it, only the chaplet and robes of the deail IHTO \\ctv found. Those who followed the bird saw it alight at Koio-hiki hara (Plain of the Koto-players) in Yamato. uhidi was henceforth called Mi>a/.aki Shiratori (Imperial Tomb of the White IJird). Hi- death t'>k place A.I). I 1 :{. at the aire of t hirt v-si\. Manx temples in the Kuanto and in various parts of Japan are drdi'-ati-d to him. \ ha\e ifixeii ~" full nil aeei.iuil of Yamato-I >akr to -how the -tvle ;.ii.l -(uah: 1 . : ;iif: !:' Japanese tradition, and exhiliit tin- slate of Ka-ti r:i .1 : IH-. ait'l hccau-i' under tin- narration there i- >ne \\li-i extended tin' real lioimdaries of the early '"i male 1 *ake \\ a> "lie of the parth !ii>t<>ric and partlv ideal .... the eaii-e and the rlTcct o) the ,J;,| iain -< inili- - ; . .,- literan tra-h. and (nit Vaiiiiito-1 >aki' and all his -aine iinilio \\ith Itoinulus and hi- vvulf-nurst'. \\illiani Tell and hi- ap]>le; hut I e^n-ider him t> liavc Keen a historical )T- -MiiaLTe, and hi- d.-eds a part of genuine lii-tory. " Tli" II. till'-- 1'i'lln vari'in-. jirnviiicc- nf.h:p;'li arc u'i\ru licli.w. K;ich iianir i .(' .!.(:.! ]!'-' nrb'in ha- lik>-\vi-r a -\ IIDUN in n PMI| pumli'd i it' the Chinc-c \\,,\- t \ ,-./., . lli\i .I In thi 1 I in ll II lie Kit i< in ul' til e I 'hiin--.i- i-iial'ai-ti-r illi \v hii-h tin- :','-! -vliniilc of tin- nutivr \\nr,l i- \\ritten. In -miir ca-c< ihr Chinr-c I'unii i> in -' in ii-r. in u hirh ea-i 1 it i- iiaiiri/r.l. lii a lew ca-f- 1'iith t'or!n> ai'r c urn- ut. r.t, i,l,tl, or Tan-hill. '/''//' i". " 'rail-hill. " Tali-hill. li, HIM, " li,Kl,in. II . II iku-hiu. hi/ inui, ' r,,xl'hi. " s, ki.-liin. iml-0. Hf_'i'in). THE INTRODUCTION OF CONTINENTAL CIVILIZATION. VIII. TUT: INTRODUCTION OF CONTINENTAL CIVILIZATION. IF Japan is to Asia what Great Britain is to Europe according to the comparison so often made hv the modern Japanese then Corea was to Dai Nippon what Norman France was to Saxon England. Through this peninsula, and not directlv from Cliina, flowed the influ- ences whose continence with the elements of Japanese life produced the civilization which for twelve centuries has run its course in the island empire. The comparison is not perfect, inasmuch as Japan sent the conqueror to Corea, whereas Xormandy sent William across the Channel. In the moral and {esthetic conquest of Rome by Greece, though vanquished by Roman arms, we mav perhaps find a closer re- semblance to the events of the .second triad of the Christian centuries in the history of Japan. Is it true among historic, nations that anciently the position of woman was higher than in later times' It. has been pointed out by more than one writer on Greece "that in the former and ruder period women had undoubtedly the higher place, and their type exhibited the highest perfection. 1 ' This is certainly the case in Japan. The women of the early centuries were, according to Japanese history, possessed of more intellectual and physical vi^or, rillm*;' the ollices of state, religion, and household honors, and approaching more nearlv the ideal cherished in those countries in which the relation of the sexes is that of professed or real eqnalitv. Certain it is that, whereas there are many instances of ancient Japanese women reaching a high plane of social dignity and public honor, in later au'es the virtuous woman dwelt in seclusion; exemplars of ability were rare: and the courtesan became the most splendid tvpe of womanhood. Thi- mu-t be more than the fancy of poets. As in the Greece of llomt-r and the tragedians, so in early Nippon, woman's abilities and possibilities far surpassed those that were hers in the later days of luxury and civ- ilization. To a woman is awarded the glorv of the conquest of Co- rea, whence came letters, religion, and civilization to Japan. IK.UJIJ'* J-:M ///./:. In ;ill Japanese tradition r history, there is no ^vater female char- acter tliaii the i-inj'iv-- .lin^u (u^'dUke exploit]. Her name was Okina- wa Tara-hi hime. l-ut -he i- oetter known \<\ IKT posthumous title of .lin_'u K"_f", "V .liniru. tin- \\ife or -poii-e of tin- mikado. She was eoiiaiU ivno\\ ned fur her l>rautv, pietv, inteili^vnee, eiiei\rv, and mar- u r. She ua- ii"t "lily very ohedient to the LT"Y their inspiration. She feared neither the u.v.e- i.f the -ea. the arr\vs of the Kattlc-tield, nor the ditlieulties that .:; nil all ifr-'at eiiterjiri^es. (ireat as >he \\ as in lu 1 !' o\\ n person, -lie i> greater in the Japanese eves as the mother of the ej>d of \\ar. In the \ear l' l; ! a reliellinn !n-oke out at Kiinia-", in Kiu-hin. Tlie mikado < 'hiuai ( I tl-L'u(ij headed liis army, and maivhed to Mil-duo the reliels. .liii^u l\o^o, or Jin^u, the C'lninvss, folluwod him !i\ -hip, .111! larking from 'I'-uniu'a. in Eehi/en a jiort a feu miles iK>rth-we>t of the head of Lake l'>i\va meeting her hu-l'and at Tnvo n> nra, near the modern Sliiniono.-t'ki, of indemnity fame. Wliile \\ oishipinu on one of the i-land- of the Inland Sea. the --,'d >p.,ke to her. and .-aid, " \\ ll\ are \ ou SO deeplv ('"Iieeriied to e< ilujlUT Kllllia-o .' It is I tilt ;l ji "'i - . .-parse region, not uorth eoiiijueriiiv.' \vi;h an armv. I'liere is a m:;'-h larger and rieher eounti'v, a- -\\vet and lovelv as the face of a fair virgin. It i- da/./liiiu- lu-i^lit \\ilh v;ld. -ilver, and line eolors. and e\erv kind of rich tn a-ure- i- to lie found in Shiraki ( in ( '< iiva). \\Hr- -hi|> UK. and I \\ill Li'i\e \"ii power to eoiiijiier tin- roniitrv \\ithout Mood-hed ; and Kv my help, and the ^li.rv of voiir eoin|uest, l\uma-o -hail 1'e -trai".'ht\\av -ul"liieil." Tin- einp. rof. h.-aiin-- thi- from hi.- wife. \shieh -he declared ua- the me--a-v of the p/od N doul.ted. and. eliml'inu' I" tli'- -uiiimil of a hiu'h mountain, looked nvi r the sea, and -eeinif II" lalld to the \\e-t\\ard. all-Uel'ed her: "1 looked e\ el'\ U hefe and >aw water. l>ut no land. I- there a eouiitrx in the -ky .' It not, you deceived nn-. M\ ain-estors \\or-hiped all tin- efod- : i- there any \v h"in th'-\ did in 4 Vt ' 'I'-hip .'" The <_fod-, an-\\ t riir^ ilir"ii^h the iii-pire.l empre--. mah- ivplv : 'If vou 1" l\ your doiilit-. and sav there i- no eoimtrv when I h;:\e declared there i- one, ymi Ma-phenii-. and you .-hail not u r o tliithi-r: l'iit tin- empre. vour \\ife. ha- ei.neeived, and the child \\ilhin her -hall conquer ||,,. eountrv." Nevertheless, the emperor doul'ted. and ad\ancecl a_ r a;n-t Kuma-'. dut \va- \\or-ted 1'V the rel-e]-. \\'i,ili' in can, p. In- took -i'-k and died -uddenlv. A'^'ordin-r '" an- other tradition, lie \\ a- -lain in I'.attii l'\ an ari'"\\. II;- mini-tef. T.;!.r!e 'iiclii, c..!ieealeil hi- death from the -"Mier-. and earrii'd the 777 /: L\TA'ODUCTWN OF COXTISEXTAL CIVILIZATION. 77 corpse hack to Toyo no ura, in Xagato. The brave Jingu, with the aid of Takenouchi, suppressed tlie rebellion, and then longed for con- (juot beyond the sea. "\Vhile in Hizen, in order to obtain a sign from the gods she went down to the sea-shore, and baited a hook with a grain of boiled rice, to catch a fish. '' Now," said she, " I shall conquer a rich countrv if a fish be caught with this ^rain of rice." The bait took. A fish was caught, and Jingu exultingly accepted the success of her venture as a token of celestial approval of her design. " Medzurashiki mono!'' (wonderful thing), exclaimed the royal ladv. The place of the omen is still called .Matsnra, corrupted from the words she used. In further commemoration, the women of that section, every year, in the first part of the Fourth month, go fishing, no males being allowed the priv- ilege on that clay. The pious Jingu prepared to invade Corea; but wishing another indication of the will of the kami, she on one occa- sion immersed her hair in water, saying that, if the gods approved of her enterprise, her tresses would become dry, and be parted into two divisions. It was as she desired. Her luxuriant black hair came from the water dry, and parted in two. Her mind was now fixed. She ordered her generals and captains to collect troops, build ships, and be ready to embark. Addressing them, she said: "The safety or destruction of our country depends upon this enterprise. I intrust the details to yon. It will be your fault if they are not carried out. T am a woman, and young; I shall disguise myself as a man, and un- dertake this n-allant expedition, trusting to the gods, and to my troops and captains. We shall acquire a wealth v country. The glory is yours, if we succeed ; if we fail, the guilt and disgrace shall be mine." Her captain-, with unanimity and enthusiasm, promised to support her and carry out her plans. The enterprise was a colossal one for Japan at that time. Although the recruiting went on in the variou> pnninces, and the ships were built, the army formed slowlv. Chat'- iii"; at the delay, but not discouraged, again she had recourse to tin- efficacy of worship and an appeal to the trods. Erecting a tahcriia<-!' of purification, \\ith prayers and lustrations and sacrifices ^he pra\.d the kami to were propitious. Troops came in. The armv soon assembled, and all was ready. A.I). '201. Before starting, Jingu issued orders to her soldiers, as fullow> : "No loot. '' "V'ither despise a few enemies nor fear many, G 7- ni f-: MIKAIXJ-S /;.i//v A 1 /:. " ( Ji\ v mriw to th-e \x li" vield. 1 nit n<> quarter to tin- stubborn. ' Ke^.i 1 .-'! apportioned to the victors; punishments shall bo ' ix " 'I word- "f the "jod- came, -ayinir. " The Spirit of IVacc will le \ on and protect your lit','. The Spirit of \Y;ir \\ill ^o 1 ii ;!! \ > 'in 1 Chips'' ,l : : j "i au'ain returned thanks tor these fresh exhibitions of divine . ;md made her final preparations to -tart, \\heii a ne\v impedi- ;lm atcned to delay h"pele--!y the expedition, or to roll it of it- nd leader, the Amazonian ehief. She di-co\-civd that -he \\~a- ant. A";ain the ^ood fax or of the 'j.-od- enabled her to triumph o\ . r the olistaeles xxhieh nature, or the fate of her -e\. mi^ht throw in the path of her toxxcriipj.' amliitioii. She found a -lone v. hieli, liciii'j; plaeed in her girdle, delayed her ai-coucliuiiu-nt until her return from ( '..rea. It doe- not >eelll \'.} haX'e lieell perfectly clear Mi the mind- of tho>e anei-nt iililiii-ters \\here < 'oiva \va-. or for \\hat particular point of the hoi'i/on they \\cre to steer. They had DO char! or coinpa--. The sun. -tar-, and th" tliu'lit of Lird- xverc theii- u'uide-. In a -torm they \\ollM l,e helple . (>lle ti - 1 1. I'l 1 1; 1 1 1 had 1'eell -ellt to -ail \Vc-t\\ard and report. He came hack declaring thei-e \\'a- no land to lie -een. Aiiotln r man wa- di-patched, and returned, haying sc'-n ihe mount- ain- "ii the main-land. 'I he fleet -ailed in the Tenth month. \\ ind-, wave-, and curreiit- xvcre all fayoraMe. The --.nU xva'diecl over the riei-t, :.!ld -'lit -lloal- of 111 life ti-'l' 1 - to 11 !'_; e oil the \\a\e- that !iV tlleir impact ;: :'-. i the -tern- and mad.- the pro\v- leap a- thoiiu'li alive. The J ||, ,] -afelv in Southern Crea. the ,1,-ipane-i- army land- ed i;i ' ry of -n hi and the ^Taiid* ui' of uar in -plendid array. Th" kiii'j of thi- part of < ',,fi a ha 1 h-ard from hi- meennfcis of the coming of a -trance fleet fi-oin the I-^a-t. and. teri p i!ied. e\i-Iainied. " \\ e i \ ' ' I h'-i ! oni-ide of n-. i lax e our '^< 1- f. ir- -ak' ii i :" Tl i ilix i !'- had no li . do a- they expected. Ii \s a- a I'l ..... 11"-- inx a-ion. Th" < 'oi'eaii- came, holding \\ hit" f! a ;-, and thai th"X - : th"\ \\oiild in-vi-r caii-e their . , >M'|U"r< if- to d t ion. and that they \\ . iiild -I'jid li-'-ta-v- I.. Japan. 'i ri\ r- i ;hi lloxv haekxvai'd. or the pel>- i:i th' ;r Led- lea] ' - >uld they n..t break their oa'h. .lin^ii -et up \\eaon- . ;;i ',- ,,f th" kiirj; iii t"k"U of INTRODUCTION OF CONTINENTAL CIVILIZATION. 79 tidos of wealth, silk and precious goods of all kinds, and eight} 7 hos- tages, men of high families, were put on board. The stay of the Japanese army in Corea was very brief, and the troops returned in the Twelfth month. Jingu \vas, on her arrival, de- livered of a son, who, in the popular estimation of gods and mortals, holds even a higher place of honor than his mother, who is believed to have conquered Southern Corea through the power of her yet un- born illu>trions offspring. After leaving her eoueli, the queen-regent erected in Xagato (Choshiu) a shrine, and in it dedicated the Spirit of War that had guided her army. She then attended to the funeral rites of her deceased husband, and returned to the capital. The eoiKjuest of Corea, more correctly a naval raid into one of the southern provinces, took place A.D. 203. The motive which induced the invasion seems to have been the same as that carried out by Hide- yoshi in 1583, and contemplated in 1873 mere love of war and con- quest. The Japanese refer with great pride to this thiir initial ex-- ploit on foreign soil. It was the first time they had ever gone in ships to a foreign country to fight. For the first time it gave them the opportunity of displaying their valor in making "the arms of Ja- pan shine bevond the seas" a pet phrase which occurs in many docu- ments in Japan, even in this 2530th year of the Japanese empire, and of our Lord 187(5. Nevertheless, the honor of the exploit is given to the unborn son on whom dwelt the Spirit of War, rather than to the mother who bore him. The queen-mother is worshiped in many temples as Kashii dai mio jin. The son, Ojin, afterward a great \\arrior, was, at his death, 313 A. D.. deified as the god of war; and down through the centuries lie lias been worshiped by all classes of people, especially by soldiers, who offer their prayers, pay their vows, and raise their votive offerings to him. Manv of the troops, before taking steamer for Formosa, in 1 874, implored his protection. In his honor some of the most magnificent temples in Japan have been erected, and almost every tosvn and vil- lage, as well as many a rural grove and hill, has its shrine erected to this Japanese Mars. He is usually represented in his image- as of frightful, scowling countenance, holding, with arms akimbo, a br. .ad t u o-edu'ed sword. One of the favorite subjects of Japanese arti-ts ot nil periods is the group of figures consisting of the snowy-bearded Takenouchi, in civil dress, holding the infant of Jinini K'^-o in his arms, the mother standing bv in martial robes. Jiii'iu i- the heroine and model for boys, not of the girl-. In the collection of pictures, images, and 'loll- which in Japanese households on the .">th of May, e\vr\ year, teach to the .-hildr- n the names and deeds of the national heroes, and in-:ill the |es>oiis taught bv ilu-ir exampl-', this warrior- woman i- pi-iced anioiie.- the male, and n<>t amon^ the female, uToup-. Nine einpre-- e- in all have -at ujion the throne of Japan a- rulers, four of whom reigned at the capital. Nara. None have won such mar- tial I'eiinwn as Jiiiiru. It i- not probable, however, that militarv enter- I'ri-e will ever a"\ain "'ive the nation another ideal woman like the i oii'|iieror of mor-- for the trood and Ljlorv of the em- pire tliail <-Vel| the r.-nowiied ijlleen-lV'jVnt, JillU'll Ko"-f>. The early centuri--- of th" * 'hri.-tian era, from the third to the eighth, mark that period in Japane-e hi.-torv during which the future development and character of th- nation were mi'_;litih inthieii 1 by the introduction, from tl ontiin-nt of A-ia. of the mo-t potent fac- tor- in any civilixation. They were letter-, religion, philosophy, liter- ature, law-, ethic-, medicine, -cieii'-e. and art. Heretofore the \\v<\ un- toldin-_r- "I the ,lapaiic-e intellect in the , ompo-ition of -a-Ted hvmn-, <>de-. poem-, iiiviii-. and tradition had IM prop upon which to train, and i.o -h;. M a-'ain-t oblivion but the una--i-t',| memorv. The Jap- ane-e were DOW to liav I'ecord-. I b-i-etofoi-e i-eli--ion \\a- -implv the rude olT-priii': ot human imagination, f ( ar. and a-pirati"ii, without doctril'al -\-teni-. moral .d.-. elaborate t'-mpli-s or -acei'dota! ca-te. Il'-licefol-tli the Japaiie-e VVe|V t. be led. glided, and developed !T: moral-, intellect, and vvoi-hip by a feliu'ion that had alread\ brought the natioii- ,,} A-:,-', under i'- -v^av a -troi !_<_ overptiweriiiif. and a"f- L p re ivi- faith, thai wa- d.-fm.-d ' -idd Japan to it- coii-jiiots. I5ud- dhi-m. briii'_nnu IH-W and _T'-ati-r --UM-' i-n-. p'-nalti'--, motive-, and a p '-hive th'-olo-fv and c...|,. ,,f moral-, \\a- to develop and broad'-n the whole nature of the individual man. and t<- lead the entire nation Her Imperial Japanese Majesty, the Empress of Japan. Haniko, (From a photograph taken at T6kii>, 1S7I.) llaruko. THE INTRODUCTION OF CONTINENTAL CIVILIZATION. S3 forward, Chinese philosophy and Confucian morals were to form the basis of the education and culture of the Japanese statesman, scholar, and noble, to modify Shinto, and with it to create new ideals of government, of codes, laws, personal honor, and household ordering. Under their influence, and that of circumstances, have been shaped the unique ideals of the samurai j and bv it a healthy skepticism, amidst dense superstition, has been maintained. The coin- ing of many immigrants brought new blood, ideas, opinions, methods, improvements in labor, husbandry, social organization. Japan received from China, through Corea, what she is now receiving from America and Europe a new civilization. For nearly a century after the birth of Ojin, the record of events is blank. In 249 A.D. a Japanese general, Arata, was sent to assist one state of Corea against another. Occasional notices of tribute-bearers arriving from Corea occur. In 2s:> a number of tailors, in 2S4 excel- lent horses, were sent over to Japan. In 2S5, "\Vani. a Corean schol- ar, came over to Japan, and, residing some time at the court, gave the mikado's son instruction in writing. If the Xihonr/i the author- ity for the date of Wani's arrival in Japan could be trusted in its chronology, the introduction of Chinese writing, and probably of Buddhism, would date from this time; but the probabilities are against positive certainty on this point. If it be true, it shows that, thi.' lirst mi.-sionarv conquest of this nation was the work of four cent- uries instead of as many decades. Wani died in Japan, and his tomli stands near Ozaka. In A.I). 403 a court annalist was chosen. Envoys and tribute-bearers came, and presents were exchanged. In 402 mulberry-trees were planted evidently brought, together with the silk-worm, for whose sustenance they were intended from China or Corea. Again, tailors in 4Y1, and architects in 4!:>, and learned men in 512, arrived. An envoy from China came in 522. The ar- rival of fresh immigrants and presents from Corea in 54:5 is noted. In 551, during a famine in Corea, several thousand bu>hels of barley were dispatched thither by Japan. In 552, a company of doctors, diviners, astronomers, and mathematicians from Corea came to ihe at the Japanese court. With them came Buddhist missionaries, mav be railed the introduction of continental civilization, ning with Jiriu'ii, there seems to have poured into the island empire a stream of immigrants, skilled artisans, scholars, and teachers, bringing arts, sciences, letters and written literature, and the Buddhist religion. This was the lirst of three great waves of foreign civilization in Japan. -I TUK MIKADO'S EM PI RE. The first was from ('hiii;i, through Coiva in the sixth; the second i'p-iii \\e-teni Kurope. in tin 1 fifteenth eeiiturv ; the third \v;is from Amen. -a. Kur.'pe, and the world, in the decade following the advent of Cntimiodon 1'i-rrv. These inno\ ations \\ ere deMined to leaven nii^lit- il\ th \\ hli Japanese nation as a lump. Of t hoe none \\a> so pou- if-reaehiiiL:' in ell'eet- as that in the sixth eciiturv, and no one i 1< nieiit a.- Uiiddhisiii. This ini^lny i'oree \\a< declined to exert a iv- -i-t! -- and nnifxinLT inllueiiee on the \\hole people. Nothing annm^- all the elements that make up Japanese rivilixation, hsis Keen so potent in forming the Japanese eliaraeter as the religion of Buddha. Tliat the ui.rk of tln-M' lieu ei\ il'./.ers mav he fullv a] ipiveiat ed, let U- _! in V at life in I >ai Nijipou U-foiv their appearanee.* ^ Tin- Kin]']-)--- .T'ni^ii, :iftiT lirr return. iii;nlc a \ >ry 'n\\]'i'\^u\ i-liatiu'i' in tin.' (i;\ 'I-'MII~ of the i-iiii'iri-. Sri 11 1 11 Ti-nim i A.I). Kill '.HI i h.nl .ii\ iiii-d tin- i -in pin- into ]-i-"\ iners. tin- iiunilii-r of \\hidi \\a> thirty-twi) in nil. tin- land abovr the thirtv- - _ ' paralli-1 IM-III^; -till unknown, ami inhal-iti-vl l.y iln- \\ihl triNc-- of Aim'.-. .';:,_;. iiniiatin^ thi- ( 'orcau arnmuvinrnt, clh iih'il lln- enij.ii-,' into li\r honu- -, an i - -\i-n r/'i, o;- cirriiil-. naming' tln-ni in relation \(\ theii- direction from ; ; Tlux- are unalo^ou.- to our I-'.a-teni." .Middle," 'Soulh- c :'.." \Vi--ti-ni." " Tran- M i--i--i pj-i." and I '.i--ilii--eoa-t " di\ i-ion- of St ate-. Tl e " li \ - liolllf I'l'ovillee- " i ( io K inai i al'e V all la. -I I i !'o, Yamato, Ka\\ aehi. Id/ll- iii:. and >'-;t-u. The ToK:iido. or l-'.a-ti rn M-a ('irenit. eon)|irirrd the i>rovinct.-.- I' h '!: i le an from I--a to Hitachi, ineliidinu' K:d. Tin- To/anclo, or Ka-'e ii-i ml ' ireuit. included tlm-i' pi'tiviiici's fruin Onii to the s. i of Japan, nor im-hah-d u ithiu the Tokai T'M lloknrokmlo, 01 N'orlherti land Cm-nit, "inpri-ed the province- (Vom Waka-a to Kehiifo on tin >e.i of .e.ip.m. ;m d Sado I-Iaml Tl!' S:.!:il.l... "!' \1 ,';!.i ,: : ' !.;,ek I il'dlit, Co] || ] 'fi-ed \\illi t!|e (k'| ^I'ollp of i--' '' ' ' i ' itol .\arni. hordi rin^ on 1he Sea of .'apan. "' : s.iiiN-i ;-', or M mill - d the province:- fnun llari- ina to Niej'ato .or ( 'l;o [, s. a. '1 : ' x ' ' lit, compri-e- the province of Kii. the four J'p'vii,.-.-- ul I \o. San uk i, A u a. and 'l'o-a. ins. , , tour; /,-../,-//, pi o\ inc.- 1, and UK 1 ! ' v \ '-I'-rn M-a ( ireuit. eoni;.ri-e- nine prox'inee^ of Kiu-hiu (ki-i. nil rn-ei Th.- -i r-ii-hima. '' 1'i- '''\ i-' 1 feature- of the country, and ha- ever -hi' 1 : iiei'ii retained, -A th -l;_rht niodiiieat ion- a- to provincc-i. It i- very prolia- I'!'' lliat in 1 ' the .1 me-e dill n ,,t kii'.u that Hondo ua- an i-iand. A fop-i-i ! npire, or a i^lohe repi-e-entinir ' avc no -peeial and i;ilivi-i>;l! ' name for the m y r t :- f.,,-t. that neither they nor |'opn!:irly :i| IM |o th. main i-i iml. It ma\ l-c led \S h'-ther the ]M ,,],ie i n -, ,,, ; i II k o f ! ll ' ' II I a i 11 i - 1 a II d a - t "' - '" dtvi.-ion i-e'iuirin- a name, a- the fori i^m-i- conceive.- it, and thiio THE INTRODUCTION OF CONTINENTAL CIVILIZATION. 85 fuels a name to be a necessity. This necessity has !^iven rise to the error of ap- plying the term "Niphon'' (Nilion, Nippon, or Niton;, iirst done by Kaempfer. The Japanese had no more necessity to apply a special name to the main island than the early American colonists had to uive a name to the region beyoml the Mississippi. Even now \ve have no name in general use lor that now well-known part of our country. To foreigners, the abscnee of a name for the largest island seems an anomaly. In the Japanese mind it ne\er existed, lie rarely spoke even of Khishiu or Shikoku as names of islands, always tisin^ the names of the ii r >, or circuits, just as an American speaks of the New England or the Eastern Slates. In modern times, native scholars who have 1 , from their study, compari- sons, and foreio-n methods of thought, felt the, need of a distinctive name, have used Hondo (main continent or divi-ion), Jlonjima (main island), or Jlonjiu tmain country). Of these, Hondo seems to be the best; and as it is used in the )llici il ircooiYiphy recently issued by the \Var Department, I have made use of /(.. Nippon is not. nor ever was, the name of the main island, as Kaempfer lir:t asserted. Nippon, or Dai Nippon, is the name of the whole empire. The word is Chinese, and must have been applied in very ancient times, as the Nili. 070, lirst oflicially de- clared Nippon t'i be ihe name of Japan. It has been asserted that the Use of Dai (divat) before Nippon is quite recent, ami that the motive of the modern natives of Japan in thus designating their empire is "from a desire to imitate what they mi-take for the pride or vainglory of divat Britain, not knowing that the term dreat was used there to distinguish it from a smaller French province of the same name." To this remarkable statement it is sullicient to answer, that one of the mo-t ancient names of Japan is (> Yamalo, the word <~i meaning ^n-at, and the Japanese equivalent of the Chinc-e word /<"' or >i! or tui to whatever relates to their country, ^overn- ment, or any tiling which they in their pride consider very superior. Anciently they called China Dai To, and they now call it Dai Tsin (or Dai (.'him, dreat China. The .Japanese have done the same analogous tiling for at least twehe. prol'ably for fifteen, centuries. That the use of Dai << iivat ) before Nippon is not the fashion of the present century is proved by the' fact that the Japaiie-e cncy clo]ietiia Sun Si/i I)~ti }', , linished in 171:.!. contains the name with the pronuneia tion as now u-ed, and that it is found in the very name !>,ii I\ihn,i >/,>', a book eompleied in 1715. The use uf Nippon (or Niphon, or Nipon i. applied to the main i.-land, is altogether unwarrantable and confu-inir. The Japanese have very properly protested against this improper naming of their chief island, and. notwithstanding the IODL;- u>e of the name in Europe and America, ! believe it ~h:iuid be e\pii!!v<.l. The Japanese liave some j;'eograpliieal lights which we arj '.olllid to respect. M,fJpii)i.T\iK l)est map of Japan is that by Mr. 1!. Ibairy Bnmton.C K. F.Ii.d.S., late Engineer in-chief of the hiirht-hou-e Departnien 1 of the Ja;.:.ne.- (iovernnient. It is live feet by four, and drawn to a scale of twenty mil inch. It is well engraved, and i^ives aNo rules ol prouiiueiation, c\p!a:i:ilion ot' terms, Japanese lineal measures. railwa\>, liiu'hwavs, by-roads, telegraph line-, liirht-hou-es, depths of water alon^ the coast, steamer route-, li-;- of principal mijiin tains, rivers, islands, pn mi on lories, lake-, open port-, ela e- ct' population, pro\ inees, f/i, hex, and a comparative scale ol F.n-li-h mile- and Japanese / /. Tlii: MIKMJU'S IX. /. ///: /.v .t.Y'7/,-.\ T./.I/U.V. TIIK comparatively profound peace from tin- era of Sujin Tenim t" 'In- introduction of Chinese civili/ation was oeca>ionallv interrupted !'V insurrections in tin- southern aiiil western parts of the empire, t,,- !>v the inclusions of the unsubdued iil>oru;int':s in tin- North and Ka-; . I hiring these centuries there continued that welding of race- the Aino. Malay, Ni^'rito. Corean, and 1 i aniato into one ethnie conipo iti the Japanesi and the development of the national temperament, molded liy nature, circumstances, and original lu-nt, which have pr<>- dueed tin- iini'jiie Japanrsi.' char.icter. Although, in later centnrie-. Japan Imn'owed largely from ( 'hina, Mood, lan^uan'c, religion, letter-. education, lav.-, politic.-, science, art. and the accumulated tiva-mv- of <'hine-e rivili/.ation, her children are to-day, as thev have ever i'een. ;t people di-tin -t from the ( 'hiiie-e, cthnolo^ic.-tllv, pli\>icallv. and nioi-allv. 'I'hou^h freijiieiit li^'htiiiu 1 was necessary, and manv of the alioi-iu'i- ne- were -l-ni^lit ei'ed. the uTeat ma>- of them weiv train juilixed. T" nide nii-n. in a >tatc of sava^erv \\ho-e exi-teiiee i-, mr'.inlv animal, it matter- little who are thiir ma-:< T-. so loii^ a- the\ are not ti'-ated \\itli int.'leraMe rrudtv. The a!,. ,ri-ine~ .-ittached to ?he land roamed over it to hunt, or remained upon it to till it. and. alon^j the \\ater- ciiurses and >ea foa>t, t" ti-h. \\'i;h a -i>il that repaid uviieroii-ly the rude aLrrici:l;ure of that dav, an amjiie food--npplv in the -ea, uitlnuit severe ial">r. or e\or!iitant ti'il'iitc to |>a\, the conquered triiie-. when one,. ,|i)i..te !. iived in happiiie--. content, and peace. The p>vern- nieiit of them was the -i!ile. Tin- inxadd's from the very l-c^inniiiu' ('factic,.,] that -\-tem of eiuicul.ina^e uhich i- practical [lolvifamv, and liil'-d then 1 har< m- \\ith the mo-t attractive ot the \oim_r native female-. The daii^'ht' r of the foniiei' chief >hai'ed the couch of the coni jueror. and th.- p a- mt 'ii-.-ame the \\ite ot the sol- dier. -ecurin'_ r that admixture of i-ace- that the meiv-t t\'P in etluiol- i io-\- notice- in inodei'ii Japan, In ci-rtain portions, a- in the extreme north .-f Hondo, the Amo type ..f face and head, and the evneral ph\-i'-al charaeteri-tic- of -kin, hair, e\e>, and form, have -utTcred th<.: LIFE IN ANCIENT JAPAN. S? least modification, owiuo; to later conquest and less mixture of foreign blond. In Southern and Central Japan, where the fusion of the races was more perfect, the oval face, oblique eyes, aquiline nose, prominent features, and light skin prevail. Vet even here are found compara- tively pure specimens <>f the Malav and even Niu'rito races, besides the Aino and ( 'on-an tvpes. The clod-hopper, with his flat, round face, up- turned nose, expanded at the roots and wide and sunken at the bridge, nostrils round, and gaping like the muzzle of a pi ob'oscidian, bears in his veins the nearlv pure blood of his aboriginal ancestors. Intellectu- ally and physically, he is the developed and improved Aino the re- sultant of the action upon the original stock of the soil, food, climate, and agricultural life, prolonged for more than twenty centuries. In th'j imperial family, and among the kuge, or court-nobles, an. 1 to be oftener found tin 1 nearest approach to the ideal Japanese of hi_di birth. Yet even among these, who claim twenty-five centuries of semi-divine succession, an 1 notably among the daimios, or territorial nobles the parvenus of feudalism the grossly sensual cast, the ani- mal features, the beastly expression, the low type, the plebeian face of some peasant ancestor re-appear to plague the descendant, and to imbitter his cup of power and luxury. This phenomenon is made abundant capital of by the native fiction - writers, caricaturists, and dramatists. The diversity of the two types is shown, especially bv tiie artists, in strongly marked contrast. In the pictures illustrative of legendary or historic lore, and notably on the Japanese fans, now so fashionably common among us, the noble her;), the chivalrous knight, or the doughty warrior, is delineated with oblique eves, hLrh eyebrows, rounded nose, oval face, and smooth skin; while the peas- ant, boor, vanquished ruffian, or general scapegoat, is invariably a man of round, flat face, upturned and depressed nose, gaping nostrils, hd- or men divinely assisted. The conquerors wore not >l"\v in r;iiti\a'iiiir -neh a belief for their own benefit, and thus \\hat \\as nii'v the fancy of -avails became the do^ma of religion and the tool of the magistrate. The reverence and obedience of the |ie.']ile \\i-iv -till further secured liv making the government puiv- lv theocratic, and it- 'jvn.Tal procedure and ceremonial ideiitieal with tho-e of wor-liip. The forms of local authority amoiiLT the once independent tribes \\ere but little interfered with, and the i^overn- lin-nt t 'Xeivi-'-d o\ el' tlieiu con-i-tcd at tiist ehiellv in tlie exaction of tribute. The floating legends, local tradition-;, and religious ideas if the ahori_'ini -, gathered up, amplified by the dominant race, trans- formed and made coherent l>y the dogmatics of a tlieoeraev, beeame the l.a-i- of >hinto, upon which a modified Chinese eo-mo^ony and aiistraet pliilo-ophieal iack- _M'"Uiid that has made the resultant form of Shinto different from what i> ni'>-t ]>ro!>al>iv it> prototype, the ante-Coiifueiaii Chinese re- lij-jon. In its origin, Shinto i- from the main-land of Asia. In uTowtli and development it i- "a ^eniiine pr.iduct of Japanese >oil." A- yet. lirfmv the advent of Buddhism ;r:d Chinese pliilosopliy, there were no moral codes, no systems of abstract doctrines, no pric.-th ca-te. Tliese were all later de\, l.-pments. There were then n , eolos-al t--m](!.-s \\ith their i:'i'eat belfrj.-, and immense bells whose notes ciiiivei-.-d the air into leagues of lihrine> decked out in the ifaiidv [iia^nin'eence e!iaractfri>iic of Buddhism, or impure Shinto. No i-xteii-ivi niona-tcries, from uhieh floated on the hi'ee/e the chant- ing of prii-N or the dr-nin^ hum of -indent-, wriv tlieii built. No crim-oii pagodas p,-.-pi-d out from eainph'T e/rovcs. op conloiis ,,f )'H-,.- ardin- - iir- and ke\ aki-trees, No splendid \ e-tment>. ^"rifcous ritual, \\a\e- of iiii-i'li-e. I'ia/nrj 1 h'^'lit-. alii 1 1 ihoiial re-polisey, were seen or heard in t!ie thatehed hut- whieh -erved a- .-hriii"- of the kami. NM idol- deck''d the ahar-. No wa\-ide ima-v- doite.l the mountain or the meadou path-. .No hii--.' p.-rtaU (li-r-i\ of -tone or red-laetjuered in.ber -t 1 fi-.'ii:';iiu r or op.-iiin^ the path to h,,l\ ediliei'-. ( n th<- liill-top. or rivt r-idi-. or fore-t '_TO\C, tin- p^-ple a>-embled v hen invocation- were otT.-fi'd and thank-_ r i\ ini: rvnder.-d to the u r "d-. ( .nfe--ioii of -in wa- made, and Hie ura'li of the kami. therefore. W;L> il'-precated. Th" prie-t. afti-r fa-tini: and !u-trations. purified him>elf and. robed in \<,hit<-. made olTerinir> of ih r fruit.- of the eardi or tip ;: j.h:--.- of the net and the eha-e. 7.7/7: 7-V AXC7EST JAPAX. S9 At the court, a shrine of tlie Sun-goddess had been set up and sac- rifices offered. Gradual]}' in the towns and villages similar shrinks were erected, and temples built : but for loriir centuries amon^ the mountains, along the rivers and sea-coasts, the child of the soil set up his fetich, made the water-worn stone, the gnarled tree, or the storm- cloud his god. Wherever evil was supposed to lurk, or malignity re- side, there, were the emblems of the Ainu religion. On precipice, in 2 - orge, in that primeval landscape, stood the plume of curled shavings to ward off the evil influences. In a irony of terror in presence of the Shinto Wayside iSiiriue in Modern Japan. :t\\ful phenomenon of nature, earthquake, typhoon, flood, or tidal wave, the savage could but supplicate deified Nature to cease from wrath and tumult, and restore her face in peace of sunshine and calm. The houses of the ancient Japanese were oblong huts, madr !>\ placing poles of young trees, with the bark on, upriirht in the ground, with transverse poles to make the frame, and fastened together \\ith ropes made of rushes or vines. The walls were of matted uras-. boughs, or rushes, the rafters of bamboo, and the sloping ]"<>{ , grass-thatch, fastened down bv heavy ridge-poles. The two lar ''! rafters at each end projected and crossed each other, like two bay-'ii- ' in a stack cf '.run-. A i !>>> the rid^o-polo, and beneath it and anoth- er heavy tn-e laid lengthwise <>n top of tin' thatch, projected at ri^ht angles on cither -ide >hort. heavy !<>irs \vliidi by their weight, and from 1'eini: tinnlv loiind by withes ninnin^ under the rid^e-pole, kept tlir thatch finnlv in its place. This primeval hut is the model of the architecture of a pure Shinto temple. A short study of one ea-ilv iv\eal- the fact. The tloor, of hank-nod earth, had the tire in the centre; the doors and windows were holes covered at times with mat- in short, the AinO hut of to-day. The modern Japanese dwell- ing is simply an improvement upon that ancient model. The clothing of that period consisted of skins of animals, coarselv voveii stuff of straw, u'rass. hark, palm-fibre, and in some eases of a.-he>t>>. Silk and cotton fabrics \\ere of later invention and use. It is evident, even from modern proof, as exhibited in the normal .Japanese- of to-dav, that the wearing of many ifarnients was not con- genial to the ancient people. As for straw and u'l'ass, these materials are even iu>\\ univer-allv used in town and country for hat-, rain-coats, le^uinirs sandal-;, and a u'reat variety of wearing apparel. A lon-j; hiost- LTarnient. with the hreech, or loin-cloth, and ir'irdle, le^'niLT^. and -andals of >traw. coinpri-ed a suit of ancient Japanese elothin^. The fo.,d of the people con-isted cliielly of tish. roots, and the flesh of ani- mals. They ale venison, hear-meat, and other tlesh, with unti'ouMed coiiscii-ncos, until l)iiddln-m came with it- injunctions. The coinjuer- ors evidejitlv Krouj.'ht cereals with them, and taught their cnltivation ; hut the mam reliance of the ma--es \\a- iij."ii the -poll- of the rivers and sea. Kveii now the trreat centres and line- of the population are rivers alld \\\>- Sea-C0.1>t. Root-. Sea-Weed. :U;d t-diMe wild Vegetables were, as at piv-eiit. an important portion of native diet. The land-'ape of moilern Japan i- one i>f minute prettinoss. It is one coihiiiii'-d -ucces-ion of mountain- an\\ 1. the -necn sobered; the courses of rivers have been bridled: the once inaccess- ible sid.'s nl mountains graded, and their summits crossed by the paths of the traveler or pilgrim. The earth has been honey-combed by miners in <}uest of its metallic wealth. In the primeval landscape of Japan there were no meadows, hedges, cat- tie. h<>rses. prairies of ripening rice, irrigated fields, and terraced gulches. Then also, as now, the landscape was nude of domestic animal life. Instead of eastle'i villages, or semi-subterranean huts. There were no roads, no dikes. No water- courses had been altered, no slopes or hills denuded of timber. The plethora of nature was uupruned ; the scrub bamboo, wild llowers, or grass covered the hills. The great plains of the East anf? North were luxuriant moors, covered with grass, reeds, or bamboo, populous with wild animal life. No laden junks moved up the rivers. The mulberry and tea plantations had not yet been set out. The conquerors found a virgin soil and a land of enrapturing beauty. They brought with them, doubtless, a knowledge of agricul- ture and metals. (Gradually the face of nature changed. The hunter bi'came a farmer. The women learned to spin and weave cotton and hemp. Division of labor began. The artisan and merchant appear- ed. Ail.-, sciences, skilled agriculture, changed the face of the land. Society emerged from its savage slate, and civilization began. As vet there was no writing. All communications were oral, all teaching's handed down from father to sou. Memory was the oiilv treasurv of thought. There is, indeed, shown in .Japan at the piv-eiit day a so-called ancient Japanese alphabet the kaiui. or god, letters which it is asserted the ancient Japanese used. This assertion is voided of truth bv the testimony of the best native scholars to the contrary. No books or ancient inscription* exi-t in this character. I !>;.' mvseif -oi;-_;-!i; in \ain. in the jrravr-vunls of Kioto anil other an- ci.'iit plaee.-, to il;-e,,\ii' any of these rharaeters upon the old toin!-s. Tin- \-<--\ ;i:;- ': !'.:;.-. -eholais \\lio have investigated the stihjeet, pro- Ijoini.-e the J! i LT" 1 1- letters a t'"i'_ r i TV, th;:t reveal- their artiti'-ial ;.;i.l modern eharac! r upon a -li_f!:t exainilialion. 'I'hev e"iii>t al- ::i .-; i-n;ii l\ of :. -\-tein i -trai'_dit lilies and eireles, whieh has, dul>t- , .either heeii l'oiTo\\ed from ( 'oiva, <>r invented 1>\ soine pcrxin i;, m times. Yet the morning "f literature had da \\ntd hef i _ \\a~- kno\\n. 1'iH'ins, m\c< to the i;'"d-. |>ra\er--. fragments \ ;he Shinto liturgy, which .-till e\i-t in the l\'i,j ',!.-', ;;<,<[ Xihnniii, ha 1 t een eoiii|io-ed. l'rin the-e fragments \\r ma\ |ire-iiine that a nnii-h larger nn\\ rit len literature e\ :-ted, \\ hidi \\ a- enjoved \>\ the men \\\\. in tliosc i.;irl\ days, l.y thought and ivtleetioii. attained to a eertaiu ile- ^ree of culture alxive their fellows. 'i'he ear!\' sovereiu'iis \\ < ir-hiped the L. r "ds in [ler-on. and |ira\ed that tlieir jn-ojiU 1 mi^ht enj >\ a -uf- ti''ienc\ . .(' f'ipi.d. el,, thin^. and ,-helter from the (lenient-; and t\\iee a vear. in the Sixth and Tuelt'th months, tin 1 peojilc aeml'led a! the river-side, and. !>\ ua-hinu'- and ]HM\er, i-elehrated the fe-ti\al of lieiieral I 'uritieat ion, l>v \\lneli the hole nation \\a- jmr^'ed of ,.f- feli-es and 1 1-; 1 1;; i> .n-. 'i'hi- u;;- the nm-t eliaraeti-ristic of >hint.". fe-ti\ aN. and the lit ur-'v u-ed in eeleliivitiiiLT it i- -till in vo^iie at the pre-eiit da\. Tiine \\a- measured 1>\- the phases ot the moon, and the -umm.-r and \\inter sol-tiees. '|'!ie di\i-ion ( ,f months and vear- ua- in n-e. Tiie aii-'ieiil la\\- and pnni-hnient-- were i xecrdin^iv -- vi-re. |'>e-ide- the \\auer of l.attle to dee],!:' a i|iiarrel, the ordeal -till in u-e amoii'^ tiie Aino- wa- then a\aii. empri'-- died. N'oini no T-nkuiie. a eoiirlier. ha'-inu mad' iv inia^t-. -tie.', i di-d ii I lr--' -ii!'-titiitei| for t he !i\ in^' . 'I'hi- ua- ; ! .1 r! llen-vforth tin - lir-1 luei o| in in' unf'ildin_' u'cniu- -i 1 viearioii- for the \,\-, iti.,;._ LIFE .LV ANCIENT JAPAX. 93 beings they simulated. For this reform, the originator was given the honorable designation, Ilaji (ha, clay; ski, ji, teacher = clay - image teacher, or artist). The domestic life and morals of those days deserve notice. There were no family names. The institution of marriage, if such it may be called, was upon the same basis as that among the modern Amos or North American Indians. Polygamy was common. Marriage be- tween those whom we consider brothers and sisters was frequent, and a tiling not to be condemned. Children of the same fathers by dif- ferent mothers were not considered fraternally related to each other, and hence could marrv ; but marriage between a brother and sister born of the same mother was prohibited as immoral. The annexed illustration is taken from a native work, and represents a chief or nobleman in ancient Japan. It will be noticed that beards and mustaches were worn in those days. The art- ist has depicted his subject with a well -wrinkled face to make him appear venerable, and with protruding cheeks to show his lu>ty physique, recall- ing tin- ideals of Chinese art, in which the men are always portly and massive, while the women are invariably frail and slender. His pose, expression, folded arms, and dress of fig- ured material (consisting of one long loose robe with flowing sleeves, and a second garment, like very wide trousers, u'irded at the wai^t uith straps of the same material) are all to be SIMM), though in modified forms, ill modern Japan. The fash- A Court Xoble in Ancient ,T;ip;in. (From a X:i- c , i live Drawing.) ions of twenty centuries have changed but slightly. Suspended from his girdle mav be seen the mvijfttrimii chatelaine, evidently symbolizing hi< rank. The nnnjiildnm are perforated and polished pieces of soap-stone or cornelian, of various colors, shaped something like a curved seed-pod. The\ were strung 94 TllK MIKADO'S EM PI UK. toother lik'' bead-. ( >ther ornaments of this au'c were the kudnta/nu. je\\el- of e.-,,ld. ^ilvor, or iron. Tin- ancient sword was a straight, double-, -d _'--! blade, about three feet lonp Bud-lhi-t- ai'd < '->nfuciani-ts as-ert that there existed no words in their laniriia-v for benevolence, jnstiee, propriety, sagacity, and trulL I (oiibtle-s the-c virtues exi-ted, though not a< necessary principles, to he taught, formulated, and incorporated into daily life. Chastity and re-trail, t amnL:the iitiinarried were not reckoned as necessary virtu- 1 -: and the nio-t ancient Japanese literature. t-> sav nothinu: of their invtho!(-iry, proves that marriage was a tlim-y bar a-'ain-t the excur-ior.s of irregular pas-ion, dvat fea-ts and drinking-bouts, in which ex- ees-ive eating wa- practiced, were eoinnion. Thev \\ere fond of th-' c!ia-e, and huntiiiL;'-pailie< were freijiient from the nm-t ancient time-. Ainoii'j; the eoinnieiidal'le feature- of their life \\civ the hal-it of daiiv l-atliinu' and other nietliod- of cleanliness. Tliev treated their wi-ni- eii with comparative kindness and re-pect. Thev |o\ed the lieautit'ul in Nature, and seemed to have heeii ever -u-crpt il>K- to her charm-. In l>rief, they had neitln-r the virtues nor vices of hi^'li ci\ ili/.ation. The arts were in the n;dr-t -tate. TaintinL;'. ear\in^, and sculpture were scarcely kii' >\\ n. N> > theatre exi-tcd. Sacreil dancing with nia-k-. at the holv festivals, \vas practiced a- part f the public worship, with mu-ic fr. >m Loth \\inil and -l ringed in-trumeiit-. Until the -eveiith cditurv of our era, when tin" 1 Chinese contralized sv-teiu wa- ad"pted. the u'"Vernnient f the ,)apanc-e cnijiire \\a- a it into fief- that were held -Miietinie- 1-v direct f. -ll-iuer- i-f .liinmii. or l>v the original Aino chief-, or n.-lile- of mixed Mood, .-n tn, ir reinlition of h--ma^e or trihute t-> the c-'ti-|Uer-'r. The freijtieiit de- fecii.-n i f these native or -eini-.lapat:e-e chiefs was the cause of the llUHIeroU- rebellions, the a-'CoUlltS of \\llich elite]' -o lal'LTelv illto tilt.' hi-t--rv of i.h-- tir-t i-t-ntiiries of the empire. The mikado him-elf ru'.i-d over \\hat i- now --ailed the Kinai. --r I ; i\e Home l'ro\ince-. a -pace (,f coiinm : ' tweeii l.;ike I'.iu;! and the bavs of O/aka and < >wari. Th-- pf"\in e- in Shik-ku. I\iu-hiu. and the cir-'uit- we-t, n-'irth, and ea-t, wen rule-1 b\ tril-utarv chief- u ho paid hmaj;e to ;he mikad,- a- tl rain, but m-i-t probably allowed him t-- interfi-re t-> a -li^ht ext-'ii! iii the d, tail- of the admini-tratioii of their land-. In ea-e- of di-pute bet \\--ei) them, tli-- mikado d"iibtle-> aet--d as umpire, hi- ^eo-jraphi-'al po-ition, -up--rior p--wer. and the r-acre-liie-- of p.-r-'-n in-ur:n_ r hi- -!ipr-'ma--v at all time-, even in the height of turbulence and ri--t -o "ft- n prevailing. LIFE IN ANCIENT JAPAN. <5 In the ancient mikadoate, called l>y the Japanese the Osei era, or the government of monarclis, there were several features tending to increase the power of the suzerain, or central chief. The first was the essentially theocratic form of the government. The sovereign \vas the centre of that superstitious awe, as well as of loyalty and personal reverence, which still exists. There grew into beinu that prestige, that sense of hedging divinity and super-mortal supremacy of the mikado that still forms the most striking trait of the Japanese char- acter, and the mightiest political, as it is a great religious and moral, force in Japan, overshadowing even the tremendous power of Bud- dhism, which is, as Shinto is not, armed with the terrors of eternity. In both a theological and political sense, in him dwelt the fullness of the gods bodilv. He was their hypostasis. He was not only their chosen servant, but was himself a god, and the vicegerent of all the gods. His celestial fathers had created the very ground on which thev dwelt. His wrath could destrov, his favor appease, celestial an- ger, and bring them fortune and prosperity. lie was their preserver and benefactor. In his custody were the three sacred symbols. It, was by superior intellect and the dogmatism of religion, as well as with superior valor, weapons, and skill, that a handful of invaders con- quered and kept a land populated by millions of savages. To the eye of a foreigner and a native of Japan, this imperfect pict- ure of primitive Japan which I have given appears in very different lights. The native who looks at this far-off morning of Great Japan, the Holy Country, sees his ancestors only through the atmosphere in which he has lived and breathed. The dim religious light of reverent teaching of mother, nurse, father, or book falls on every object to re- veal beauty and conceal defects. The rose-tints which innocent child- hood easts upon every object here makes all things lovely. Heaven lies about his country's infancy. The precepts of his religion make the story sacred, and forbid the prying eye and the sandaled f""t. The native loves, with passionate devotion, the land that nursed hi- holy ancestors and thrills at the oft-told story of their prowe-- and their holy lives. He makes them his model of conduct. The foreigner, in cold blood and with critical eye, patiently seeks the truth beneath, and, regarding not the doe^ma which claim- '> n-.-t upon it. looks through dry li^ht. To the one Nippon i- the I. md of the Gods, and the primal ages were holv. To the otlnT. Japan i- merely a geographical division of the earth, and it> beginnings were from barbarism. 1 1 IE MJXAtiv'X E. Ml* I HE. X. THE A \< 7/;.v r A- EI. i f; i ' >.\: THK ancient religion 'f tin- Japanese i- called Kmn'i no iniclii (way itv doctrine <>f the i^ods ; /.<>., theology). The Chine-e form of the same i- Shinto. Foreigners call it Shintoi-m, or Sintooi-m. Almost all the foreign writeis* who have profrs-ed to treat of Shinto have d<'-'Ti!>ed onlv the impure form whieh ha> iv-nlted from the contact \\ith it of llnddhi-m anl Chine-e philosophy, and a- known to them -ince the sixteenth ceiiturv. Mv purpose in tlii- chapter i- to v,'ive a mere outline of aiieieiit Shinto in it< puritv. A .-kct<-h ( ,f it- tradi- titiiial and doctrinal l>a-i-> ha> ln-eii !/iveii. Onlv a verv l'e\\ Shinto tellijiles. c.-illi'd lui'l'i, have pre-el'Ved the ancient pUl'it\ of the fite^ and d"._;-i:ia-~ duriiiL;' the overshadowing infliU'iiccs of I>uddhi>m. In .lapaiie-e mythology the univer>e i- - Japan, the legend- relating t".lapan e\elu-i\'elv. All the deitic-. with perhaps a few evrption-, aiv hi-torie;il per-ona^es ; and the conclusion of the wholr matler of co-mo._f,,liy alld. ei'l"-tial U'clli ;il, L_;'\- i- that tile lllikado i> the de-crlld- an1 and representative of the Li'od- \\h. er<-ated thi- heaveii- and earth (.lapali). Ilelicc, the imprl'ative duty of ;ill .I;i|,;Uli -(' i- to iiheV him. It- priiieijili-s as -unini' d up \>\ the 1 irpartment of Krli^ii.n. ;ind pro- muln'ated throughout the empire sn late a- 1>7:J. are expre ed in the f. '!! >\\ in-- ci 'iiiniandiip'iit- : i . "'rh"ii -h.-ili h"iior the \ ; it : .1 Tin l{i-\i\;il nl' I'un-Slii!il">." in tin-. /.//// I/-"", 1^71. anil ci.ii tail .1 ii; tin " I'r.ir, .-.lii,^- (if tin- A>iatic Society (if .):ip:iu " -ami 1 year. A !- > "it " '\ '.: Siiinii i TI m; ' - "1 I-i-." l.\ tin- -anir u ritt-r. niariy urtielr. l'_v Mr. I'. Iv m;<< i-jiiaii, .-'! !a;-\ In II. r (i'Tiuan I'-^-iliuu in STATt NORMAL SCHOOL, LOS Ant>;;lr- ,>'. AXCIEXT KELIGIOX. 97 The chief characteristic, which is preserved in various manifesta- tions, is the worship of ancestors, and the deification of emperors, he- roes, and scholars. The adoration of the personified forces of nature enters largely into it. It employs no idols, images, or effigies in its worship. Its symbols are the mirror and the f/o/tct strips of notched white paper depending from a wand of wood. It teaches no doctrine of the immortality of the soul, though it is easy to see that such a dogma may be developed from it, since all men (Japanese) are de- scended from the immortal gods. The native derivation of the term for man is hito ("light-bearer ") ; and the ancient title of the mi- kado's heir-apparent was "light-inheritor." Fire and light (sun) have from earliest ages been the objects of veneration. Shinto has no moral code, no accurately defined system of ethics or belief. The leading principle of its adherents is imitation of the illustrious deeds of their ancestors, and they are to prove themselves worthv of their descent bv the purity of their lives. A number of salient points in their mythology are recognized as maxims for their u'uidance. It expresses irreat detestation of all forms of uncleamiess, and i> remarkable for the fullness of its ceremonies for bodilv purifi- cation. Birth and death are especially polluting. Anciently, the corpse and the Iviiiu'-in woman were assigned to buildings set apart, which were afterward burned. The priest must bathe and don clean garments before officiating, and bind a slip of paper over his mouth, lest his breath should pollute the offerings. Many special festivals were observed for purification, the ground dedicated for the purpose being first sprinkled with salt. The house and ground were defiled by death, and those who attended a funeral must also free themselves from contamination by the use of salt. The ancient emperors and priests in the provinces performed the actual ablution of the people, or made public lustrations. Later on, twice a year, at the festival- of purification, paper figures representing the people were thrown into the river, allegorical of the cleansing of the nation from the .-ins of the past six months. Still later, the mikado deputized the chief min- ister of religion at Kioto to pel-form the symbolical act for the peo- ple, of the whole countrv. After death, the members of a familv in which death had occurred must exclude themselves from all intercourse with the world, attend, no religions services, and, if in official position, do no wrk for a specified number of davs. Thanksgiving, supplication, penance, and praise are all represented ;)s Till-: MIKADo'S /.Yl// '//,'/:. in the prayr- to th-- i;"d-. uhi'-h arc offered la l>oth sexes. The ein- p,-rr and nol'les often met in llif temple ^ardfiis to eonipo-e liyiinis or -at-ivd poi-ms 1<> the u'od-. I'-uallv in praver tin.' hand- an- clap- ped tuiee. the head or the knees bowed, and the petition made in -ileiier. '1'he \\ or-hiper dot-s not enter the temple, luit stand- In-fore it. and tir-t pull- a rope danu'lin^ down over a douMc U'OIIL;', like a hnu'e -!ei^h-l>ell, uith u Inch he rails the attention of the deitv. The kami are Kelieved to hear the pra\ cr when as yet luit in thought, !"- 1 'iv it ri-es to the lips. Not !n.-iii^ intended for liuinan ear-, elo- tji;riiee i- imt needed. The mikado in his jialaee dailv olTers nji jieti- tions for all hi> jieojile, \\hieh are more eiTeetual than thos,. ,,f his >ul,- jei'ts. \\ a>hiiiL;' the hands and rin>iii'j; out the mouth, the \\oishijier repeats |ira\ers. of \\liieh the following i> an exaniple: "() (MM), that d\\elle-t in the hiu'h plain of hea\eii. \\lio art di\ine in >ii!>-tanee and in intellert, and a!>le to ^i\\- protection from j.-uilt and it- penalties, t I'ani-h impurity, and to eleaii-e us frm uiieleannes> ho>ts ,.f ._;,!,!-. ^i\ . car and li>teii to t he-e our petitions." ( >r t his : " I >av uith awe. di-in'ii to 1.]^-- me ly i-onvrtinj; the un\\ ittiiiLj faults \\hieh, seen and h'-ai'd \<\ \\\, I have emmitted; \<\~ Mnwiim' otT and eleariiii; 1 aua\ the ealainitit's \\hieli e\il Li'ods mi^ht intliet : la eau-inir nie to li\e l"ii^. like the hard and la-tin^. 1 rock; and liv repeat ini; 1 to the Lfods of heavenly origin, and to the ^-od^ ( >f carthlv origin, tin- jieti- ti"H- \\hieh I present every day , all >i i ^ \\ith your !>realh. that thev ma\ hear uith the -liarp-eaivdiie-- of the forth i^allopinu- eolt." The oiyerin_^. ino>1 I'ommoiilv laid \\iih ^n-at eereiiMnv l.v the prie-t. in uhite r\ -. liefure the -'"d-. \\eic- fruit and \e--etaMe- in M a-"ii. ti-h and vi-nismi. At ni^hl the\ \\ere reino\ed, and lieeame tli-- ppip'-rtv of the prie-t. v the -ilk-U'-rm and the entton-plaiit \\ere al-o dedieatecl. I5efiv caeli ti-nij'!e -1 1 a /"/''. } I'ird-re-t. Tin- ua- made of tun upright tree-truiik-. < >n the ti,p .>f the-e re-ted a sninotlier tree, u il 1 1 end- -liu'hti v jiiMjeet iniT. and uip!erne;ti h this a -mailer liori/oiital I. ,-:mi. ( n t hi- peivl ii-d the f, ,\\ U , iHVivd up to the _;. -d-, not a- f 1. 1'Ut a- ' -lian tie lei ]- t" LT'IVI- iiotiei- nf ilav-Kreak. In later eeiiturie- the UK ailing -if the turii ua- fcr^ctten. an.l ii \\.-is -up]n>-i d to l- a ^ate- \\ay. The lluddhi-t- attaehe.l taM'-t- to it- cross - beaM, painted or THE ANCIENT RELIGION. 99 coppered its posts, curved its top-piece, made it f pure, wood, and thatched. No paint, lacquer, gilding, or anv mer- etricious ornaments were ever allowed to adorn or defile the sacred stiucturc, and the use of metal was avoided. Within, onlv the yohci and the daily offerings were visible. Within a closet of purest wood i- a case of wood containing the "august spirit-substitute," or v 'gods'- secd," 1 in which the deity enshrined in the particular temple is be- lieved to reside-. This spirit-substitute is usuallv a mirror, which in some temples is exposed to view. The principal Shinto temples are at Ise, in which the mirror given by Amaterasu to Ninigi, and brought down from heaven, was enshrined. Some native writers assert that the mirror was the goddess herself; other-;, that it merely represented her. All others in Japan are imitations or copies of this original. The priests of Shinto are designated according to their rank. They are called katinndii (shrine-keepers). Sometimes they receive titles from the emperor, and the higher ranks of the priesthood are court nobles. Thev are, in the strictest sense of the word, Government offi- cials. The ollice of chief minister of religion was hereditary in the Xakatomi family. Ordinarily they dress like other people, but are robed iii white when officiating, or in court -dress when at court. They marry, rear families, and do not shave their heads. The office i- usually hereditarv. Virgin priestesses also minister at the shrines. After all the research of foreign scholars who have examined the "laims of Shinto on the soil, and hv the aid of the language, and the -acred books and commentators, manv hesitate to decide whether Shinto is "a genuine product of Japanese soil," or whether it is not closely allied with the ancient religion of China, which existed before the period of Confucius. The, weight of opinion inclines to the latter belief. Certain it is that many of the Japanese myths are almost ex- actly like those of China, while many parts of the cosmo^oiiv can be found unaltered in older Chinese works. The I\ojiki (the Uible of the Japanese believers in Shinto) is full of narrations; but it lays down no precepts, leache* no morals or doctrines, prescribe- no ritual. Shinto has verv few of the characteristics of a religion, as understood by us. The most learned native commentator-; and exponents of Shin- to expressly maintain the view, that Shinto has no moral code. Mo- 100 Tilt-: MIKADO'S KMl'IRE. t"i''ri. the "Teat modern revivali-t of Shinto, teaches, with polemic em- pha-i--. that moraU were in\cntcil \<\ the Chinese because they wen' an immra! p- "pic; lint in Japan there was no necessity for anv -ys- trin of morals, a- everv Japanese acted aright if he only consulted his own heart. The diitv of a o-ood Japanese consist* in olievin^ the inds df the' mikado without ijiu'stioiiini; whether thc-e com- mand- are riidit or \\ron ^. It was onlv imnioral people, liki' the ( 'hinese, \\lio piv-unied to discuss the character of their so\ eivi^n<. Ainon^tlu 1 ancient Japanese, government and religion were the same.* * In this chapter, I have carefully endeavored to exclude mere opinions am conjee -lures, and to uive tlic tacts only. I append In-low the views held by iren- 1 1 en i eii of cosmopolitan cult lire, and carnot student? of Shinto on the >oil, W!IOM- ic.-earche- and candor entitle them to lie heard. Shi nt' i, as expounded hy Motoori, is nothinir cl-e than an engine for reducing the people to a condition of mental slavery." KKNKST SVTOW, l:'/i : /':.-fi, (!<> furc- /,,'I,I/ xtilint <>f siiintri. " There is u'ooil evidcnei that Shinto iVM-mMe- \ cry clo.-ely the ancient religion of the ChincM-." "A di -Unction should he drawn between the Shinto o!' ancient times and the doc-trine as developed by writer.- at the court of the mikado in modern times." "The sword and dragon, the tliyr-u- stall' and ivy. the Mall' of .K-t iilapiii- and snake-, mo-t pi-obalily had the -amc si^nilieaiU'L 1 as the Japani-.-e ijuli' i : and, a- Sielmld ha- remarked, it >ymlioli/cd the union of the tu o clement.-, male and t'i male. The hi-toi-y of the creation of the world, a.- uiveii hy the .lapa- ne?e, hore the elo-e-t re.-emhhinee to the m\lh- ol'China and India; while little ilmilit e\i-',ed that the-e i-\mliol and m\th) were imported from the \Ve-t. the dillieiilty lieiniX to tix the date. Little wa- I 11 ndei^tood hy \Vc-tcrn nations." F. A. Vo\ i'i: \\IIT, fii-niiKK, /''''' w'tiiitt.roj'tlii <; J,i/,,n,.,i,,il ' /.- I'kln'j, n *!ti>l,,,t of .Li,,.!,,,,: :,,:>,:,:,!,,:;,/., l,,:. 1 1, , .f J: !/,:,. " Ja|iane-e, iii LJI neral, are at a hi-- to dc-crilie what Shinto i- : hut thi- cir flllll-tai lliu'ihle if \vliat Wa- once an indiii'elioii- faith !iad iieeii tiil'lieil, in later days, into a political i-nirinc." " Infallihiliiy \\ the part of the head ot the -tate, \\!iich wa- naturallv attriliiited to rule;-- claiming' divine de-cent, wa- a convenienl doctrine for political purpo-e- in China or Japan, a- elsewhere.'' " \Vc mil-: 1 1 ink to , irl\ tine- f, ,r the inean'mu' of Shinto." " It- origin i- close- i to tie' earl\ religion of tin- Chine-c." "The practice of pnttini:- iqi stick- '..ill: shavinir- or paper attached, in order to , (tract the attention of the .-pirit -. i- oh-ervah!c aiming certain hill t rihi - < 'I India, a- well a? amoiii:' tin- Aino- if Vi / i. The Hindoos. Kuniie-e, and Cliim-e have ci,nve|-tcd tlu-M- >tii k.- into tlairs '>r -treamer-." " II Sl/mto had ever worked -Teat results, or ha, HriH^li ni'n<*ti'-i' /,!,,,; f ,,,/ fl ,i;,in/ i>, ./,,,,, ,, f< , .,,/,.,!,,,. .,,,.1 /,, ,-, .;,/,> ; /,>/, h in to i- a revi n litial 1. . Ill u' to\\ard the dead." " A- to tin 1 political u -' i if it. tie state i- ijiiite ri_i:t in tnniini:- it to account in -iipport iliMillltr LTovi I'll I n i nt which i \i-t- in Jap m " "The early record- ol J:i- ri h\ no mean- reliable." A in NOUI Mmi,, .f,//,,ni , furi/u /!>/ f/n/r//r' i/'itf /./-,-.,, - : ; ./.,,,:, ,it \\',ix),in,n, I'.S. .(.,>in,r Vj.; .]/, ' ; ^/' ,' of /;; iijn . \jl\l ', ,:- ut -I" in(n. THE THRONE AND THE NOLLE FAMILIES. 101 XL THE THRONE AND Till-: NOBLE FAMILIES. FROM the beginning of the Japanese empire, until the century aft- er the introduction of Buddhism, the mikados were the real rulers of their people, having no hedge of division between them and their subjects. The palace was not secluded from the outer world. No screen hid the face of the monarch from the ga/e of his subjects. No bureauocracy rose, like a wall of division, between ruler and ruled. No hedge or net of officialdom hindered free; passage of remonstrance or petition. The mikado, active in word and deed, was a real ruler, leading his armies, directing his (Government. Those early days of comparative national povertv when the mikado was the warrior-chief of a conquering tribe; and, later, \\hen lie ruled a little kingdom in Central Japan, holding the distant portions of his quasi -empire in tribute; and, still later, when he was the head of an undivided em- pire mark the era of his personal importance and energy. Then, in the mikado dwelt a manly soul, and a strong mind in a strong body. This era was the golden age of the imperial power. lie was the true executive of the nation, initiating and carrying out the enterprises <>f peace or war. As vet, no military class had arisen to make themselves the arbiters of the throne; as yet, that throne was under no proprie- torship; as yet. there was but one capital and centre of authority. (Gradually, however, there arose families of nobility who shared and dictated the power, and developed the two official castes of ci\ili:m and military officials, widening the distance between the sovereign anil his subjects, and rendering him more and more inaccessible 1" hi- people. Then followed in succession the decay of his power, the 'Ti- ation of a dual system of government, \\ith two capitals and centres of authority ; the domination of the military cla>ses ; the ceiiturie< ol anarchy; the progress of feudalism; the rending of the empire into hundreds of pettv provinces, baronies, and feudal tenures. \\ithin the time of European knowledge of Japan, true national unity ha> scarcely been known. The political system has been ever in a state 111!' Till-: M IK. \1>(>' S EMl'IUE. f i;n-tah!c i-ijuililiriuin, anl tlir nation l>ut a conglomeration of units, in \\ hich t In- forces i 'F ivpul-i"[i i-viT thivati'iK'd to overcome the t'ur " emperor- " in .lapan an idea that has IMVII iiii-Mrporatcd into nin-t nt' tin- text - honks and cyclopedias of ( 'hri-iendotii. Let il he clcarlv iiiult'i'stooil, howevor, that there never \\a- hn! i >iii' einpei'or in Japan, the mikado, \\ho i- and aluays \vas 'I in 1 Mil; i'! ' "ii i.i- Tlir nn-. 'rime, frmn tin 1 >i-\i'nl!i t" I In 1 'i' \vi-l t';ii tile olll\ -oXerei^'ll, t!p.ll-'ll hi- Illea-llfe i.t jiiiUel' ha- heell \ ef\ d i f - t'lTi-nt A\ \arioii- time-. 1'niii the ri-e arid domination of the milita- i-y i'!a e-. he ua- in I'act. a- ud! a- l>\ iau. -npn ine. Ilou the nii- ka'lo'- aet;ial po\\. r l.ln-d a\\a\ -liall t'orin the -uhject <>f thi- and tlie (' '[} '\\ iirj. 1 .-haj.t .!'. I-'roin the death of Nintoku '[',-nnr.. the la-t of the lonn;-li\ed niika : -. to Kininiei (.",ln-."71 i, in \\h-e lime continental rivili/atioii \va.- intp.duci d. a period "f ,,ne hundred and frtv-oiH' \ear-. fourteen em- p Tor- ruled. a\erau'inu r a little over ten \ear- each. I-'rom Kininiei THE THROVE AMI THE XOVLEX. lQ:j in Gotoba (A.I). 11 OS) fifty-three emperors reigned, averaging eleven vears each. (See list of emperors, p. 1^3.) in A.I). GO:J, the first attempt to create orders of nobility for tlie nobles, already numerously existing, was made, by the Empress Suiko. Twelve orders were instituted, with symbolic' names, after the Chinese custom such as Virtue, Humanity, Propriety, etc. distinguished bv the colors of the caps worn. In 049, this svstem was changed for that having nine ranks, with two divisions. . In each of the la>t >ix were two subdivisions, thus in realitv making thirty grades. The first grade was a posthumous reward, given only to those who in life had. held the second. Everv otlicer, from the prime minister to the oil; :'ial clerks, had a rank attached to his otiicc, which was independent of birth or age. All oiliccrs were presented, and all questions of pre- cedence were settled, in accordance with this rank. The court ollieials, at Hist, had been very few, as might be imagined in this simple state of soeietv without writing. The Jin Gi Kuan, which had existed from vrv ancient times, supervised the ceremonies of religion, the positions being ehiefiv held by members of the Naka- tomi family. This was the highest division of the Government. In A.I). <>():!, with the introduction of orders of nobilitv, the form of ^ov- ernmoit was changed from simple feudalism to centralized monarchy, with eiu'ht ministries, or departments of state, as follows: 1. Xakatsukasa no Slid (Department of the Imperial Talace). 2. Shiki bu Slid (Department of Civil Office and Education). 3. Ji bu Slid (Department of Etiquette and Ceremonies). 4. Mini bu Slid (Department of Revenue and Census). 5. Ilidbu Slid (Department of War). G. Gid bu Slid (Department of Justice). 7. () kura Slid (Department of Treasury). 8. Ku nai Slid (Department of Imperial Household). The Jin ( Ji Kuan (Council of Religion ; literallv, ( 'ouricil of the ( rod-; of Heaven and Earth), though anciently outranking the Dai Jd Kuan (Great Government Council), lost its prestige after the introduction of Buddhism. The Dai Jd Kuan, created A.D. 780, superintend:''! the eiii'ht boards and ruled the empire by means of local governors ap- pointed from the capital. In it were four ministers: 1. Dai Jd Dai Jin (Great Minister of the Great Government). 2. Sa Dai Jin (Great Minister of the Left). :). U Dai Jin (Great Minister of the Kiidit). 4. Nai Dai Jin (Inner Great Minister). TllK MlK.\l-s L'Ml'llil:'. >f the ei-ht department-. that of \\ ar iiltiniati-lv became the ni"-t important. A -; < i.i! department \\as iieee--ary t> annul t<> tin- pul>- iie manner- and form- of -ncietv, i'tit|UetU' l>ein^ - more than moral-. and i i rar\ education. The foreign relation- of the i-mpiiv importance thai thrv v\ere a i^ned to a bureau ai'o\r department. Thr tiva-urv con-i-ted of imperial st>re- ^Tanaries, a-- moiiev \sa- nit tlu-n MI ifriicral u-c. I! 1 ,'-'- \\a- tin 1 -taii'lar*! nt' \altir, aini all taxrs \\ci'c pai'l in thi- u'l'ain. T i iiitri'iliirtinii nf ih"-'' onK-rs cf iiMhil'itx aini dcpaiiun nt- t' -talf iY'-ni < 'hina lirmi^lit alnmt tin- clian^f tVmi] iMnai'i'hv. thr ri-<- uf the imi.lt 1 t'aniilifS ami tin 1 tixiiin' "f ullii'ial fa-h-^ (MinjM.-cil, n<>t. a- in nif-t aii'-ii-nt rnuiitrirs "f tin- pric-tU and warrior clai^, 1'iit, a- in ('liina, 't' i lie .'i\ ilian aini militarv. Tin 1 MT<1- "f tlir incilia'va] and nn'ilfrn ctiinplfx ffiiilali-in. ulii.-h la-tfl until 1 -7:.', \vt-iv planlr.l alu.ut thi- tiim-. A ili\i-i"ii of all the aM''-!iMilicil inalr- int^ tlnvr clas>i's \\a> iio\v niadr, to roii-i-1 of r.'^ular -ol.li,]^ pi-nnaiu-iitly in si-rvico. Tlii- \\a- ili!- "militarv rla>-," from \\lii'-li thf Ir^ion- la-pt a- ^'ai'ri-on- in tin- ivniotr pruviiii'i's \vi-n' ri-cruiti-il. The unit of coiitl)ination ua- tin- '/'/. con-.i-.tinM 1 of ti\r men. T\\o niav 1'f t ivm-lalfd "til-." " xjnail," " ("inpaiiv," " 1'attalion." " ri^'iincnt." The uccc-% in uar dcpcinicd iin>rc \>\\ di-eij.Kned iMini'ier- and pei'-otial valor, and \va- ii"t >o nnieh a pi-ol.- iem of v, . '_!.. inatlicmatic-, machincr\ , and m>iir\ a- in oisr ilav. The cxpcditioiiN \\t-rc lei] l.v a >h'"-'iin. or general, who. if he com- manded th;'' i-i . . I'll a tai- '; ^'iin, or e-eiir]'a!i--]nio. The viee-ei.ninia!rl'T- \V . ]v c.'illft] f 11 1< 11 --1 1 o^'U ll. 'I'llll- it VV i 1 1 In- -eel; that tip' term " -:,.'_'.:; i- IIP r. ;v the ,la|>anc-c uoi'd for " general.' All ifip-i-al- u. : n-. ai d cve!i llic t tl'< te ti-'inv-head of the -Teat i'.-'.irpat ion at ^ ed' >. vv ii h w h- MM ' 'omniodorc I Vrrv and t lio^e \\\\ tol- 1 hi in mad. ' : .:,.-.-.::-:'._' - n tin- " iilar cmjici'or." ^ a- IP >t hiii 1 -: 'in >r". \! i-ti-r ro| n in the t \v. > r.'MiainiiiL;' . la t - : hat e, ,;|]d In- -i ut in t he tie'.d , .n an en PTjvne v : and \\ hcin-vcr . ': . .', and a militarv xpftlitinii v\a- dcti I'liunctl THE THROVE AND THE NOULES. 105 upon, orders were sent to the provinces along the line of inarch to be readv to obey the imperial command, and compare the quota required with the local muster-rolls. An army would thus be quickly assem- bled at the capital, or, starting thence, could be re-enforced on the route to the rebellious province. All that \vas necessary were the or- ders of the emperor. \\ hen war was over, the armv was dissolved, and the armv corps, regiments, and companies were mustered out of service into their units of combination, f/o of five men. The general, dolling helmet, made his votive offering to the gods, and returned to garrison duty. Until about the twelfth century, the Japanese empire, like the old Unman, was a, centre of civilization surrounded by barbarism, or, rath- er, like a wave advancing ever farther northward. The numerous re- volts in Kiushiu, Shikoku, and even in the North and East of Hondo, show that the subjugation of these provinces was by no means com- plete on their first, pacification. The Iviiantd needed continual mili- tary care, as well as civil government ; while the northern provinces were in a chronic state of riot and disorder, being now peaceful and loyally obedient, and anon in rebellion against the mikado. To keep lln 1 remote provinces in order, to defend their boundaries, and to col- lect tribute, military occupation became a necessity; and, accordingly, in each of the di-tant, provinces, especially those next to the frontier, beyond which were the still unconquered savages, an army was per- manently encamped. This, in the remote provinces, was the perma- nent military force. Throughout the country was a reserve militia, or latent army; and in the capital was the regular army, con-istiiiu.' of the generals and "the Six Ouards," or household troops, who form- ed the regular garrii-on of Kioto in peace, and in war became, the nu- cleus of the army of chastisement. This system worked well at first, but time showed its defects, and \\herein it could be improved. Am OHM; that third of the population classed as soldiers, some naturally proved themselves brave, apt, and --killful; others were worthless in war, while in the remaining two- thirds many who were able and willing could not enter the army. About the end of the eighth century a reform was in-! iiuie.j. and a new division of the people made. The court decided that ail those ainoiiv;' the rich peasants who had capacity, and were skille [ in ardi- erv and horsemanship, should compose the military <];!--, ;;:id that the remainder, the weak and feeble, should continue to tii! the ^>il ;md apply themselves to agriculture. The above was one of the m-t ituti"ii <'t the Japanese people. Though there HIV ui;in\ ela-M'-, there arc luit tuo ^reat di\i-ions of thr Japa- lu-M 1 . ih.' militan ami the agricultural. It \\ rmi^ht the complete M-V- eranee of tin -oldier ami the farmer. It lifted up one par; "f tin- peo- | !' t" a plane of lit'e on \\hieh travel, sulvi'iituiv, the pr<>fe imi ,-iinl tl;e pur-nit uf arm-, letters, ami the 1 cultivation of honor ami clmalrv were po--i!>!e, ami hy \\ hi.-h that i'ri-iite-t tvpe of the .(apane-e iiian, the mi //t unit. \vas prtiilueeil. Tlii- i- tin cias- \N llieil for cent Ul'ies h;;- iiionopoli/.ed ann>. polite learji- iiiu - . patriotism, anl intdleei of .lapan. They are the me!i \\liovf inimls have Keen ever open to learn, from \\hoin sprung tin 1 'nlea- that oner inailc. ami \\ liich late]' o\ er- tlireW. the feiitlal s\>telll.U liieh \vi-oiiu'ht the ni'iLi'htv reform- that s\\e]>t a\va\ tin 1 shu^unatc in 1 Sf].\v rule Japan, and -et;t t In-ir - 'ii- ni'i-o.-nl to -t ml v t he ci\ ilixatinii ,,,' ,].,, \ V e-t. 'I'., the sillUimi Japan look- t"-la\ f-r safety i;; war. ami proinv-s in peaee. T!ie -amurai i- the -oiil of the nation. In other land- the prie-tlv and the military ca-te- \\ere formed. In Jap'an one and the ,-ame ela->. held the -word and the pen- I'llnTa! learning and seeiilar culture. '1'he otln-r cla the HL r i*i''u!tural remaiin-'l unchanged. I. eft to the -..il to till it. to li\e and die upon it. the Japam-M- farmer ha- reinaii'ed The -anie to-dav a- h-- \\a- then. Like the uheat that for siicco-ivr ;!_'- i- jilanted ;i- \\heat, -pi'oiit-. 1'eanl-. and till- a- uheat. the pea :>]i\. uith hi- hofi/on hounded \*\' hi- riee-tield-. hi- \vater-eoiir-es, or The tinil't-reil hill-, hi- intellect laid auav for safe- keejiiliif in the O;' : ,'--T-' hatid-. i- the -on of the -nil; caring little \\\i rule- him. iin- - h-- i- Ta\'d l>eyojid the power of li> -h and Mood to hear, or an THE TllROSE ASD THE XOLLEt. 10" tls of rice protected fi'oiu the birds by striujrs and slips ol overmcddlesome officialdom touches his land to transfer, sell, or re- divide it: then lie rises as a rel>el. fn time of war, he is a disinter- ested and a passive spectator, and he does not liidit. He ehan^v- masters with apparent unconcern. Amidst all the ferment of ideas induced hy the contact of \Yestcrn civilization with Asiatic within the last two decades, the farmer stolidlv remains conservative: he km>\\s not, nor cares to hear, of it, and hates it because of the heavier taxes it imposes upon him. * In the above sketch by Ilokusai, the fanner, well advanced in life, bent an*; bald, is looking dubiously over a piece of newly tilled land, perhaps just reehmn- i-d, which he defends from the birds by the device of striuirs holding strips of thin wood and bamboo ^retched from a pole. With his ever-piv>ent bath-towel and heudkerchief on his shoulders, his ]>ipe held behind him. he Mauds in nu di- lative allilude, in his old ricc-stra\v sandals, run down and out at the heels, hi- well-worn cotton coat, darned cros>\\ise for durabilitv and eennoiin, v, 'iidi'rini;' whetlier he will see a full crop before he dies, or whether he can pay hi- ;axe>, and lill his children's mouths with rice. The writing at r-ide is a piMv/rb which has two ineaniiiu's : it may be read, "A new Held irives a small crop." or llu man life is but fifty year.-.' 1 In either case, it has preufiiant MLruiiicanee to ihe farmer. The patho? and humor are irresistible to one who knu\\= the life ot tlu-se sons of toil. [i IS Till-: Ml KM) '^ /.M// 1 / A' A". To Mipport tli- 1 militarv, a certain portion of rice was set apart per- manenlU ;,- iv\etnie. and <_nv.-n a- \\aj.v- to the soldiers. This i> the >rL r in of tlie pen-ion- -till eiijoved l'\ the samurai, and the luinleii of the ( ;,<\ , i-ii 11 lent and pe, i pie. \\ hid i in 1 < s Ti>, after repeated reduction.-, :mi" nit- t" n. ar!\ sis,iM)y,(HH>. t I. : .- notiei 1 h"\\ the nohle families originated. To this hour the-e -anie familie-. niinilierin^ one hundred and tiftv-tive in all, d\\ei! in Tokio or Kioto, inten-elv proud of their hiidi deseeiit from ihe mikados and the heaveiilv i:'ods <_doryiu'_r in their pedigree IIKMV than the autochthon^ of <; recce gloried in their native >il. The ex- i-teiiee of this feeling of -n | ii-i'i o'rit \ to all mankind amon^ some of tile hiu'ller-t ofHciaU llllder the pl'e-ellt lllikadoV U'o\ erillllelit ha- lieell tin- eatise of Litter ijiiarrel>. leading alnio-t to civil uar. ( nder the altered circiiinstaiKH'.s of the national life HIKV isd-;, the otlieials of ancient lineage, either unaMe to conceal, or de-inm- of iiianift'stiiiij their pride of liirth, ha\e on various oeca-ions stuiiLT to ra^v the ris- ing \"IHIL;' men \vho have n^adied po\\cr \>\ sheer force of merit. 1'iet \\eeii these >elf-lliadc lllell, \\llo-e mind- have lieell expanded liy contact \\ith the outer \\oi-M, and the hi^h nolile- nui'-.il in the at- ni"-|i!ierc of iiiniieiiiorial anti'|iiity, antl claiming de-cent from the -"!-. an estraiiLTcnieiil 'hat at times si-i-ms irrecoiicilalilc ha< ^rovvn. A- tin- cha-m hetue.'ii the form- and -pirit of the pa-t and the prc i-nt \\idi n~. a- the m-d"! 1 !! claims jo-tle the ancient traditions. ;i- \iu f - oi'oii- par\ eniii-m (diallenui.'c> etl'ete anti'|inlv. the dillicullv of harmo- ni/inj.' ih 1 - 1 ' telideucie- IM "oine- apparent, adding another to the cat- al LZ'U' 1 of prol-leins a\\aitinj. - -ohitioii in Japan. 1 ha\e heard even hi-'h ollicer- under the (i. veriiliieiit make the eumplaint I ha\e indi- cated aLi'ain-1 th.-ir -uperior<; hut I d'-uht not that nati\'e i.atieiiee Th" /";,". or i-Miirt iiol'le-i. -prunu' from mikad"-. 1'Vom the lii'-t, pr>ly^am\ \\a~ common amon'j; ln.th aln ,]'iL;'ine-. and c.ini|iiero|-~. 'I he emperor had hi- haivm of man\ heautie- uho -hared hi- couch. In \''r\ a!i''ii nt time-, a- earl\ a- .limmu. it \\a- the cu-tom to ehon-e ..DC i, .man, cal|,-d /'.-/'-. \\ !io \\ a- \\ ife or en i p n-- in t he -en-.- of re- ^ -pecial 1 1 "iio r. and oj ha\ iii'_!' her otT-pnn^ mo-; li k>-l v to siic- ceed io the t hf. 'ii' . I n : I " t ii- w i }'e, 1 h'' luikad" had twelve ., \vli"-e o|] t hr.'iie in ea-i- of failun < 't , -- .; : '. the wife. T . _. ', ii ! . ] I'm t h'-r a^ain-t de-ineiice. f, ,ur fain- ,li"- of imiierial de-'i/nt ui-i'e afterward -..-1 a;. art. from \\hich an heir THE THJWXE AXE THE NOBLES. 109 to the throne or a husband of the mikado's daughter might be souglit. In either ease the chosen one became mikado. Only those sons, brothers, or grandsons of the sovereign, to whom the title was spe- cially granted by patent, were called princes of the blood. There were rive grades of these. Surnames were anciently unknown in Ja- pan ; individuals onlv having distinguishing appellatives. In 415, families were tirst distinguished by special names, usually after those of places. Younger sous of mikados took surnames and founded ca- det families. The most famous in the Japanese peerage are given below. 13y long custom it came to pass that each particular family held the monopoly of some one high oiliee as its prerogative. The Nakatomi family was formerly charged with the ceremonies of Shinto, and religions offices became hereditary in that familv. The Fujiwara (Wistaria meadow) family is the most illustrious in all Japan. It was founded by Kamatari, who was regent of the empire (A.U. 645-649), who was said to have been descended from Ame no ko vane no mikoto, the servant of the grandfather of Jimmu. The influence of this family on the destinies of Japan, and the prominent part it has [laved in historv, will be fullv seen. At present ninety-live of the one hundred and fifty-five families of kur/t are of Fujiwara name and descent. The office of Kuambaku, or Regent, the highest to which a subject could attain, was held l>y members of this family exclusively. The Sugawara family, of which six families of ka/ji: are descendants, is nearly as old as the Fujiwara. Its members have been noted for scholaiship and learning, and as teachers and lecturers on religion. The Taira family was founded bv Takamochi, great grandson of the Emperor Kuammu (A.D. TS'L' S05), and became prominent as the Lrreat military vassals of the mikado. Uut live kn>je families claim descent ['mm the survivors. The Minamoto family w;;s founded by Tsunemoto, grandson of the Emperor Seiwa (839880). They were the rivals of the Taira. Seventeen families of k>j<' are descended from this old stock. The office of Sei-i Tai Shogun, or Barbarian-chastising Great < General. wa> monopolized by the Minamoto, and, later, bv other brandies .if the stock, named Ashikaga and Toku^awa. Though so many offices were created in the seventh century, the k'i'ji were >ufficiently numerous to lill them. The members of the Fujiwara family gradually ab>rbed the majority, until almost all of tin/ imporiaiil ones at court, and the governor.-hips of manv provinces, Mere tilled l>v them. When vacancies occurred, no tion was 8 110 THK M1KMXJ-S rai-ed a- t" tlil- r that man's fitness for the position: it was simply one of liiu'li de-cent, and a man of Fujiwara Mood was >ure 1o nyt the appointment, whether lit- had abilities or not. Tliis fauiilv, in spite of it- illu-trious name and deeds, are to he credited with the forma- tion of a "rinu - " around the mikado, which liis people could not hivak. and with the creation of one of the mo-t accursed systems of nepotism ever y r-tep, with raft and signal ability, they gradually obtained the administration of the ^overnment in the mikado'-- name. Formerly it had I-een the privilege of every subject to petition the sovereign. The Fujiwara mini>ter> gradually assuinod the riufht to open all such petitions, and decide upon them. They al-o >ecured the appointment of youn^vr sons, brothers, nephew-, and kin-men to all the important po-ition-. They !>a-cd their hold on the throne itself \>\ marrying their daugh- ter* to the mikado, whose will wa* tlius lient to their own dcn^n*. For centuric- the empres-e> were chiefly of Fujiwara Mood. In thi- way, lia\ in^ completely isolated the sovereign, they liecame the yirtual rulers of the country and the proprietor of the throne, ami dictated a- to u ho should lie made emperor. K\erv new otlice, a- ia-t a- cre- ated, was till.-d l.y them. In the year *^. the title of Kuaml>aku (literally, "the liolt in-i(le the u'a'c." but meaning "to represent to the mikado") wa- first u-ed and lie-towed on a Fujiwara noMe. The Kuamliakii w;;- the hiudif-t >ulije'-t in the empire. He wa< rcLTeiit v l-'ujiwara Motot-une. Iiei-ame hc'i-i-ditary in th'- family, thus makiiiL:' th'-m all pov. rrfui. In tini'- the I-'uiiwara-. who had im-rea-ed to the proportion- if a Li'i'eat j clan, were disidrd into ti\v I.ran.-he- called tin- Sekkt'-, !' K.-Lfent fajn- ilii'-. naini-'I Koiioye. l\::jo. Nijo. Ichijo. and Takadxukasa. So IOIIL;' a- tin- -ucci--ioii to tin- throip- wa- -o indelinite. and on -u.-h a \\iile lia-i-. it wa- ea-\ for thi- powerful family to ehuose the h''ir w h' in-\ er tin- tliroiii- wa- rinpt v. a- it w a- in 1 heir power to make it emp; v \\ hi-n it -o -uitcd tin 'in. l>\ c, impel I in-- t In- mikado to abdicate. In \.i>. 7'.' 1 the '-apit'il wa- l'emo\rd to Kioto. -r\'eii miles trom I.ak'- liiwa. and tlp-iv pi-rmaii'-iitl\ lo.-ated. I'x-fore that time it wa- at Kashiwabara. at Nara.' V; or at -oine phn-r in tin- Home l'ro\ince- Tl .:..-:.: N' . . I ' ' !'il "I'''-! iliLT ill .'ill .hipnii. ]!'- :il"illt inilr- ihli- ea-t nt ( I.- . 'i ' '!'!.< town Hllil IH-iLTliln'rliood ;i!niilTid l.ti'iuiti'--. Iliikail'i'- tctnl- . I- nil''!'--, :u:d cnld-.-a] iliKliT''- "f I-!liil.li..i. SL-VI.-II r-iivi/ri-i^'llr. (jt' wlii'Ili fulir .;-, t./jhuir:-. ml: il a' L N.u'ii fr< iln \ I'. THE THRONE AXD THE NOP.LES. Ill (kintti) of Yamato, Yamashiro, or Settsu. So long as the course of empire was identified with that <>f a central military chief, who was the ruler of a few provinces and suzerain of tributaries, requiring him to he often in camp or on the march, u'overnment was hv the s\\ord rather than hv the sceptre, and the permanent location of a capi- tal was unnecessary. As the area of dominion increased and hccame more settled the o'overmnent Business orew apace, in amount and complexity, and division of lahor was imperative, and a permanent capital was of prime importance. The choice was most felicitous. The ancient city of Ileianjo, seven miles south-west of the southern end of Lake l>iwa, was chosen. The Japanese word meaning capital, or laru'c city, is ntiako, of which kiij or ki written, and in 7K>, by orders of tin. 1 imperial court., sent to all the u'overnor> of pro vino'- ; a bonk, in sixty-six vol nines, drscripti vcof the provinces, cities, mount- ains, river>, valleys, and plains, plants, trees, birds, and quadrupeds, w;i- in-^-iin, and tini-hed in 10IJ4. Only frumncnts of this line work are now extant. In tl.e period 7U S -71."> copper was discovered. In 7:i'., the colossal uilded copper mi. me of Buddha, fifty-three feet hiirh. was cast and set up. .Many envoys tVoii; t'hin.i, and Hiiddhir-t prie-ts from Siain, India, and (.'tuna, visited N'ara, one uf'the let- ter briim'inu' a library of live thousand volumes of Buddhi>t literal lire. In ?4',t it was forbidden by imperial edict to slaughter animals in Japan. A lai'ue en|- leetion of the pei>on:il and household articles in the pos>e^ion of the mikados of the eighth century was exhibited at, Nara in .June, 1 S 75, the inventoi-ie> made at that ancient period bein.u' accessible for comparison. 11-j T1IK MIKADO'S F.MriUK. :icccc--i!>le to tin- -hip- coming from the entire west coast and from Ye/.>. Dn the \M--t and east tin- natural mountain roads and pa es slope do\\n and open to\\ard it. Forty mile- to tin- smith an- the ^i-'-at harl'ors lining the l>av of O/aka, the liavcn of all ships from nortlhTti or southern point- of the eastern coast. Hasy river eom- is ci >miect ( )/aka with Kioto. 'I lie miak" is lieaiitiful for situation, the jov of the whole empire of Japan. The tone of reverential tenderness, of exulting joy. the -parking of the eye- \\it!i \\hi.--h Japanese invarial'l v speak of Kioto, \\itnes- to the fact of its natural lu-atitv, it- sabred and cla--ic as-ocia- ti"ii-. and its place in the affections ,,f the people. The citv stand- on an elliptical plain walled in on all side> \<\ evergreen hills and mountain-, like the tloor of a huirc flattened crater no longer choked \\ith lava, hut mantled with (lowers. On the smith the river Kamo, and mi the north, ea-t. and wot, flowing in crystal clearness, the atllu- enl- of Kamo curve around the city, nearlv eiicirele it, uniting at the smith-west to form the Vodo River. Through the centre and in sev- eral of the street- the i>raiiche- of the river (low, ".'i\in c _r a feeling of grateful coolness in the heat- of summer, and i- the source of the cleanliness cliaracteristic of Kioto. The streets run parallel and cross ;it riirlit aii'_ r le-. and the whole plan of the citv i- excellent. The mikado's palace i- -ituatcd in the north -eastern quarter. Art and nature are wedded in l>r;mty. Th" monotony of the clean -'(iiares i- 1'i-oki-n !'V num. r.iii- groves, ti-mples. mona-terie-. and eemeterie-. < 'n tin- mountain oyerlookiiiLf tin- cit\ pc-ep out pa^fda- and -hrines. The hill l"pr~ l'los.,.ni with L p ''H'deii-. The siiluirhs are place- of de- light and loveliness. The MIL- l.ak.- of i'>i\\a. the tt-a-plantat ion- of I ji, tin- thousand cho-i-n re-ori> of pieni.- '_;T"Up- in the adjacent -hadx lull-, tli'- I'e-ort- for ramlili-r-. the leafy walk- for the iioet, the proves for tin- meditative -tudriit or tin- pimi- monk, the tli"U-and hi-torieal and h"!\ a--oeiatioijs in\c-i KiT'to \\ith an interest attaching to no other pla'-e in Japan. ll'-n-. or in it- vicinity, hav dwelt for -e\eiit' -I'll ceiiturie- thf mikado- of Japan. A- tli'- ehildn-n arid d' I- of the mikado-, intain a::d [ire-erve fa\'r at court -r\ed only t,, iii'-n-a-e tin- honor of the-e n-l.!.-- ,.f the '-apilal. The THE THRONE AND THE NOBLES. 113 fealty of the distant princes was measured not only by their trib- ute and military assistance, but by their close conformity to the cus- toms of the miako, which naturally became the centre of learning and civilization. Previous to the era of Sujin, the observance of the time of begin- ning the new year, as well as the celebration of the sacred festivals to the gods, was not the same throughout the provinces. The acceptance of a uniform calendar promulgated from the capital was then, as now, a sign of loyalty of far greater significance than would appear to us at first sight. This was forcibly >hown in Yokohama, as late as 1ST.!, after the mikado had abolished the lunar, and ordered the use of the solar, or Gregorian, calendar in his dominions. The resident Chi- nese, in an incendiary document, which was audaciously posted on the gates of the Japanese magistrate's office, denounced the Japanese for having thus signified, by the adoption of the barbarians 1 time, that they had yielded themselves up to be the slaves of the "foreign devils." The mikado has no familv name. lie needs none, because his dynasty never changes. Being above ordinary mortals, no name is necessarv to distinguish him from men. lie need be personally dis- tinguished onlv from the gods. When he dies, he will enter the company of the gods. lie is deiiied under some name, with Tenno (son, or kiiii:', of heaven) ailixed. It was not proper (until 1S7:>, when the custom was abrogated) for ordinary people to pronounce the name of the living mikado aloud, or to write it in full : a stroke should be left out of each of the characters. Previous to the general use of Chinese writing, the mikados, about fifty in all, had long names ending in " mikoto," a term of respect equiv- alent to u angustness," and (juite similar to those applied to the u'ods. These extremely long names, now so unmanageable to foreign, and even to modern native, tongues, gave place in popular use to the great- ly abbreviated Chinese equivalents. A complete calendar of the names of the gods and goddesses, mikados and empresses and her. >cs, was made out in Chinese characters. It is so much more convenient to use these, that I have inserted them in the text, even though to do so seems in many au instance an anachronism. The difference in learned length and thundering sound of the Japanese and the <'hinese form of some of these names will be easily seen and fullv appreciated after a glance, bv the Occidental reader who is terrified at the uncouthness of both, or who fears to trust his vocal organs to attempt their pro- ] 1 j Till: MIK.Uto'S KMl'lHE. nunciation. Amaterasu o inikaini becomes Ten Shu I >ai Jin; Oki- naira Tarashi Jlime becomes JiiiLju Ko^o. .\t't>-r tin. 1 < hincse writing became fashionable, tin- term mikoto was dropped. The mikados after (K-ath received a different name from t!i:it u-i-il when li\iiiLj: tlms Kan Vanuito I \varo hiko no mikoto became, posthumously, JilllllUl Telino. 'I'll,' (.olden A;j' '>f tin 1 mikado's power ceased after the introduc- tion ,.f IJuddliism and the Chinese system of otlicialdom. The de- cadence . .f his personal power bewail, and >teadily continued. Manv of the liiu'h inini>tei^ at court became I>uddhi>ts, a^ well as tin- mi- k;i'lo-. It now lie^nn to lie a custom for the emperors to abdicate after .-hurt reigns >ha\e olT their hair in token of renunciation of the \\orld, become monks, and retire from active life, taking the title IIo-o (/>, law of r.uddha; <~>, mikado cloi-tered emperor). 1 hiring the eighth centiirv. \\liile priots were multiplying, and inona-terio were e\ v\\\ 'here bein^ established, the court wa> the chief propaganda. Tin- ci Mirt ii-i's \ ied \\ ith each other in ho! v /.eal and >tud v of the siercd bonks i>f India, \\hile the mind.- of the empi'cssi's and liov-emperois \\ere occupied \\ith schemes for the advanocinoiit of Buddhism. In 741, the fivctioii of two u'l'eat temples, and of a ^even-storied ]>ai:'oila in each pro\ince, \\a> ordered. The abdication after short rei^'ii< made the mikados mere puppets ,,f the ministers and courtiers. In- stead "t uarrioi's bra\in^ di>coinforts ot the camp, leaiiiii'j; armies in liattle. or ti-h:in^ savages, the chief rulers of the empire abdicated, after short ivi^ns. j,, retire into monasteries, or ^ive themseKes ui> to license. 'I his e\il state of all'airs continued, until, in later centuries, effeminate men, -tei ped in >en-ual delight-, ui- sillv bo\ -. \\ ho droned auav their lives in empt\ pomp and idle lu\urv. or became tin tools of liioiiks. tilled the throne. Meanwhile the administration of the empire from the capital deeliiied, \\hile the intluciiec of the militarv classic iii'-ri :.-' d. AS the mikado'^ actual po\\,-r ^\-i-\\ \\eakei 1 , hi< nominal importanci' increased. He uas surrounded l>v a hed^'e f eti'jllette thai s.-eludi'd him from tile ollter \\orld. lie !|e\er appeared in pulilic. His -uhjeets. , \ecjit his \\ife and concubines and highest m'niisti i-s. ne\er -a\v his face. Ib >at on a throne of mats behind a ciirtaitl. Hi^ fei-t Were UeViT all"Ued to tolled the earth. \\llell lie \\ent abj-oad in the citv. In rode in a car closdv curtained, and drawn by bullocks. The relation of i-inpefur and -ubjeet thus i_ r i'ew mvthic- al. atcl the wav was paved tor some bo],] u-urper \ sei/e the actual- '} \ of ower, \\hile the name i-emaiiieil >aer''d and m\i"late. THE BEGINNING OF MILITARY DOMINATION. 115 XII. THE BEGIXXTXG OF MILITARY DOMINATION. WITH rank, place, and power as the prizes, there were not want- ing rival contestants to dispute the monopoly of the Fujiwara. The prosperity and domineering pride of the scions of this ancient house, instead of overawing those of younger families that were forming in the capital, served only as spurs to their pride and determination to share the highest gifts of the sovereign. It may be easily supposed that the Fujiwara did not attain the summit of their power without the sacriiice of many a rival aspirant. The looseness of the marriage tie. the intensity of ambition, the uTcatness of the pri/.e the throne itself -made the court ever the fruitful soil of intrigue, jealousies, proscription, and even the use of poison and the dagger. The fate of many a noble victim thus sacrificed on the altars of jealousy and revenge forms the subject of the most pathetic passages of the Jap- anese historians and the tear-compelling scenes of the romance and the drama. The increase of families was the increase of feuds. Ar- roM-;ince and pride were matched by craft and subtlety that finally led to quarrels which rent the nation, to civil war, and to the almost utter extinction of one of the great families. The Suo-awara were the most ancient rivals of the Fujiwara. The nio>t illustrious victim of court intrigue bearing this name was Suga- wara Michizane. This polished courtier, the Beauclerc of his a^e, had, by the force of his talents and learning, risen to the position of inner threat minister. As a scholar, he ranked among the hiu'he-t of hi> au'e. At different periods of his life he wrote, or compiled, from the oldest records various histories, some of which are still extant. His industry and ability did not, however, exempt him from the jeal- ous annoyances of the Fujiwara courtiers, who imbittered his lite by poUoninn; the minds of the emperor and courtiers again-f him. ( >ne of them, Tokihira, secured an edict banishing him to Kiii>hm. Here, in the horrors of poverty and exile, he endeavored to get a petition to the mikado, but failed to do so, and starved to death, on the -!5th 11G Till: MIKADO'S F. II VI RE. \ hi- po>thuinous name of 'l'rii|in. Man\ temples have l>ccn erected in hi> honor, and -indent- wor-hip hi- -pint, as tin- patron and litrratmv. ('liililivn at school pray to him that they inav become :_; i writer-, ami win siiccos in studv. Some of his descendants arc vinir. \\ hen Micliizaiit 1 died, the Su^auara \vcrc no longer to In- < me the mo-t formidable rivals of the Fiijivvara. More than a century !>efore, one of the concubines, or extra wives, of the Kmpcror Kuaininu had lionii 1 a son, \vho, having talents as well as im- perial Mood, n.se- to he head of the Hoard of Civil ( Mliee. and ma-ter of court ceremonies an oilice similar to tin 1 lord hi^h chamberlain of KiiLi'land.* To hi> grandson Takamoclii was ^iveii the surname of Taira in > s >'.) one hundred and one year- before the banishment of Miehi/ane. The civil otlices ln-iii'j; alrcadv monopolized !>y the Fuji warn, the members of the famiiv of Taira earlv >hovvcd a fondness and special tinie-- fur militarv life, which, with their experience, made them most eliu'iMc to the command> of military expeditions. The Fiijivvara had liecoini- whollv wedded to palaee life, and preferred the ea>e and hix- urv of the ci.urt to the di-comfort> of the camj> and the dangers of ;hc liattle-tield. Hence the >hr^iin>. or v,'eiiei'ai-, were invarial>lv ap- pointed anioni: 1 son< of the Taira <>r tlic Minamoto. Imth of which familie- 1'ci-aiiie the militarv va-siK of tin- CI'OVMI. \\hile the men icd the ;trmii ". fought the foe, and relumed in triumph, the mothers at home tired the mind- ,.f their >oii> with the recital ..f the deeiU ,,f their father-. Tim- !>ivd to arm-, inured to war, and living chietlv in the camp, a liardv race of warrior- ^rew up and formed the militarv" ca-te. So ]..nu r :i- the Taira or Minamoto le; ( ilers were content with war and it- L:'l"rv. there wa.- no rea-on for the l-'ujiwara to fear dan- LT'-r from them a- rival- at court. Hut in time- of peace and inaction, the mind- of the-.- men of war lon-j-d 1" -hare in the spoil- of peace; or, having MO more enemies to conquer, their energies were turned je-a'm-t their fellow-. The peculiar ha-is ..f the imperial -ucce.--ioii "peiieil an e.|ually wide field for the plav of female amhition; and ' rriiu-i-s nl 1 the MiH.il wri-f i-liiriM' 1 l the ('..llDwiiiL: "Hice~ : Mini-tiT ul' the :ni]"]-i,il lii.iiM-liold. Im-il l,i_'!i cluiiiilii-rliiiii, inini-tiT uf war, pn^idetit of the ei-n-iinitv. mid the ^.ivrnmr-lii!'- nl Kmi/iiUe. K.nl/n-:i. :nnl Ilitaihi. Tip- ;n-t.- i;ii iliil'n.- of the iifllci' w,. re. li^wi-v i.-r, i"-rl'>nii' y int'-ri'ir cillicia^. THE BEGIXMXG OF MILITARY DOMINATION. 117 while Taira and Minamoto generals lusted after the high offices held liv Fujiwara courtiers, Taira and Minamoto ladies aspired to become empresses, or at least imperial concubines, where thev might, for the o-lorv of their family, beard the dragon of [tower in his own den. Thev had so far increased in influence at court, that in 1008, the. wife of the boy-emperor, Ichijo, was chosen from the house of Mi- namoto. The Minamoto familv, or, as the Chinese characters express the name, (ienji, was founded by Tsunemoto, the grandson of Seiwa (859-880) and son of the minister of war. His great-grandson Yori- voslii became a shou'im, and \\as sent to fi^'ht the Ainos; and the half-breeds, or rebels of mixed Ainu and Japanese blood, in the east and extreme north of Hondo. Yoriyoshi's son, Yoshiiye, followed his father in arms, and was likewise made a shogun. So terrible was Yoshiiye in battle that lie was called Ilachiman taro. The name Taro is o-iven to the Hrst-born son. Ilachiman is the Buddhist form of Oj'm, the deified son of Jingti Kogo, and the patron of warriors, or irod of war. After long years of fighting, he completely tramjuilized the province- of the Kuanto. His great-grandson Yoshitomo* became ;; - The family name (/'/') precedes tin- personal, or what we call the baptismal or ( 'hi-ir-tian name. Tims tin: lull name of the boy Kotaro, son of Mr. Ota, would be Ota Kotaro. Family names nearly always have a topographical mean- inu', having been taken from names of streets, villages, districts, rivers, mount- ains, etc. The following are specimens, taken from the renter of my students in the Imperial College in Tokio, many of whom are descendants of the ilhi^tri- ous personages mentioned ill this book, or in Japane>e lii.-tory. The "'real Ijiiik of the Samurai claim descent from less than a hundred original familie-: 1'lain- viilaii'e, Crane -slope, Hill -village, Middle -mountain. Mountain -foot. Grove-en- trance, Hiuli-bndire, Ka>t-river, Kiver-jioint, (Jardeii-moiintain, River-meadow, Finc-villa-i-e, (i real-tree, 1'ine-well, Shrine-promontory, Cherry-well. Cedar-bay, .Lower-field, Stone-pine, Front-Held, Hamboo-brid-v, Larnv-Maml, TIaj>]iy-tii'hl, Shrine-plain, Temple-island, IIand-i>land, North-village, etc., etc. It was not the custom to have u'odparcnts, or ntimes.ikes, in our sense of tln'se words. Mid- dle names were not on having but a family and a pen-on- al name. Neitlier could there b,' a senior and junior of exactly the r-ame name in the .-aim: family, as with us. The lather usually bestowed on his son half of hi.- name; that i>, he mave him one of the Chinese character.- with which hi- o\vn was written. Thus, Voriyo>hi named his Hrst-born -on Vo-hii\v, ;. ,., Vo-hi <<1<>i\ MHIS, named, re-peetively, Yhitada. Yo-hitoki, and Yo-hilaka. The Taira unities retained the i/mri in Tadamori, in their own per-onal names. Fe- male name.- were borrowed from tho-c of beautiful and attractive objects or of auspicious omens, and were usually not changed at marriage r throughout life. Males made use during life of a number of appdlaiion- n-ivcn tin m, or attuned on the occa-ion.- of birth, reaching- adult age, ollicial promotion, change of life; tii' _;] -at i -t rival "f tin- Taira, anl the father . .f Yoritonio, one <>f tin- ;t!'lr-t IIP -n in .la|i;uii -! ln-torv. Tin- star of Minuinutu was in the a.-ci : : M, ;!.',.(. M' tin- Taint .-lin^uns \\h" hail tin- military over-iu'ht of tin- Smith anil \\V-t. achieved a -ucce--ion of brilliant victories As i fe-t"\\(d the i-lainl of T-ii^hiinri mi Ta'iaiiiori. 'he heail of the hon>r. It beiim' a time of peace. Ta- .l.iiii"!! canie to Kioto to live, ami \\liilr \\\ court hail a linixnit with one of tin- palace lailv attendants, whom he afterward married. The friiit of thi- union \\a- a >on. \\ h<> ^re\\ to lie a man of >t<>ut physiijr.e Li: liovhuod he ^-;i\e equal indication^ of hi- future u'lvatiie.-- and hi- fiiture arrogance. !!, \\nre imu-nalK hin'li do^: the Jajiancso eijiiiv- aii-hl (",[ riding a hiu'li ho]'-e." Ili- fellou- ^a\'e the -ti'iiUitii;' roi-t- fi-'-r lip- ni'-knanie ..f k>,l<r\. -n .1 -li'."Tir r>-\\ . ' .;i Mm ;i m-'-v IKIIIH-. m - !-v a!- -'.''_ him t' i in iii nf tlii - ; |'i-i'--cd vividly tn tlii- i-yi- hy u ' ' ' I ' - i.i-\ ']' 1 !,' ' -U-1 "111 ; ' li;iliic ''':', li'-ri '-. !' li'iip rl \ ih' 1 'j:< a- ' :.'' : \\ I \1 i i l"iii" ini'ini.- YI 'i'i! 1 'Pi' i ' 't' M In I In 1^7'J, 1 ,i ln%M-d In li;ivf lamily a- . . h'.llu; l.alJ. 1 -. THE liEGiyXIXG OF MILITARY D01IIXATIOX. HO time the seas swarmed with pirates, who ravaged the coasts and were the scourge of Corea as well as Japan. Kiyomori, a boy full of tire and energy, thirsting for fame, asked to be sent against the pirates. At the age of eighteen he cruised in the Sea of lyo, or the Suwo Xada, which is part of the Inland Sea, a >heet of water extremelv beautiful in it:-clf, and worth;/, in a high degree, to be called the Mediterranean of Japan. \\ hile on shipboard, he made himself a name by attacking and capturing a ship full of th" most desperate villains, and by destroying their lurking-place. His earlv manhood was spent alternately in the capital and in service in the South. In 115:5, at the age of thirty-six, he succeeded his father as minister of justice. The two families of Minamoto and Taira, who had together emerged from comparative obscuritv to fame, place, and honor, had dwelt peacefully together in Kioto, or had been friendlv rivals as sol- diers in a common cause on distant battle-fields, until the year 115ft. from which time they became implacable enemies. In that year the first battle was fought between the adherents of two rival claimants of the throne. The Taira party was successful, and obtained posse sion of the imperial palace, which x'ave them the supreme advantage and prestige which have ever since been possessed by the leader or partv in whose hands the mikado is. The whole administration of the empire was now at Kiyomori' s disposal. The emperor, \\lio thus owed his elevation to the Taira, made them the executors of his poli- cy. This was the bou'inning of the domination of the military da--e- that lasted until 1808. The ambition of Kivomori was now not onlv to advance himself to the highest position possible for a subject t occupy, but also to raise the influence and power of his family to the hix'h"st pitch. He further determined to exterminate the only rivals whom he feared the Minamoto. Not content with exercising the militai'v power, he tilled the oilices at court \\ith his own relative-, carrvinx' the p"licy of nepotism to a point etjiial to that of hi- rivals, the Fujiwara. In 1107, at the ax'e of fifty years, having, by his ener- gy and ciinninx', made himself the military chief of the empire, ha\- inx' crii>hed not only the enemies of the imperial court, but al-o hi> own. and having tremendous influence with the emperor and c.>urt, he received the appointment of I >ai Jo l>ai Jin. KiyMinori was thus, virtually, the ruler of Japan. In all hi- meas- ures he was a>sisted, if not often in-fixated to nrix'inate them b\ the ex-emperor, Go -Shirakawa, \\lio ascended the throne in ll'if't. and abdicated in 1159, but was the chief manager of ail'air- dnrinx' the |_M, Till: M I K.I f JO'S EMPIRE. reigns of hi- son nii'l two <;randst>ns. This mikado \\as a very im- moral plan, and the evident iva-on of hi- resi^nin^- \\as that tic mi^ht al-aiidoii hii.i-clf to ilcliauclkTy, and wield cvi.'ii limn- actual power than uln-ii on the throne. In 1 100, In.- abdicated, shaved otT hi- liaii-, and t,,ok the title of Ilo-o, or "cloistered emperor," and Kecanie a |! \\\A monk, ]irofi>-in^' to retire from the world. In indu-triou- M'clu-ioii, he granted the ranks and titles created l>y hi- predeces-, r in la\i-li profusion. He thus c'.\erci-ed, as a monk, even more intlu- eiice than \vhcii in actual otlice. The head of the Taira hesitated not t , u-c all the-e rewards for his own and his familv's private end-. others \\ho had d"iic no ^rcat service- for court or emperor had held hi-ll -flices, h, whn had doMe -o ,,,,], -h,, U ld -ct all he Could. Finallv. iieithi r court iinr I'liipei'nr could control him. and he hani-ln-d ///'. and e\e!i nio\i-d tip' c:ipital aiid court at hi- [ilca-urc. In Ihi-, tin- jM.uej' of tin- Taira famih \\a- j-ai^ainoiiiit . Si\tv men of t!ic hoii-c lii-ld hi-'li ulliccs ;,t .-oiirt. and the land- from which they .-Ilio\eil feVelUle e\t.lid'd o\ e]' thift\ p|-o\'i lices. TlleV had -plelldid palae.-- iii Kioto and at I'likuwara. \\hen- t!ie iiiod'-rn treat v-port of llir,_r,, n,,\v stand- i'vr]ookii|._.- ti,, sj,!,.ndid -i-ciicrv of the Inland Sea. Hesitating at nothing that \\ould add to hi- ^lorv oj- po\\er. K'ivo- niori. in 1 1 7 1 . imitatinir hi- pivd'-e. --. .r-. made hi- daughter tin- coii- THE BEGINNING OF MILITARY DOMINATION. 121 cnbine, and afterward the wife, of the Emperor Takaktira, a boy eleven years old. Of his children one was now empress, and his two sons were generals of highest rank. His cup of power was full. The fortunes of the Kujiwara and Minamoto were under hopeless eclipse, the former having no military power, the latter being scat- tered in exile. Yoshitoino, his rival, had been killed, while in his bath, bv Osada, his own traitorous retainer, who was bribed bv Kiyomori to do the deed. The head of Yoshitomo's eldest son had fallen under the sword at Kioto, and his younger sons the last of the Minamoto, as lie supposed were in banishment, or immured in monasteries. The most famous archer, Minamoto Tametomo, took pail in many of the struggles of the two rival families. His great strength, equal to that of many men (fifty, according to the legends), and the 1'aet that his right arm was shorter than his left, enabled him to drau a how which four ordinary warriors could not bend, and send a shaft live feet IOIIL;'. with enormous bolt-head. The court, influenced hv the Taira, banished him, in a cage, to Td/u (after cutting the muscles of hi> arm), under a guard. lie escaped, and lied to the inland.- oi ()>hima and Ilachijo, and the chain south of the Hav of Yedo. His inn having healed, lie ruled over the people, ordering them not to semi tribute to Id/.u or Kioto. A fleet of boat> wa- -cut again-t him. Tametomo. on the strand of Osliima, sped a shaft at one oi the IL'_> Till' .l///vM/;T.V L'UPIItF. approaching \e-.-e!- that pierced tin- thin u\ of defiance, shut him-elf up. set the hou-e on fire, and kill. -'I him- If. Another account declares that he tied 1" the [.in Kiu I-land-, ruled over tin-in, and founded the familv of Liu Kiu ''_. IILT the father df Siinten. the fir-t hi-t< ,ri.-al ruler of thi- !_iu'ninn' to Antoku. then three year- of a-v. It i- ea-ily seen that the real power lav not with these Imvs and l>a- liies, l.ut \\ith the auu'ii-t wire-iniller- In'hind the throne. The /A//-/ .Mmmi/iilnri. or the" Hi-t"ri<- Koinaiice of the Taira." i- oiie of the nio-t popular of the inanv e!a ic work- of fiction read !'\ all cla e- of people in Japan. In thi- liook the chief e\ent- in the live-, and even the manner- and per-onal appearance, of the principal actor- of the time- of tin' Taira are M-CII, so that the\- liecoine miv than -hadow- of name-, and seem to li\e I'ef.'i'e n-. men of ve-terdav. The term- II. :!<(' aii'i ( '.'iiji. though ( 'hi;;, -i forms , ,f the naim - Taira aiid Minamot.'. were, fi'oin their l>iv\ it\ , popularlv u-eil in prefi reiicc c pure native, hut longer, form- of I'aira and Minainoio. 1' . ' nf I n ilinln^ical li-t et t In- ~d\-, r- . i.'ll- (if .1 i] .in i- i . hi- ' ' _'.\ ell ill tin- .V.7/-I /,'.;,.' I: n >/,, \ :. ;: ' : - ; lli-tury i, T..ki,-. unit \V ' . \V!KI t.riiiLT- 'I' '^ n tlii- 111 \ ;,!:i;i ' '. ( : ' ' ' . I I > t ll>- t l.in I . !;l \ < if ! ] ir TsVcltt li Ill< in t h f >t Me] ji i .I,i in;;. f. I -!, !-1 1 . ' . . iid:ir u ti- a-iz>.d un- I,, re THE BEGINNING OF MILITARY DOMINATION. 1:1 YUM, though thrir living name?, and those of their parents, are printed in the Nihnn Riyuku >/''. Ineludiiii;' Jin^u, there were l'2'.j sovereigns. Tlie average lenirth ot the reigns of \'i:l was nearly twenty-one years. There lias been hut one dynasty in Japan. In comparison, the present emperor of China is, the ~~od, and the dynasty the -':.!(! or :>4th. CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF JAPANESE EMPEROKS. nt c of Ri-ign. | llratll. 510-477 475-:: :; I] 00. Kuasail 41 07. Idii.K> 32 Os. Saujf, 4:! 09. Uo-Idlijo 29 70. Go-Sliiijaku 37 71. (to-Kei7.fi 44 72. Gd-Saiijf, 40 73. Shiraka vva 77 IIoi ikawa 29 Toba 55 Shiutdku ... . 40 7 : 400-405 400-411 412-453 454 450 457-479 Btiret.su...... 57 Keilai >>2 Ankan 70 551 5;;.j Sr-nkua 73 530 5:19 Kiimiu'i . .. 03 540-571 80. KdlHiVV Go-Shinikawa. .. N'j" 1,'dkujr, SI. Takakura s-2. Aiiti.ku S3. Gotoba s4. Tsuchiinikadd . . ^5. .luntdkil ISO. Chitikio ,s7. (io-llorikawa. . . 8S. Shi jr,... 029-041 042-044 645-654 055-001 Bulatsu . . . . 4S 572-5s5 ll ! 9ii. l-'ushiini 94. Gd-Fiishiini 95. (io-Nijo 96. 1 lana/.diio 97. (id-DaiL'd 9S. (Jd-Mui'akanii... . 99. Chukci loo. Gd-Kaiiii'-yama. .. lul. (fd-Kdinat^u 102. Sllnko 103. (Jd-Jlaiia/diid Iu4. Go-Tsuchimikadi Ki5. (;<) Kashiwara .. lnO. (Jd-Nara 1o7. i ikiniarhi lo9. (idiniwo Till: MIKADO'S EMPlliE. XIII. Y01UTOMO A\l> Till-: MIXAMOTO FAMILY. NKXT tn port raving tin 1 beauties of nature, there is no class of sub- ject- in \\liidi the native artists delight more than in the historical events related in their elassies. Amon^ these there are none treated \\ith inoiT frequency and spirit than the ili^ht of Yo-hitomo's coiieii- 1'ine, Tokivva, after the death of her lord at the hands of bribed trai- tors. After the fi'_rht \\ith the Taira in Kioto, in ll.V.t, he tied east- \\ard, and was killed in a lath-room hv three hired assassins at I't- sumi, in ( '\\ari. Tokiwa was a yoim^ peasant -irirl of Hirpassine; beau- tv. uhoin Yo-hitomo had made his coiiculiine, and who bore him three children. She tied, to e-cape the minions of Taira. Her flijjlil wa- in winter, and -now lav on the ground. She knew neither where to c.-o imr how to >uli^t : 1'iit. ela-pinu - her halie to her liosom, her two little son- on her riidit, mie holdinu; hi- iiiothiT's hand, the other car- rying hi- father'- -\\ "id, trudged on. That Kahc at her l>reast was Vo-hit-nm' a name that awakens in the l'iva>1 of a Japanese youth eiiicitii'ii- that kindle hi- enthusiasm \ emulate a character that was tin- miiTi'i 1 of chixalroiis \aloj- and knin'htlv condiii-t, and that saddens him at the thought of one who MilTeivd cruel death at the hands of a jealoti- lirntln r. ^'M-hit-uni'', the xounnv-t son of Vo-hitoino, li\cs, and will live. injiii'>rtal in the mind- of Jajianese \oiith a- the Havard <>f Japan. l\i\ <>iii<>n, int\icat( d with success, conceived the plan of extermi- ualinu' the Minaiii''!, P familv r<><>\ and l>ranch. Not knovfiiii;' where Tokiwa and h.-r ehildi^n had tl.-d. he sei/ed her mother, and had her Ipfppnu'ht to Kioto. In Japan, a- in <'hina. filial pietv i- the highest dutv of man, filial atfection the .-troii^v-l tie. Kivomori well knew tiiat Tokiwa'- -eii-c of a daughter's dut\ wmild prevail over that of a mother's love or woinanlv fear. lie expected Tokiwa to come to Kioto to save her mother. Meanwhile the dau_:lii>r. nearh fro/i-n and half -tarvcd. was met in her tliirht \<\ a Taira -oldier, who. pit \iu.j; her and her children, gave YOltlTOMO AX1) THE JIIXAMOTO FAMILY. 125 her shelter, ;nnl fed her with his own rations. Tokiwa heard of her inotlier's durance at Kioto. Then came the stru^u'le between mater- nal and filial love. To enter the palace would he the salvation of her mother, 'nit the death of her children. What should she do? Her wit showed her the way of escape. Her resolution was taken to OY> to the capital, and trust to her beautv to melt the. heart of Kiyomori. Thus she would save her mother and the lives of her sons. Her success was complete. Appearing in the presence of the dreaded encmv of her children, Kiyomori was dazed hy her heauty, and wi-hed to make her his concubine. At first she utterly refused; hut her mother, weeping floods of tears, represented to her the mis- ery <>f disohedience, and the happiness in store for her, and Tokiwa was obliged to yield. She consented on condition (.if his sparing her offspring. Kiyoinori's retainers insisted that these youivj," Minamotos should he put to death; hut hy the pleadings of the heautiful mother, hacked b\ the intercession of Kiyoinori's aunt, their lives were spared. The halie u'rew to he a healthy, rosy-cheeked hoy, small in stature, with a ruddy face and slightly protruding; teeth. In spirit lie was fiery and impetuous. All three of the hoys, when ii'rown, were sent to a monas- tery near Kioto, to he made priests: their line hlack hair was shaved, ami they put on the rohes of Buddhist neophytes. Two of them re- mained so, hut Yosliitsune ^ave little promise of becoming a u'rave and reverend bonze, who would honor his crape, and inspire respect hy his hald crown and embroiderer! collar. He refused to have his hair shaved off, and in the monastery was invpressihly merry, lively, and self-willed. The task of mana^in^ this youn<_>; ox (I'shi-waka, he \va< then called) pive the holy hrethren much trotihle, and ^-really scandalize.d their re\'erences. Yoshitsune, chafing at his dull life, and loii'2'inn' to take part in a more 1 active one, and especially in tin- wars in the Xorth, of which he could not hut hear, determined to es- cape. How to do it was the question. Aiiiono- the out-ide lav-folk who visited the monastery for trad" or hii-iness was an iron-merchant, who made frequent journeys from Kioto to the north of Hondo. In those days, as now, the mine-; of implements. This iron, heinu' smelted from the ii!,T.rn< ti>' o\- id' and reduced hy the u-e of ehan-oal as fuel, ifavo a steel of singular puritv and teiii[u-r which ha- never heeii rivaled in modrr': time-. Yosliitsune he^u'ed the merchant to take him lo Mat-u. Ih-. he- 9 !_'; 'I ill-: MIKADO'S I'.Ml'lRK. ii!^- afraid of offending tin' priest, would not at fir>t consent. Yo-hi- t-mie per-uadcd liiiu \>\ saving that the prie-ts \vould he onlv too i_dad : I'c rid of -ndi a troultk'soiiH- }>\'. The point \\a> \\ou, ami ^ \\.-nt o!f. The l>o\'- -urmi-e- weiv correct. The priest it e\c, Ili-iit riddance to verv had ruM'i-li. \^ liile in tin- Ka-t, they -topped soiiu- time in Kadzu-a, then infe-t- , I'ohl'crs. Ildv Yo-liitsnm' 1 u'ave signal proof of hi- niettJe. Am-iii: other exploit-, he. ,,u om- occasion, single -handed and un- armed, -ei/ed a hold roliln-r. and, on another, a--i-ted a rich man to defend hi- hoii-c, killini;' live of the rutlian- \\ith hi- own hand. Yori-hi^t'-, hi- companion and liosoin -friend, he^vd him not to in- dnlu'e in any nnnece arv displays of courage, le-t the Taira would -lii'ely ln-av of him, and know he wa- a Minaiimto, and -o dc-trov him. Tliev tinally readied their destination, and ^'o-hit-ll!n' \\a- taken to live \\ith I lidrhira, a nolileinan of the Fuji warn, \\lio \sa- prince of Mlit-ll, Ilel'e he <_;TeW to lliailllood, spelidin^ hi- time ino-t c.iii^e- nially. in the dia.-e, in manly sport-, and in military i-xerdx-s. At the ;i_;e of t \\ etitv-oiie, he had won a ivjiutation a- a soldier of pecrle-- valoi' and coii-ummate -kill, and the exponent of the |oftir-t code of Jajiaiie-e rliivalry. He lecame to ^'oritojini. hi- l>rother, a- Ncv to Najiolcoii. Nor can the -pleiidor of the mar-dial's emirate oiit-hine that of the youiiLT -lapane-e -ho^un's. ^ oritomo, the tliii 1 '! -"ii of Yo-hitoino. \\a- horn in the year 1 1 hi. and ronsei|Ui'iitlv ua- twelve \ "car- old \\lien hi- hrother Yo-liit-nni' 1 ua- a I'aKv. Aft- r the defeat of hi- father, lie, in the retreat. \\a- M-parated ti'-'in hi- companion-, and tinallv tell into the hand- of a Taira olh'.vr. ( >n hi- wav thl'ou^'h a \illa--- called Awohaka. in < (nil. a uiri. the child of the daughter of the head-man uhom ^"o-hitol||o had olice lo\ed. lieai-iiiLi 1 'hi-, -aid. " I \\ill foi'ou my 1'Tother aii'l die \\ith hin i." I I-T pe-'pli- -toppeil h.-r a- she wax al tout to follow "\'o-hilomo. }<}\\ -he afterward unt out alone and drilled lier-elf. Tin Taii'a flicer !iror,ifht hi- pi 1 !/-- to Kioto, \\ln-n- hi- execution ua- ordered, and t!ie .|a\ tix>-d: 1'iit then-, a^'ain. w-'inan'- tend-'i 1 In-art and -uppli- cation- -a' d-'-tined f-r LTi'eatel' thin-'-. The hoy'- caj.tor had a-ke.l him if In- v. ;,. live. He an-weivd, " Ye- : hoth mv father and ho-tinT are di ad : \\!n> hut I can ]\ thi- filial an-wer. the ojlic.-r to Kiyoniori'f -t'-p-iip '"!:!. uho \\a- a I'>ud-lhi-t nun. lia\ini:' IM-- ~o after tin- d'-ath of her Im-hand. 'I'adaiiiori. I J<-e, .niiic.:' inler- YORITOMO AXD THE MIXAMOTO FAMILY. li'7 memory were unlocked when the officer said, " Yoritomo resembles I'rim.v Uma." She had borne one son of great promise, on whom she had lavished her affection, and who had been named I'ma. The mother's bosom heaved tinder the robes of the nun, and, pitying Yori- tomo, she resolved to entreat Kivomori to spare him. After import- unate pleadings, the reluctant sgn yielded to his mother's prayer, but condemned the youth to distant exile a punishment one degree less than death, and Yoritomo was banished to the province of Idzu. lie was advised by his former retainers to shave off his hair, enter a mon- astery, and become a priest; but Morinaga, one of his faithful serv- ants, advised him to keep his hair, and with a brave heart await the future. Even the few that still called themselves vassals of Mhiamoto did not dare to hold any communication with him, as he was under the charge of two officers who were responsible to the Taira for the e.aiv of their ward. Yoritomo was a shrewd, self-reliant boy, gifted with hi^'h self-control, restraining his feelings; so as to express neither joy nor grief nor anger in his face, patient, and capable of great en- durance, winning the love and respect of all. He was as " 1'riner Hal." He afterward became as "bluff King Harry," barring the lat- ter'- bad eminence as a marrier of many wives. Siteh was the condition of the Minamoto family. No longer i' 1 pnwer and place, with an empress and ministers at court, but scat- tered, in poverty and exile, their lives scarcely their own. Yoritomo was fortunate in his courtship and marriage, the story of which is one of o'l-eat romantic interest.* His wife, Masau'o, is one of the many fe- * Yoritomo had inquiml which of the daughters of IIojo Tokimasu was nio.-t beautiful. He \vus told the eldest \v;is most noted for personal charms, but the seeoml, the child of a second wife, was homely. Yoritomo, afraid of a step-moth er's jealousy (though t'earinn' neither spear nor sword), denned it prudent to pay hi- addresses to the homely daughter, and thus win the mother's favor also. He -en; iier a letter by the hand of Mor'nui^a, his retainer, who, however, thought hi- master'' s all'ection for the plain girl would not last; so lie destroyed his ma- ter's letter, and, writing another one to Ma-airo, the eldest, sent it to her. Ji so happened that on the previous ni^ht the homely daughter dreamed lhal a piir^un eame to her, currying a u'olden box in her beuk. On awaUinu". she told her drcaii! t<> her sister, who was so interer-ted in it that, after eauvr consideration, she re- solved '' to buy Iier sister 1 s dream," and, as a priee, u'uve Iier toilet mirror to In r -i-ter, saying, us the Japanese always do on .-imilar occasions, Tin' prirr I pay is little. " Tlie homely sister, perhaps thinking some of Ma-uiro's bea lie n fleeted to hers, gladly liartered her unsubstantial happiness Sea.reely hail -he 1 done' this, than Voritomo's ( Morinau'u's) letter came, a-kinr;' her to be his bride-. It turned out to be a true love-match. M;is;i^o \va- I lien twenty-one year.- ofau'e it be'm^ no iin^alhintrv to state the auv of a Jup;me.se ladv, Ihinu; male character- famous in Japanese history. She contributed not a little to tli'- succe of her husband and tin- splendor of ihe Kainakura court. diirii:u' her lit' 1 '- " v wife and \\ido\v. Sin- outlived her liusliand inanv year-. HIT father. HOjo Tokima-a, an al>le man, in who-e veins ran iniju-rial hlood, made and fulfilled a .-olenm oath to assist Vori- tonio, ;md tin 1 Hojo family subsequently ro-e to be a leading one in .la] >an. 'The tyranny and insolence of Kiyomori at Kioto had l>y this time i : 1 -"), "lie year before his death, become so ^all'inu and outrageous lie of the royal prince-, determining to kill the usurper, eoii- .-pi'.vd with the Minainoto men to overthrow him. Letters were sent to the clan-men, and especially to Yoritomo, who wrote to Yosliit>nne and to hi- friends t" join him and take up arms. Ainonu' the for- mer retainers of his father and grandfather were many members of the Miura family. Morina^a personally secured the fealty of many men of mark in the Kuanto; hut aiuoii'j; those who refused to rie a^ r ain>t the Taira was one. Tsuneto>hi, who laughed scornfully, and -aid. "For an exile to plot au'ain-t the Ilei-hi [Taira] is like a nioii^e plotting au'ain-t a eat." At the head of the peiiin-ula of \>\'/.\] is a ran^'e "f mountains, the ontjuttintl >ptirs of the chain that trends upward to the table-land- of Shinano, and thu- divide- Iva-teru from \\e-tern Japan. This ran^e i- called Hakoiie. and i- fam.ui- not only a- cla>-ic ground in hi-torv. but al-o a- a ra-ket en-lii'iniiiL:' the ehoicesl ^'''in- of nature. It i- well k'io\\n to the foreign re-iddit-. \\lio I'e-ort liither in -innmer t" enjov the pure ail 1 of it- altitude-. It- inpniiLi'- "t interiiiittent and r!i\thmic flo\\. -uri'oiindi-il !.\ infernal \i-ta- of melted sulphur enveloped in cloud- "f poi-oiioii- -team, or incni-ted uith myriad u'li-ti nin^ cr\ tal- of the -aine mineral, (her the-e mountain- there is a narrou pa-s, uhich i~ the ke\ of the Kuanto. Near the pa--, above the \i! (ir di ad. M;i-:i_'' ''- t'.'.l ' limni- fn -in I\intn. ii"t ktinu i n-- (,f thr ],< 'r"tli;tl of thr yiplll)'_ r i . i-' il M;i-:iLl''i t> i K ;i I |el:i !,:!, :i Tiiir;i 'illifC! 1 'Ml : limiii-, // \Vuilli] ' ;. ;mil -.> in:in-ii-il )ii-r t" Klilietuk.i. I'. . ' . - :: t !P- \\"' '1 i ; ::_ : . ' V >p \v;i- ill liulld. I, ! iii \;iin t''ir tli'' ]';iir. T"ki;;i.i-a uutwiirdly [pml'i'-.-i'd t" '" vcr\ ;ir_'"v \\ith Verit'iiii". liut n-;il!v li-vi-d him. YOIilTOMO AXD THE MIXAMOTO FAMILY. 131 lage of Yuinoto, is Islii Bashi Yania (Stone-bridge Mountain), anil here Yoritomo's second battle was fought, and his tirst defeat experi- enced. " Every time his bowstring twanged \ enemy fell," but tinal- Iv lie was obliged to flee. He barelv escaped with his life, and fort- unately eluded pursuit, secreting himself in a hollow log, having first sent his fatlier-iu-law to call out all his retainers and meet again. lie afterward hid in the priest's wardrobe, in one of the rooms of a tem- ple. Finally, reaching the sea-shore, he took ship and sailed across the bav to Awa. "At this time the sea and land were covered with his enemies." Fortune favored the brave. Yoritomo, defeated, but not discouraged, while on the water met a company of soldiers, all equipped, belonging to the Miura clan, who became his friends, and offered to assist him. Landing in Awa, he sent out letters to all the Minamoto adherents to bring soldiers ami join him. He met with encouraging and substantial response, for manv hated Kiyomori and the Taira ; and as Yoritomo's father and grandfather had u'ivcn pro- tection and secured quiet in the Kuanto, the prestige of the Minamoto partv still remained. The local military chieftains had fought under Yoritomo's father, and were now glad to join the sou of their old leader. lie chose Kaiuakura as a place of retreat and permanent resi- dence, it having been an old seat of the Minamoto familv, Yorivoshi had. in lM(j:i, built the shrine of llachiman at Tsui'llgnoka, near the village, in gratitude for his victories. Yoritomo now oi'u'ani/cd his troops, appointed his <.>Hieer>, and made arrangements to establish a tixed commissariat. The latter was a comparatively easy tiling to do iii a fertile country covered with irrigated rice-fields and girdled with teeming seas, and where the daily food of soldier, as of laborer, was rice and tish. Marching up around the country at the head of the l'>av of Y'edo through Ivad/usa, Shimosa, Mu-ashi, and Salami, cross- ing, on his way, the Sum'. la Ki\er, which Hows through the modern Tokio, many men of rank, with their followers and horses, joined him. His father-in-law also brought an army from Kai. In a few months he had raised large forces, with many noted general-. lie awakened new life in the Minamoto clan, and eompletelv turned tin- tide of success. Manv courtiers from Kioto, disappointed in their x'hemes at court, or in any way chagrined at the Taira, (locked to Yoritomo as his power rose, and thus brought to him a fund of expe- rience and ability which he was not slow to utilize f ( .r hi- own bene- fit. Meanwhile the Taira had not been idle. A larijy army was dis- patched to the East, reaching the Fuji River, in Suruga, about the !:;_> THE M1KM)y Yoritomo, appeared on the oth.-r -ide. The Taira \\civ surprised to see such a host in arm-, lloth armie- encamped on opposite Lank-, and glared at cadi other, ea-_r.T for the iijiit. hut neither attempting to cross the torrent. Thi- i- n.'t to lie \\ . 'iidei'ed at. The Fujikawa Lear- the ju-t reputation of -uifte-t -tivaiu in Japan. It ri-e- in the northern part of Kai. on the pivcipitou> side of the uToup of mountains called Yatsu r "ei-iit peak-," and, winding around the \ve>tern Lax- of the lordly Fuji, collecting' into its own volume a host of impetuous iries liorn from the -nous of loftv summits, it traverses the rich province of Suriiu'a in >teep gradient, plunu'ini:' across the Tukaido, in arrouy celerity and volcanic force, into the .-ca near the lordly mount- ain \\hidi it encircles. To cross it at any time in ^....d l>.,at- i- a feat reijuiriiiLT coolnc-s and skill ; in a Hood, iinpossil>ilit\ ; in the face of a hostile attack, sure annihilation. Though supreinelv eau'er t mea-ure sword-, neither jiarty cared to cross to the attack, and the wa^vr of liattlc \\a- postponed. lloth armie- retired, the Taira ivtivatini:' tir-t. Il i- >aid that one of the Taira men, foreseeing that the tide \\ould turn in fa\..r of Yoritomo, went to the riser flats at niidit, and .-cared up the flocks of wild foul ; and the Taira, hearing the "Teat iioi-c. im- a^'iii'-d the Mi nan into ho-t wa.- attacking them, and fled, panic-stricken. ^ oritoino r. Mini'-d to Kamakura. and l.e^an in eariie-t to found a dtv that iiltimateh ri\aled Kioto in maixnitieence, a- it excelled it in po\\- er. II gathered together and set to \\ ..rk an armv of lal.oivr-. car- pent. -r-. and arm..fer-. In a f.-u month- a dtv >prunu' up \\her* once had tieeii onl\ timliered hill- and vallevs, matted \\ilh tin- peivnnial luxuriance of reeds or -.TU!> l.aml'oo. -tarred and fragrant uith the tall lilie- that -till al/"iind. The town lav in a \allev -urroiinded 1>\- hill- "ii everv side, opening .>nlv \\ tin- 'dorinii- sea. The wall of hill- ua- -..on lii'eached l.\ eiittin^'- which -er\id a- Li'atc-wa\'s, ^i\ niif i-a-v a '!-- to friend-, and -afe defen-e au'ain-t enemies. While the lalior.-r- d.-lved and graded, the rarpentei-s plied axe, hooked adxe, and chi-.-l. and the -u ..rd-maker- and armorer- -..unilcd a uar chorus on their an\il- L\ day. and li-'hted up tin hill- l>v their fopjvs a! ni-'ht. The -trects marked out wi-rc soon lined uith -hop-; and merchants eanic to -ell, l.rin^in.;' u r "ld. c,,pp, ;. and iron. -ilk. cotton, and hemp, and raw material f..r f 1 and eithin<_;'. uar and di-plav. Store- . of rice were Luilt and filled; I. oats \veiv coii-tructed and i: t. -tuple- \\er-- erected. In process of time, the wealth of tic- Kuanto centred at Kamakura. \\diilc the old Taira chief lay dy- Y01UTOMO AXD THE HIXAMOTO FAMILY. 1 :'};'> itiii 1 in Kioto, praying for Yoritomo's head to be laid on his now tomb, this same head, safelv settled on vigorous shoulders, was devising the schemes, and seeing them executed, of fixing the Minamoto power permanently at Kamakura, and of wiping the name of Taira from the earth. The long night of exile, of defeat, and defensive 1 waiting of tin Minamoto had broken, and their day had dawned with sudden and unexpected splendor. Henceforward thev took the initiative, \\hih Voritomo carried on the enterprises of peaee and the operations oi \\ar from his sustained stronghold, his uncle, Yukiive, his ei>nsin Yoshinaka, and his brother, Yoshitsune, led the armies in the field. Meanwhile, in US], Kiyomori fell >ick at Kioto. lie had heeii a monk, as well as a prime minister. His death was not that of a saim. He did not pray for his enemies. The Xilioit Gul ,S7//' thus describes the scene in the chamber where, the chief of the Taira lav dviii^: In the Second leap-month, his siekness having increased, his family and liiu'h oilieers assembled round his bedside, and asked him what he \\ould say. Sighing deeply, he said, " lie that is born must necess; 1 .- rilv die, and not * alone. Since the period of lleiji (1159), I have served the imperial house. 1 have ruled under heaven (the empire) absolutely. I have attained the highest rank possible to a subject. I am the grandfather of the emperor on his mother's side. I> there still a regret ' My regret is only that I am dying, and have not yet seen the head of Yoritomo of the Minamoto. After my decease, do not make offerings to Buddha on my behalf; do not read the sacred books. Onlv cut off the head of Yoritomo of the Minamoto, and hanu' it on mv tomb. Let all mv sons and grandsons, retainers and servants, each and every one, follow out mv commands, and on no ac- count neglect them.'" So saying, Kivomori died at the av of sixty four. His tomb, near Hiou'o, is marked by an upright monolith and railing of granite. Munemori, his son, became head of the Taira house. Strange words from a death-bed; yet such as these were more than once used by d\in^ Japanese warriors. Yoritomo'> head was on his body when, eighteen years afterward, in IIH'.I, he died peaeefulh in his bed. Nevertheless, while in Kamakura, his bed-chamber was niu'hih guard- ed by chosen warriors, lest treachery miu'hl cut oil' the hope- of the Minamoto. The flames of \\ar were no\\ lighted throughout the whole empire. From Kamakura forces \\etv >eii! into the province^ of Hitachi, in the Ka^t, and of Echi/en and Ka^a, North and \\'e>t. i;;i de-trovim.; ill-' authrit\ !' tin 1 Kioto liim-am-racy. Victory and in- civa-e '. ;' i !n n-m_;' clan inviin-iliK-. A ft IT mmierou- \,\ i\ , -. tin- \ictors ad\am-ed through <>mi. and -\\oop,-. 1 ,>n th.' chief pn/.e. ati-1 Kioto, tin- coveted capital. \va- iii their ham!-. 'I'ii,. cap!"! 1 - i if the fit\ were Yukiive ami ^ o-hinaka. the um-l" ami co i -in o| Yori t"ii in ivMpectively. 'I In- '1 ; nra. v\ ith the v ouni;' mikado, i. ami hi- \\iiV, Kivitmnri's daii'iliter, tied. (Jot. .ha. hi- In-oth- er, v\a- proclaimed inikadi> in hi- -ti-;i ! l. ami thr estates ami t n-a-ur'- of tin- '1'aira \vcn- couti-catiMl, and divided aini'ir.: the viftur-. \'o-hinaka \\a- called the A-ahi -ho^un (Morning-Mill i-lcvatrd to li'm'li rank, and -'iveii the title and otlice of ^o\-enior of Kdii^o ; l.nt hav- ing lieeii lired in the country, lie could not endure the cap and dtv-> of ceivmony, and was the sulijed of ridicule t-> the peop),- of Kioto. lie liecanie jea!oii^ of hi- Miperior, Voritoino. "ho \\a- in K'aniakiira, tuo hundred mile- a\vav. II" a'-ted in Mich an ari>itrar\ and ovcr- lieariiiL:' -pil'it that the wrath of the c'oiMeivd emperor < Jo-hiraka\\ a \va- roii-i'd a^'ain-t him. IJrinn' al'li 1 to coinmand no military force-, lie im-ited tin' niiiiik- of the immen-e ninna^ti-rio of Ilivei/an and Miidera, m-ai tl i-itv. : < oli-truci hi- authority. r>.T<.iv thev could execute an\ -chi'ine-, \ i-hi naka, witli a military fore,-, -ei/ed them, put the c\-niikado in pri-oii, 1., headed the al. hot-, and deprived the lii^'h I'tii'-er- of -tale of th.-ii- honor- and title-. lie thdi \\re-ted iroin the court the tit'" of Sei-i Sho^un i I>ari'anan--u!i|!i^:it \\\-^ < ieu- eral i. Hi- e\erci-e of pouer \\a- of liHi-f duration, for Yti-liit-uiu' 1 \.- 4 -d v 1 . l!i l!ii c 'inmaiid of the force- m the \\e-i. .-ind, -cut a^aiti-t him. he \\a- defeated aii'l killed,* and the ex-mikado wa- I'e- : 'I . ; llic .V.V dii.i'. . ami i|iflti ii' it!' II, i' c\\\ . hi' : ' . !, ; - witi . A iniiir wliM" 1 i i \ ' i-\ in inii'iil IH-'IUI:' nil ii-iil, I \\ i ' i J iii- 1 1 1 1 \\ i : 1 1 1 1 i : 1 1 . : 1 1 1 ( 1 1 i 1 1 a i ' - MI- a1t< mpti-d I" <-;trn nil' lln- f!()i-ti'l'i-il III] M ' 'l ' 'ill-- ill pi r-i 'II, :ll!'l tl'-'l. II -.:_ ' ' :, ' iiinl In-, tui'iiiiu .ireiind t" ! . l;iit ill ' '. mi .1 rn in in t hi- Ii if !,i-:ni ;nnl 1'i-il : ; nir 1'nt i-ii.'iit :n-i-i. - i'-li in ir-i iii'-n : ;i: >l t!i' ii. ln'ai in::' u ci-y YORITOMO ASD THE MIXAMOTO FAMILY. 135 leased, and the reigning emperor set free from the terrorism umle\ which lie had been put. Meanwhile the Taira men, in their fortified palace at Fukuwara were planning to recover their lost power, and assembling a great armv in the South and West. The Minamoto, <>n the other hand, were expending all their energies to destroy them. The hitter ani- mosity of the two ojeat families had readied such a pitch that the extermination of one or the other seemed inevital>!". In 1184, Yoshi- tsune laid sieu'c to the Kuku\\ara palace, and, after a short time, set it on tire. The son of Kiyoinori and his chief followers tied to Sanuki, 111 Shikoku. Thither, as with the winded feet of an avenger, Voshi- tsunc followed, besieged them at the castle of Yashima, burned it, and drove his enemies, like scattered sheep, to the Straits of Shimo- noseki. Both armio now prepared a licet of junks, for the contest was tu be upon the water. In the Fourth month of the year 11S.5, all wa^ ready for the struggle. The battle was fought at Dan no ura, near the modern town of Sliimonoseki, where, in 18(53, the combined sijuadrons of England, France, Holland, and the United States bom- barded the batteries of the Cho>hiu clansmen. In the latter instance the foreigner demonstrated the superiority of his artillery and disci- pline, and, for the sake of trade and u - ain, wreaked his vengeance a;.- savage and unjust as any that stains the record of native war. In 1185, nearly seven centuries before, the contest was between men of a common country. It was the slaughter of brother by broth- er. The guerdon of ambition was supremacy. The Taira dan were at bay, driven, pursued, and hunted to the sea-shore. Like a wound- ed stag that turns upon its pursuers, the clan were about to u'ive final battle : by its waiter they were to decide their future destiny a ^ra\ e in a bloody sea, or peace under victory. They had collected live htin- amon'j; the enemy that hi- lord was dead, said, " My business is done." ...id, put- ting his sword in hi< mouth, t'rl! skillfully from his horse so that the blade >'.iin'V liesl men. When her lord lied, >he asked to be allowed to die ilh him. He refused to allow her, and, in spite of her teai>, peisiMed in his ivfu-al. |)otl'- in^ hei' armor, she reached Shinano bv private paths, and thence retired into KehiLCo, shaved off her hair, became a nun, and spent the remainder of her lile praying for the eternal happiness of Yoshinaka. 'S K.MPlllK. divd \e--el-. Tliev 'hurried oil Koard their a-ed father> and mother-, their \\i\e- ami - '.';': Ireii. Am.'ii^ them were gentle ladie- from the palace. \\ h"- n roKes -eenieil -adlv out of place in the crowded junk-. T: , iv u, re motliers, with KaKe- at Kiv;i>t, and little children. l.'.' \<.i,!i- to kiio\\ the auful pa--ion- that kimlle man a^ain-t man. the crowd \\ere the \\idow and daughter of Ki\ oinori. t he fornn r a nun, the latter the i-mju'ess-dowau'ci', \\ilh the dethroned mi- . id , a child >i\ vears old. \\ith them \\eiv the sacred in-i^'iiia of u po\\ er. the -word and Kail. 'flic Minamoto ho-t wa- a!nio-t entirely coinjio-ed of men. unin- ciimKeivd \\itli women or familie-. The\ had -even liundreil junk-. IJoth tlcct- were --;i\ iy Hutteriiiii' with tla^s and streamer-. T!ie Taira pen- nant u a- red, the Minium >- to v. liite. w ith t\\ o Klack Kar- near the top. The junk-, though clum-v. \\cre excellent Ve--el- for tiirhtiiiir purpo-e- fully e(|iial to the old \\ar---al- le\ - of Actiulll. < Ml i 'lie -ide WCI'e Kl'IlVe mi n tlu-lie(l \\ ith \ ii-li >r\ , liate and the meiiiorv of aw ful \\ r, iiii:'-. < Mi 1 lie other -ide Wel'e Kl'a\e Illell llel'V ed W it ll the coUl'- a'_;v of de-pair. \'< -oh cd to (lie mil v in honor, scorning life and count r\ , \s c >ii!i(l- an Id Tiie Kat'le Ke^aii. \\ith impetiio-ity and de-pair, the Taira ilro\e their |imk- hard aifam-l the Minaiiiot, and gained a tempoi'arv ad- .anta'j.'e K\ the -iiddeime-- i,f their mi-.t. Seeing thi-, ^'o-hi1-lln(', ever fearie--. cried mil and en niir;iif (1 d hi- -oldii-r<. Then came a iiill in the coinKat. \\'ada, a noied archer of ihe .Minamoto. -hot an arrow, and struck the junk of a Taira leader. "Shoot it Kack !" crii d lef. Anal I it ( ut of t he u;im\vale, and, ;i;Ml!ir it to hi- Ko\\ Kefol-e the -'a/j of the i-l'i \\- of tile llo-lilc iieet, 'I he alToU -p. d. Il . ie h, Jmel of mie. and pierced A-YD THE MINAMOTO FAMILY. ] :',7 .mother warrior. The Minamoto were ashamed. "Shoot it back!" thundered Yoshitsune. The archer, plucking it out and coolly ex- amining it, said, " It is short and weak/' Drawing from hi- quiver an arrow of fourteen fists' length, and fitting it to the strinir, he shot it. The five-feet length of shaft leaped through the air, and, piercing the armor and flesh of the Taira bowman who reshot the first arrow, fell, -pent, into the sea beyond. Elated with the lucky stroke, Yoshitsune emptied his quiver, shooting with such celerity and skill that many Taira fell. The Minamoto, encouraged, and roused to the highest pitch of enthusiasm, redoubled their exertions with oar and arrow, and the tide of victory turned. The white llair triumphed. Yet the Taira nii^'ht have won the day had not treachery aided the foe. The pau'es of Japanese history teem with instances of the destruction of friend- by traitors. Perhaps the annals of no other country are richer in the recitals of results gained by treachery. The Arnold of the Taira army was Shigeyoshi, friend to Voshitsune. lie had agreed upon a signal, by which the prize could be seen, and when seen could be sur- rounded and captured. Voshitsune, eagerly scanning the Taira fleet, finally caught sight of the preconcerted signal, and ordered the cap- tains of a number of his junks to surround the particular one of the Taira. In a trice the junks of the white pennant shot alongside the devoted ship, and her decks were, boarded by armed men. Seeing this, a Taira man leaped from his own boat to kill Yoshitsune in close combat. Yoshit>une jumped into another junk. His enemy, tlius foiled, drowned himself. In the hand-to-hand light with swords, To- mmori and six other Taira leaders were slain. Seeing the hopeless state of affairs, and resolving not to lie capt- ured alive, the nun, Kivomori's widow, holding her u'randson, the ehild emperor, in her arms, leaped into the sea. Taigo, the emperor's mother, vainly tried to save her child, lioth were drowned. Mnne- niori, head of the Taira house, and many nobles, ovnllemen. and ladies, were made prisoners. The combat deepened. The Minamoto loved fighting. The T.'ura. -corned to surrender. Ilcvenge lent its inaddcninir intoxication. Life, robbed of all its charms, gladly welcomed o-loriou- death, The uhi/xing of arrows, the clash of two-handed sword-, the . '. armor, the sweep of churning oars, the crash of colliding wild song of the rowers, the shouts of the warriors, made i 'horns of battle. One after another the Taira ship-, cm prows of their opponents, or scuttled by the iron bolt-head- of the Minaiiioto .-nvlipr-. -'ink de'ieath the du ddl in'.: water-. ].-;i\ HILT red \\ hird j,ool- ,.f dl ..... 1. Th"-i' that weiv doarded w nv -wept with -word and -pear i if tin ' r human freight. The dead dodie- eloped the decks, ..n \\lii.-h tlir ininiii 1 tide- ct' lil. MM! el. lied and tlowvd and >pla-hed uitli tlie motion of lh' wave-, \\hile the -nipper- ran red like the >poiit- ,,f an axito'ir. The warrior- who le:i]n-d into the -ea derame tar- _, - ;. r ilic a\< nu'er'- arrow-. NMe and peasant, woman and l>al>e, r.iwer and archer, lifting imploring anus, or -illicitly -purniii'j; mercy. That Mav mornhi'j; locked upon a Mue >ea lau^hiliir \\itli iinnuin- lit-red ripple-, and ulintiiiL;' \\itli the >teei of warrior- do ked in all the u'l"i'\ of dattle-arrav . and tlauntiiiu; \\ith the u'av pennant.- of the ti.-i't which it -reined pnnid to dear. At n'lLi'lit. hea\ii!u ci'imsoii like the \ at of a (her. drilled \>\ tloatiiiii' eorj)-e-. and -pe\Mii^ - it- foul cur- rr.ptioii for mile- alon^ the >t rand, it lion- a\\ful though tfan-ient witne to the hate of man. The Taira, driven off the face of the earth, were I'liried \\ith war'- r. d i.urial lieiirath the -ea. that soon forgot i;- -tain, and laughed au'ain in puritv of vj>ldrn u'leam and deep-lilue wave. Tho hnniMe ti-hri'niaii ea-tinu' lii- net-, or trud-'inu alotiu' the -li"tv. in a-toni-li- iin-iil -aw the delicate eor])ses of th ...... urt lady and the tiny lial>e. and the -uii-lironzeil Kodie- of rowers, ea-t upon the -lioiv. The eliihl \\lio \\a.]ei] in the -urf to pick up -hell- wa- frightened at the wave- rolled earca>- of the d'-ad warrior, from wlio-r !.rea-t the feathered ar- row or the drokrii -pear tock protruded. 'I he pea-ant, for manv a dav aft' r. I'lirnnl or c'oi.-i^iird to the 1'iirial tlanir- manv a fair child \\lnxf -ilkni iliv and li-'ht -kin toM ol hi-'her Mrtl: and ^rentier 1-1 ..... 1 ! hail tin if '\\ !1 rude I,|M. ,<\. Amoiiu' a -iipi-r-t itioii- prople dwi-llin-- l'\ and on the sea, -uch an awful i!i'jr,,tiie_:' of human life mad" a profound imprr--ioii. The pri'-eiicr of -o mali\ ! hoii-and -oiil- of dead In l'oe> wa- oVerpoWiTilli:'. l ; i 'i 1 \ ear-, nav, for ntnric- afterward, the ._.-ho^t- of the Taira found naught hut uni'c-1 iii tin 1 -ea in which their mortal 1'odie-; -md<. The - 'tilor liv dav hiirrit d \\itli dated livalh pa-t tlie -ceiie of -laii^hti-r ::i'd iin-ud-tant lal lit' i . I IP marnn r d\ ni^'ht, unadle to aiielior, and driv.-n d\ w ind. -pel ;ne in |ira\'er. while hi- \i\id Itioll col _:' pl|o-pl" .l'i -celn-i' into the \\ hite ho-t- of tin- Taira d, ad. l:\en t.-d:i\ tin- ( 'lio-hiu p'-a-ant fancie- he tin idio-tlv armie- dalin^ 1 out the -ea with dottomle-- dipper-. 'ojid' mind thu- to clean-e tin- o.-raii of the -tain of (/enturir- air 1 -*. YoniTOMO AXD THE M1XAMOTO FAMILY. ]:]'.) A few cf the Taira escaped and Hed to Kiushiu. There, secluded in tin- fastnesses of deep \alli'vs and lii^'h inouiitains, their descend- ants, \vlio have kept tlieinsehes apart from their countrymen for near- iv seven hundred vears, a few hundred in number, still live in povertv and pride. Their lurking-place was discovered only within the last eenturv. Of the women spared from the massacre, some married their conquerors, some killed themselves, and others kept life in their defiled bodies bv plvinu' the trade in \\hieh beautv ever tinds readv customers. At the present day, in Shiinonoseki,* the courtesans de- scended from the Taira ladies elaim, and are accorded, special privi- leges. The venu'canee of the Minainoto did not stop at the sea. Tliev searched everv hill and valley to exterminate every male of the doom- ed elan. In Kioto many boys and infant sons of the Taira familv were living. All that were found were put to death. The Ilcrod of Kamaknra sent his fathcr-iu-law to attend to the bloody business. In the Fourth month the army of Kamaknra returned to Kioto, en- joying a public triumph, with their spoils and prisoners, retainers of the Taira. Thev had also recovered the sacred emblems. For davs the streets of the capital were piy with processions and festivals, and the coffers of the temples were enriched with the pious offerings of the victors, and their walls with votive tablets of o-ratitude. Munemori was sent to Kamakura, where he saw the man whose head his father had charged him on his death-bed to cut oil' and hanu 1 on hi> tomb. His own head was shortly afterward >evered from his bod b the guards who were 1 conducting him to Kioto. " : ' : " Shimonoscki i- a town of ixrcat commercial importuncc, from its position at the cut ranee of the Inland iSca. It con-Ms chieily of one loiin' street of two miles, at the base of a raiiire of low steep hills. It, lies four miles from the \ve-4- ern entrance of Ilayato no seto, or strait of Shimonoseki. The strait is from two thousand to live thousand feet wide, and about seven miles lonu'. Mutsurc Inland ( incorrectly printed as ' Koekuren " on foreign charts) lies near the en- trance. On llikn Island, and at the eastern end of the strait, are liii'lit-lion.-e,- c,|iiipp''d according to modern scientific requirements. Tour beacons. al-o. liuiit the. pa~>ai:'i' ;it niu'ht. The current is very strong. A >nlimarine telegraphic ca- hlc 11, iw connects the electric wires ol' Niit;-nsiiki, from Siheriu to Si. IV! :>l'uri;- ; and of Shanu'hae (China) to London and New York, with lho-e of T<>kio and lla- kodnti'. On a, ledi^e of rocks in the channel is a monument in honor of Ant<>kn, the yomiir emperor who perished liere in the amir- of hi- irnndiiiutlier, Tokiko, the A";; ,,,i ,i,n it. a title compo>ed of X',!, nolih.- of the second rank, and >tiini. nun, ciuial to "the noble nun of the second rank.' 1 'Hit: MIKADO'S AM/7'/ A' A'. XIV. M ;: \ NWIHI.K Y"rit"ino was stn-n^thi'iiinij hi- pwrr ;it Kriiii;iktir:i 1:1. 1 initiating that dual sv-tein of Li'overnment \\liii-li ha- pu/./led -< liianv mdi'le with the par- tv that pli'a-eil them.- '1'he ]>i'e-e!n-e of -ueh men ami in>tituti\ ei'innent at Kioto. lit k, j,t the reaht\ ill Kamakura in hi- own Irmd-. and (''!' iii- own fa 1 1 1 i 1 \ . In M^K uhili. 1 iii- eapita' wa- rapidlx liccoinilin 1 a magnified,! citv. he cn-atfl tii" Mandokoni. ,, r Cuum-i] of State, at \vlii.-li al! the ._MV- 'Tiiineiit alfai:- i-f the Kuanto were diepartuieiit in Kioto. >eein^ whieh \\av the tide of power w.\- Ho\\iiiLr. had pn-vioii-ly eome to K'amakura !irin--iii'j. - the ivcord- of tli,- departiin'iit, and he. -aim- Mihjeet to VoritoiiioV ord'T-. Thu- t lie tir-: ' ; . -it .<; ie. wa- ol'taim-d. A criminal trihunal was aUo c-taMi-Ih-pl, .-p,.,-iall\ for the trial of the muimroii- pohhers a- Will a- for nr-lilian i'a->--. \\<- j lermit 'fd all who had o!.ji-eti. in> ' ' make c.r iin]' I _ -' t" -i'iin of tl to reward all who had pi-rforim'd i''i;~ a''ti"ii-. and ' }<'} -t-. and to eoiiti-cate their The-' ri ie-t-. irifi-'l i'ii ilf emperor in 1 h- intere-t 1 1 ^ 1 ^"Venniieiit. W'.-re no -miner uraiit'.'d. and the plan- exeeuted. CREATION OF THE Dl'AL SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT. Ul than the news of the destruction of the Taira family at I >an no nra was received. Then Yoritomo p raved the mikado that five men of his family name miii'ht be made governors of provinces. The peti- tion was granted, and Yoshitsune was made governor of Ivo by spe- cial decree. Here may be distinctly seen the fust u'reat step toward the military government that lasted nearly seven centuries. The name of the shdgun's government, and used especially by its opposers, was intkufx literally, curtain government, because anciently in China, as in Japan, a curtain (l/y this means a permanent force could be kept, by which the peace of the empire could be main- tained without the expense and trouble of calling out the Eastern army. Also and here was another step to military ^overnment and feudalism that a shittyo a military chief, should be placed in each province, dividing the authority with the kokushiu, or civil governor, and a }!/<>, to he appointed from Kamakura. should rule jointly with rulers of small districts, called K/t<~>t/<'n. Still further another step in feudalism he proposed that ///\ <>//// ri'lalinits who h;id perform- ed meritorious service in battle should fill these oflices. and that thev should all be under his control from Kamakura. This wa- done, and Yoritomo thus acquired the governing power of all Japan. It seems, at first sight, strange that the mikado and his court -houid U'rant these propositions; yet they did so. They saw the Kuantd half the empire tranquil under the strong militarv i^u eminent of Yoritomo. lldjd. his father-in-law, was commanding the garrison at Kioto. The mikado. (Jotoba, may be said to have ov\ed hi- thn-ne to 10 Y"ritnini. \\ho-e ;in -c-io;'- !i;i 1 conquered, almost added to tin 1 rralm. all the extreme N< >rt in rn airl Ka-tern parts of .Japan. Tin- portion. rnen-h ' . U-foiv. \\a- n<.\v actually settled and n'n\rniL-d like t In- > ] ler part- < 'I' the empire. !i: I IM). Yoritoitio made a campaign in that part of .lapan north of rty-M-vetith parallel, then called .Mntsii and I>ewa. < hi hi- re- turn. I't-iiiLT now all - vietoriou-. he vi-ited the court at Kioto. The quondam exile \\a- no\\ the foivmo-t suhjirt in the empire. Hi- re- ception and treatment l>v the ivi^ninLT ;md eloi-teivd emperors were in tile hi^he-t po--iMe >eale of II KtLl'mtireliee. The >ple!idor uf his o\\n retinue astonished eVell the old eourtiers, iieeu-tomed to the i^av pag- eants nf the capital. TileV e.,nld -eai'eelv lielie\e thai -llell Wealth e\- i-ted and >ueh knowledge of the art of di-plav \\a- eultivatt-d in the Kuanto. Military >h.\s-. athletic panics, and i'ainiu.'t- \vere held for manv days, and the oiistlie-t pn-ent> (.-xehaiiLred, inanv of \\hieh are still >lio\\n at Kamakuivi and Kiot.i. Voritomo returned, elnthel with the highest honor, and \\ith va>tlv threat er jurisdiction than had ever t'ceii intru-ted to a >uhjeet. With all the ei\ii functions ever held \>\ the once rival Fujiwara, he united in him-elf more militarv power than a Taira had eve]- wielded. In 1 I'.'L'. he attained to the climax of honor, when the mikado ap- pointed him Sei-i Tai Sho^un ( P)arl>arian-Mil>jui:'atini!' (Ireat General), a title and otlice that exi-ted until lS(5S, Ileiieeforth the teini -lio^un came to lri\e a new M<_qiificance. Anciently all '_i'ctieral< \\ere called shoL r iins ; hut. \\ith new emph:M- added to the name. //// shnn'un ae- ijiiired more and more pnwi-i - . until foreigner- -uppo-ed him to he a sovereign, ^"et thi- stiliordinate from tir-t to 1,-t-i tVom 1I1M until 1-t;- \\-;i, ; . ._<-eii,.r;il o]il\. ;m.l ;i Tuilitai' 1 . \a---al o| the emperor. Though he Lfoverned the c..untr\ \\ilh a strung military hand, he did it a- a va--al, in the n;mie ;uid for the xike of the mikudo at K'ioto. I'ea'-e i\\\ rei'_fnei| iii .I;ip;m. The -nlilii-r-niler at Kamakura -|ient. tlie prim-- o( hi- hf.- m con-olidatini!; hi- pouer. evpectm^ to found a familv tliat -hould rule for man\ Lfiieration-, lie enenura'jed hunt- inj cii M- ml 1 . . Hid -p"i'I- calculat' -i to fo-ter a martial -pint in the i-iiervatiriLC time- of peace. |M 1 1 '.(.">, h< male another \i~it to . -laying four month-. T.-H ird the ( nd of 1 I'K. he had a fall fr-'in hi- hi>r-e, aipl died i-ar!\ in i I' 1 '.'. He wa- tifty-three years uli], and had ruled tift'-.-n \ . ar-, Voi'itotno i~ looked upoii a- one of th, aMe-t ruler- and -jreate^-t LTcii'-ral- that ever li\ed ill .l.ipan. Vet, uhiic all acknowledge hi.- CREATION OF THE DUAL FORM OF GOVERNMENT. 14:} consummate ability, maiiv regard him as a cruel tvrant, and a In-art- less and selfish man. His treatment of his two brothers, Xorivori and Yoshitsunu, are evidences that this opinion is too \vell founded. Certain it is that the splendor of Yoritoino's career has never blinded the minds of posterity to his selfishness and crueltv; and though, like Xapoieon, he has had his eulogists, vet the example held up for the imitation of youth is that of Yoshitsune, and not Voritomo. Mori savs of the latter: "He encouraged each of his followers to believe himself the sole confidant of his leader's schemes, and in this cunning manner separated their interests, and made them his own. Nearly all of those around him who became possible rivals in power or populari- ty were cruel Iv handled when he had exhausted the benefit of their service." His simple tomb stands at the top of a knoll on the slope of hills a few hundred yards distant from the great temple at Kama- kura, overlooking the fields on which a mighty city once rose, when called into being by his genius and energy, which flourished for cent- uries, and disappeared, to allow luxuriant Xature to again assert her sway. The rice-swamps and the millet-fields now cover the former sites of his proudest palaces. Where metropolitan splendor and lux- ury once predominated, the irreverent tourist bandies his jests, or the toiling farmer stands knee-deep in the fertile oo/e, to win from classic soil his taxes and his daily food. The victory over the Taira was even greater than Yoritomo had supposed possible. Though exulting in the results, lie burned with jealousy that Yoshitsune had the real claim to the honor of victory. While in this mood, there were not wanting men to poison hi- mind, ami fan the suspicions into fires of hate. There was one Kajiwara, who had been a military adviser to the expedition to destroy the Taira. On one occasion, Yoshitsune advised a niu'ht attack in full force on the enemv. Kajiwara opposed the project, and hindered it. Yoshi- tsiine, with only fifty men, carried out his plan, and, to the chau'rin and disgrace of Kajiwara, he won a brilliant victory. This man. in- censed at his rival, and consuming with wrath, hied to Yoritomo with talcs and slanders, which the jealous brother too willingly believed. Yoshitsune, returning as a victor, and with the spoils for his brother, received peremptory orders not to enter Kamakura, but to remain in the village <>f Ivoshigoye, opposite the isle of Knoshima. \\ hile there, he \\rote a touching letter, recounting all his toils ,-uid dangers while pursuing the Taira, and appealing for clearance ot hi- name from slander and suspicion. It was sent to Oye no lliroiiioto, chief 1 } ! ,-, 'iincil, .r "f Ynritnui", \\h"in ^ ' '-hii-une licked tn intercede tn his lip-thei i. Tiii- letter, -till extant, iiihl c,>n-idercd a nmdel i.f tilia! an ; ::. rnal atTecti>m. i- taught i>y parent- { their children. It i- ain>'!i_' ihe niii-: pathetic \\riliiiir- in .lapane-c literature, ami is i in Miif nf the many popular collection- of famuli- letters. \\Yarviiiu' , .f \\ ait iinr in t he -ul>url>s nf tlie eit y. Y<>-liit-uiie \\eiit to K : . Yrit"iii"'- troop-, iil)e\in^ order-. attaekeut escaped and tied. He im\\ determined tn '_!> t<. f>-hiu. t" hi- i'ld friend Ilidehira. He tnnk the rmite almn: the \\v-t i-na>t, thrnii^'h Kehixeii, Kau'a. and H:'h'n:<>. and fmind a refuse. a< he Sll|ipn-ed. \S itll Ilidehira. Til'- -pie- nf hi- lirnther .-mill d.i-.-M\rred hi- lurking'- plaee. and nrdered him tn In- put 1" death. The -mi nf Ilidehira atta^ki-d him. Aeenpliii^ \ pujmlar ln-li.-f. V.i-hit-uni'-. aft- er killing hi- uife and children with hi- nun hand-, c.immitted Inra- kn-'i. Hi- ln-ad. ]'i-e-er\ ed iii -aki'-. \va- :-eiit t<> K'amaknra. The exact truth e.-iiceniiiiLr the death nf Y,>-hit-une i- !'\ im means yet a><-ertained. h i- declared l.y snme that h- e-caped and tied tn Ye/", ulieiv In- li\rd ;min!iL;' the Anii'i- fnr inan\' \ear-, and died aiii"ir_f thein. cithi-r natiil'alh "i' \>\ Imrn -kin, 'I he Amn- ha\e a ifivat re\ i-reiiee fur hi- d'-ed-, and t" thi- dav \\nr-hip hi- -piril. and n\er hi- Lfra\e in Hitaka tln-v ha\e erected a -hrine. Oiher- a-sert that In- l!"d t<> A-ia. and I'ccame the ^reat cnni]iiernr. ',;,;,//. ;i ! leiri'ii.N :iliil lii^mrical niis- ; ill ('liili;i. i! i- -t;lti-il I'll.:! (ii-M^'lii- K!i;il! \\.t~ ulir Vi>-liit-t!- lie. \\liii , HHI ' . - : [tail 'I'll'' ('liillor- |,irril n|' MillJllllnln Vi'-llil-lllie j- l,el! (liKi . I i '.'. - .. - ' i . i'-il. lll'tiT \'.\- re pile ! l|i :i' il. 'I' 1 111 II ill I ' ' 'I' Trll 'ill I. A- i- \vrii kTiu-.vii. !:,' V ii _; '] ci iii'|U'T.ir'r- iKiine \v ; : - ei-ii:iu;ill\ . ''ii hi- lir-t a]i|iear- :itii i-. 'i'' iniriii 'i '. ' : n. Ainu- ha\e ;\i~ :r h .Dt!ii-"-i/.'-il Vn-liit-inn- uiuh-r tli-- till' lie,:;: I > ' M .1 ';; -- 1 1 r .! 1 . ;;-: M-I;- l.:i\\ -i\ .T. Yi.-hH-ini> ; was IM.:-II in 1 IM' . i'hl at 1 lini' of hi- ' > pnli '1 <} aih. (i'-n-his Kh.iii \v;i- 1. - i-i\.-.l ilatn, in 1 II'HI. ami ilii-d I'.'-.'T. If (,.-ii (,iki .iini i. i _ .'.- K "i- *,< n^ - K in. i-i i'!i ntic.il. tin- h' ni li.n! thirty- i-ii ' \ ' hi- ' - i , '._ : ,:- K :. ;" \\.:- hum. it i- -aid. with hi- ' -err-. In- ll."k 111'' :'!,_,-_'''-. M<'1IL !'!'. 'I'll' i- -Irjll' -1 M|' '','.- l|. ,ii|.i hi- -M!]- -:i ; i',:_at' '1 ( 'l.ltill and I 'n- ' i - . I, .:!.. M. ']"j.' di.ni i-lnj'i 1 ''- as i ; . ,l Id, r .11, 1 tin lie l 1 " I'! y .;!;,.;.: M.II , . Jal'iUl, ;.- Wu -hall t, ; h-adi d '- Tin.- In-.,i-i,iii -I tin Mi't:u"l Tartars." <'REATlO.\' 01-' Till-: DIAL FORM OF GOVXIiXJIL'XT. U/5 Xt'vertliek'ss, the iinmortalitv of Yosliitsuno is secured. \Vor>hiped as a o'nd li\ tin- Ainos, honored and Kcloved hv everv Japanese youth as an ideal hero .if i-liivalrv, his features pictured on liovs* kites, his mini and form represented in household elli^'ies displayed annualK at the 1 toys' ^ivat festival of flails, idoritied in art, so no-, and storv, Yoshitsune, the hero warrior and martvr, will live in unfading memo- ry so lono; as the ideals of the warlike Japanese stand unshattered or their traditions are preserved.* * The -tni^uli.'s of the rival houses of Gen and Ilci form an inexhaustible rump of incidents to the playwright, uutlior, poet, and arti-t. I can not resist the temptation of^ivini; 1 one of these in this place. The artist's representation of it adorns many a Japanese house. At the sieii'e of lehinotani, a fanuiu- captain, named Naoy.ane, who t'ouirht under the white lla^, while in camp one day invest- ing the '1'aira force's, saw a boat approach the beach fronting the fort. Shortly after, a Taira soldier rode out of the eastlc-ifate into the waves to embark. \ao- xane saw, by the -plcndid crimson armor and u'olden helmet of the rider, that he was a Taira noble. Here was a prixe indeed, the capture of which would make the Kiianlo captain a ii'cneral. Nao/.ane thundered out the challenge: "Do mv eyes deceive me':' Is he a Taira leader; and is he such a coward that he shows his back to the eye of his enemy? Come back and iiu'ht !" The rider was in- deed a Taira noble, vounsi' Atsumori, only sixteen years of anv, of hiiz'h and gen- tle birt.h, and had been reared in the palace. Naoxane war- a bronx'-d veteran ol' forty years. Both chained each other on horseback, with MvonU drawn. After a few pass's. N'aoxant' ihinu' a\vay hi^ >word, and, unarmed, ru>lieil to irra-p his foe. Not yet to IK- outdone in gallantry, Atsumori did the same. Both clinched while in the >addlc, anil fell to the sand, the old campaigner uppermost. lie tore oil' the golden helmet, and, to hi? amaxement, saw the pale, Miiooth lace and noble mien of a noble boy that looked just like his own beloved son of the same aire. The father was more than the soldier. The victor trembled \\ith emotion. "How wretched the life of a warrior to have to kill such a lovely boy! How miserable will those parents be who lintl their darling i> in an enemy's hand ! Wretched me, that 1 thought to destroy this life for the sake of reward !" lie then rexilved to let his enemy u'o secretly away, and make lii~ escape. At Ihal moment a loud voice shouted anirrily, " Nao/am' 1 is double-heart (! : lie captures an enemy, and then thinks to let him escape." Thus compelled, Naoxane steeled hi- hear), took up hi> swonl. and cut oil' Atsiimoi'i's head. He carried the bloody trophy to Vo>liitsuiii', and, while all Mood admiring and ready to applaud, Nao /;u it- refused all reward, and, to the amaxement of his chief and the whole eamp. bei^'ed leave to roin'ii. Dolling helmet, armor, and s \vord. he sha\ed oil' fir- liair, iind became -i di~eiple of the holy boii/e Iloneil. learned the doctrines of Hnddba, and. becom'mir |irofoumlly veiled in the sacred lore, he resolved to -["'iid the remnant of his day~ in a monastery. He set out for the K uant o. riding n it h his face to the tail of the animal, but in the direction of paradise. S>mt: one asked him why he rode thu>. lie replied, " In the I 'lea r Land, iierchiincc lliov'i-e me reputing A warrior l>i'a\e, Uci'iuiM! I liirn my back, rcl'iisiiiLr Fanif. oii'-e so dear." 14(J Till: MIKADO'S Tin: a LORY ANI> Tin-: I'AI.I. or nn-: H/~>J<~> FAMILY. Tm>ri;n there mav IK- smiic slight ju-titic.ation of Yoritomo's set- tin-- up a dual sv-tem of u;ovei-iinient to control and clierk the in triune- of eiiurtiers at Kioto, vet at l.e-t it \\a- a u-urpati<>n of the pn\\i-r lieloiu/niLT onlv to the niikad". The creation of a dtiarehv \vas the -\\ift and -lire re-ult of Japan having MO foreign enemies. S.i iolio- as the peace or existence of the empire \\ a- tilTeatelieil by the savages on the frontier, or dy invading tleets on the >ea-coast, there was an impelling eaiisc to Kind together the thfi >ne and people; hut \\heii the liari'arian- \\ere t raiKjiiili/ed, < 'hina and ('urea ^a\e no si-'n- of \\ar: and e-periallv \\heii the iiolulity were divided into the ci\il and militarv ela--es, and the mikado \vas no longer a man of ]hv-ieal and mental \ in'or, a di\i^ion of the o'ovcniiiii;' po\\er natural- ly !in.-e. l-'i'Min tin 1 openiii:;' oi the thirteenth century, the eour-e if Japanese hi-tnr\ tl"\\- in t\\o -tream^. There \\ere HM\V t\\.i capital-. Kioto and Kaniakura, and tw.i centres of autlmritv : out 1 , the lauful luit n\ era \\cil I'Mipi-i'iir and the imjierial c-oiii't : the other, the militarv \ as- >al. and a if >\ < rninelil ha-ed "ii the power of arm-. It inu-t ne\-er lie foru'-'tl'Mi, hitwcvi-r, that the foiintaiii of aiithofitv \va- in Kioto, tlir ultimate seat of j.ouer in the ancient coii-titiition. Throiiu'liout the cent uric- tin- pre-ti^'e ( the mikado\ pei--.n never d<'iTnied. The iiiih condition- under \\hi'-h it \\a- po--ih!.' for thi- di\i-in of po- litic.-, 1 [, \\i-r to exi-1 \\a- the ali-ein-e of foreigners from the ^,,il ,,f Japan. >o >ucce^sors I'ei-'n \\ith aliility. I In- Japaiie-e ha\i- a tifoverli i-on\'eviu^ a hitter truth, learned tr^m o|t repeated 'Aperieti'-'-. "'/'// .v/""/ ni tu/n child, or, Theiv i- 1,0 -eed to u ^i-i'at lualij. The 77/A 1 GLOHY AXD FALL OF THE HOJO FAMILY. 147 spectacle of a great house decaying through the inanity or supineness of sons is constantly repeated in their history. The theme also forms the basis of their standard novels. Yoritomo's sons, not inheriting their father's ability, failed to wield his personal power of administra- tion. From the day of his death, it mav be said that the. glory of the Minamoto family declined, while that of the llojo began. Yet it seemed strange that the proverb should be verified in this case. Yoritomo had married no ordinary female. His wife, Masago, was a woman of uncommon intellectual ability, who had borne him a son, Yoriiye-. This young man, who was eighteen years old at his father's death, was immediately appointed chief of all the military officers in the empire, and it was expected he would equal his father in military prowess and administrative skill. His mother, Masago, though a shorn nun, who had professed retirement from the world, continued to take a very active part in the government. The parental authority and influence in Japan, as in China, is often far greater than that of any other. Not even death or the marriage relation weakens, to any great extent, the hold of a father on a child. With affection on the one hand, and cunning on the other, an un- scrupulous father may do what he will. \Ve have seen how the Fuji- warn and Taira families controlled court, throne, and emperor, by mar- rying their daughters to infant or boy mikados. We shall now find the llojo dispensing the power at Kamakura by means of a crafty woma.n willing to minister to her father's rather than to her son's aggrandizement. llojo Tokimasa was the father of Masago, wife of Yoritomo. The latter always had great confidence in and respect for the abilities of bis father-in-law. At his death, Tokimasa became chief of the coun- cil of state. Instead of assisting and training Yoriiye in government affairs, ^iviim' him the benefit of his experience, and thus enabling the son to tread in his father's footsteps, he would not allow Yori iye to hear cases in person, or to take active share in public business. When the youth plunged into dissipation and idleness, which termi- nated in a vicious course of life, his mother often reproved him, while Tokimasa. doubtless rejoicing over the fact, pretended to know nothing of the matter. All this time, however, he \\.-is filling the of- fices of government, not with the Minanioto adherents, but with his own kindred and partisans. Nepotism in Japan is a science; but eur-ed as the Japanese: have been, probably none exceeded in this subtle craft the master, Tokimasa: though Voriive. receiving his fa- II- Till-: MIKADO'S KM I 'IK I-:. ther'- otlice. had hceti app> limed S.-i-i Tai Sho^im, with the rank ju- ni-i (-ei-Miid divi-i"ii ,.!' tin- -eeond rank), hi- ^ramlt'atlu-r >till kept the real pow. r. \\ hen t \\eiitv-t wo \ear- of ai;v. while he wa> -uuYr- iiiLT .1 1' 1 '"I >iekn<--s prohaMv the iv-ult of hi> manner of life his r and Tokimasa, who iii-t'urated her, attempted t" compel him :.>i-_M iii- olliee, and to :/i\e the Miperintendeliev of the provincial ^o\ernor- to hi- infant s.>n. and -et over the Kuaii-ei. or \\e-tern Japan, hi- voimirer hrother, a^vd twelve year-. Thi- wa- the old triek of -rttinu 1 up hov- and hahie- on the nominal ,-eat of ]i<>wer, in order that crafty -inordinate- miu'ht rule. Yorii\ r heard of tin- [>lan. and re-olved to avert it- execution, lie failed, and, a- is u-ual in -ueh ea-e-, ua- eom] ( elled to -have ot!' his hair, a- a -iu'" that hi- inteiv-t in politieal atTair- had eeaseil. He ua- exiled to a temple in Id/u. There he was -tran^led, uhile in his hath, t'V the hired a a--in- -ent l>v Tokimasa. Salietonio, lil'other of ^oni\l', -lleeeeded ill iitllee. The 1'oV was lut twehe vear- old, and \ erv unlike hi- father. He eared nothing for hunting or military exercises. Hi- chief occupation wa- in ]>!av- iiii:' foot-hail a verv mild u';nne. eompared with that plaved in thi- euiintrv and eonqio-in^- poetrv. Hi- time ua- -pent with fair Li'irls and women, of whom he had a- maiiv a- he \\i-hed. All thi- was in accordance with the de-ire and plan- of the Hfi|f t'amilv. who mean- while wield' d all power. Saiietomo h\eil hi- luxuriant life in the harem, the hath, and the garden, until tweiit v-ei'j.-ht \vars ,.M. Mean- while. Ivi-'io, the -"t: "f \'oriiye. who had heeii made a prie-t, ^rew up, and had always looked upon Saiietonio, m-tead of 'I'okima-a, a.- hi- father'- mui'derer. < >nc ni^ht a- Saiietomo wa- returning from wor-hip at 'he famous -hrine of T-ui".iu'aoka the unu-ual hour of nine ha\in^ Keen i-ho-.-n h\ the d'niner- Ku-'io leaped out from he- hind a -'airca-e. cut ")]' Sani''t"ino'- head, and made .(]' with it, hilt was him-e'f heheadi-d h\ a -oldiei 1 -ent atl'-r him. The main line (l f the Minamoto fain it v ua- now c\tinct. Thu-, in the \er\ origin and foiindaiion of the line ,,f -ho-'iin-, the -aine fate hefell them as in the ea-e "f the empc P'f- the po\\ ] Wli'Ided h\' all 1 1 ! il-t 1'i "lj- alice-- tor. when tran-fi-rn-d to de^c,-ndant-. wa- 1"-!. A noniinal ruler -at iti the throne, while a win puller hehind dire, ti-il every movement. Thi- i- t he hi-t"r\ "f e\ . r\ line of -h'_ r un- t hat ruled from the tir-t. in 1 1 '.Hi. until the !a-t. in 1 -!e ii-ur|iati"ii. I'ropcrly. the\ wi re \a--al- "f the -ho^un. u ho ua- hini-'-lf a \a-al of the mi THE GLORY AM) FALL OF THK UOJO FAMILY. 14!) kudo. It must not be supposed that tin- emperor at Kioto calmly looked on. caring for none of these things at Kamakura. The ineslu-s of the Minainoto had been \\oven completely round the imperial au- thoritv. Now the Ildjd, like a new spider, was spinning a inoi'e fatal thread, sucking from the emperor, as from a helpless tly, the life- blood of po\ver. Tlu- Hojo family traced their descent from the mikado Kuamniu (TSi'-so.j) through Sadamori, a Taira noble, from whom Tokimasa was the seventh in descent. Their ancestor.- hail settled at Ildjo, in M/u, whence they took their name, \\hile the Minamoto rose to power, the Ildjo assistea, Voslutoki, Va>utoki, Tsunetoki, Tokivori. Masi- toki, Tokimnne, Sadatoki, Morotoki, Ilirotoki, Takatoki, and Moritoki. (.)f these, the third, fourth, and fifth were the able>t, and mt de- voted to public business. It was on the strength of their merit and fame that their successors were so lonix able to hold power. Ya>u- toki established two councils, the one with legislative and executive, and the other with judicial powers. IJoth were representative of the wishes of the people. He promulgated sixty regulations in respect to the method of judicature. This judicial record is of ^reat value to the historian; and lon^ afterward, in 1 -VU, an edition of Yasuto- ki's laws, in one volume, with a eommentarv. was published. In later times it lias been in popular use as a copy-book for children. lie also took an oath before the assembly to maintain the same with e<|iiity, swearing bv the y'ods of Japan, r-aviii".'. " We stand a> judges of the whole country; if we be partial in our judgments, mav the Heavenly ds punish us." 1 In hi- private life he was -el f-al 'negative and benevolent, a polite and accomplished scholar, loving the society of the learned. Tsunetoki f'ailhfullv executed the laws, and carried out the policy of his predecessor. Tokivori, before he became iv^vtit, ti'aveled, usually in disguise, all over the empire, to examine into i he detail- <>f local administration, and to pick out able men, so as to put them in otlice when he should need their service-. In ln> choice he made no di-tinction of rank. Amoicj; the upright men he elevated to the judges' bench was the Awodo, who, for conscientious reasons, nev er wore silk garments, nor a laccjuered scabbai'd to lii-. -word, nor ever held a bribe in his hand. He was the terror of venal ollicial-. iii|ii-liee and bribery heinir known to him as if by soi'cei'v : w Inli; every detected culprit v^a- MI iv t" In' di-'_rraeefull v ea-hieivd. HOJO Akitoki e-ta!>- li-iied a lihrarv, .-"ii-i-t in^ \' < 'hinc-e. < 'oiifucian. Buddhistic, and na- il Kana/aua. in Salami. Ilnv -ch"lar- Leathered. and -tudent- llcked. 1" hear tln-ir lecture- and t -tudy tin- ela--ie-. or tlic tenet- of the faith, nearly all the learned men of thi- period In-ill^- prii -t-. \\'hile the writer of the (i/mi SI, i attack- the Mojo for their u-iirpatioiis, he applaud- them fur their ahilitie- and excellent admin;-t rat \- >ti. The line of MViiMin- \\h" tmininally ruled frcin I I'.' 1 .' t 1:!:!:! were ineivU their cn-ature^ ; and that period nf i.ne hundred and f<>H\ vear^, iii'-ludin^ seven e-vneraliii-, mav In- called the period <>f the 11 '"'jo. Tllr political hi-tol'V of t!|e-e Veal's i- Imt that of a lllolioto- noii^ recunvneu of the exaltation of Imys and l>ahie- of nol.le Llooii, to \shoin \\a> u'iveii the >einlilaiiee of power. \\h" were >j .riidut in realitv thev \\ielded all and iimiv of the power attaching to the o|lic-e. under the title of st,/k-l<:in. It ua- an air_ru~t Li'anie of -tate-craft. in uliich little chiMivn with eol,,^al nanie- \\ere M-t up like nine-pins and l'o\\h-d d"\\n a- >uited the jilavful faiicie- of sulmrdinates \\lio de.-linecl jiaiiie and title-, and kept the ivaliu of po\\er. The count- er- Were Ile^leeted. while the pl'i/e \\ a- Woll. After the iiii'' o{ Voriti'iim 1'eeanie extinet. Yoritonio'< widow. Ma- >a'jo. re.jiie-ted o{ the inijierial eoiirt at Kio'" thai Yorit-iine. a !-'ii|i- \\ai'a hal \ t \\ o vear- \<\. -hoiild !,, made -.ho^uii. 1 he |-"nji\\ara no- 1-'.-- ui re -'lad t.. have even a child of their 1>! 1 ele\at"d to a po-i- lion in \\lii.-li. \\h'-n u'ro\\n. he mie'li! ha\c puwt-r. The !>ai>\ came to Kamaki'i'a. lie ca-l the -hado\\ of a!ithorit\ t v> ciit \ -ti\ e \ear-, vshen he \\a- made to i'e-i--n. in 1 L' t ( . in favor of hi- own hal-v hov, 'i veal's oid. Tin- lio\ ->iiric/ii!i \\lien foiirtccii \ear- old. i;i I _'."> J. u a- depo-eil l.y liojo Tokiyofi. and -ent La-k t" Kioto. Tired of the l-'iiji \\ara -'-ion-, tin .. n ohtaiiied a- >ho^-i,n ;i in' re aii^ f u-1 '- -1 : m. 1 he 1 ii >\ M HIM taka. a -on of the emperor < io-Sa^a. \\ ho at'' !' fo irti ( M \'eai'- t'-ll ill. in 1 L'tii 1 '. \s it h t hat verv eomiiioii .lap- a'P -. di-ea-e ' : n, --. II,. ua- pr-l-aMx romp, 11,-d to tVi--,, di-'-a-e. Mi- iti'a'it -oil. three yar- of ai^i', wa- t!i.-n -el up, and. fwi'iit' three \car- of a^- 1 ' !'-'-' I. wa- lm\\ied d"\\ n !,\' liojo ' ,ki. u ho -ent h'tn ' . heel- u|iward. in a palanquin to Hi-aakira. the third -"ii of t '..p,-]-' loo brethren were 'in exile, ex- pres.-ed a \\\<\\ to share their fate, lie was sent to A\\a. To com- plete the victory and the theft of power, the llojo chief Yasutoki confiscated the estates of all who had fought on the emperor's side, and distributed them amony his own minions, (her three thousand fiefs were thus disposed of. No camp-followers over stripped a dead hero's body worse than these human vultures tore from the lawful sovereign the last fragment of authority. All over Japan the patriots heard, with groans () f despair, the slaughter of the loval army, and the pitiful fate of their emperors. The imperial exile died in Sado of a broken heart. A nominal mikado at Kioto, and a nominal sho^un at Kamakura. were set up, but the ll<~>jo were the keepers of both. The later davs of the IIojo present a spectacle of tvrannv and mi ffovormneiit such as would disgrace the worst Asiatic bureaucracy. The distinguished and able men such as at rirst shed lu>tre on the name of this family were no more. The last of them were ^iveii to luxury and carousal, and the neglect of public bu were numberi'd. ! ilitilddhi-t iiidiia-terv. Tlii- wa- ostelisihlv to -li\\ thai In- had L:i\en up all inlere-t in uorldlv alTairs. In reality. Iin\vc\cr. In a--i-trd lii- t'at!n-r in [ilanniti^ tin- dotnictinii 'f ll"ji"i. 11' lived at <>ti">. and was railed, hv tin- jn-djilc. Old n.. nii\a. The 1-JiijM I-,,] 1 aiu 1 d. tlhMiu'h hini-flf ]n:t ^n th,. tln-diie hy the ltcin, and e-tahli-li the di'iLT- inal sjtletiddr and jii'e-tiLi'e dfthi 1 mikaddatc. He kne\\ the re\crrnct' df t he ]iei ijile fill 1 till' 1 hl'dlle \\ < '11 Id HlMaill llilll, e"llld lie hilt I'ai-e >llf- fieient military t'dive td reiluee the II("i|d. !! seeiuvd the aid -f the !>ii'ldhi-t [ir'iests and. iii. !:>:;(>. f,.rtitied Kasa^'i. in ^ amatn. Kusuiiuki Ma-a-hiu'e almiit the same tune ai'dse in I\a\\aehi. inakiiiLi' it the aim df his life to iv>tdiv the inikad<>ate. The next \ ear Hnjd >eiit aii arniv ai;'ain-t Kasairi, attaekfd and l>unied ;. The eiiiju'rur wa> taken pri-diier, and hani-hed tn < >ki. Ku- -uridki. tln'ii^h i \\iee he-ie^ed, e-eajicd, and li\ed td win imnidiial ('dinieeted with tlii- inikadd'- >ad fate is one incident df u'reat drama'i^ inti-tv-l. \'.hieli ha> ln-i'ii en-hriiied in .1 paiu-st- art. In-ides lindin^ Udi'thv reeonl in hi>tn hi- wav td haii d ' '. : -.!-ii!- iti a ]ialain|uiti, under -nard df the -,. Miers df 11' IM, |\.i|itna Takaiidri attem|iiecl tn rex-lie hi- >"Verei--n. This Vdinrj '.- 'leinaii w a- the thii'd -"ii df the !,.i\| of Din-'.', \\hd deeiijiieil In- he]-ed!!ar\ ]> >-< --; >ti- in l>i/'-n. Sett:;! 1 ,;' din \\uli a hand nf re- taiii'-r- t" inti f'-ej.t the runvnv and tn relea-e the imperial pri-"iiei-, at the hiii ' I iiia-aka he waited patii-ni!\ fur the train 1" appr^aeh. tindiii'_ r . vshei !.!,, late, that he had deeupied the wi'diiLT pa--. lias- teniiiLT l df hill-. tli--\ learned that tin- directs ,.f iheir seareh 1 ad aii'ea I; ^-Miie ii\. l\.i|!;na'- {< il|d\ver-. heiiiLT ii''\v di-iieart- eln 1. ]'e] . . I I' . h- 'V. e\ ef, ''all) i'>U-. f' ilI"W ''d "'i. and fr -e\ i ral da\ - attempted in vain 1" appr. .a.-h the palaiionn r a w drd i'i ear df ihe ini| n-rial exile. The vi-^ilaiiee df the ||..|" \a--al- r- i .. \< i "i n_' ail -uee.rr linpi'le-s. ]\'dima I h liidited h< .jie in the l,,,-.,,in live. SeejvtK ! liter; n_: th' L'at'dei, df the inn at \\ hieh t he THE GLOKY A.VD FALL OF THE HOJU FAMILY. 15:] party was resting at ni^ht. Kojima scraped off the bark of a cherry- tree, and wrote in ink, on the inner \\hite membrane, this poetic stanza, The allusion, couched in delicate phrase, is to Kosen, an ancient kino; in China, who was dethroned and made prisoner, but was afterward restored to honor and po\\er by the faithfulness and valor of his re- tainer, Ilanrei. Kojima Writing on the Cherry-tree. (.Vignette upon the greenback national-bank notes.") The next morning, the attention of tlie soldiers was excited by the fresli handwriting on the tree. As none of them were able lo read, they showed it. to the Kmperor \v thai lie was not forgotten by his faithful vassals. Kojima afterward ftiLL'h! to restore the mikado, and perished on the battle-Held. The illuM raiion given above is borrowed from a picture by a native arti-t, which now adorns the national-bank notes issued under the ivi^n of ihe present mikado. l.Vj. THK Jflh'.llai's /-'.I// '/A'/. 1 . This darke-t hour of the mikado's fortune preceded the dawn. Aln-adv a hero was i-iiicr^in^ from ohseuritv \\lio was de-tined to be the de-tn>\ er of Kamakura and tin- IIo]o. Thi- was N'itta Yosliisatla. T!i.' tliird sou of Minaiiioto Yo-hi - iye, born \.\i. 1<>.">7, had two Soli-. Tiir elder soil slieeeeded hi- father to the tief of Nitta, ill the pro\inee i-f Kod/.nke. '1'he -econd inherited from hi- adojited father,. Ta\\ara. the tief of Ashika^a. in Shimotsukc' 1 . Until the-e sons found- ed families \\hieh took their name from their place of hereditary pos- ses-ioti. At this period, four hundred year- later, their illu-triou- de- scendants became conspicuous. Nitta Yoshisada, a captain in the arm\ of IIojo, had Keen -cut TO be.-ieire Ku>unoki, oi f the mika- do".- faithful \a-sals; hut, refu-iiiLC to li^lil au'ain-t the imperial forces, Nitta de-erted with hi- command. He sent his retainer to Otf> no mi\a. son of the emperor, then hiding in the mountain-, \vho e-ave him a commi--ion m the name of his exiled father. Nitta immediate- Iv returned to hi- native place, collected all his retainers, and before the shrine of tin: village rai-ed the -tandard of re\olt a^ain-t Iln;o. His haniier was a loii^ \\hiie pennant, ero-sed near the top l>v t\\o Mack hars. heneath which was a circle hise'ted \\ith a Mack /one. Adopting the jilan of attack propo-ed l>v hi- l>rother, and marching doun into Salami, lie appeared at Inamura Saki, on the oiit-kirt- of Kainakura, in thirteen davs after rai.-iut; his haniier as the mikado's va-al. At thi- point, where the road from Kainakura to Kno-hima -trikes the Ix-ach. a -ph-ndid jiaiiorama breaks upon the \i-ion of the be- holder. In front is the ocean, with its rolling waves and refre-hinLT salt breeze. To the -oiith. in impo-inu; proportion-, and clothed in the blue ,,f di-tance, i- tin- i-land of Oshiina: and farther on are the mountains of the penin-ula of bl/u. TO the riu'ht emerges, fair and lovely, in perpetual -Teen, the i-land of Kno-hima. Landuard i- the jieak of (>\ama. \\ith it- -atellite-; but. above all. in full mau'niticence of pr,,porti"n. -land- I-'uji. the lonlly mountain. Here Nilta pertorm- ed an act that ha- be.-oine immortal in -on-- ;md poem, and the arti.-t s cole >r-. (ii the eve before the attack. Nitta. a emMinif hi- ho-t at the ed'_'c of th" -trand. and renio\ in'_ r hi- helmet, thu- addi'es-ed hi< war- rior-: "Our heavenly -on (mikado) ha- been depo-cd by hi- iraitoi- 011- -ubject. and i- no\\ in di-tant f\ilc in the \\ e-tern Sea. I. ^ o-hi- :i_ r unable to lo,,k upon thi- net unmoved, have rai-ed an armv to piini-h the thieves \,,nder. I humbly prav thee, () (iod of THE GLORY ASD FALL OF THE UOJO FAMILY. 155 the Sea, to look into inv loval heart; command the tide to ebb and open a path." Thus saying, he bowed reverently, and then, as Rai says, \\ith his head bare (though the artist has overlooked the state- ment), and in the si^ht of heaven cast his sword into the waves as a prayer-offering to the gods that the wave> might recede, in token of their righteous favor. The golden hilt gleamed for a moment in the air, and the sword sunk from sight. The next morning the tide had ebbed, the. strand was dry, and the armv, headed by the chief whom the soldiers now looked upon as the chosen favorite of Heaven, marched Nitta Yoshisada casting the Sword into the Sea. (Vignette from the national -bank ,, notes.) resistlessly on. Kamakura was attacked from three sides. The %ht- inir was severe and bloody, but victorv everywhere deserted the ban- ner* of the traitors, and rested upon the pennons of the loval. Nitta. after performing great feats of valor in person, finally set the city on tire, and in a few hours Kamakura was a waste of allies. Just before the final destruction of the city, a no-hie named Ando. vassal of the house ot llojd. on x-eini; the ruin around him. the >ol- diers slaughtered, and the palaces burned, remarking ihat for a hun- dred years no instance of a retainer dvinu for his lord had been known, resolved to commit hara-kiri. The wife of Xitta wa- hi- niece. Just as he was about to plunge his dirk into hi> body, a serv- I.-,.; Till. MlKM>n's KMI'IIIK. ant handed him a letter from her. In'^^in^ him {<> surrender. Tin- old man indignant !v evlainird : "M\ nicer i- tin- daughter of a samurai hi'ii-c. \\ l i\ did -he make so shaniele-s a ivque-t .' Ami Nitta, her liu>l>and. i- a -amurai. Why did he allow licr to do so.'" He then took the letter, wrapped it round hi- sword, \\hieh he plunged into hi- !'dv. and clied. A i:reat nuinluT of vassals of IIojo did like\vi overthrowing the IIojo ],,, \\,-r in the I-]a-t. A-hika^a Takauji had drawn >woi'd in Kioto, and \\ith Kii-unoki rc-cstal'li^hed tlie imperial rule in the \Ve>t. The mimi'er of the doomed elan \vln> \vere >lain in Kattle, or \\ho commit- ted fmrn-kiri. a- defeated -oldiers, in ;n ..... rdanee \\ ith th ...... de of honor already e-tal'li-hed, i- set down at MX thousand ei^lit hundi'ed. All over tiie empire the people rose up airain-t their oppressors and m;e-st'Ted them. The IIojo domination, \\ hieh had iiecn paramount for nrarlv one hundred and rii'tv vears. \\as utterlv l>roken. From A.I). l-Il'.i until 1:}:!^, the mikados a t Kioto were: ChitiUi" ( rc'iLTiH-il four month:- 1 ........................... 1'j'.'',' l,..-Ii(M-ik;l\v;i ............................................ r.'-J'.'-Uo:] Slii.- .................................................. V.':;:;- l'.M'2 MINAMOT THE GLORY AND FALL OF TUE HO JO FAMILY. 157 The Hdjd have never been forgiven for their arbitrary treatment of the mikados. The author of the Nikon Guui Ski terms them " serpents, fiends,- beasts," etc. To this day, historian, dramatist, novel- ist, and story-teller delight to load them with vilest obloquy. Even the peasants keep alive the memory of the past. One of the most voracious and destructive insects i> still called the ''lldjo bug.'' A great annual ceremony of extermination of these pests keeps alive the hated recollection of their human namesakes. The memory of the wrongs suffered by the imperial family goaded on the soldiers in the revolution of 1808, who wreaked their vengeance on the Tokttgawas, a> successors of the Ildjo. In fighting to abolish forever the hated usurpation of six hundred years, and to restore the mikado to his an- cient rightful and supreme authoritv, thev remembered well the deeds .of the llojo, which the Xikon Guui Ski so eloquently told. In 1873, envovs sent out from the imperial court in Tokio, proceeded to the island of Sado, and solemnly removing the remains of the banished emperor, who had died of a broken heart, buried them, with due pomp, in the sacred soil of Yamato, where sleep so many of the dead mikados. I have uiveii a picture of the Hdjo rule and rulers, which is but the reflection of the Japanese popular sentiment, and the opinion of na- tive .-cholars. There is, however, another side to the story. It must be conceded that the llojo were able rulers, and kept order and peace in the empire for over a century. They encouraged literature, and the cultivation of the arts and sciences. During their period, the re- suurce> of the country were developed, and some branches of useful handicraft and fine arts were brought to a perfection never since sur- passed. To this time belong the famous image-carver, sculptor, and architect. I'nkei, and the lacquer-artists, who arc the "old masters" in this branch of art. The military spirit of the people was kept alive, tactics were improved, and the methods of governmental admin- istration simplified. During this period of splendid temples, monaster- ies, pagodas, colossal images, and other monuments of holy zeal, Ildj<"; Sadatoki erected a monument over the grave of Kiyomori at Hidgo. Ildjd Tokimuni; raised and kept in readiness a permanent war-fund, so that the military expenses might not interfere with the revenue reserved, for ordinary government expenses. To his invincible cour- age, patriotic pride, and indomitable energy are due the vindication of the national honor and the repulse of the Tartar invasion. J i Till-: MIKADO'S KUV1RE. XVI. P.UlilillISM IX JAPAX. THE nTud'Hi founded l>y Huddha. which is older ly si\ centuries than that founded l>v ('lii'i-t. \\hich i- professed hy in-.-irlv one-third of tin 1 human race, \\liich ha- a litrratmv perhap- larger llian all other religion- literal mvs comhiiicd, I -hall not attempt 1<> treat of except in thr l>roade-t term-. My object in thi- diajitt-r i- \" jM.ilray tin- i-n- TraiH'r MIK! development of lluddhi-m in Japan, to outline it- ri-e and prou're--. and to >iio\\ it- statu> in that IMW fcrinontin*; nation :ii wliii-h it- late>t fruit- are f> iiind. <'hri-tians imi-t siirrl\ \- intci't'stcd in knowing of tin- faith tliev are eipii a\ oi-iii'_ r to de-trov. or. ;( t li>a.-t. to di-plaee. \\ hen it i- eoii- sideivd ilia; liii'Mhi-t temple- are alreadv ei'reted ujioii American >\], that a lieu de\ elopmi'iit of thi- ane'h-nt faith ma\ \ et -et it-elf up a- a rival of ( 'liri-tianil v in the \\.--ti-rn j>ai't of <>ur country, tlial it ha- alrea'h \\oii admirer-, if not profeor<, in ]'>.'-ton, London, and II' r- lin. t If >ul'ieet \\ ill !.,- seen to j n >>< ;m immediate inten -1. |')ilddhi-m oiM^'inateil a- a pui'e athei-tie humamtanam-m. \\ith a. l"ft\ phiio-"ph\ and a eo.lt- ,.f nioi-.-iiv hi-'hei-. pei'hap-. than any hiath. n i-rliifioii had reached Kefoi'i-. or ha- -inec allained. It-thi'ei -Teat di-tiir^'.ii-hiii'j; eharaeteri-tie- an' athei-m. me|emp-\ eh"-i-. and ah-enee o! ea-ti-. I'ii'-t piva^hed iii a land aeeurscil liv -eeiilar and spiritual oppri->ioii. i; aekno\\ led^ed n c;ist<', and declared all nieii eijuaii\ -mfnl and mi-eral>lr, and ail e.jiiali\- eapaMe ,,f l.einu' freed fr"iu -in and mi-ei'\ throii-'h kii< >\\ le,l--e. It taii^iit that the smil- ivhauee, it arri\e- at la-t in Nir- \ alia. < ! al'-ortion in 1 5i;d' i BUDDHISM IX JAPAN. 159 The total extinction of being, personality, and consciousness is the aspiration of the vast majority of true believers, as it should he of every suffering soul, /. e., of all mankind. The true estate of the hu- man soul, according to the Buddhist of the Buddhists, is blissful an- nihilation. The morals of Buddhism are superior to its metaphysics. Its commandments are the dictates of the most refined morality. Besides the cardinal prohibitions against murder, stealing, adultery, Iving, drunkenness, and unchastity, "every shade of vice, hypocrisy, anger, pride, suspicion, greediness, gossiping, cruelty to animals, is (guarded against by special precepts. Among the virtues recommend- ed, \ve find not onlv reverence of parents, care of children, submission to authority, gratitude, moderation in time of prosperity, submission in time of trial, equanimity at all times; but virtues such a> the duty of forgiving insults, and not rewarding evil with evil." Whatever the limctice of the people may be, thev are taught, as laid down in their sacred books, the rules thus summari/ed above. Such, we mav glean, was Buddhism in its early purity. Besides its moral code and philosophical doctrines, it had almost nothing'. An "ecclesiastical system" it was not in any sense. Its progress was rapid and remarkable. Though finally driven out of India, it >wept through Burmah, Siam, China, Thibet, Manchuria, Corea, Siberia, and finaliv, after twelve centuries, entered Japan. By this time the hare and bald original doctrines of Shaka (Buddha) were u'lorious in the apparel with which Asiatic imagination and priestly necositv had clothed and adorned them. The ideas of Shaka had been expanded into a complete, theological system, with all the appurtenant- of a -t-.ick religion. It had a vast and complicated ecclesiastical and mo- nastic machinery, a geographical and sensuous paradise, deiimtelv lo- cated hells and purgatories, populated with a hierarchy of titled de- mons, and furnished after the most approved theological fashion. Of these the priests kept, the keys, regulated the thermometers, and timed or graded the torture or bliss. The' system had, even thus earlv, a minutely catalogued ha^ioloo-y. Its eschatology was well outlined, and the hierarehs claimed to be as expert in questions of ca-uMry a> they were at their commercial system of masses still in vogue, -tincd or abolished; Buddhism had emerged from philosophy into religion. The Buddhist missionaries entered Japan having a mecliani-ni perfect- ly fitted to plav upon the fears and hopes of an ignorant people, and to bring them into obedience to the new and au'uTcs>ivc faith. ].iii Till-: MIKADO'* EMPIRE. It' th'iv wa- "i,,- coiinirv in which the success of Buddhism a< :i p"pu ! ar religion -eeined foreordained, that countrv was Japan. Ii wa- \ii for an\ thin-- that could IT called a religion. Before Budd'::-m came, \erv little worthv of the name existed. I >av 1>\ da\. cadi new ray of the li-'ht of iv-earch that iio\v falls upon that e-ra\ dawn of ,lapaiie-e hi-t..rv -how- that Shinto was a pale ami -had >w \ eult. that eon-i-ted e--eiitially of -acritichiLi; to the spirits of departed hei-oe- and ance-tors \\ith ceivmonie- of liodilv puritk'ation, lat the coining of Bnddhi-iu (juiekene(l it, l>v the force of oppo- -ition. into >oii)ethiiiLr approaching a religious sv>tein. Swarms of pett\ tl.-itie-, who have human passions, and are luit apotheosized hi lierocs, tii! the pantheon of Shinto. The end and aim of even it- nio-t -inceiv adherein- and teacher- is political. Strike out tin do^ma of the divinity of the mikado and the duty of all .lapane-e to o!.e\ him implicit v. and alnio-t nothing' i*- left of modern Shinto l>ut Chinese e.i^nio^oiiy. local myth, and ( 'oiifiician morals.* I 1 the heart of ;he aii'-ient .lapane-e longed after :i solution of tin- :- whence.' u hither.' \\ h \ .' if it \ earned for religions truth. In art- of all men do:ilitle do it mii-t ha\e l>eeii readv to \\el- - inn-tiling more certain, tan^il'le, am! dogmatic than the Mand i mptiii' of ^iiinto. Iluddhi-m came to touch the heart, to tire the ima--inat;on. to feed the mid! !. to offer a code of lofty moral-, to poin; out a p:nv life through -elf-denial, to a\\e tin- i^nor.-uit. and to terrif\ the dolllilillLT. A Weil fed alld e|otl|ei| A 11 -'I o-Sa \ < '11 , to uli.illl * I ! . iv i- in Sliint'i. t.ut luivc imiL' yivi-n ii .::.:.' , ' . ; - :,i. ; :: i:. .k i if >!.; i . iii wliii'li in in -A ,i- ri -.. : . - _ iilt\ i if tin- riiiiiiiii--iiiii of -in. ;ii, ' - n-ili--." .!.'. Hl'lT.i I;N. M !..!. 1. .!>... I- 1. .,;,,, I,."' ''">'. :' .!>!>">, .,.,'/, '/ /,: >. /-..A,/, ,/,/ Kl.ljlixf.-J.tJHlH'* ]>< t'u.li.l,-;/." >iii in i- iiu i r -i ',- nt' llif t'-nn a ri-'iiu'i"ii." " It is dillii-ult tu M-C h.,\v ii r.inM . in." " It h;i.- I'alluT tin- In.'k i,( ;m . .' , II. -v. S. K HHO\VN, [>.!>., Aiinrii-iin, tutUi-n ,,r' | I,,-, i, ' ' ' < ' i/"ii-x .>''/// !n J.tjj'Ui. M v i,-.\ I Shiiii.i ,'N'i, ii! an urtii-li- in /'// L'H- ;> />'/ >it in 1 X 71, .,-niiii, ini.illi-ri-il " \\ mill r'<>ii nt' npininn-. //;-.. uml .-,,. In ':'- I - ly n t-ultnn-d :ind iiiti'lh-rtuiil sitln-- i-in. In it- I ' tu u< >vrrnnii'n!al and pric-ily dic- t.i!. -." Tlii- uuiti-il \ .-I -i-li.'hir^, :ind i-vi-n Shinlu dfru-iu's, in Kiikui and Tnki". ";i-. " SI ' ' : : it i> :i systi-in of t:<>viTnnn-iU n-i:ui;itiiiii-, vi-r\ i; 11 m-iiir tip- 1'i-njih 1 ." Tin cf!'rrt- iril. mid ijiiiti- iu-tiliatilc, u-. iii id. : IP-MI iidmi- ] 'lilic:il rn.Mnr uill h.- -, . i. in tii.- l.i.-t c h; i j '1-T nf \>" ' I - ' lit it 'i.-d " 'i'i,' 1 I ;.-(-. -nt HI -Md lit in) i- ill J a] mil." BUDUIIISM AV JAPAN. 101 C(iii>ciou> existence seems the verv rapture of joy, and whose soul yearns fur an eiernity of life, may nut understand how a human s-!!i and the macrocosm. It has fully as much, if not more, " scii-ucc ' ::i it than our media-val theologians found in the Bible. It- lectualitv made noble souls yearn to win its secrets, and t conquests over their lusts and passions by knowledge. Amoii'_r tin 1 various sects of Buddhi-m, however, the under-tandinu: of the doctrine of Nirvana varies ^reatlv. Son,,- believe in the total \ ,.f ill-- human s.>ul. tin 1 utirr annihilation of consciousness ; [-, mi tin I'oiitrarv, linld that, a< part of the diviiu 1 \\holr, -i -ill i njnvs a mra-Mire of eont united together the adherents of .. :'aith, hut siuvi'ss and pro-peril v H-ave ri-e to sdiisins. New -,,- , mleil in Japan, \\hilc many prir-i- iravrL 1 '! abroad to ' 'hina, and .'aiiic \>;i<-\<. u- lieu li^lit- and ri-t'ornier>. to found ! \\ - mis of thought and \\or-hip. ( M' the>e tlie iint illu-trioi!> \\a> Koi.o, famed not oiilv as a ^-li..iar in 1'aii, San-krit. and Chine-.'. l-iit :i- a! ' I'oit/i-, and tin r of tin 1 Jajiaii" 1 -' ai : ; '. <. / .. ''.. ' , I,:! forty-M-Vrll r!,;:l ; . ' I'oint-. inav In- in.'i-i ;i-i'd to thr iminle of -. \ : , . 'I : 1 1, 1 1 i- t In- r of tougt : toil. t of them in [\i, .;, ,. \\ i,j, \\ tln-e \\. re. in l-jiii'. lin /:'' !-'. BUDDHISM IN JAPAN. 163 the same century several other important sects originated, and the number of brilliant intellects that adorned the priesthood at this pe- riod is remarkable. Of these, only two can be noticed, for lack of space. In A.D. 1222, there was born, in a suburb of the town of Kominato, in Awa, a child who was destined to influence the faith of millions, and to leave the impress of his character and intellect indelibly upon the minds of his countrymen. lie was to found a new sect of Buddhism, which should grow to be one of the largest, wealthiest, and most influential in Japan, and to excel them all in proselyting zeal, polemic bitterness, sectarian bigotry, and intolerant arrogance. The Xiehiren sect of Buddhists, in its six centuries of historv, has probably furnished a greater number of brilliant intellects, uncompro- mising zealots, unquailing martvrs, and relentless persecutors than anv other in Japan. No other sect is so fond of controversy. The bonzes of none other can excel those of the Nieliiren x/ti>t (sect) in proselyting xeal, in the bitterness of their theological arguments, in the venom of their revilin^s, or the force with which thev hurl their epithets at those who differ in opinion or practice from them. In their view, all other sects than theirs are useless. According to their vocabulary, the adherents of Shin 'Jon are "not patriots;" those of Ritsu are ''thieves and rascals;" 1 of /en, are "furies;" \\hile those of certain other sects are sure and without doubt to go to hell. Aiiion^- the Xichirenitcs. are to be found more prayer-books, drums, and other ni>v accompaniments of revivals, than in any other sect. They ex- cel in the number of pilgrims, and in the use of charms, spells, and amulets. Their priests are celibates, and must abstain from wine, tnli, and all flesh. Thev are the Ranters of Buddhism. To this day, a re- vhal-meeting in one of their temples is a scene that often he^ars de- scription, and mav deafen weak ears. AYhat with pravers incessantly repeated, drums beaten nnceasinglv, the shouting of devotees who work themselves into an excitement that often ends in insanitv. and siimetimes in death, and the frantic exhortation of the priots, tin wildest excesses that seek the mantle of religion in other land- arc l'\ them equaled, if not excelled. To this sect belonged Kato Khontasi. the bloody persecutor of the Christians in the sixteenth century, the "\ir ter execrandus '' of the Jesuits, but who is now a holv stint in the calendar of canonized Buddhists. Nichiren (sun-lotus) was so named by his mother, \\lio at concep- tion had dreamed that the sun (nichi) had entered her body. Tin- ir, t Tin: MiK.\ite a fa\oiit. -;oi-k 1-eiief eoneerninir the women who hear rhildren that aft'-rw -,- men of renown or exalted holiness. The loy ud.-d l'\ the u'loriou- -cetierv of mountain, wa\c, >liore, and wi:h ;h<- intiniiv of the I'aeifie ( )reaii In-fore him. He wa- a dreams, meditative ehild. He wa- earlv put under the rare of a h>'l\- wheii -Town to manhood discarded manv of the old dor- trine-, and. IM in-- di-sati-tied with the other sects, iv-olved to found one. the follower- of which should lie the holders and exemplar- of the pure truth. Ni-'liir<-M wa- a profound -tudent of the Buddhist cla !<-, or -utra-. I'l-oUidi! from India, and written in San-krit and Chinese, for the en- tire raiion of ruddhi-t holv hook- ha- at various time- l>eeii l>roiiu'ht from India or China, and translated into Chin.'-e in .lapan. Her tofore, tli-- roiimioii praver of all the .Iapaiie-e liuddhi-t- had !>e.-n "Xniin'i, .\>ni'l'i Huts', " ( Hail. Amida Buddha! or. Save u>. Kterual 1 liiddha '. ). Ni'-hireti taught that the true invocation w a- "A"//"/ ;/,/,-, /,r, ,-, iii /,-,'r," (<;]o|-\ to the -aKalion-lirinn-iiiLr l>o.k of the law : or. lit.T'iih. Hail, the true wav of -aKation, the MO--OHI of d"Ctrin.-l. Thi- i- -till the di-tinrtive praver of the Niehiren -eet. It i- in-rri!>. d on the teinple curtail!-, on their toinl'-toiies and wayside shrines, and wa- emMa/oi;, d .>n the haniier- carri.-d aloft 1>\ the ^Teat warrior- on sea and land who li.-lon-^.-d 1" the sect. The w.>rd- are the Chine-,- tran-latioii of .\f" /.-/?> >'"'/'///'//-///"Y" / ""'' / ''''^'"- V -'"' / '"- " Ilr "t' *h'- ehi.-f canonical ! k- of the r.ud-lhi-! Scripture-, and in us. l.\- all the -i ct-. Nichir.-n pi'ofe--eil to tind in it the true and ni\ \\a\ ot silvatinii. \\hi.-h th.- otlier expoutidei-- of Shaka'- do, -trine had n..t propi-ri\ taught. Il- declan-d that th>- wax a- tau-j'ht \<\ him w a- the trih' and -- Nichiivn founded num.'i - "U- teinple-, and wa- hu-v during th \vhoi.- ,,;' hi- lif n.it in exile, in t. aching, preaehinj'. and ilin- eratin-. II- puMi-h.-d a 1 k called .I/./-../--/ If,,,, ("An Ar-umeiit t tran, piili/- ;';.- ' 'i tl .- w i; h w hieh he attacked oth- er -eet- r.iU-e 1 11] ' ' him. who (-..mplained to Hoio Toki\oii. ' . l.-r of th- power, at Kamakura. and pra\.-d 1" ha\e him - I. - a d. -tro\.-r ,.f the puMic peace, a- in- ,|,--,| th>- hol\ man wa-. i ' ot hi- I k wa- l>v ir> iiieati- an e.x]ion-nt of it- t"ti. ,-r -' N iir<-n wa- ' It-', in Id/u. where he remained three year-. < >n hi- n-l-a-e. .!.-.. id --!" h, .Idinj' hi- toiiifue, he al!-w . 1 BUDDHISM IX JAPAX. loo it to run more violently than ever against other sects, especially de- crvinii' the u'reat and learned priests of previous generations. Hojo Tokiyori a^ain arrested him, confined him in a dungeon below ground, and condemned him to death. The following story is told, and devoutly believed, by his follower-; On a certain day he. was taken out to a village on the strand of the bay be\ ond Kaniakura, and in front of the lovely island of Kiioshima. This village is called Koshigoye. At this time Nicliiren was forty- three years old. Kneeling down upon the strand, the saintly bon/e calmly uttered his prayers, and repeated "X" upon his rosary. The swordsman lifted his blade, and. with all his miii'lit, made the downward stroke. Suddenly a flood of blinding 1'iLjht burst from the sky, and smote upon the executioner and the ofli- eial inspector deputed to witness the severed head. The sword-blade was broken in pieces, while the holy man was unharmed. At the same moment, Hojo, the Lord of Kaniakura, was startled at his revels in the palace by the sound of rattling thunder and the flash of li^ht- niiiL;'. though then was not a cloud in the sky. .1 >a/ed by the awful -iu'n> of Heaven's displeasure. Hojo Tokiyori, divining that it was on account of the holy victim, instantly dispatched a fleet messenger to tav the executioner's hand and reprieve the victim. Simultaneously the otlicial inspector at the still unstained blood-pit sent a courier TO i.'c^' reprieve for the saint whom the sword could not touch. The TWO men, coming from opposite directions, met at the small stream which the tourist still crosses on the way from Kamakura to Knoshi- ma. and it was thereafter called Vukiai (meeting on the \\av) River, a name which it retains to this day. Through the pitiful clemency and intercession of Hojo Tokimune, son of the Lord of Kamakura, Nichi- reii was sent to Sado Island. He was afterward released l>\ his bene- factor in a general amnesty. Nicliiren founded his sect at Kioto, and it greatly flourished under the care of his disciple, his reverence Ni- chi/o. After a busy and holy life, the great saint died at Ikeu - aini. a little to north-west of the Kawasaki railroad station, between Yokoha ma and Tokio. where the scream of the locomotive ami the rumble of the railway car are but faintly heard in its solemn -hade-. There arc to be seen iforu'eous temples, pagodas, shrines, magnificent nTove> and ceinetcrio. The dyin^ presence of Nicliiren has lent thi- place peeul- iar -anctity : but his bones rest on Mount Minobu. in the province of Kai. where wa- one of his homes when in the lle-h. Sec I''i'iffc. While in Japan. I made special visits to manv of the places rendcre-' |i>; Till: MlKAH'i'S KM PIRK. in--: f:i N . of his l.irtli. lali'irs. triumph, and death, ami thi -tv form. ' pressjons of hi- work and followers which I have in thi- . !' r li. > ' far a- I am al>le to judire, mme <>f the nati\i a- -tamped hi- impress more deejilv on tin- ivli^- ' "I Japan than ha- N'ldinvn. It inav l>e vain prophec\ , ; I hat < 'hri-iianitv in Japan \\ill liml its mo-t \i^orni> ami p. i--i-! : oppo-er- ani<>n_: thi- sect, ami that it \\ill lie tin- la-t to no\\ triumphing faith that -eein- daspim.r the girdle of : \ ii'ti -r\ in Japan. 'I ih-ir a-i"!ii-!iin^ suci-cs- ami tn-nicDdnus power, ami tlieir intoler- ilii'e ali'l l'i_:'"trv, ale to he a-eri!ietl to the -allle eail-( the plvei.sjoM, : -tin. 'tne--. aipl t'Xfhisivfiii'SS of the teaehin^s of their master. In tln'ir steri il k-. and in the sermon- oiixes. the Ni<-hiivnite- are f\liortdl t" ivtV.'t dili^riitlv upon the jieeuliar l>l<'--iiiLr- voiidi- -ati-d to tin-in a- a elmseii sect, ami to understand that thev arc fa- ^ori-d alio\ ,-;ii oth'T- in pri \ i ! e^'e. that thrir doctrine- are the only tnie olles. :t;id |)i;i! ]ir]-fret -alxatioli is ;it 1 ailia! >ie liV 11" other method or svstem. It i- iii-xt to impos-d!,],- for thi-m to fraterni/e \\itli otin-r I'.uddhi-t-. and the\ thein-rh es declare that, though all the other -e.-t- ma\ e '.i oiii-. \ e-t thi-v niu-1 remain apart, nnle their tenet-. i'e adopt' i. 'I he proscription "f I'ther <(!<. and tin- einplnyinent of !- a- a mean- of propagation intrixliiced l.v Niehiren, \\a- a i li' : ' ' ULT in Japan I; -tirn-d up per-ecutioi. au:'ain-i I fa;: h and ,' - foi!o\\ er- ; and thi-. i'ou pled \\ ;: ii the m- \ iii.-ihie tiidi ai | /ea of tin latter. : her a- -"i! and -eed. |-i-\ ival n J -i int. ' 1 hat ._Teat religion. u hi. j; , ^ of the tl u ry, reacJH-d a -taife of a i\ 4 . - . i \\liicli \\a- m-ce-.-arv t" 'l'h< . Niehiren ii I ai era 'f /. al and, hi^. "try. it a'~" ' iit that ] A i-r w hieh i- the he-t ivpn- -elitatlVe - of th'' i,,': h. \\llethel' \\*- call illld- ilhi-m ;. t -haih >u -tnd< :.t -I' 1 IP- .!;ip: ; |,. -i . i t !n- J'ill'e 1'i-li^i' Ml-, a- Well a- 1 I)' -Up. I -' , 'tip- Japalie-r j ],!e ha- : ' than l.\ :in\ and all s- ,,,,, - , jj,, ,-,-'; -' S';,-h;]-,.| ites are -],.-- alpl PeVolt- . . i- tin HH'JVff k'.in'r'j i tl'.winu' BVUUIIIXM AY JAPAX. 161) invocation). I shall call it "the mother's memorial.'' It is practiced chieriv l>v the followers of Nichiren, though it is sometimes employed bv other sects. A si^'ht not often met with in the cities, but in the suburbs and country places fivtjiicnt as the cause of it requires, is the iiat/uri' kunjij (tlowiiio- invocation). A piece of cotton cloth is suspended bv its four corners to stakes set in the ground near a brook, rivulet, or, if in the city, at the side of the water-course \\hich fronts the houses of the better classes. Behind it rises a higher, lath-like board, notched several times near the top, and inscribed with a brief legend. Uest- iiiii on the cloth at the brookside, or, if in the city, in a pail of water, is a wooden dipper. Perhaps upon the four corners, in the upright bamboo, mav be set bouquets of flowers. A careless, stranger may not notice the odd thing, but a little study of its parts re\eals the symbolism of death. The tall lath tablet is the same as that set be- hind graves and tombs. The ominous Sanskrit letters betoken death. Even the flowers in their bloom call to mind the tributes of affection- ate remembrance which loving survivors set in the sockets of the mon- uments in the grave-yards. On the cloth is written a name such as i- Driven to persons after death, and the prayer, "'Nuiitu i//i>~> 1~; re it so utterly worn that the water no longer drain-, but falls through at once, the freed spirit of the mother, purged of her sin, rises to resurrection among 170 Till-: MIKADO'S EMPIRE. the exalted heim-;- of a hiu'ier cycle of exi -tence. I'evout men. as they pa-- by. p-veivntN pour a la lleful of water. \\uincii, e-pceial- h tho-e \\lii. ha\e felt mother-pain-, and who rejoice in life and lov- ing otf-pr: !IL;'. P-peat the t-xpiatorv act with deeper feelim:: Imt the depth- of -vmpathy are fathomed onlv l>y tho-e who. heiiii; mothers, are \ et herea\cd. Yet, as in presence of nature'.- awful "Juries the p-\ei-eiit ira/.er i- .-hocked l>v the noi-\ importunity of the lie^-^ar. so before this -ad and touching memorial the proof.- of -ordid pri<-' raft cliill the warm sympathy \\hich tin- >i_rht even from the In:,:' . -f an alien mi^ht (.-yoke. The cotton cloth inscribed \\ith tin prayer and the name of the d - cea-ed, to he ellicaciou-, can he purchased onlv at the temples. I ha\e been told, ami it is n.> -ei-ret. that rich people arc al>le to secure a napkin \\hich, \\heii -tivtched Imt a few da vs. will rupture, and let tin. 1 \\ater pa-s through at uinv. The poor man can ^vt onlv tin- >toiit- e-t and ino-t elo-elv \\o\en fabric. Tiie limit of purgatorial penance i- tlm- fixed b\ warp and woof, and warp and woof are e.'au_vd hv nionev. The rich man'- napkin i- -craped thin in tin- middle. Nev- erthele--, the po,,|- mother -eciires a richer tribute of sympathy from !n-r humble people; for in .lapan. a- in other lands, poverty has many children. \\ hile \\ealth mourn- for heir-; and in the lowlv walks of life an- more pitiful women who have felt the woe and the jo\- of motherhood than in tin man-ion- of the rich. In Hdii/eii. -peeiailv in the country to\\n-and villages, the custnm i- riiridU ob-ei-vcd; but thou-'h I often looked for the. iill<.wers of Shin -hiu. founded bv hi- reverence ^hini-an. iii l - _'iJ. Sliinran was a pupil of Honi-n. who foiinded the ,lod'"> -hiu, and \s a- of iiobK- de- -eeiit. \\"hi!e iii Kiuto, at thirty \ear- of a--e. lie married a lady of nobie blood, nairn-d Tamav-iri hinn''. the dauii'liti-r of the Kiiainbaku. He thu- taught bv example, a- well a- hv pree.-jit, that marriage wa- lioi]i>rable. and that eelibac\ \\a- an invention of the prie-t-. imt war- ran'i'd b\ pure Uuddhi-m. I'diaii'-e. la-tini;'. pre-cribed diet, pil- L r nma'_ r e-, isolat ii>n t pen -. .>;. ; i, . \\ hi-; her a- hermit- or in the cloister, and 'jvnerillv amulet- and charm-, are all irbooed bv thi- sect. Nun- iierie- and nioija-terie- arc unknown v.ithin it- pale. 'I he tamily Belfry of u Buddhist Templu in Uzuka. BUDDHISM IX JAPAN. 173 takes the place of monkish seclusion. Devout prayer, purity, and earnestness of life, and trust in Buddha himself as the only worker of perfect righteousness, are insisted upon. Other sects teach the doc- trine of salvation by works. Shinran taught that it is faith in Buddha that accomplishes the salvation of the believer. Buddhism seems to most foreigners who have studied it but Roman Catholicism without Christ, and in Asiatic form. The Shin sect hold a form of the Protestant doctrine of justification bv faith, believing in Buddha instead of Jesus. Singleness of purpose characteri/.es this sect. Outsiders call it Ikko, from the initial word of a text in their chief book, Murioju J\io (" Book of Constant Life"). By others it is spoken of as Monto (gate-followers), in reference to their unitv >f organization. The Scriptures of other sects are written in Sanskrit and Chinese, which onlv the learned are able to read. Those of Monto are in the vernacular Japanese writing and idiom. Other sects build temples in sequestered places among the hills. The Shin - shiuists erect theirs in the heart of cities, on main streets, in the centres of population. They endeavor, by every means in their power, to induce the people to come to them. In Fukui their twin temples stood in the most frequented thoroughfares. In Tokio, O/a ka, Kioto, Nagasaki, and other cities, the same system of having twin temples in the heart of the city is pursued, and the Largest and finest ecclesiastical structures are the duplicates of this sect. The altars are on a scale of imposing magnificence, and gorgeous in detail. A com- mon saving is, "As handsome as a Monto altar." The priests marry, rear families, and their sons succeed them to the care of the temples. In default of male issue, the husband of the daughter of the priest, should lie have one, takes the otlice of his father-in-law. Many mem- bers of the priesthood and their families are highly educated, perhaps m i >re so than the bonzes of any other sect. Personal acquaintance with several of the Monto priests enables me to substantiate tin* fact asserted of them. The followers of Shinran have ever held a hiu'h position, and have wielded va>t influence in the religious development of the people Both for LTood and evil they have been aimm^ the foremost of active workers in the cause of religion. In time of war the Mont" bn/es put on armor, and, \\ith their families and adherents. ha\e in numer- ous instances formed themselves into military battalion*. \\ e shall hear more of their martial performances in sucivediiiL:' chapters. After the death of Shinran, liennio, who died in l.">un, became the 174 Till: MIK.ilxrx EXPIRE. revivaii-t <>f M"Pto. and wrote the Ofnini, <>r sacred writing-, which arc ii"\\ dai!\ read 1-y the disciple* of this denomination. With the eharacti jeet "f reaching the masses, tlicy arc written in the common --cript !i>/-iifj ad. Tl.ou_fh vreatlv persecuted l>v other sectaries, they have continually hi'Tea-ed in mnnhers. wealth, and power, and now lead all in intelligence ami intluence. TO the charges of uneleanness \\hich other- liriiiLT aifain.-t them, l>ecau-e thev niarrv wives, eat and drink and live so inneli like unelerieal men. thev eahnlv answer, the hri^ht ra\ s of the sun shine on all things alike, and that it is not for them to call tilings unelean which have evidcntlv heen eivated for man's us,.; that riii'hteoiisness consists neither in eating nor drinking, in.r in al>-ti- nence from the hlessinp. vouchsafed t<> mortals in thi> vale of \\ ic . and that the maxims aiid narrow-minded doctrines, with the neglect of which thev are reju'oaehed. can onlv have proceeded from {lie fol!\ or vanitv of men. They claim that pric-ts \\ith families are purer men than ecliLates in monasteries, ;md that the puritv of socictv i- l>cst maintained l'\ a manieil priesthood. \\'ithin the la-t two decade*, they were the tii'-t to or^aiii/e their theological >chools on the moi), i of foreign countries, that their \oun-;' men mi^ht l>e traim-d to iv-i-' Shinto or ( 'hri-tianit \ '. oi 1 to mea-ure the truth in either. The la-t !ie\\ charge uv^'c'l a^ain-t them 1>\ their ri\aU i- that thev are -<> much like ( 'hri-tian-, that tlie\ mi-'ht as well lie such out and out. Lihertv of thought and action, an inencivililr de-ire to In- tVee from governmental, traditional, nltra-ecclc-ia-tical. or Shinto intiuenc, in a \\ord. 1'rote-tanti-m in it- ]c.n-e i', i- characteiistic of the ^reat sect foun I'd ' ' \ Shinran. TO treat of the doctrinal dilTerenee aiid \arioii- eu-tonis of the dif- fer,-iit ('en, iminat !' 'ii - \\o;i!d reijiiil'- 1 a Volume. .lapane-e Iiiiddhi-m riehh rl,-erve- tlioroiiirh -tudv.and a -cho]ar!y treati-e hy it-e!f.'"' The ^ It i- !rrj,r-t iv-i ,;-, |, mill lull' -t ii:i|iiir, . :.- IM th tMni' n _ =. .1 :'.-.:..'':. i tlic HinMliM li.iHi. Il i- !i(.t [il'i'Sai'le. .1- - . ' \Valii i-ci- |.ML r c T''n I'l'mi^lit !! c i . ' - ; . 'I'lii \iti'i)/;/i Live- )hi- \ .ir ."i.'rj :.- that In v _ - . ! isirii-, altar nirnitnp-. \ c-tnu'iits, i-t< , \\cn- ln-t i. \v. .1 a- {:- -lit- it | , .unl (I- | '<.-'! ti'd in iln' ci ill rt nf ccri'iniiiiy. T: ' tiiilicil l'\ a l<'\v e"iirt notili--, - ' l'.--.-'l tfi-- in ". faith. In .".V,. a tVi-Mt'ii! [.'-- .' - '. ijtlJiill. n!- nftlic I'lin-'m'li faitl: . : . A l"i,'_ am! Litti r disi'Htu I'n}- ;..-.\ >;!. LII..I -i 'in'- i.f ;'::, \\i-\\ ! : ili'-lruyi-d. In -pite "f ].;;' ri- (.itUlu .. ..itivi X.i al, ' ' ..1 WI.TU i..-t;il/,i-l:t.''l in !!; pai BUDDHISM IX JAPAN. 175 part played In- the oreat Buddhist sects in the national drama of histo- ry in Inter centuries will le seen as \ve proceed in our narrative. ace, in'w missionaries were invited from Corea, and in (\~24 two bonzes were iriven official rank, as primate and vice-primate. Temples were ereeted, and, at the death of a bonze, in 700, his body was disposed of by cremation a new tiling in Japan. In 741, an imperial decree, ordering the erection of two temples and a seven-storied pairoda in each province, was promulgated. In 705, a priest became Dai Jo Dai Jin. In S27, a precious relic one of Dhaka's (Buddha's) bones was deposited in the palace. The master stroke of theological dexterity was made early in the ninth century, when Kobo, who had studied three years in China, achieved the reconciliation of the native belief and the foreign religion, made patriotism and piety one, and laid the foundation of the permanent and univer- sal success of Buddhism in Japan. This Japanese Philo taught that the Shinto deities, or irods, of Japan were manifestations, or transmigrations, of Buddha in that country, and, by his scheme of dogmatic theology, secured the ascendency of Buddhism over Shinto and Confucianism. Until near the fourteenth century, however. Buddhism continued to be the religion of the oflicial, military, and edu- cated classes, but not of the people- at laruv. Its adoption by all classes may be ascribed to the niis.-ioiiury labors of Shinran and Niehircn, whose banishment to the North and Kast made them itinerant apostles. Shinran traveled on foot through every one of the provinces north and east of Kioto, n'loryini;- in his exile, cvcrvwhere preaching, teaching', and making new disciples. It may be safely said that it required nine hundred years to convert the Japanese people from fctiehism and Shinto to Buddhism. It is extremely dillicult to n'et accurate statistics relatintc to Japanese Bud- dhism. The following table was compiled for me by a learned bonze of tin; Shin denomination, in the temple of Xishi Hon^uanji, in Tstikiji, Tokio. I have com- pared it with data furnished by an ex-priest in t'ukui, and various laymen. The ecclesiastical centre of Japan has always been at Kioto. The chief temples and monasteries of each sect were located there. TAKri.AK LIsT OF JiUDDHIST SECTS IN JAl'AH. I. Temlai. Founded by Chisha, in China: 3 suit-sects .................. t'l.Siii II. Shinjron. Founded by Kfibo, in Japan. A.I>. si;>, : 3 sub-sects ......... 15.f>o;i III. Xen. Founded by Darma, in. Japan : sub-sects ..................... '21.f>47 I\'. Jc'xli'i. Founded by lli'men, iii Japan, HTM: '2 sub-sects ............... '.>,-!'.> V. Shin. Founded by Shinran, in Japan, 1213: r> subjects .............. 1!!."!* VI. Xichircn. Founded by Xichiren, in Japan, \~26-2: '2 sub-sects. ........ VI I. Ji. Founded by Ippen, in Japan, 1'2SS ................................ r>sii Besides the above, then 1 are twenty-one ''irregular," "local," or ''independ- ent" sects, which act apart from the others, and in some eases have no temples or monasteries. A number of other sects have originated in Japan, llouri-hed f<>r a time, decayed, and passed out of existence. According to 1he census of I ^7'.'. there were in Japan ;Jll,s-l!i Buddhist i-tUyirits of both sexes and all irrade^ .ind orders. Of these. 7.">,'.l:.'5 were priests, abbots, or monks, '.) abbesso ; -T,-.'? we re reckoned as novices or students, and ( .ls,5S5 wen- in mona-terie- or t'.iinilies imostly of Shin sect); 151,077 were males, (!0,1;V,) were females, ;l ,id '.'.''p'.M wi-rc nuns. By the census of 1S75, the returns n'avo r.'l^jOO'.l Buddhist nli'j'niif, of whom 14S,807 were males, and 5S,Ni:J females. XVII. Tin-: /.vi-.i.s/o.v or rur. .i/o.wo/, T.urr.iKs. IM KIM, the earlv centuries of tin- Christian ITU. friendly intercourse SVa- iv^ularl V kepi Up KetWeell .I;i|i;itl alld China. Kllll-a ie- \\e|V di-patched to and fro mi various nii-.-ion-,, !mt diictlv \\itii tin- mutual i l . i.-ei i if hearing thi 1 cotiLn';'tulati< >n- to an emperor upon hi- accr ion ! i tin- throne. It !- lllrlltioni'd iil tlic " I ia/.i-ttriT "f I'!'' hi /ell " I h'l'lii- :.' n K'k'i Mi> Si'iki I\'<~>] that i-inliassadors fr'iii China, with a ivtinui 1 ail'] i-i'i-w i'f niic luiinln-il and >c\ ciit\ -i-i^ht jirr>nn-~. canic t<>. Japan v.n. 77''.. in 1'rar cnnn-nitiilatiiins t the mikaili., Knnin Tennfi. 'l'!n- Vt'SM'l \\a- \\reekeil ill a Tvphniill otT the ra>t "f Kell'l/ell, alnl I'l'.t fiiftv i\ i'f tin eiiiiijiaiiv \\civ -a\ed. Thev \\ei'e fed and shcltei'i'd iii Fv-lii/i-n. In \.ii. 77'.'. the Japanese i-nilia.-sv. n-turniniT fr"in ('hina. landed at Mikuni. the -ea-purt "f Kuktii. In s ^-i. "rder- \\ere >ent fi'i'in Ki'"'t" In the provinces north -if the eapita! 1" I'epair the hrid^es and road-. !>ur\ the d -ad !'odie>. and rnnuvr all (ili>tai'h-s, Iiccau-e the en\i>v- of i 'hin.-'. were ec.niinL; 1 that uav. Tin ei\il di-orcl.'ix in !>oth countries interrupted tlir-r t'neinii\- relations in the twelfth eeiiturv, alld ei ' ; ill- eea-ed Until t I lev \\ -'IT l'e!|e\\ eil a^'aill ill 1 ile tillle . .f tin- 1 1. jo. in the manner no\\ to !.. de-erilu'd. Ii, ( hina. th'- Mongol Tartar- had overthrown tin Suiiu' dvna-Tv. . red the adjaei'iit eoimtrie-. Through the < 'ore;.n-. the M- !:_;. ,j i'tiljii-1'or. Kill'iai Khan, at V, ho-c i-oiirt Mareo I'o]o and hi- line!,-, A , iv then re-idiii'j, -ent Idler- d ' in a n d i n ir tril'iite and lioin- muiie. i nra^'e 1 --..]. ii; demand-, di-mi -cd them in di-v:'i'ace. S;\ I'lllkl It - Uel'e -.'lit. and -1\ tillle- re]i-etrd. Aii e\prdition 1 1'' 'in ( hina, eon-i-tiii'j of ten thoti-and men. \\a-> - ' :ain-i .lapan. 1 . : I 1 ma and I ki. The\- \\ I-P hra\e!\ attaeked. and lln ain. All I\iu-lim haviii^' roii-i d to arm-, tin ' iiiu' aeeompli-hed iioihitiLT. The < ill''-e i Illpi-ri'I' ll"\\ -' ' " "V-. \\llo allliolllieed their pill 1 - po- ' remain until a detimti an-\\er \\a.- returned to th^ir ma-i'-r. Th'A' v. iv ealli-d to K'ai;, .lapaiie-f r-'plv \va- ifiveii \>\ THE INVASION OF THE MONGOL TARTARS. 177 cutting dff their heads at the village of Tatsu no kuchi (Mouth of the Dragon), near the city. The Japanese now girded themselves for the \var thev kne\v was imminent. Troops from the East were sent to u'uard Kioto. Munitions of war were prepared, magazines stored, cas- tles repaired, and new armies levied and drilled. l>oats and junks were built to meet the enemv on the sea. Once more Chinese en- vovs came to demand tribute. Again the sword gave the answer, and their heads fell at Dai/aifu, in Kiushiu, in 1-J70. Meanwhile the armada was preparing, (ireat China was coming to crush the little strip of laud that refused homage to the invincible con- queror. The army numbered one hundred thousand Chinese and Tar- tars, and seven thousand Coreans, in ships that whitened the sea as the snowy herons whiten the islands of Lake IJiwa. Thev numbered thirty-five hundred in all. In the Seventh month of the year 1_!81, the tasseled prows and fluted sails of the Chinese junks greeted t he- straining eyes of watchers on the hills of Daizaifu. The armada -ailed gallantly up, and ranged itself off the castled city. Many of the junks were of immense proportions, larger than the natives of Japan had e\er seen, and armed with the engines of European war- fare, which their \eiietian guests had taught the Mongols to eou- >truct and work. The Japanese had small chance of success on the water: as, although their boats, being swifter and lighter, were more easilv managed, yet many of them were sunk by the darts and huge sto nes hurled by the catapults mounted on their enemy's decks. In per-onal prowess the natives of Nippon were superior. Swimming out to the fleet, a party of thirty boarded a junk, and cut off the heads of the crew ; but another company attempting to do at. SallyiliJI out from he- hind the Livastwork, he defied the enemy t<> ti_dit. Shortly after, he tilled two lioats \\ith hrave fellows and pu-lied out, apparently un- armed, to the fleet. "lie is Iliad," cried the Spectator- (.11 -hop, . How hold," -aid the men on the tleet, " for two little l.oat- to attaek thu-and- of e-reat ship-! Siirelv lie is coming to surrender him-elf." S',ipp..-in_r tin- to In- hi- olijrct, tliev refrained from -hooting. \\ hen \\i;hi:i a few oar--]eip_ r th-, t he Japanese. tlin^iiiir ( >ut ropes \\ith n-pap- pliiiLT-hoi.ks, leaped on the Tartar junk. The hows and spear- of the latter \\cpt- no mateh f.,r the two-handed ra/or-like swords of the Jap- ane-e. Thi- i.ue. though fur a \\hile d"ul>tlul, \\ as a swift and com- pl>'t' \ietory fop tin' men \\ho \\epr ti _;'! , 1 i 1 1 ^ for their nat'ne laud. Iliiniin_r the junk, the survi\ HILT \'iet"i'> lett hetopi- the suri'ouiidin^ ship- eould enl them i.tT. Amon^the eaptured wa- one cf the hi^h- c-st otli.-i r- in the Mongol |l,.,-t. Th'- \\ hole nation \sa- now r^u-ed. ke-eiiforennents poured in from . :- to -\\ell the ho-t of d'-feiidep-. l-'roin the nioiia-- terie- and temple- all uvt-r the eoimlrv v, cut up une<-;tsiii'_ r praver to th<- ^-od- t" ruin thi-ir enemies and -ave the laud of Japan. The em- jM-r.'r and < \-empi-ror \\ciil in -oleum state to the ehirf prie-t of Shin- ;. writiiiir ' ' ' : ir ]"titi-n- t" the ^od-, M'lit him as a iue.->vii- !_ r er t" the -hriiif- at !-i'\ I: i- recorded, a- a miraculous fact, thai at the hour f noon, a- the -acpci] n\o\ arri\cd at the >hrine and offered the pra\ cp the da\ heiir_ r pert" ir a -trcak of cloud appeared in the -kv. \shi"h -ooj, o\er-pn ad the hea\en-. until the deii-i. ma--e- p> 'Ptei.ded ;i st ' ' r '" ' ''" ;I ' A : ' ! ' : '''''- < '. ,,f tho-e cvcloiie-, i-alled h\ the Japaiie>c (nl-fn. or t'kazi', of appalliiiLX velocity and re-i-tlc-- topee, >ue!i a- wliirl alniij; the eoa-ts of Japan and < 'hina duni;_ r late -uminer and eariv fail of every year. THE INVASION OF THE MONGOL TARTARS. 181 burst upon the Chinese fleet. Nothing can withstand these maelstroms of the air. "\\ e call them typhoons; the Japanese say tai-fti, or Okaze (great wind). Iron steamships of thousands of horse -power are al- most unmanageable in them. Junks are helpless: the Chinese ships were these only. They wen- butted together like mad bulls. They were impaled on the rocks, dashed against the cliffs, or tossed on land like corks from the sprav. Thev were blown over till thev careened and tilled. Heavily freighted with human beings thev sunk bv hun- dreds. The corpses were piled on the shore, or floating on the water so thickly that it seemed almost possible to walk thereon. Those driven out to sea may have reached the main-land, but were probably overwhelmed. The vessels of the survivors, in laru'e numbers, drifted to or were wrecked upon Taka Island, where thev established themselves, and, cutting down trees, began building boats to reach Coiva. Here they were attacked by the Japanese, and, after a bloody struu'u'le, all the fiercer for the despair on the one side and the exultation on the other, were all slain or driven into the sea lo be drowned, except three, who were sent back to tell their emperor how the u'ods of Japan had de- stroyed their armada. The Japanese exult in the boast that their u'ods and their heaven prevailed over the gods and the heaven of the < 'hinese. This was the last time that China ever attempted to conquer Japan, whose people boast that their land has never been defiled by an invad- ing army. They have ever ascribed the u'lorv of the destruction of the Tartar fleet to the interposition of the gods at Ise, who thereafter received special and grateful adoration as the u'uardian of the seas and winds. (Jreat credit and praise were given to the lord of Kamakura. Ilojd Tokimune, for his energy, ability, and valor. The author of the Gnni Shi says, "The repulse of the Tartar barbarians bv Toki- mune, and his preserving the dominions of our Son of Heaven, were sufficient to atone for the crimes of his ancestors." Nearly six centuries afterward, when "the barbarian" Terry anchor- ed his fleet in the Jiay of Yedo, in the words of the native annalist. "Orders were sent by the imperial court to the Shinto priest- at l-e to offer up prayers for the sweeping-awav of the barbarians." Mill- ions of earnest, hearts put up the same p ravers as their fathers had offered, fully expecting the same result. To this day the Japanese mother in Kiushiu hushes her fretful in- fant by the question, " 1 )o you think the Mou-u (Mongols) an m- ing '"' This is tin. 1 onlv serious attempt at invasion e\er made by any nation upon the shores of Japan. TII !: MIK. ii)trp taken after tlir overthrow if the military usurpation a: Kamakiira u a- t" iveall tin- mikado (Jo-hai^o tV"in exile. \\itli tin- >oveivi'_ r ll aiiain ill full po\\rr, it srrined ;i> though th" aiieieiit and rightful ^ovrrninent \\as t<> !>r permanently iv-toivd. The militarv or -v-trin had !a-!fl al'niit \\c liuiiiii'i-d ainl fifty yrar-, aii'l patriots iio\\ Ip.pi-il to sfi.- tin- -.'untrv I'i^'htU Li'i'vcriinl, \\ithont ii!tcrvciitin Iti-twiTii the l!ir"ii'' ainl tin- people. The ivwanlinu: of t!ie \iet>rs uho ha>l foii^-hi for him \va> \}\<- lir-t i!n'\ a\\aitin^ the iv-toivil i-xilc. ] H-tl|oil> all'l [H'oee'lllfe of fell'lali-111 Were lio\\ -.. tixeil ill the _ !! '-ral poli--\ of the ( ioVeniliirlit, thai . apportiniiril militarv tief- a- Li'tier- ..-:> 1 ;- \a^al-. \ \< '._ theiii \\a> A-in ka^a Takaiiji. to \\hoin \\a- a\\ar'lei[ the _;T- -at -' j*r;/e. e. .n^>; : n - of the ri'-h pr<>\incc> of I lira hi. Mu-a-lii. ai i >hiiinVa. To Ki!-;ii >! i Ma-a-lii^'i' 1 wi'i'e '/ivcli S'-;t-;i ami l\a\\ae!ii; aii-1 to \itta. K v. . a!,'] llarima. l-i-iilcs -itia!i' r 'i }' *' ( in: n\ ot hi ;-. Tni- ' 1 the pal ri< it . \\ ir > e\- pee;,.il to -, , hi j;i, rank ainl |io\\ , r eonfi IT. 1 upon \itta a in I Ix'ii-nno- ki. tli-- ehi. :' : . a i' r- in : he \var for I i hoih M r\ aMc 111 ''I. I' Wolll'l ! i 'I \\eii h;| 1 lip : i ij" I'oJ' >erl| the i ! I | | i, . 1't a II e i of (ii-r- ;.! l:i,_- ' and pri\ i!< ^ - of <>- . and exalted to hi-;h- -' rank '. ] , HH n 'A ho \\ , ; . ,,(' maintaining the di'_'- Tiitv of the n. d \\]i,,-r diii i' fi ai' \\a- that the diiaivhx uoiild t_.ain tri-e. S;i , _'. for A^hika_ r a. It i ..' -Hell IllleXp' eti-d fa\o]'. ln-e;il!|e ilit'allP'd \\itll a >t i ! I hl-'hel' '.' ' . :'.'!: nd -In ^''inate at Kama- ' r\ ] 111 1 . 'lie. I '.i-ill^ i .f N .: mioto . ,. :,',! p,,pularil\ in hi- : >. ng the soldiers, who now beu'an to lose all interest in the cause for whieh they had fought, and to murmur privately among themselves. "Should such an unjust government continue," said they, "then are we all servants df concubines and dancing -girls and singing -boys. Rather than be the puppets of the mikado's amusers, we would prefer a shoguii again, and become his vassals.'' Many of the captains and smaller elan-leaders were also in bad humor over their own small shares. Ashikaga Taka- uji took advantage of this feeling to make himself popular aniono- the disall'ectcd, especially those who cluiiir to arms us a profession and \\ished to rem.;in soldiers, preferring war to peace. Of such intlamma- bk- material the latent traitor was not slow to avail himself when it suited him to light the flames of war. II, \d the mikado listened to his wise counselor, and al-o placed Ku- sunoki in an oilice commensurate w'Hh his commanding abilities, and rewarded Xitta as lie deserved, the century of anarchy and bloodshed which followed mi^'lit have been spared to Japan. (io-Daigo, who in the early years of his former reiu'n had been a man of indomitable courage and energy, seems to have lost the best trait- of his character in his exile, retaining only his imperious will and susceptibility to flattery. To this degenerate Samson a IMiiah was not wanting. Jle fell an easy victim to the wiles of one man, though the >hear> by which his strength was shorn were held by a woman. Ashikan'a was a consummate master of the arts of adulation and political craft. He was now to furl her prove his skill, and to verify the warnings of Xitta and the ministers. The emperor made Moriyoshi, his own son, sho^un. Ashikaga, jealous of the appoint meiit, and having too ready access to the infatuated father's ear. told him that his sn was plotting to ^et possession of the throne. M<>ri- yoslii. hating the flatterer, and stuiiLT to ra^'e by the base slander. marched against him. Ashikaga now succeeded by mean- of hi- ally in the imperial bed in making him-elf, in the eyes of the mikado, the first victim to the conspiracies of the prince. So ^ivai wa- his power over the emperor that he obtained from the imperial hand a decree to punish his enemy Moriyoshi as a r//<>///v, or rebel, against the mikado. II n- we have a -trikiiiil' in-tain-e of what, in the Bailie of Japaiie-e all' d the eheekmate nio\e. or. in the native idiom. nil, md." Ii i- ditli'-ult fora foreigner to fullv appreeiat : liiii^ to tin- mikado'- pi-r-oii a piv-ti'jv never dimin- :. NO matter how low hi- aetual niea-ure of power, the nieaiine-- n-trr. or the in-iirniticaiice of hi- per-oiial al'ilitie-. he w:;- ~- in of Ilea\en. hi- word wa- law. hi- command omnipotent. lie fountain of all rank and authority. No militarv leader. how- ever --real hi- iv>nuropular heart or hope for ultimate success unle appointed lev the emperor. He who heid tin- Son of Heaven in hi- p\\i-r wa- ma-ter. Hence it wa- the eon-tant aim of all the militarv leader-, even down to IM;^, to ol.tain control of the imperial per-oii. However wicked or villaiiioii- the keeper of tip- mikado, he wa- ma-ter of the -itnatioii. Hi- eiiemie- were '/"'//eii|e.- '/""/////. wa- doomed. A-hika^a. ha\in_: tin- imperial order, had the k>irinu'- tear- to tin- e\es of the .lapaiie-e reader evi n at tin- piv-i-nt day. II- w a- >e>/e 1, depo-cd, -e|it to Kamakiira. and murdered in a -ul't'>. Iii- e'liM in i \ile. the heart of the emperor relented. The scale- |-"lll ],''- e\e-. He -aw that he had \\rl!'j.!v -U-pec-ted hi- Soil, aii'i that ' real traitor wa- A-hika^a. Tin- latter, noiic-'m^ the chaiij.'!' th e li ,d come over hi- ma-ter, i. ft Kioto -eeivllv. folhnved i>\ t hoii -and- ! ti di- itTi cted --!dier\ . and !--d to Kamakiira. which he iiad ri in to eoii-olidate hi- (orce- with a \ii-w of au'ain ei'ei-t iii'j the I . i ! !al. a lid -i i/Ilij' the pc iw i-r formerly held 1 '\ th" II"'". Nitt -o l,i-eii aec-ii-e.| ; >\ A-liika-'a. hut. h:i\:nj e|i-are,l him-e't . ' ' to ' . mikado, lie reeehed tin- imperial eoiiimi--i'iii to c-ha-t - I - rival. In the eampai^'n whh-ii toil. .wed. the im] defeated 1 hat t he |iii 'iidam im- \'. ' ; i- |..yal follow.-r- !n- left l\ . it". - irr\ in -r v ! in- "f ant h' .nt \ . \ ;. ' ' r. occupied a critical po.-itii .n. He wa- a rf,i',l<'/,-i. \~ -aid i.evrr win tinal -uc. -.--. lie had !."-,. r ;ill i re- 'UP '-. (nit. in illv u-urper-. was iie-t THE TEMPORARY MIKADO ATE. 185 clothed with authority. He was, in popular estimation, a rebel of the deepest dye. In such a predicament he could not safely remain a (lav. The people would take the side of the emperor. What should he do? Ilis viu'or, acuteiiess, and villainy were eijiial. The Hojo had deposed and set up emperors. It was Ashika^a who divided the alle- giance, of the people, j^ave Japan a War of the Roses (or Chrysanthe- mums), tilled the soil for feudalism, and lighted the flames of war that made Kioto a cock-pit, abandoned the land fur nearlv two cent- uries and a half to slaughter, ignorance, and paralysis of national prog- ress. To clothe his acts with riirht, he made a new Son of Heaven. He declared Koijen, who was of the royal family, emperor. In 13:30, this new Son of Heaven pive Ashikaga the title of Sei-i Tai Shoo-un. Kamaknra ajxain became the military capital. The diiarchv was re- stored, and the War of the Northern and the Southern 1'vnasties be- iran. which lasted riftv-six years. The period 1333-1330, though including; little more than iwo vears of time, is of ^reat significance as marking the exigence of ,- temporary mikadoate. Tlie fact that it lasted so short a time. ;md that the duaivhy was a^ain set up on its ruins, has furnished \>"\\\ na- tives and foreigners with the absurd and specious, but strong" nrjvd. argument that the ( Jovcrnmetit, of Japan, by a single ruler from a MM- trie centre, is an impossibility, and that the creation of a dual sys- tem with a ''spiritual" or nominal sovereign in one part of the em- pire, and a military or ''secular" ruler in another, is a necessity. I>urin-_ r tin- a^itati"!) "f the ijiie-.ti"ii concerning the abolition <>f the dual s\ -triii, .-in. I tin- re-.torati"ii .f tin 1 inikad" in 1 ^tlO-lstlS, one of \\\< of the adherents nf tin- sliojjunsitc against the M-ln-iij. i. ft - agitator-, vva- the a--erti,,n that the events of the period I:'.:!:; 1 :::>; pro\rd that tin- niikad> uld not alone ^ovrrii the eoiin- trv. ami that it inu-t have duarchy. Kvni after the overthrow of the " r\coo!i" in 1 Mis, fi 'fi i^'iier-. as we'll a- natives, \\lio had studied -e hi-ti'l'V. fllllv I'clieVed and eXJieeted that ill a \ ear or two the prcM-nt inikad"'- ( -'"V ernnieiit would In- overt 111'" wn, and the " Tv- coon " return 1" piiwer. hasin^ their lielief on the fact that the inika- doate of 1 :;:;:;-! :!:!; did not last. \Yhatevvr force Mich an an,ni- nieiit ini^lit have had \\heii Japan had no foreign relations, and no aliens i.n her soil to di-tur!> the lialanw re- ijiiiivd to rope \\ith the [Mililii-al jire--ure I'IMIII \\itlp-iit. * Cnlaitl \\ I'll ' ;--, ;.inl on, ii- hit,- n- Is?:;, di-] !i!r tin- ri^lit i if Japan to Ire i-ali.-il an " I'liij'in-." anil tin inikiuli)- In In- >tylt-il "rni[nTi)r," " ina-iiiiirli a> they [the inikailu- M'lit tril'llte t<-n >|- nf ( 'hina. " A- laaltcr of fact, IKHIC nt'tln- niikiiiln^ ever il'nl this, tlmii^li inn- >li>'iriui ( A?!iilv:ii. r :i Yii^liiiiiitsii. psi.sri W>> iliii C'l IH-! ..k^. and e\ell the M|)i'-ial L r a/.ettf> ofPekillL', sju'llk (if illl IKltiollS even MliLTlaliil, France, ainl tip- I'nib-il Stair- a- "jiaNinu- trilillte" t China. ami 1 heir eiivnv- a- " tril'iit'- lifiirci>." -In j >,in ha- :ilw;iy- remaiiu il in tnial pulit- Middle Killed. 'in ;i nd her lluam: Ti. Thai .lupan i- an ei ii | 'iiv." the a 1 ,-, ilni i-i'i i if tin- in i km h i, the di \ er-it v i if her f. inn- i if -^( .\ ern- ineiital adiaini-lralii'ii. ditleriiiL; in I. in K : ; h; ' >._ it.- lunl, i.r feudal \.,-.,di, Ve/.ii ii ' MTTii-d li\ a -ju'eial 1 1 1 | m ]1 1 1 1 > MI t i, and in tie main !""lv n! the (jnijiire, lie-id'-- it- \aried natimu i! >- -la] .lie -. , Liu Ki nan-, and Aiii-. '['li\- i'\J.re--i \\ i- -''.'; hi' dl\ enn\e\ eil in the i u ii < 'hilie-e el iai-ai-1 (!. j.rc ill' i'l in-' -i I. in Japalie-e, K" t'-'l ; 1 an'e !!'.!, nut e i. and 1 I u .mi: 'I i in ( 'hille-e. The .fapane-e rii'er.-, i" iiTi I'A in:: ih'ir nulinii.- "f : -\ > ; mni nt and iii!pei-i;iii-iii tVuin < 'hili.i, a- 1 :. ' have t: "in Hume. , the title f'.r the niikad". >. h- . l.'hil nnly uver hi- own -ulijeet- id like i,h ,, ,,], but nv-iT e!.i i I 1r:l'ii1:iry JH ii].le. \\Tn n tin , hara. ter K,, i- juim-d III Kl'kll 111! ' K ' K"kll I U lliell i- -talnp. 'I Hi! the < Hit -id e "f tllU \ "i.ltlie '. "I' " T h. \!' i' ." the jllell cni]'li:i-i/.eil lirilll.' per- , , 1 1.| 1 , i , I that nfl ' > a- _ ' ' \\ i . ;, '1 , i ;- i,,;, | ,| ),, K"ka I T' i K.ikn Niimii, ' - - ' , Mi. full!- riiine-e eiiar aeter.- nver the .1 - Centennial K\] i-it ii ;..\ I'iiilad'-l] ihia j, have !!: idea n| I _ , ,-> i-rnui' lit -tliei -rr:icv. that .1 than ( hina, ha- aluav- elaiined ' and the fact that ' ' ill the deej. -eated i iva'ry, iniitual j'-al"ii-y. and even emit injit vvl ii h "the decayed uld u ntlc and ' tin . tin r. THE \YAJl OF THE CHRYSANTHEMUMS. XIX. THE ir.lA' OF THE riuiY THE dynasty f the imperial rulers of Japan is the oldest in the world. No other familv line extends so far back into the remote aifcs as tlie nameless family of mikados. Disdaining to have a fami- ly name, claiming descent, not from mortals, l>ut from tlie heavenly ^ods, the imperial house of the Kingdom of the Uisinu- Sun occupies a throne which no plebeian has ever attempted to usurp. Through- out all the vicissitudes of the imperial line, in plenitude of [tower or abasement of povertv, its members deposed or set up at the pleasure of the up-Tart or the political robber, the throne itself has remained unshaken. I'ndean hands have not been laid upon tiie ark itself. A> in the jtroeession of life on the idobe the individual perishes, the species lives on, so, though individual mikados have been dethroned, inv- of tin- Ka-t a- a p-eiido-mikad<>.* In 1 1 MO. ill,- mi!i:.ir\ famili'-- "t' 'I'aira and Minanioto eame to Mow.- in Kioto dVer th !! "f -ii.'i'e ion hetweeii tiie rival heirs, Sliutoku and ( Jo-Shirakawa. 'i In- 'I'aira ln-iipj.' vietor-, their candidate heeame mikado. I i deea\ of ihe 'I'aira. thev tied from Kioto, earrviiiLT \vith i- true emperor, with hi- suite and the saeivd insignia, Antoku. .. live vears "id. who was drowned in the >ea when the laira were de-tro\ed. Tin- Minanioto at the SUIK- time reeo^ni/ed of t he < Jen and I lei. wit ii their white and red thin'-, the .lapane-e \\'ar- of the KO-I--. Tlu-ir- wa- the sti'turu'lf of rival hou-e-. Now, we are to -peak of rival dyna-tie-. eai-h with the imperial crvsaiitlieimim. In tin- time of the early A-hika-a- ( 1 :i:',ii-l Mini) there were two mikad"- ruling, "i 1 attempting to rule, in Japan. 'I h' 1 Kmperor < J"- 1 >ai'_l'o had eho-eii hi- -on Kuni\o-hi a- hi- heir. 1ml the latter died in IMi'd. Ko-'en. -mi nf the mikado < J<>-Fu-himi ( 1 -J'.t'.i-l Mu 1 |. w a- " :r Taira I," Ma-akadii. "I', a- we -hntild say, Ma-akatlu 'I'aira, wa- a man nf uTeat i-niT'_ r \ and id' nn-enipul m- t harat-ter. He w a- at lir-t u'ovrni' n- i if Shiiiin-a, t'lit a-pin ii -.;. uvei al! tin Ka-t. He l.nilt a paluee on the same iimdel as that , . al Sajiina. in Mi'inn it-nki-. and appn'mted ntliet-r.- Minilar t<> tlm-i- ill. II' killed hi- iiiit-le, \vln r-ttinil in the way 'd" hi- anitiitimi. TII iv\i ' tin r - (h-atli. Sadainuri. <-<>u-in l<> M,i-akad. ht-atletl t\vn thdii- -ainl iii' tta It ' mikad and -h"t him t-Daigo was restored, Kogen retired to obscurity. No one for a moment thought of or acknowledged any one but Go-Daigo as true and only mikado. When, however, Ashikaga by his treachery had alienated the emperor from him, and was without imperial favor, and liable to punishment as a rebel, he found out and set up Kogen as mikado, and proclaimed him sovereign. Civil war then broke out. Into the details of the war between the adherents of the North- ern emperor, Ashikaga, with his followers, on the one side, and Go- Daiii'o, who held the insignia of authority', backed by a brilliant array of names famous among the Japanese, on the other, 1 do not propose t<> cuter. It is a confused and sickening story of loyalty and treach- ery, battle, murder, pillage, tire, famine, poverty, and misery, such as make up the picture of civil wars in every country. Occasionally in i\\\> period a noble deed or typical character shines forth for the ad- miration or example of succeeding generations. Among these none have exhibited more nobly man's possible greatness in the hour of death than Nitta Yoshisada and Kusunoki Masashige. On one occasion the army of Nitta, who was fighting under the flag of \\-. Some one beiT^ed Xitta, as he was mounted, to escape. "It i> tu>l my de-- sire to survive my companions slain," was his response. \\ hipping up his horse, he rode forward to engage with his sword, making him- self the target for a hundred archers. His horse, struck when at full 13 777 A' MIKADO'S EMPIRE. -peed l>v MII arrow, f- II. Nittii. "ii clearing himself a nd ri-itiLr. wa- hit hetweeii the i \v- \\ith M white-feathered -haft, and mortallv wound* d. Ih'aui!:.: hi- s\\o]-d. In 1 eut off his own head a feat which the \\ar- ri"r- of that time ssen- trained t perform so that his enemies mi^ht not r< >irni/e him. II.- \\a- thirt v-ei^ht vrars old. His hrave little hand \\eiv -lain hy arrows, ,,r killed themselves with their own hand, thai thev nii^'ht die with their ma>tei % . The enemy eoiild nt reenM-- ni/.e Nitta. until thev t'niind, l>eneath a pile of eorj>ses of men who had eoininitted Juirn-ktri, a hodv on whieli, ini'losi'd in a damask haif. \va> a letter eontaininu' the imju'rial eommi>s ion in ( Jo-1 tai'_ f o\ hand- \\riliiiL;'. " 1 in\e-t you with all jiowtT to su! ijn^ate the ivliels." Then th.-y knew the eoj-j.s,. to In- that of Nitta. Hi- head was earned to Kioto, then in ]ioes>ion of A.-hika^'a. and exposed in puMie on a pillory. The loin!) of this hrave man >tand-. earefnilv watehed and tended, near Fukui. in l^-lii/eii. hard 1>\ the \er\ spot \\here he fell. 1 often pas-ed it in mv walks, \\heii lixin-j.- in Kukui in IsTl. and no- tieed that fre-h I'l'ioinin^ tlouers were almo-t dailv laid upon it the triliiite of an admiring' people. A shrine and monument /// incin'irium were ei-eejeil in hi- iiatixe j'laee durini;' the year 1^7"). Th'- I'rave Kusuiioki, after a lo-t hattle at Minatoet at naught, and hi- ad\i''e rejeeted. felt that life \\a- no longer lniimralile. and -"'eMin'v re-. lived to ol- dii-r'- linii'T. Son-ou fulh" I'iddinu' hi- uife and infant eliildr.'ii ^ l- Kve. h' ealmlv eonuiiitted Jmrii-kifi. an example \\hieh hi- eomi'ades, mimlierin^ mie hundred and tift\. l-ravely followed. Ivi-Miioki Ma-a-hi'^'i' 1 \\'a- one ot an hoip.raMe tamiK' \\lio dwelt in Kawa>'hi. and tra.-ec) their de-eent to tlie Li'reat-u'randsoii of the thirtv- -eeoiid mikad '. r>, lat-u ( \.n. "> 7 _'-" ^ " ). Th' 1 familv name. Ku-un^ki ("Camphor"). \\a- -'i\.-n hi- people from the faet that a L f l'ove of eainpli"!'-! !''- adorned the anee-tral garden- of the maii-i.'ii. Tin- twelfth in di--'-eiit wa- the Vier-'juveiiu.! 1 nf I \ o. The father of Ma-a- -hi-'('- held land a eed at two tln>;i-and //'/. Hi- nmther. de-irini. r a I'hild. praved t" the n-ni| Ui-hamoli for one hundred da\ -. and Ma- -a-iii^e wa- l"irn aft'-r a pre^naiiev of fourt'-'-n m-nth-. The mother. in devout gratitude, named th<- i"'\ 1'amon (the Sanskrit name oj Ili-h- anioii). after tin- Lf"d uho had heard her pra\~er-. The maii-ehild \\as verv -troii-'. and at -even eould thro\\ ln.vs of fifteen at wre-tlinur. He l'eeei\ed hi- edlieati"ll ill the <'hil|e-e elas-ies tVolll tile j.l'ie-1- ill 'hi- t'-mple, and e.\eivi-ed him-i:lf in all manlv and warlike a: 1 ;-. In THE WAR OF THE CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 191 his twelfth year ho out off the head of an enemy, and at fifteen stud- ied the Chinese military art, and made it the solemn purpose of his life to overthrow the Kamaknra usurpation, and restore the mikado to power. In 1830, he took up arms for Go-Daigo. .lie was several times besieged 1>\- the IIojo armies, but was final! v victorious with Nitta and Ashikaga. "\Vhen the latter beeame a rebel, defeated Nitta, and entered Kioto in force, Kusunoki joined Nitta, and thrice drove out the troops of Ashikaga from the capital. The latter then tied to the West, and Kusunoki advised the imperialist generals to follow them up and annihilate the rebellion. His superiors, with criminal levity, neglecting to do this, the rebels collected together, and again advanced, with increased strength by land and water, against Kioto, having, it is said, two hundred thousand men. Kusunoki' s plan of operations was rejected, and his advice ignored. \\ ith Xitta he was compelled to bear the brunt of battle against overwhelming forces at Minato o-awa, near Iliou'o, and was there hopelessly defeated. Kusu- noki, now feeling that he had done all that was possible to a subordi- nate, and that life was no longer honorable, retired to a farmer's house at the village of Sakurai, and there, o'iving him the sword bestowed en himself by the mikado, admonished his son Masatsura to follow the soldier's calling, cherish his father's memory, and avenge his fa- ther's death. Sixteen of his relatives, with uiujuailing courage, like- wise followed their master in death. Of all the characters in Japanese history, that of Kusunoki Masa- -hiuv stands pre-eminent for pnreness of patriotism, unselfishness of devotion to duty, and calmness of courage. The people speak of him in tones of reverential tenderness, and, with an admiration that lacks nttin -on Masatsura lived to become a gallant soldier. * I make no attempt to conceal my own admiration of a man who acted ac- cording to his liirht, ami faced his soldierly ideal of honor, when conscience and all his previous education told him that his hour had come, and that to Hindi from the suicidal thrn>t was diMionor and sin. No enlightened .Japane-. of to- day would show himself brave by committing hnr/ti/tc and fret, tiifhl :, a i.atioiial scale. Before peace was tinallv declared, all the oriiruia! leader- had ilicd, and tin- prime object had been, in a e/reat inra-ni'i', forgot tt'ii in the lu>t for land and war. Even tin.- rival em- peror- lost much of their interest, as they had no concern in brawl- !'\ u hi<'h jifttv rhii'ftains sought to exalt their o\vn naiiu', and increase their territory by robbing their neighbors. In l:i',ii', an envoy from A-hika^a persuaded (Jo-Kaino\ aina to conic to Kioto and hand over the iv-'nlia to Go-Komatsu, the Northern einjieror. The l>a>is of praee was that < io-Kanu''\ ania should reeeive the title of ]>ai Jo Teiiho (ex-eiiiperor), (io-Koinatsu he declared emperor, and tin throne he occupied alternately l>y the rival 1-ranchi's of the imperial familv. The Cfreinony <>f abdication and surrender of regalia, on the one hand, and of investiture, on the other, were celebrated \\ith due pomp and ^'Irmnity in one of the threat temples in the capital, and tlie war of fifty ix years' duration cea>cd. All this redounded ti- the ii'lury and power of the A-hikaira. The p.-riod 1 MMfi-1 :{'.*:_' j< ,,f ^rc;i\ interest in the eyes of all native student- of Japanc-e hi-toi'y. In the !)', A'-V/o// Shi, the Southern d\na~'\ are defended a- the legitimate so\ erei^ns, and the true de- seeiidants of Ten Sho I >ai .lin. the >un -ir-'ddess ; and the Northern dvna*ty are condeintied a> mere u-urper>. '1 he >ame \se\\ \\.-i-- taken by Kitabatake ' 'hikafu-a. who wa- the author of the .Iapane-e |{ed- book. uho \\arned the emperor (Jo-hai-^o a-'ain-t A-hika^a. and in l:i:;'.i \\'-ote a I k to prove that Uo-hai^o \\ ;i> mikado, and the A-hikaja"- n miiiee a usurper. Thi- i- tin- view now held in modern Japan, and onl\ thu.r historians of the period wh-> a\\ard le^-itimacv to tin Southern d\na-l\ are eon-iih-red authoritative. The Northern l-raifh of the in;p' rial famil\ aftei 1 a few generations became extinct.* tl'inki ' ' Fi;l\ii/:i\\ .1. tin- lr;ini>';l i-rfiinin-r M!!-! ]"'i!;i- L r '>^Hi'. ;i!i'l a rlia-t' , ' > i -.: r. .11 mil' nf hi- \\nrk- cni,,!. nin- tin- net n; Ku~Ulli'ki. ' ' : . . i .Never, 11- larkii!^ ihr cli-iiii-iit "1 ;!;,. r'liui-.iire. an r _ ' ' -\ vi.'\\. lie explain- aii'l tlt-teiid.- the Ciiri-tiali iili'Ur- "i, tin . Hi- | k ClVatril -Teat rXeil i-inellt aii'l int'-iiM 1 iniliiriial ' ' ' -aiimrai at lir-l ; l>ut nn\v he cai-- r;-'- \\ith him th- . ,'iiiii; inind- in .Tajmn, c-peciallv el' tin- THE ASHIKAGA PERIOD. 193 THE ASUIKA<:A PERIOD. THE internal history of Japan during the period of time covered by the actual or nominal rule of the thirteen shd^uns of the Ashikagn family, from 13:30 until 1573, except that portion after the year 154-!, is not very attractive to a foreign reader. It is a confused picture uf intestine war. Ashikaga Takauji, the founder of the line, was a descendant of the Minamoto Yoshikuni, who had settled at Asliikaga, a village in Shi- motsnke, in the eleventh century. He died in 1350. His grandson Vosliimitsu, called the Great Asliikaga, was made shogun when ten year:- old, and became a famous warrior in the South and West. Aft- er the union of the two dynasties, lie built a luxurious palace at Kio- to, and was made Dai Jo Dai Jin. He enjoyed his honors for one year. He then retired from the world to become a shaven monk in a Buddhist monastery. I'nder the Ilojo, the office of sliogun was filled bv appointment of the imperial court ; but under the Asliikaga the office became heredi- tarv in this familv. As usual, the man with the title was, in nearly everv case, but a mere figure-head, wielding little more personal power than that of the painted and u'ilded simulacrum of the admiral that formerly adorned the prow of our old seventy-four-gun ships. During thi- period the term Kubo sama, applied to the shf>u;uns, and u>ed so frequently \>\~ the Jesuit fathers, came into use. The actual \\ork <>' government was done bv a!>le men of inferior rank. The most noted of these was Ilosokawu Yorivuki, who was a fine scholar as well as a \\arrior. It was through his ordering that the yoiinir sho^-ini ^ o.-hi- mitsu was well trained, and had for his companions noble ymith- \\h<> excelled in literary and military skill. This was vastly different from Hojo Tokimasa's treatment of the sons of Yoritoino. ]Ie attempted the reform of manners and administration. lie issued five mottoes for the conduct of the military and civil officers. They were: 1. Thou shalt not be partial in amity or enmity. !. Thou ,-hal! return neither ;:a: a tai (or "i^ivat") slni^iin filling at tlir former, an 1 a -hou'im at tin' latter place. An <>tli// ua< ihr nai rulf land-: t!ie ri-e of LiTeat elan-: the Imi'diiii;-, the -i, -' . and the di->t ruction of castles, \vciv the -taple events. M\er\ !ip'!ia-ter\ v.a- im\v a sti'iiij;lii>lil, an arsi-nal, m- a cainji. The i-~ne i>f a e. link-it up a cainjiaiii'li \\a-~ nt'teii decided l>\ the HijijHUl uhieh the i'"!i/e- Ll'a\e t" "lie id 1 the ullier pal'tN. Tile |||"-t ll'Tl-'lMe c\- ccssi's were d Hiiliiit t cd, the e'i'"iind al'i'iit Kioto and Ixamakui'a. in>th of \\hi.-h \vcre captured and recapturnl many time-, liccanii' like tin r/lifillit'l (}>] 1-] lit-) of 1 he e \eeiltion--ToUnd. \"i!laLl'e-. eitje-.. tell) pie-. inona-ii-rie-, and liKrarics were I'linn-d. The fertile tie|(U lay w.-i-te, l)lack''iied 1>\- tire, or covered from -i--)it a- \\ith a dutli. \<\ deii^e lllieke'- of la'! \Veeils. wllidl, CVl'll !!| iillr >II1II Illcr's tillle. -prill if U i t h a-toni-tiini; 1 t'ee;]inlit\ I'i'om the pletliorie >i>il of Japan. The peopl- dri\'-n from their Immcs \,\ \\ar rctiinn-il to tind a neu \\ildenie-. rc- siiiiiid ' ii the din of ili'Vuuriii^ in>eei>. The people of gentle ountain cave-. Ivlucatioti was neglected. T!:e com- mon !r rd -T' \'. up in i^iinrancc and miscrv. lleadin:: 1 and v. ritini;'. C\eept .| lL f [he prie-t- al.d rpil'li-s. Wel'e Illllilli i\VII all- uhieh tile \\anior-- -ctinieil. \\ ar ua- tii>- ni li\e trade, except that o| the armorer- op -\\-ord-maker-. ('aiuiiie t'olloui-l on the fout-tep- ot IHT ten- of i h, ,11 -air. I-. 1 'irate- ,,n the -a- ravaged ii"( ..i'- (lie i-oa-t.- of Jap;,':, l.nt tho-e of ( 'liina and < 'ofea. adding pillan'i and rapine to the de-triicti>iTi <>f eomm, r. . . 'i'ii' ' i Nil j|'o ,-\,-!i ji-iu aiv heard to fri^'liteji their cliildf' ' ' ' nanii of 1 he ,Iapatie-e pirate-. < 'n laii 1 tli' 1 pi mpr --' d in miiitan -en iei to luiild ca-tlc- i .r ii,- THE AMHKAGA PERIOD. 195 Iv frequent during this period. The public morals became frightfully corrupted, religion debased. All kinds of strange and uncouth doc- trines came into vogue. Prostitution was never more rampant. It was the (Jolden Age of crime and anarchy. The condition of the emperors was deplorable. With no revenues, and dwelling in a capital alternately in the possession of one or the other hostile army; in frequent danger from thieves, fire, or starva- tion; exposed to the weather or the dangers of war, the narrative of their sufferings excites pitv in the mind of even a foreign reader, and from the native draws the tribute of tears. One was so poor that he depended upon the bounty of a noble for his food and clothing; an- other died in such poverty that his body lay unburied for several davs, for lack of money to have him interred. The remembrance of the wrongs and sufferings of these poor emperors fired the hearts and nerved the arms of the men who in ISlis fought to sweep awav for- ever the hated system by which such treatment of their sovereign be- came possible. So utterly demoralized is the national, political, and social life of thi> period believed to have been, that the Japanese people make it the limbo of all vanities. Dramatists and romancers use it as the convenient ground whereon to locate every novel or plav, the plot of \\liich violates all present probability. The chosen time of the bulk of Japanese dramas and novels written during the last century or two is that of the late Ashika^as. The satirist or writer aiming at contem- porary folly, or at blunders and oppression of the Government, vet v, i-hing to avoid punishment and elude the censor, clothes his charac- ters in the u'arb and manners of this period. It is the potter's field where all the outcasts and Judases of morali>ts are buried. l>y com- mon consent, it has become the limbo of playwright and romancer, and the >cape-o;oat of chronology. The act by which, more than any other, the Ashikagas have earned the curses of posterity was the sending of an embassy to China in 141)1, bearing presents acknowledging, in a measure, the authority of China, and accepting in return the title of Nippon ( ), or Kinv.' of .la- pan. This, which was done by Ashika^a Voshimitsn, the third of the line, \\ as an insult to the national dignity for \\hich he has never been forgiven. It was a needless humiliation of Japan to her arro- gant neiu'hbor, and done only to exalt the vanitv and u'iorv of the usurper Ashikaga, who, not content with adopting the style and equi- page of the mikado, wished to be made or called a kiin:\ and vet dared TV/A' MIK.\ 1> S EMl'IRK. imperial throne.* The |iuni-hinent of A>hikaira i- the .ur-e of po-teril\. In !-->". when the treat v \\ith the I'nited State- u.i- made, a -imilar in-ult t" the -oven-i^n and the nation, as well as ., eonti deeejitioli of the Ameriean en\"\- and foivinfiiers. was practiced i'V the -ho^un eallin^ !iiin-elf "Tvcoon" ((Jtvat Kini:'. or s.,-, : , .;_.!! ,,f Japan). In thi- latter in-tance. a- we know, came not thi di-tanl anathema of future generation-, hut the s\\ ift \eii^eatiee of %vai'. tin' iiermaiient Iiiiiuiliatii ni, the cxik- to oliscurity, of the T"kiii;'a\\ a family, and the aholit ion of the -lio-'unate and the dual sy-tem forever. It ua- diiriiiLT the tir-t of the last three decade.- of the A-hika^a [tcriii'l that Japan hecame kiiosvn t" the nation- of Kin-opr; \\hil" iii' arm-. L^unpouder. and a new and miu'htx faith \vere made kn"\\n to the ,la|>aiie-e nation. i. Takaaji !:;:;:> 1357 .'. Yi>:-hiii"ri i:ir.- Kd'.T :;. Yi>li!iiitsii r.',''.- i:;;i:i 4. ^ '-'. : :n rlli lli'.M 1 1^ : \ - ;:ul/.ii 1 4i':; i--jr> '' ^ -hi II--'- Min 7. > -! kal.-il 11-11 111- -. > - 1 II.' 1471 '.i. V-hiliiMi .......... 1 IT'.' 1 I-.' in. Y,i-!iii;ui'- ......... 1 i'." 1 i-l'.':: i 1. Yo-'ni/.Hini ......... 1 1'.'J l.'ii'T 1'J. Yn-hit:in ,-;ilii(- ;l- Ilir lllth) ........ l.V^ l.V-"' i::. Yo>liih:irii .......... l.VJl -l.vj.'i it. Yo.-hiti'ru ......... i.'.jr, i.M-,7 15. Yoshiaki ........ ir.f,^ ]:>'.:: Til'- term Kiilin MUMU, MI "Hen n-i'd !,\ the -Ir-uit and Dutrh writer-, " a- in>t 1 nt" tli- -lii'i^un, I'lil \\it.~ Lipjilii'd tn liim >'V tin ciiiiiini'ii |n'ip|ile, lii-! ' I. it ivf't-nvil I" tlir iniKadu, nr. ratluT, thr iiiikadu ' _:-': i_ n ; I. 1 ,: ''.-. \\ M- n tin )" n'.-le ^.iu ii, tin K:iii i!... ;iinl it- lua-V !' -i ' tl.i- ill!'," n.il -]M-.lk nl' till' -'I'^ll!: ,l> till Kill'". ^ illl. _ nl "lln _' i\ ' rnin^ i" i\\ IT." Hi t In IP '<', ina'i ' ' riulit '. t riding t" tin cmift in :i rinr tlii- ini]"-l'ial : ^r,- -, . am' i 'llii-i-. I"'- 1 :.,' lid di-i'la\ . I h..n '! "I'; riir.Ii-.-ll Hie lllikad" a- llr' ! ' kinir*.' l.;i!' r ' . ir mi 1' . - i . ,,' _ "i thr viirimi- till' - and 1 rl\- tlii- K ,!>,,,,,. l.ird. attarlinl !- : . ' ' \ ' . .:, \..; D : .lin, i- al-i. ,-.il|.-,l " rmpi i-ii [I at ls'iiiiMki:r:i and !'!'- al tlir iiiikad"'.- i I] : llir :-li"_ninatc. Ill la! ' ' ' ' lii'!"!l illtu tin- i'ar. ].'-- and ' r- T ! ' i i 1 i 1 1 1 i " - 1 1 1. ii ! 1 1 ' ' ' ill iT- ' 'f ' !:' iln] : i- 1 ;iid all rank- ' '! :lii- IVi 'in lli'. 1 k"ku-hi. "i dukrs, d'A\ n t" Ilif LIFE IN THE MIDDLE AGE& XX L LIFE L\ TIJI-: MIDDLE AGES. HISTORY, as usually written, gives the, impression tliiit. tin: normal condition of mankind is that of war. Japanese students who take up the history of England to read, lay it down convinced that the En- glish people are a blood-loving race that are perpetual!}' fighting. They contrast their own peaceful country with the countries of Eu- rope, to the detriment of the latter. They turn most gladly from the monotonous storv of battle, murder, and sieges, to Buckle, liuizot, or Lecky, that thev may learn of the victories no less renowned than those of war \\hidi mark a> mile-stones the progress of the race. I li'reatlv fear that from lack of literarv skill mv readers will sav that mv storv df Japan thus far is a story of bloody war; but such, in- deed, it, is as told in their own histories. Permanent, universal peace was unknown in Japan until, by the genius of Iveyasu in the six- teenth centurv, two centuries and a half of this blessing were secured. Nevertheless, in the eight centuries included between the eighth and the sixteenth of our era were many, and often lengthened, intervals of peace. In many sequestered places the sandal of the warrior and the hoof of the war-horse never printed the soil. I'eace in the palace, in the city, in the village, allowed the development of manners, art-, manufactures, and agriculture. In this period were developed the characteristic u-rowths of the Japanese intellect, imagination, social ecoiioinv, and manual skill that have made the hermit nation uni^m in the earth and Japanese art productions the wonder of the world. In this chapter, 1 shall simply glance at some of the salient features of life in Japan during the Middle Ages. The introduction of continental or Chinese civilization into Japan was not a simple act of adoption. It was rather a work of -election and assimilation. A- in this nineteenth centurv, the Japane-e is no blind cop\i>t, he improves on what he borrows. Although the travel- er from China entering Japan can see in a moment whence the Japa- nese have borrowed their civilization, and though In mav believe the I.,N 7V/.V MIKADO'S ElirUlE. .Iapalie-' ' ; III inferior ! V pe t-> that of the Chinese, lie \vill ae- kn >s\ led/. it ;! .iapane-e hase improved upon their horrossed ele- ment- Fii! ;i- niiii'Ii a- tin- 1'ivneh have imp|-o\ed ujmii those of K-'Mi.v ' 'ii. Manv retleetiiur foreigner- in Japan have asked - -: 'ii \\\\\ tin- .Iapane-e an- >o unlike the ( 'hinese, and why : it ire. laws, eii-toms, d iv--, work in an -hip, all hear a -tamp iiisrlve>, tliMii'j.'h thev iveehed so inii'-h from them.' I'iif iva-oii i- to lie found in thr -tn:i<_;';h and prr^i.-tciicc of the primal .lapaii'^r tvpe of i-harai't'-r, as intlueiu'ed l>v nature, ena!'linu r i; to re-i^t >erioii^ alteration and radical change. The ^reate-t eoii- tiou \va> that of lluddliisiu. uhieh lieeame uithin ten centui'ie- the !Mii\rr-al!\ [lopular religion. ^ ct even its eonijue>ts \\crr imt partial. i - - tl'ilimph ua^ -ecured .mlv }<\ it- adulteration. -lajiaiie-e Uuddhi-m i- a di-tinet pi-'"l'iet aiiion^- the manv forms of that A-^ia'ie i't ii^ion. l'>;id'l!l!-!ll MMMll'eil life atld J.'1'o \\tll oil .|.'ij)al|e-e -.o']] olilv \,\ deilm' .lapaiii/ed. l'\ lii-inu' grafted on the original >t-.ek of idea- in the Japa- iie-i- mind. Tim-, in order to populari/c the Indian religion, the aii- ! rne< and the h.eal ^od- \\ere all ineluded \\ithin the : 'ilitheoii, aii'! deelared to !,! the ineariiatioii- of Hu.idha in hi- \ai in-. A i la-- '! deities i \i-t in Japan \\ h are \\..r-hip- 1 ' , !dhi-t- und'-r the -'ein-ral name of , t i>/i />. 'I'he\ are all heroe-, warriors, or famou< men. l-'urtherniore, manv 1 rite- and eereinonie-, of Shinto wen; altered and made u-e : \ ' '-. ll mav \- d"iii'ted uheiher ruddhi-m i-oiild liavc Japan, had it ii"! lieeoine t h^roii^hlv .lapalii/.ed. S '1 '. "f ' ' : Uts of file -ll''>'e-- of tile He\\ religion ua- the : |i -, pan ida-. id<'!-. ua\-ide -hrine-. moiia-terie-. and n of the praetii'i oj en mat i' 'ii. until then un- kiiossn ; It eeatioii of the -laiiLrhter of animal- for fooil. 'I'he !ar_;'e-i ;;!.d r; 'he-t of tin eee]e-ia-tieal si ru 'tu re- \\ en in or n. ar I\ir.to. Tie- prii -'- ;;'' d a- teaeher-. ad\'i.-er-, coiin-''l"r-, and x-rilies, i>e-ide- "Ilii'iati! ,' ir-. -iiri\ini; the -ie|<. and attending the -epulture tl - .1. , I. Am ' . ' nlT ind ; i 'j;-''\\ and miJtiplied were man\ -iin;!ar to t n ; nt-, -ellers of indiil^eiMH'-, of Hi' 'iintain pa: h-. 'I'he v .:..-' ; '. ' . i ; ed, atili'-t'-d. and per-e- 1. ! ', ; . , . :. th< p miiie- ;i nd the di-ati-tied. ;',d iind ins i. 'late -lirlter. TO them LIFE IN THE MIDDLE AGES. 190 the warrior after war, the prince and the minister leaving the palace, the honor* and pomp of the world, could retire to spend the remnant of their days in prayer, worship, and the oflices of piety. Often the murderer, struck with remorse, or the soldier before his bloody victim, would resolve to turn monk. Xot rarelv did men crossed in love, or the ofL-pring of the concubine displaced by the birth of the legitimate son, or the grief-stricken father, devote himself to the priestly life. In general, however, the ranks of the bonzes were recruited from orphans 01- piously inclined youth, or from overstocked families. To the nun- neries, the fertile soil of bereavement, remorse, unrequited love, wid- owhood furnished the greater number of sincere and devout nuns. In manv eases the deliberate choice of wealthy ladies, or the necessity of escaping an uncongenial marriage planned bv relatives, undesirable attentions, or the lusts of rude men in unsettled times, gave many an inmate to the convents. In general, however, natural indolence, a desire to avoid the round of dnid^erv at the well, the hoe, or in the kitchen, or as nurse, sent the majority of applicants to knock at the convent doors. Occasion- ally a noble lady was won to recluse life from the very apartment* of the emperor, or his ministers, by the eloquence of a bonze who vas nmre zealous than loyal. In a few of the convents, only ladies of wealth could enter. The monk and nun. in Japanese as in Eu- ropean history, romance, and drama, and art, are staple characters. The rules of these monastic institutions forbade the eating of fish or l!e.-li. the drinking of sake, the wearing of the hair or of fine clothe-, indulgence in certain sensuous pleasures, or the reading of certain hook-. Fastinu's, vigils, reflection, continual prayer by book, bell, candle, and beads, were enjoined. I'ious pilgrimages were undertaken. The cn-ction of a shrine, imaue, belfry, or lantern by bei^in^ contri- bution- was a frequent and meritorious enterprise. There stand to- day thousands of these monuments of the piety, zeal, and indu-trv of the medieval monks and nuns. Those at Nara and Kamakura are the most famous. The Kamakura Dai Butsii ((Jreat Buddha) has been frequently de>eribed before. It is a mass of copper 4 1 feet hi-'h, and a work of hi^h art. The image at Xara was first erected in the eighth ceiiturv, destroyed during the civil wars, and recast about seven hun- dred years aufo. Its total height is 50-.V feet: its face is ] ti feet long, and Dv, feet wide. The width of its shoulders is -J^V, feet. Nine hundred and sixty-six curls adorn its head, around which i- a halo 7^ feet in diameter, on which are sixteen images, each s feet Ion-;. The jiiO TllK M/KAUo'S EMPIRE. eaMiiiLT of tli' 1 idol ^ s;i 'd 1 " have heen tried seven times liefoiv it was succe--.fullv accomplished, and I'.dOO tons of chnivoul were u-ed in the operation. 'I'he inet.-il, sa'nl to wei'jdi 4.30 tons, is a liron/.e composed ,.f iT"!'! I "ii'ii pound-), inerenry (l'.t.">4 jioiind>), tin (Iti.^'JT pounds), and copper ('.'^t'l.nsd pounds). Manv millions of tons of copper were mined and niched to make these idols. Ivjiiallv renowiieil \\ere the Lrreat temple-hells of Kioto, and of Miidera, and various other monas- teries. Some of these were ten feet lii^h, and Jidornud with sacred Temple-be!l fn>m F\M"tn, \vilh texts from tin- I'.uddlii-t Scripture-;, and ima<_ r ''s of hca\cn!\ !>cin",'s, or liiiddha <>n the ^acj-.-d lotus in Nirvana, in hi^h relief. A- n-ual, the niml'U-. or halo. -i:rroiind< hi- head. Two dra-on-hcad- fornidl the .-iiinmit. and ear. h\ which it was hii!i'_ r to it- hcam \>\ an iron link. The hell wa- struck on a raided round spot, hy a hammer of wood a small tree-trunk >\\unu looselv on two rope-. After impact. the !.e!lman held the hcam mi it- ivlioiin I. until the (piiverinLT mono- t,,ne I.e^aii to die awa\ . Few -oimd- are more >oi.-mn!v -weet than LIFE IN THE MIDDLE AGES. 201 the mellow music of a Japanese temple-bell. On a still night, a eir cumft'iviico of twenty miles was flooded by the melody of the great bell of Zozoji. The people learned to love their temple-bell as a dear friend, as its note changed with the years and moods of life. The casting of a bell was ever the occasion of rejoicing and public festival. When the chief priest of the city announced that one was to be made, the people brought contributions in money, or offerings of bron/e gold, pure tin. or copper vessels. Ladies gave with their own hands the mirrors which had been the envy of lovers, young girls laid their silver hair-pins and bijouterie on the heap. When metal enough and in due proportion had been amassed, crucibles were made, earth- furnaces dug, the molds fashioned, and huge bellows, worked by stand- ing men at each end, like a seesaw, were mounted; and, after due prayers and consultation, the auspicious day was appointed. The place selected was usually on a hill or commanding place. The peo- ple, in their gayest dress, assembled in picnic parties, and with song and dance and feast waited \\hile the workmen, in festal uniform, toiled, and the priests, in canonical robes, watched. The fires were lighted, the bellows oscillated, the blast roared, and the crucibles were brought to the proper heat and the contents to fiery fluidity, the joy of the crowd increasing as each stage in the process was announced. When the molten ilood was finally poured into the mold, the excite- ment of the spectators reached a height of uncontrollable enthusiasm. Another pecuniary harvest was reaped by the priests before the crowds dispersed, by the sale of stamped kerchiefs or paper containing a hob- text, or certifying to the presence of the purchaser at the ceremony, and the blessing of the gods upon him therefor. Such a token be- came an heir-loom ; and the child who ever afterward heard the sol- emn boom of the bell at matin or evening was constrained, by filial as well as holv motives, to obey and reverence its admonitory call. The belfrv was usually a separate building apart from the temple, with elaborate cornices and roof. (See page 17^.) In addition to the offices of religion, many of the priests were use- ful men. and real civili/.ers. They were not all la/v monks or idle bonzes. r>y the Buddhist priests many streams were spanned with bridges, paths and roads made, shade or fruit trees planted, pond> and dit lies for purposes of irrigation dul arts in Japan all owe mu.'h to tin- !>oii/e- v, h.i from ( 'oiva personally intro- duced ; : in} u-cful appliance- or articles of food. Several cdi!>!e veu'- till mauled after the priests who first taught tlieir u-e. i ! sciences a-troiioinv and mathematics, as well as the human- :; : s owe miii'li of their cultivation ami development to clerical -chol- ars. In the mona-teries, the brethren exeivi-ed their varied u'tft- in iiiLT, -tndv, calligraphy, can in--, -culptinv, or on object- of <.-- i-ii -ia-tieal art. The nioiniineiit- liv which the ineinory of many a saintly }-n'/.<- i- -till kept u'l'ecn c.\i>t t-da\ as treasures on the altars, or in the tein- pie or its >liadv precincts, in winded word- or material sub>tanuddhi>t Script are-, a -aci'cd da-- ie. in roll or !>ound vol- iinii-, niiu'ht occupy a holy penman before hi- hru-h and ink t^ne for years. The manuscript text- \\hi<-h 1 ha\e often >ceii in the hall of woiship on -ilkv jiaper hound in damask, in Japanese inona>terie-, could not lie improved in elegance and aceura'-v \>\ the printer's art. I'he transi'ription of a sutra on -ilk. made to adorn the wall of a -hrin-. in manv ca-es p.-i'foi'ined it- mi ion for ceniuric'.-. Vin'tluT monk excelled in improvisation of -a'T'd -1an/a-. another painted the pictures and -croll- |,y \\hich the multitude were tau-'ht 1,\ tin- prie-t. \sith hi- pointer in hand, the m\-teries of theo|o^-\. the >ym!iols of \\or-hip, the terror- of ;lie --rade.l he!!- and purgato- ries and the felicities of \ir\ana. Another of the frateriii' \ . \\ itli iiT haiid. .-"nip. -lied the uonder of hi- lu'ethreii \<\ in- -;JH in carviiiiT. II' eouid. from a \'j; uhieh to-dav had it- hai'k !;. Krin-i forth in tin 1 '' th" -ereiie countenance of liuddha, the ra\i-!iin^ !'eaut\ of Kuanon, tin- < J.-dde-s of M.-r-y, the -couliim" terrors of th.'