Chapter I
. The Emperor; II. Rights and Duties of Subjects; III. The Imperial Diet; IV. The Ministers of State and Privy Council; V. The Judicature; VI. Finance; VII. Supplementary Rules. The emperor also announced that the imperial diet would be convoked in the twenty-third year of _Meiji_ (1890), and that the constitution would go into effect at the date of its assembling.
[Illustration]
Ito Hirobumi.
It would seem that no great advance can be secured in Japan without the sacrifice of a valuable life. As Ii Kamon-no-kami was murdered in 1860, and as Ōkubo fell by the assassin’s hand at the close of the Satsuma rebellion, so now on the very day when the emperor was to promulgate this liberal constitution, Viscount Mori Arinori fell a victim to the fanatical hatred of one who looked with distrust upon the progress which his country was making. No one could look, or did look, on this progress with more interest than Mori. He had so long and so earnestly advocated a liberal and tolerant policy in the councils of his country, and had been a leader in all that was high and noble, that we cannot regard, except with profound regret, his untimely death.
APPENDIX I. LIST OF EMPERORS.
(The list here printed is the official list issued by the government, and has been revised by Mr. Tateno, the Japanese Minister at Washington.)
Name. Date of Date of Age at Access. Death. Death. 1. Jimmu 660 B.C. 585 B.C. 127 2. Suizei 581 549 84 3. Annei 548 511 57 4. Itoku 510 477 77 5. Kōshō 475 393 114 6. Kōan 392 291 137 7. Kōrei 290 215 128 8. Kōgen 214 158 116 9. Kaikwa 157 98 111 10. Sūjin 97 30 A.D. 119 11. Suinin 29 A.D. 70 141 12. Keikō 71 130 143 13. Seimu 131 190 108 14. Chūai 192 200 52 Jingō (Empress Regent)(341) 201 269 100 15. Ōjin 270 310 110 16. Nintoku 313 399 110 17. Richū 400 405 67 18. Hanzei 406 411 60 19. Inkyō 412 453 80 20. Ankō 454 456 56 21. Yūriyaku 457 479 —— 22. Seinei 480 484 41 23. Kenzō 485 487 —— 24. Ninken 488 498 50 25. Muretsu 499 506 18 26. Keitai 507 531 82 27. Ankan 534 535 70 28. Senkwa 536 539 73 29. Kimmei 540 571 63 30. Bidatsu 572 585 48 31. Yōmei 586 587 69 32. Sujun 588 592 73 33. Suiko (Empress) 593 628 75 34. Jomei 629 641 49 35. Kōkyoku (Empress) 642 —— —— 36. Kōtoku 645 654 59 37. Saimei (re-accession of 655 661 68 Kōkyoku 38. Tenji 668 671 58 39. Kōbun 672 672 25 40. Temmu 673 686 65 41. Jitō (Empress) 690 702 58 42. Mommu 697 707 25 43. Gemmyō (Empress) 708 721 61 44. Genshō (Empress) 715 748 69 45. Shōmu 724 756 56 46. Kōken (Empress) 749 —— —— 47. Junnin 759 765 33 48. Kōken (re-enthroned) 765 770 53 49. Kōnin 770 781 73 50. Kwammu 782 806 70 51. Heijō 806 824 51 52. Saga 810 842 57 53. Ninna 824 840 55 54. Nimmyō 834 850 41 55. Montoku 851 858 32 56. Seiwa 859 880 31 57. Yōzei 877 949 82 58. Kōko 885 887 58 59. Uda 888 931 65 60. Daigo 898 930 46 61. Shujaku 931 952 30 62. Muragami 947 967 42 63. Reizei 968 1011 62 64. Enyū 970 991 33 65. Kwazan 985 1008 41 66. Ichiyō 987 1011 32 67. Sanjō 1012 1017 42 68. Go-Ichijō 1017 1028 29 69. Go-Shujaku 1037 1045 37 70. Go-Reizei 1047 1068 44 71. Go-Sanjō 1069 1073 40 72. Shirakawa 1073 1129 77 73. Horikawa 1087 1107 29 74. Toba 1108 1156 54 75. Shutoku 1124 1164 46 76. Konoye 1142 1155 17 77. Go-Shirakawa 1156 1192 66 78. Nijō 1159 1165 23 79. Rokujō 1166 1176 13 80. Takakura 1169 1181 21 81. Antoku 1181 1185 15 82. Go-Toba 1186 1239 60 83. Tsuchi-mikado 1199 1231 37 84. Juntoku 1211 1242 46 85. Chūkyō 1222 1234 17 86. Go-Horikawa 1221 1234 23 87. Yojō 1232 1242 12 88. Go-Saga 1242 1272 53 89. Go Fukakusa 1246 1304 62 90. Kameyama 1259 1305 57 91. Go-Uda 1274 1324 58 92. Fushimi 1288 1317 53 93. Go-Fushimi 1298 1336 49 94. Go-Nijyō 1301 1308 24 95. Hanazono 1308 1348 52 96. Go-Daigo 1318 1339 52 97. Go-Murakami 1339 1368 41 98. Go-Kameyama 1373 1424 78 99. Go-Komatsu 1382 1433 57 100. Shōkō 1414 1428 28 101. Go-Hanazono 1429 1470 52 102. Go-Tsuchi-mikado 1465 1500 59 103. Go-Kashiwabara 1521 1526 63 104. Go-Nara 1536 1557 62 105. Ōgimachi 1560 1593 77 106. Go-Yojō 1586 1617 47 107. Go-Mizuo 1611 1680 85 108. Myōshō (Empress) 1630 1696 74 109. Go-Kōmyō 1643 1654 22 110. Go-Nishio 1656 1685 49 111. Reigen 1663 1732 79 112. Higashiyama 1687 1709 35 113. Naka-mikado 1710 1737 37 114. Sakuramachi 1720 1750 31 115. Momozono 1747 1762 22 116. Go-Sakuramachi (Empress) 1763 1813 74 117. Go-Momozono 1771 1779 22 118. Kōkaku 1780 1840 70 119. Jinkō 1817 1846 47 120. Kōmei 1847 1867 37 121. Mutsuhito (reigning 1868 emperor)
APPENDIX II. LIST OF YEAR PERIODS.(342)
Name. Japanese Era. Christian Era. Taikwa 1305 645 Hakuchi 1310 650 Saimei 1315 655 Tenji 1322 662 Sujaku 1332 672 Hakuhō 1333 673 Suchō 1346 686 Jitō 1347 687 Momm 1357 697 Daihō 1361 701 Keiun 1364 704 Wadō 1368 708 Reiki 1375 715 Yōrō 1377 717 Jinki 1384 724 Tembiō 1389 729 Tembiō shōhō 1409 749 Tembiō hōji 1417 757 Tembiō jingo 1425 765 Jingo keiun 1427 767 Hōki 1430 770 Tenō 1441 781 Enriaku 1442 782 Daidō 1466 806 Kōnin 1470 810 Tenchō 1484 824 Jōwa 1494 834 Kajō 1508 848 Ninju 1511 851 Saikō 1514 854 Tenan 1517 857 Jōgwan 1519 859 Gwangiō 1537 877 Ninna 1545 885 Kwampei 1549 889 Shōtai 1558 898 Engi 1561 901 Enchō 1583 923 Jōhei 1591 931 Tengiō 1598 938 Tenriaku 1607 947 Tentoku 1617 957 Ōwa 1621 961 Kōhō 1624 964 Anna 1628 968 Tenroku 1630 970 Ten-en 1633 973 Jōgen 1636 976 Tengen 1638 978 Eikwan 1643 983 Kwanna 1645 985 Ei-en 1647 987 Eiso 1649 989 Shōriaku 1650 990 Chōtoku 1655 995 Chōhō 1659 999 Kwankō 1664 1004 Chōwa 1672 1012 Kwannin 1677 1017 Ji-an 1681 1021 Manju 1684 1024 Chōgen 1688 1028 Chōriaku 1697 1037 Chōkiū 1700 1040 Kwantoku 1704 1044 Eijō 1706 1046 Tengi 1713 1053 Kōhei 1718 1058 Jiriaku 1725 1065 Enkiū 1729 1069 Jōhō 1734 1074 Jōriaku 1737 1077 Eihō 1741 1081 Ōtoku 1744 1084 Kwanji 1747 1087 Kahō 1754 1094 Eichō 1756 1096 Jōtoku 1757 1097 Kowa 1759 1099 Chōji 1764 1104 Kajō 1766 1106 Tennin 1768 1108 Tenei 1770 1110 Eikiū 1773 1113 Genei 1778 1118 Hō-an 1780 1120 Tenji 1784 1124 Daiji 1786 1126 Tenjō 1791 1131 Chōjō 1792 1132 Hō-en 1795 1135 Eiji 1801 1141 Kōji 1802 1142 Tenyō 1804 1144 Kiū-an 1805 1145 Nimbiō 1811 1151 Kiūju 1814 1154 Hōgen 1816 1156 Heiji 1819 1159 Eiriaku 1820 1160 Ōhō 1821 1161 Chōkwan 1823 1163 Eiman 1825 1165 Ninan 1826 1166 Ka-ō 1829 1169 Jō-an 1831 1171 Angen 1835 1175 Jishō 1837 1177 Yōwa 1841 1181 Ju-ei 1842 1182 Genriaku 1844 1184 Bunji 1845 1185 Kenkiū 1850 1190 Shōji 1859 1199 Kennin 1861 1201 Genkiū 1864 1204 Kenei 1866 1206 Jōgen 1867 1207 Kenriaku 1871 1211 Kempō 1873 1213 Jōkiū 1879 1219 Jō-ō 1882 1222 Gennin 1884 1224 Karoku 1885 1225 Antei 1887 1227 Kwangi 1889 1229 Jō-ei 1892 1232 Tempuku 1893 1233 Bunriaku 1894 1234 Katei 1895 1235 Riakunin 1898 1238 En-ō 1899 1239 Ninji 1900 1240 Kwangen 1903 1243 Hōji 1907 1247 Kenchō 1909 1249 Kōgen 1916 1256 Shōka 1917 1257 Shōgen 1919 1259 Bunō 1920 1260 Kōchō 1921 1261 Bunei 1924 1264 Kenji 1935 1275 Kōan 1938 1278 Shō-ō 1948 1288 Einin 1953 1293 Shōan 1959 1299 Kengen 1962 1302 Kagen 1963 1303 Tokuji 1966 1306 Enkiō 1968 1308 Ōchō 1971 1311 Shōwa 1972 1312 Bumpō 1977 1317 Gen-ō 1979 1319 Genkō 1981 1321 Shōchū 1984 1324 Kariaku 1986 1326 Gentoku 1989 1329 Shōkiō 1992 1331 Kemmu 1994 1334 Engen 1996 1336 Kōkoku 1999 1339 Shōhei 2006 1346 Kentoku 2030 1370 Bunchū 2032 1372 Tenju 2035 1375 Kōwa 2041 1381 Genchū 2044 1384 Meitoku 2050 1390 Ō-ei 2054 1394 Shōchō 2088 1428 Eikiō 2089 1429 Kakitsu 2101 1441 Bunan 2104 1444 Hōtoku 2109 1449 Kōtoku 2112 1452 Kōshō 2115 1455 Chōroku 2117 1457 Kwanshō 2120 1460 Bunshō 2126 1466 Ōnin 2127 1467 Bummei 2129 1469 Chōkō 2147 1487 Entoku 2149 1489 Mei-ō 2152 1492 Bunki 2161 1501 Eishō 2164 1504 Dai-ei 2181 1521 Kōroku 2188 1528 Tembun 2192 1532 Kōji 2215 1555 Eiroku 2218 1558 Genki 2230 1570 Tenshō 2233 1573 Bunroku 2252 1592 Keichō 2256 1596 Genna 2275 1615 Kwanei 2284 1624 Shōhō 2304 1644 Kei-an 2308 1648 Jō-ō 2312 1652 Meireki 2315 1655 Manji 2318 1658 Kwambun 2321 1661 Empō 2333 1673 Tenna 2341 1681 Jōkiō 2344 1684 Genroku 2348 1688 Hō-ei 2364 1704 Shōtoku 2371 1711 Kiōhō 2376 1716 Gembun 2396 1736 Kwampō 2401 1741 Enkiō 2404 1744 Kwanen 2408 1748 Hōreki 2411 1751 Meiwa 2424 1764 Anei 2432 1772 Temmei 2441 1781 Kwansei 2449 1789 Kiōwa 2461 1801 Bunkwa 2464 1804 Bunsei 2478 1818 Tempō 2490 1830 Kōkwa 2504 1844 Ka-ei 2508 1848 Ansei 2514 1854 Manen 2520 1860 Bunkiū 2521 1861 Genji 2524 1864 Kei-ō 2525 1865 Meiji 2528 1868
APPENDIX III. LIST OF SHŌGUNS.(343)
_I.—The Dynasty of Minamoto. 1186-1219._
1. Minamoto Yoritomo, 1186-1199, died; received his appointment as shōgun in 1192.
NOTE.—In this as in the later cases, the dates will be cited which correspond to the attainment of power and its general recognition, but which do not, in many cases, correspond to the grant of the title, which frequently was much later.
2. Minamoto Yori-iye, 1199-1203, son of the preceding, first deposed by his grandfather, Hōjō Tokimasa, and banished to Izu, there was murdered in 1204.
3. Minamoto Sanetomo, 1203-1219, eleven years old, brother of the preceding, murdered by his nephew Kokio, the son of Yori-iye.
_The Time of the Shadow Shōguns. 1220-1338._
The shōguns of this period, taken partly from the Fujiwara family, partly from the princes of the imperial house, were mostly children, and in every instance the weak agents of the Hōjō family, whose chiefs, as regents (_shiken_), had the power in their hands, although the nominal bearers of the same were likewise principally only children.
4. Fujiwara Yoritsune, 1220-1243, nine years old, dethroned by Hōjō Tsunetoki, died 1256.
5. Fujiwara Yoritsugu, 1244-1251, son of the preceding, seven years old, deposed by H. Tokeyori, died 1256.
6. Munetaka Shino, 1252-1265, eleven, according to others thirteen, years old, deposed by H. Tokimune, died 1274.
7. Koreyasu Shino, 1266-1289, son of the preceding, three years old, deposed by H. Sadatoki, died 1325 (1326?).
8. Hisa-akira Shino, or, as he was called, Kumei Shino, 1289-1307, sixteen years old, deposed by H. Sadatoki, died 1328.
9. Morikuni Shino, 1308-1333, son of the preceding, seven years old, dethroned by Nitsuda Yoshisada, died in the same year.
10. Moriyoshi Shino, 1333-1334, son of the reigning Emperor Go-Daigo, dethroned by Taka-uji, murdered, in 1335, by Minamoto Nao-yoshi.
11. Nari-Yoshi Shino, 1334-1338, dethroned and murdered by Taka-uji.
_II.—The Regents of the Hōjō Family._
Hōjō Tokimasa, died 1215, did not have the title of regent (_shiken_).
Hōjō Yoshitoki, 1205-1224, from 1205 regent (_shiken_), murdered.
Hōjō Yasutoki, 1225-1242, died.
Hōjō Tsunetoki, 1243-1246, grandson of the preceding, retired in favor of his younger brother, Tokiyori, and died thirty-three years old.
Hōjō Tokiyori, 1246-1256, retired in favor of his son, Tokimune, and died 1263, thirty-seven years old.
Hōjō Tokimune, 1257-1284, seven years old, under the guardianship of H. Nagatoki and H. Masamura, died.
Hōjō Sadatoki, 1284-1300, adopted son of the preceding, retired in favor of Morotoki, the grandson of Tokiyori, but continued to exercise a potent influence over the regency, died 1311.
Hōjō Morotoki, 1300-1311, died.
Hōjō Takatoki, 1312-1326, the son of Sadatoki, nine years old, under the guardianship of Hirotoki and Mune-nobu, retired in favor of his younger brother, Yasuye, who likewise soon withdrew.
Until the fall of the Hōjō family Takatoki really conducted the regency, although others held the title. After the taking of Kamakura by Nitta Yoshisada in 1333, he killed himself.
_III.—The Dynasty of Ashikaga. 1334-1573._
12. Ashikaga Taka-uji, 1334-1358, died fifty-three years old.
13. Ashikaga Yoshimori, 1359-1367, retired in favor of his son Yoshimitsu, died 1408, fifty-one years old.
14. Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, 1368-1393, retired in favor of his son, Yoshimochi, at the age of thirty-seven years, died 1409.
15. Ashikaga Yoshimochi, 1394-1422, retired in favor of his son, Yoshikatsu.
16. Ashikaga Yoshikatsu, 1423-1425, died nineteen years old. Ashikaga Yoshimochi, 1425-1428, the fifteenth shōgun, took the power again, and died forty-three years old.
17. Ashikaga Yoshinobu, 1428-1441, murdered by Akamatsu Mitsusuke, forty-eight years old. From 1429 called Yoshinori.
18. Ashikaga Yoshikatsu, 1441-1443, son of the preceding, eight years old, died.
19. Ashikaga Yoshinari, called Yoshimasa, 1443-1473, brother of the preceding, eight years old, retired, and died in 1490.
20. Ashikaga Yoshinao, 1473-1489, died twenty-five years old; from 1488, called Yoshihiro.
21. Ashikaga Yoshimura, 1490-1493, nephew of Yoshimasa, twenty-five years old, taken prisoner and dethroned by Hosokawa Motomoto.
22. Ashikaga Yoshimitsi, 1493-1508, had to flee, died 1511; from 1449 called Yoshitaku, and from 1502 Yoshisumi; Yoshitada, 1508-1521, is Yoshimura, who from the year 1501 bore the name, and since that time was the shōgun of the enemy at war with Yoshisumi, had to flee, was deposed, and died, 1523.
23. Ashikaga Yoshinaru, 1521-1546, son of Yoshisumi, retired in favor of his son, Yoshifushi, died 1550, forty years old.
24. Ashikaga Yoshifushi, 1547-1565, eleven years old, killed himself in his palace, having been confined there by the rebels.
25. Ashikaga Yoshigi-ei or Yoshinaga, 1568 died, important as opposition shōgun.
26. Ashikaga Yoshi-aki, 1568-1573, deposed by Nobunaga, died 1597.
_IV.—The Time of the Usurpation. 1573-1603._
27. Taira-no-Nobunaga, 1573-1582, killed himself, having been forced to do so by Akechi Mitsuhide.
Akechi Mitsuhide, who usurped the title of shōgun, ruled only twelve days, and fell conquered by Hideyoshi 28. Samboshi, 1582-1586, grandson of Nobunaga.
29. Toyotomi Hideyoshi, 1586-1598, was never shōgun, but kwambaku; (on his retirement called Taikō-sama).
30. Hidetsugu, 1591-1595, nephew of the preceding, killed himself, was also kwambaku.
31. Hideyori, 1600-1615, son of Hideyoshi, killed himself, conquered by Ieyasu. According to other accounts, he escaped and fled to Satsuma; was Naifu (Minister of the Interior) from 1603.
_V.—The Dynasty of the Tokugawa. 1603-1868._
32. Ieyasu, 1603-1605, died 1616; 1603 appointed shōgun (posthumous title Gongensama). The shōguns of this dynasty frequently retired, as soon as their successors grew up, but in spite of this fact they continued to lead the regency.
33. Hidetada, 1605-1623, died 1632, son of the preceding.
34. Iemitsu, 1623-1651, died 1652, son of the preceding.
35. Ietsuna, 1651-1680, died, son of the preceding.
36. Tsunayoshi, 1681-1709, son of Iemitsu, killed by his wife.
37. Ienobu, 1709-1712, grandson of Iemitsu, died.
38. Ietsugu (Ietsubo according to Klaproth), 1713-1715, died, son of the preceding.
39. Yoshimune, 1716-1745, retired, died 1751, formerly fifth Prince of Kii.
40. Ieshige, 1745-1760 (according to others 1761 or 1762), son of the preceding, died.
41. Ieharu, 1760-1786, son of the preceding, died.
42. Ienari, 1787-1836, died 1841, son of the preceding.
43. Ieyoshi, 1837-1852, son of the preceding.
44. Iesada, 1853-1857, son of the preceding.
45. Iemochi, 1858-1866, died, formerly thirteenth Prince of Kii.
46. Yoshihisa (Yoshinobu according to Adams, vol. ii. p. 37), 1867-1868, son of the Prince of Mito, Nari-akira, adopted by the Prince of Hitotsubashi, retired at the fall of shōgunate in 1867.
APPENDIX IV. LAWS OF SHŌTOKU TAISHI.(344)
[From _Dai Nihonshi_, vol. xii., folio 28 to 31.]
I.—Harmony shall be esteemed and obedience shall be held in regard. Because dissensions prevail, therefore men are often unfaithful to their prince and disobedient to their fathers. Let adjoining districts be left in peace, thus harmony between superior and inferior shall be cultivated and co-operation in matters of state shall be promoted, and thus the right reason of all things may be reached and the right thing accomplished.
II.—Let bountiful honor be always paid to the three precious elements of Buddhism, that is, to its priests, its ritual, and its founder. It is the highest religion in the universe, and all people in all generations must pay becoming reverence to its doctrines. Do not harshly censure men’s wickedness but teach them faithfully until they yield obedience. Unless men rely upon Buddhism there is no way to convert them from the wrong to the right.
III.—To the commands of the Emperor men must be duly obedient. The prince must be looked upon as the heaven and his subjects as the earth. The earth contains all things and the heaven stretches over it. The four seasons pass orderly along and the spirit of the universe is harmonious. If the earth were to cover the heaven the effect would be distraction. Hence the prince must command and the subject obey; superiors must act and inferiors yield. Men ought therefore to pay due heed to the orders of the Emperor; if not they will bring ruin on themselves.
IV.—Politeness must be the chief rule of conduct for all officers and their colleagues in the court. The first principle governing subjects must be politeness. When superiors are not polite then inferiors will not keep in the right; when inferiors are not polite their conduct degenerates into crime. When both prince and subjects are polite, then social order is never disturbed and the state is kept in a condition of tranquillity.
V.—Covetousness and rapacity must be expelled from the hearts of officers, and they must adjudicate with just discrimination in all suits that come before them. Even in a single day there are thousands of such suits, and in the course of years how great must be the accumulation! If the suit is won through bribery, then the poor man can obtain no justice but only the rich. The poor man will have no sure place of dependence, and subjects will be driven to abandon their duty.
VI.—To punish vice and to encourage virtue is the rule in good ancient law. The virtuous man must therefore be promoted, and the vicious man must be surely punished. The man who is untruthful is a powerful instrument to endanger the state and a keen weapon to destroy the nation. The flatterer loves to tell the faults of the inferior to the superior, and also to disclose the errors of the superior to the inferior. Such men are alike unfaithful to the prince and unfriendly to fellow citizens, and in the end fail not to stir up social disorder.
VII.—The duty of men in the government must be assigned according to their capacity. When intelligent men take service the applause of the people follows, but when bad men are in office calamities ensue. If wise officers are put on duty the matters of state are well managed, and the community is free from danger and prosperity prevails. Therefore in ancient times the wise king never selected the office for the man, but always selected the man to suit the office.
VIII.—Too often officers and their colleagues come early to their offices and retire soon; so that the public work accomplished in a single day is small. It is incumbent on them to devote sufficient time to their tasks; if not, then the work of the government cannot be done.
IX.—Everything must be faithfully done, because fidelity is the origin of justice. The distinction between good and bad, between success and failure, depends on fidelity. When both prince and subjects are faithful then there are no duties which cannot be accomplished, but when both are unfaithful nothing can be done.
X.—Give up all thoughts of indignation and be not angered with others on account of a disagreement of opinion. Each one may have a different point of view and may therefore come to a different conclusion. If the one side be right then the other must be wrong, or the cases may be just reversed. It would be unjust to set down one man as surely wise and another as positively stupid; because men cannot attain perfection in their characters. It is impossible to decide either side to be perfectly right or perfectly wrong. While you are angry with another who has a different view from you, you cannot be sure lest you be in the wrong. Therefore though you may think yourself in the right, it is safer to follow the opinions of the many.
XI.—Let merit and demerit be carefully considered, and let rewards and punishments be meted out accordingly. In times past this has often failed to be justly done. It is incumbent on all who are entrusted with the direction of public affairs and on all officers of the government to look carefully after the distribution of rewards and punishments.
XII.—Governors of provinces and their deputies must be careful not to impose too heavy duties on their subjects. One state never has more than one prince, and in like manner the subjects cannot have more than one master. The prince is the head of all his dominions and of all his subjects. The officers of government are also the subjects of the prince; and there is no reason why they should dare to lay undue burdens upon others who are subjects of the same prince.
XIII.—Each officer of the government has his appointed duty. Sometimes officers complain of the stagnation of business, which, however, is caused by their own absence from their appointed duties. They must not make a pretence of the performance of their duties, and by their neglect interrupt public affairs.
XIV.—Subjects and officers must not be jealous of each other. If one person is envious of another, the second is sure to be envious of the first. Thus the evils of jealousy never end. If men shall envy each other on account of their talent and wisdom, no single wise man would ever be obtained for government service through a thousand years. What a noble method of governing a state would that be which expelled from its service all wise men!
XV.—To sacrifice private interests for the public good is the duty of the subject. When men are selfish there must be ill-will; when ill-will comes, then with it must come iniquity, which will disturb the public welfare. Ill-will is sure to bring about the breaking of wholesome rules and the violation of the laws of the state. It is for this reason that the harmony between superior and inferior spoken of in the first article is so important.
XVI.—To select a convenient season in which to employ men for public work is the rule of good ancient law. Winter is a time of leisure; but during the season between spring and autumn, in which they are employed on their farms and in feeding silk-worms, it is not expedient to take men from their work, or interfere with them in their efforts to supply food and clothing.
XVII.—Important matters should only be settled after due conference with many men. Trifling matters may be decided without conference, because they are not so material in their effects; but weighty matters, on account of their far-reaching consequences, must be discussed with many councillors. It is thus that the right way shall be found and pursued.
FOOTNOTES
_ 1 The Book of Ser Marco Polo, the Venetian_; translated by Colonel Henry Yule, C.B. Second edition, London, 1875, vol. ii., p. 235.
2 These islands belonged to Russia until 1875, when by a treaty they were ceded to Japan in exchange for the rights of possession which she held in the island of Saghalien.
3 E. M. Satow, _Transactions of the Asiatic Society_, vol. i., p. 30.
4 This word is not a _proper name_ but a descriptive designation, and must be understood in this way when used by Dr. Griffis in his _Mikado’s Empire_ and by Dr. Rein in his two works on Japan. In the successive issues of the _Résumé Statistique_, published by the Statistical Bureau, the term Nippon is used to designate the principal island. This name has the advantage of having been used extensively in foreign books, but its restricted use is contrary to the custom of Japan. After much consideration we have determined to designate the principal island by the term “Main island,” which is the translation of the word _Hondo_.
5 See Satow and Hawes’ _Handbook_, p. 108.
6 See Chamberlain’s _Things Japanese_, second edition, p. 122.
7 One of the most notable of these is that which occurred in 1596 when Hideyoshi was at Fushimi. In 1854 a series of shocks followed by tidal waves occurred on the east coast of the Main island. The town of Shimoda, which had been opened as a port for foreign trade was almost destroyed, and the Russian frigate _Diana_ which was lying there was so injured that she had to be abandoned. In 1855 a severe earthquake occurred at Yedo, which was accompanied by a great fire. About 16,000 dwelling-houses and other buildings are said to have been destroyed, and a large number of lives were lost. _Transactions of Asiatic Society of Japan_, vol. vi., p. 249.
8 Rein’s _Japan_, p. 44. In _Things Japanese_ second edition, p. 122, Japan is credited with no less than fifty-one active volcanoes.
9 The word _gawa_ (river) takes the form _kawa_ when euphony so requires.
10 Dr. Rein was the first clearly to apprehend and state the influence of the northeast monsoon on the climate of Japan. See Rein’s _Japan_, p. 104.
11 Camellia trees are frequently found from twenty to twenty-five feet high.
12 Chamberlain, _Asiatic Society Transactions_, vol. xi., p. 162.
13 These details of the population, area, etc., are taken from the government publication, _Résumé Statistique de l’Empire du Japon_, 1892.
14 In the population of the imperial cities is included that of the suburban districts politically attached to them.
_ 15 Résumé Statistique_ (Government publication), 1892, p. 11.
_ 16 Asiatic Society Transactions_, supplement to vol. x., p. 213.
17 Batchelor, _Asiatic Society Transactions_, vol. x., p. 211.
18 Batchelor, _Asiatic Society Transactions_, vol. x., p. 216.
19 Miss Bird’s _Unbeaten Tracks in Japan_, vol. ii., p. 96.
20 Professor E. S. Morse, _Memoirs of the University of Tokio_, vol. i., part i.
21 Henry von Siebold, _Notes on Japanese Archæology_, p. 14.
22 “But I must tell you one thing still concerning that island (Japan) (and ’tis the same with the other Indian Islands), that if the natives take prisoner an enemy who cannot pay a ransom, he who hath the prisoner summons all his friends and relations, and they put the prisoner to death, and then they cook him and eat him, and they say there is no meat in the world so good!”—_The Book of Ser Marco Polo_, London, 1875, vol. ii., p. 245.
23 Professor Milne, _Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan_, vol. viii., p. 82.
24 Rev. John Batchelor, _Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan_, vol. x., p. 209.
25 Hildreth’s _Japan_, etc., p. 337.
_ 26 Mittheilungen der Deutschen Gesellschaft_, etc., as reviewed in _The Chrisanthemum_, May, 1883.
27 Rein’s _Japan_, p. 383.
28 “We know that for all points of detail and for keeping a correct account of time, tradition is worthless.”—_The History of Rome_, by Rev. Thomas Arnold, D.D., 1864, p. 10.
29 For easy access to this valuable Japanese work we are indebted to the translation by Basil Hall Chamberlain, _Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan_, vol. x., Supplement.
30 See Chamberlain’s translation of _Kojiki_, or _Records of Ancient Matters_, _Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan_, vol. x., Supplement.
31 Satow, “Ancient Japanese Rituals,” _Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan_, vols. vii. and ix.
32 Satow, _Westminster Review_, July, 1878.
33 See Appendix I.
34 Bramsen, _Japanese Chronological Tables_, p. 30.
35 I remember presenting this point to a Japanese scholar in this way, and he answered me that he thought this great age of the Japanese emperors no more wonderful or unreasonable than the ages of the patriarchs in the Bible.
36 “I wished to give these legends at once with the best effect, and at the same time with a perpetual mark, not to be mistaken by the most careless reader,—they are legends and not history.”—_The History of Rome_ by Thomas Arnold, D.D., 1864, Preface, p. vii.
37 For the translation of these names, and for the principal events of these myths, we rely upon Mr. Chamberlain’s translation of the _Kojiki_, and his admirable notes and introduction. _Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan_, vol. x., Supplement.
38 This is supposed to have been one of the small islands off the coast of Awaji in the Inland sea.
39 An island about fifty miles long in the Inland sea.
40 This probably means that the sword was ten breadths of the hand in length.
41 The Japanese name of this most venerated goddess is Amaterasu-ō-mi-kami.
42 There seemed to have been an old superstition about flaying from the tail toward the head.
43 This is one of the ancient names of the Main island of Japan.
44 The name of this prince of which the translation is here given is usually shortened to Ninigi-no-Mikoto.
45 Nakatomi-no-Muraji is also among these, who was the ancestor of the Fujiwara family that from the reign of the Emperor Tenji attained great political distinction.
46 Dr. Rein in 1875 was shown an old sword on the top of this mountain which is claimed to have been carried on this occasion.—Rein’s _Japan_, p. 214, note.
47 This canonical name was given to him in the reign of the Emperor Kwammu, who commanded Mifune-no-Mikoto to select suitable canonical names for all past emperors, and these have since been used.
48 See Milne’s paper on “Pit-Dwellers of Yezo and Kurile Islands,” _Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan_, vol. x., p. 187.
49 A large number of songs are handed down in the traditions of this period. They are in the most ancient form of the language and are not easy to translate. We give as a specimen Jimmu’s song from Chamberlain’s translation of _Kojiki_, _Asiatic Society Transactions_, vol. x., Supplement, p. 142.
Into the great cave of Ōsaka people have entered in abundance and are there. Though people have entered in abundance and are there, the children of the augustly powerful warriors will smite and finish them with their mallet-headed swords, their stone-mallet swords: the children of the augustly powerful warriors, with their mallet-headed swords, their stone-mallet swords, would now do well to smite.
50 For example, the organization of a parliament took place in 1890, which in the Japanese reckoning would be 2550 from Jimmu’s setting up his capital in Yamato.
51 See p. 32.
52 See list of emperors, Appendix I.
53 Satow, _Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan_, vol. ii. p. 113.
54 We follow in these figures the chronology which has been authorized by the government. Appendix I.
55 E. M. Satow, “Ancient Sepulchral Mounds in Kaudzuke,” _Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan_, vol. viii., pp. 11, 330.
56 Chamberlain’s translation of _Kojiki_,—_Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan_, vol. x., Supplement, p. 208.
57 The roads or circuits here spoken of refer to the roads constructed by the government along contiguous provinces and used for the passage of troops and other government purposes. These circuits have continued in use down to the present time.
58 Yamato-hime or Yamato-princess had been appointed high priestess of the temples in Isé, and in that capacity had charge of the imperial regalia which were deposited there. She is a very celebrated person in Japanese legendary story and is said to have lived several hundred years.
See Chamberlain’s translation of _Kojiki_, p. 183, note 7; _Asiatic Society Transactions_, vol. x., Supplement.
59 See p. 45.
60 See Satow’s paper on the use of the fire drill in Japan, _Transactions of Asiatic Society of Japan_, vol. vii., p. 223.
61 It is one of the favorite subjects of Japanese art to represent the Princess Oto-Tachibana sitting upon a pile of mats and the boat with her husband sailing off in the quieted waters.
62 The name by which these savage tribes were designated was Yemishi; the name however is written in Chinese characters which signify Prawn-Barbarians; in allusion to their heavy beards which gave them the appearance of prawns. See p. 22.
63 See Chamberlain’s translation of _Kojiki_,—_Asiatic Society Transactions_, vol. x., Supplement, p. 218.
64 He is chiefly notable to foreigners because he is said to have lived through the reigns of three emperors and to have reached the age of three hundred years.
65 She is not included in the government list of emperors, and is given in Appendix I. as empress-regent.
66 See _Kokushian_, compiled under the Department of Education. _Ad Locum_.
67 See Appendix I.
_ 68 Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan_, vol. x., Supplement.
69 E. M. Satow, _Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan_, vol. ii., p. 135.
70 E. M. Satow, _Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan_, vol. vi., p. 435.
71 Satow, “Ancient Japanese Rituals,” _Asiatic Society Transactions_, vol. vii., p. 423.
72 E. M. Satow, _Asiatic Society Transactions_, vol. vii., p. 109.
73 Ditto, p. 119.
74 Cotton is said to have been brought to Japan from India in the reign of the Emperor Kwammu, A.D. 800. T. B. Poate, _Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan_, vol. iv., p. 146.
_ 75 Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan_, vol. x., Supplement, pp. 39 and 40.
76 Henry von Siebold, _Japanese Archæology_, Yokohama, 1879, p. 16. The diagram in the text is from this work on Archæology, and shows the variety of jewels in use in prehistoric times.
77 For the so called cave dwellings see p. 68.
_ 78 Asiatic Society Transactions_, vol. v., p. 110.
79 See p. 32.
80 In the _Kojiki_ it is said that the king of Kudara sent with Wani the _Confucian Analects_ in ten volumes and the _Thousand Character Essay_ in one volume. It conflicts seriously with the chronology of this period to learn, as both Mr. Satow and Mr. Chamberlain have pointed out, that the _Thousand Character Essay_ was not written until two centuries after the date assigned to the advent of Wani.
81 The _Kojiki’s_ statement is that the elder brother was banished to Iyo.
82 The name, “Island of the Dragon-Fly” had already been given to the Main island by Jimmu Tenno.
83 In these early days a _muro_ or excavation of the earth, roofed with timber, was often used as a residence. See p. 68.
84 In this story the princes are represented as boys, but as they fled on the murder of their father by the Emperor Yūriyaku before his accession, this must have been at least twenty-eight years before; so that they could not have been less than forty years of age.
85 After the triumph of Buddhism a temple called Tennoji was erected near this place in honor of this image, which was miraculously rescued from the sea and is still preserved at this temple.
86 See the laws which he compiled and published as found in the 12th volume of _Dai Nihon Shi_, Appendix IV.
87 This must mean that improved methods of silk culture were introduced, for we have seen that this art was already known to the Japanese.
88 Bramsen’s _Japanese Chronological Tables_, Tokio, 1880, p. 18.
89 The author is indebted to the valuable paper read before the Asiatic Society of Japan by Willis Norton Whitney, M.D., for much of the information concerning medicine in Japan.—_Asiatic Society Transactions_, vol. xii., part iv., p. 329.
90 For an enumeration of these boards and the officers and duties of each, see Walter Dickson’s _Japan_, p. 72.
91 See a note by Mr. Satow in Adams’ _History of Japan_, London, vol. i., p. 24.
_ 92 Asiatic Society Transactions_, vol. iii., part i.
_ 93 Asiatic Society Transactions_, vol. x., Supplement.
94 The _Kojiki_ has been translated into English by Professor B. H. Chamberlain, _Asiatic Society Transactions_, vol. x., Supplement.
95 See Mori Arinori’s introduction to _Education in Japan_, New York, 1873, p. 17.
96 See a paper on “Abdication and Adoption,” by Mr. Shigeno An-Eki, translated by Mr. Walter Dening, in _Asiatic Society Transactions_, vol. xv., p. 72.
97 His predecessor died A.D. 661, and there was an _interregnum_ during which Tenji was regent till A.D. 668, when he was made emperor.
98 See p. 47, note.
99 Quoted in Henry von Siebold’s _Japanese Archæology_, Yokohama 1879, p. 8.
100 See p. 58.
101 Satow and Hawes’ _Handbook of Japan_, London, 1884.
102 For ten years preceding 794 the capital was a wanderer.
103 See the _Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan_, vol. viii., p. 88. The inscription is in part as follows:
Castle of Taga, Distant from the capital, Ri 1500 Distant from the frontier of Yezo, Ri 120 Distant from Hitachi, Ri 412 Distant from Shimotsuke, Ri 274 Distant from Makkatsu, Ri 3000.
_ 104 Education in Japan_, New York, 1873, p. 17.
105 See p. 47.
106 These instances are taken from the paper on abdication and adoption, by Shigeno An-eki, as translated by Mr. Walter Dening, _Asiatic Society Transactions_, vol. xv., p. 74.
107 See Chamberlain’s _Things Japanese_, under the article on abdication. Yokohama, 1892.
108 See p. 66 _et seq._
109 At the time that Dickson collected his statistics of the families of the court, two of the Sugawara family were teachers of the young emperor. Six families of _kuges_ count their descent from the Sugawara. Dickson’s _Japan_, London, 1869, p. 59.
110 See chapter on “Education in the Early Ages,” by Otsuki Sinji, in _Japanese Education_, New York, 1876, p. 64.
111 While I write these lines there is hanging before me a _kakemono_ representing Sugawara Michizané, which it has been proposed to hang in every public school under the care of the Department of Education, as an emblem of the true scholarly temperament.
112 See p. 132.
113 See Satow and Hawes’ _Handbook_, p. 383.
114 He was born in A.D. 1146 and therefore was twelve years older than Yoshitsuné.
115 Doves are not eaten by the Minamoto to this day, owing, it is said, to this miraculous interposition in behalf of Yoritomo.
116 About A.D. 1618 Hakoné was created a barrier to separate the eastern from the central provinces. Persons were not allowed to go through this barrier without a passport.
117 In A.D. 1286, more than a century after his death, a monument was erected to Kiyomori in Hyōgo which still exists. Satow and Hawes’ _Handbook_, p. 338.
118 The title of shōgun is said to have been created by the Emperor Sujin, who divided the empire into four military divisions, each commanded by a shōgun or general. When Yoshinaka assumed control in Kyōto at the time of his victory he was appointed _sei-i-shōgun_ (barbarian compelling general). Subsequently Yoritomo secured the supreme military authority and having resigned the civil offices held by him he was appointed by imperial edict _sei-i-tai-shōgun_ or great barbarian compelling general.
See G. Appert’s _Ancien Japon_, vol. iii., p. 84; also Satow’s note to Adams’ _History of Japan_, vol. i., p. 42.
119 Adams, in his _History of Japan_, vol. i., p. 37, gives a quaint quotation from _Nihon-Gwaishi_ as follows: “The crimes of the Heishi against the imperial family were atoned for by their services, and heaven therefore would not cut off their posterity. And this probably was right.”
120 See Satow and Hawes’ _Handbook_, p. 57.
121 There are almost as many legends current concerning Benkei as his master. Their first encounter was upon the Gojō bridge in Kyōto, where Benkei prowled for the purpose of robbing passengers. Yoshitsuné, then only a youth of sixteen years, displayed so much agility and swordsmanship that the veteran robber yielded to him, and ever after followed him as his faithful body servant. The _Japanese Fairy World_, by W. E. Griffis, contains the legend of Benkei stealing a huge bell five feet high from the monastery at Miidera, and carrying it on his shoulders to Hiyēsan (see p. 93). When Yoshitsuné was compelled to flee from the vengeance of his brother, he came with Benkei, both disguised as begging priests, to a guarded barrier. The custodians refused them passage, but Benkei, who was cunning as well as strong, pulled out from his bosom a roll of blank paper and pretended to read a commission from the abbot of Hōkōji, in Kyōto, authorizing the two travellers to collect funds throughout the country for casting a great bell for their temple. The custodians were deeply impressed with this holy message and allowed the travellers to pass without further question.
122 There are many legends, existing among the Ainos, of Yoshitsuné having lived among them and taught them improved arts of hunting and fishing. There is a wooden image of him at the village of Upper Piratori, which is saluted (not worshipped) in token of honor to his memory. Rev. John Batchelor, who has lived as a missionary among the Ainos many years, is of the opinion that this reverence is largely due to a desire on the part of the Ainos to conciliate their Japanese masters. It has seemed not unreasonable to suppose that the traditions concerning Yoshitsuné among the Ainos have been carried from the Main island by the retreating tribes, and that Yoshitsuné never lived with them in Yezo, but was only familiar with them in the wild regions of Mutsu and Dewa.
See paper by Rev. J. Batchelor, _Asiatic Society Transactions_, vol. xvi., part 1, p. 20.
123 Ōye-no-Hiromoto was a powerful adherent of Yoritomo, and was a member of his administrative council. He was the ancestor of the Mōri family, who afterward became famous as the daimyōs of Chōshū.
124 We owe to Kaempfer, perhaps, the erroneous notion which has been repeated by subsequent writers that there was both an ecclesiastical and a temporal emperor. This was never true. There has been only one emperor, who, in the Japanese theory, was the direct descendant of divine ancestors and who has always been the supreme authority. From the time of Yoritomo, however, the administration was in the hand of an hereditary shōgun who always received the commission of the emperor for the performance of his duties. See Kaempfer’s _Histoire de l’Empire du Japon_, vol. i., p. 182.
125 The Japanese term is _Shikken_, which is usually translated _regent_.
126 A travelling palanquin.
127 See _Travels of Marco Polo_, second edition, London, 1875, vol. ii., p. 240.
128 In the year A.D. 1890 two pictures were brought to light which represent the events of this memorable battle. They are believed to have been painted about A.D. 1294 by Naganori and Nagatoki, painters of the Tosa school. They have been in the family of one of the captains in the Japanese army of that day, and while the figures of the men and horses are not well drawn the pictures in other respects have great historical value. Alongside of the scenes represented, legends are written in explanation. It is said that these valuable historical pictures are likely to come into the Household Department and thus be more carefully preserved than they are likely to be in a private house.—_Japan Weekly Mail_, 1890, p. 581.
129 For a description of this locality, which is justly famed in Japanese annals, see Satow and Hawes’ _Handbook_, p. 56.
130 See Chamberlain’s _Handbook_, 1891, p. 337.
131 Quite an animated and interesting controversy took place a few years ago with reference to this suicide of Kusunoki. Popular opinion strongly justifies the act and rewards with its highest approval the memory of the patriot. But Mr. Fukuzawa, one of the most radical of the public men of to-day and an active and trenchant writer, condemned the act as indefensible and cowardly.
132 Mr. Griffis says that when he resided in Fukui in A.D. 1871—more than five hundred years after the event,—he saw the grave of the heroic Nitta almost daily strewed with flowers.—_The Mikado’s Empire_, 1876, p. 190.
133 Satow and Hawes’ _Handbook_, p. 356.
134 It is an evidence of the feeling which still exists towards the Ashikaga shōguns that in 1863 these figures were taken from the Tō-ji-in and beheaded and the heads pilloried in the dry bed of the Kamogawa, at the spot where it is customary to expose the heads of the worst criminals. Several of the men who were guilty of this outrage were captured and were put into the hands of various daimyōs by whom they were kept as prisoners.—Satow and Hawes’ _Handbook_, p. 357.
135 See the full account of tea ceremonies in Chamberlain’s _Things Japanese_, 1892, p. 404.
136 The official list of emperors will be found in Appendix I. The names of the northern which are not included in this list are as follows:
DATE OF ACCESSION.
Kōmiō, 1996 years from Jimmu, 1336 A.D. Shukō, 2009 years from Jimmu, 1349 A.D. Go-Kōgen, 2012 years from Jimmu, 1352 A.D. Go-Enyū, 2032 years from Jimmu, 1372 A.D. Go-Komatsu, 2043 years from Jimmu, 1383 A.D.
137 See _Asiatic Society Transactions_, vol. xiii., p. 139.
138 It is said that in this disastrous time the poverty of the country was so great that when, in A.D. 1500, Go-Tsuchimikado died at his palace in Kyōto, the corpse was kept for forty days because the means for the usual funeral expenses could not be had. M. von Brandt as quoted in Rein’s _Japan_, p. 261.
139 Mr. W. A. Woolley, in a paper read before the Asiatic Society of Japan, gives an account derived from Japanese sources as follows: “Amongst those who landed on this occasion was one of the _Literati_ of China, who acted as interpreter between the foreigners and the chief of the island Hyōbu-no-jō Tokitada. [Since both the Chinese and Japanese used the same ideographic characters, they could understand each other’s writing but not speech.] In reply to questions the interpreter is represented as having described his friends the foreigners as being ignorant of etiquette and characters, of the use of wine cups and chop sticks, and as being, in fact, little better than the beasts of the field. The chief of the foreigners taught Tokitada the use of firearms, and upon leaving presented him with three guns and ammunition, which were forwarded to Shimazu Yoshihisa, and through him to the shōgun.”—_Asiatic Society Transactions_, vol. ix., p. 128.
140 See _Adventures of Mendez Pinto_, done into English by Henry Cogan, London, 1891, pp. 259 etc.
141 Hildreth’s _Japan_, etc., 1855, p. 27, note.
_ 142 Adventures of Mendez Pinto_, p. 281.
143 This is the name by which Pinto calls this city (see _Adventures of Mendez Pinto_, London, 1891, p. 265); the real name, however, at this time was Fumai, and is now Ōita.
144 The author himself saw in Japan in 1874 the native hunters using an old-fashioned matchlock, in which the powder was fired by a slow burning match, which was brought down to the powder by a trigger. This kind of firearm, which was in use in Europe in the fifteenth century, was taken to Japan by the Portuguese, and continued to be used there until the re-organization of the army introduced the modern form of gun.
145 In the accounts given by the biographers of Xavier, it is said that there were two companions of Anjiro who in the subsequent baptism received the names of John and Anthony.
146 This was the name of the seminary in Goa where Anjiro had been educated.
147 See Coleridge’s _Life and Letters of St. Francis Xavier_, London, 1872, p. 237.
148 Bouhour’s _Life of Xavier_, p. 274.
149 In the _Life of St. Francis Xavier_ by Bartholi and Maffei the following circumstance is given: “It seems that a rat had invaded the sanctuary and gnawed the ornaments of the altar. The sacristan appealed to the saint thus: ‘Father Francis! people say that you passed from this life in the vicinity of China; that you were a saint, that your body still remains entire and incorrupt at Goa. Now here am I your sacristan; and I ask is it consistent with your honor that a rat should have the audacity to gnaw the ornaments of your altar? I demand his death at your hand.’ On opening the door of the sanctuary the next morning the sacristan found the culprit quite dead.”
150 See Woolley, “Historical Notes on Nagasaki”, _Asiatic Society Transactions_, vol. ix., p. 129.
151 For these facts concerning Nobunaga and Hideyoshi, and the condition of the country during their times, the author is largely indebted to the _Life of Toyotomi Hideyoshi_, by Walter Dening, Tokio, 1890.
152 The word _daimyō_ means _great name_, and was used in reference to the ownership of land; _shomyō_ means _small name_, and was at first employed to indicate the small land-owner. But the word never obtained currency, the small land-owner always preferring to call himself a daimyō. See Chamberlain’s _Things Japanese_, p. 84.
153 The element of comedy shows itself from the beginning in Hideyoshi’s character when he adopted the calabash, in which he had carried water, as his symbol of victory. He added a new one for each victory, and at last adopted a bunch of calabashes for his coat-of-arms. Afterwards he had this constructed of gold, which was carried as the emblem of his triumphant career.
154 See Dening’s _Life of Hideyoshi_, p. 207.
155 In Chamberlain’s _Things Japanese_ the estimate is given that at this most prosperous time the number of Japanese professing Christianity was not less than six hundred thousand, p. 297.
156 See the letter which the ambassador from the Prince of Bungo presented on this occasion. Hildredth’s _Japan_, etc., p. 89.
157 In the First Part (1873) of _Mittheilungen der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Natur und Völkerkunde Ostasiens_, p. 15, the times of Nobunaga, Hideyoshi, etc., are termed “die zeit der usurpatoren,” the time of the usurpers. But Nobunaga and Hideyoshi were no more usurpers than the Tokugawas, who succeeded them by force of arms.
158 Mr. Satow with rare literary insight has identified this Kuroda with the Condera Combiendono of the Jesuit fathers. _Asiatic Society Transactions_, vol. vii., p. 151.
159 See Shiga’s _History of Nations_, Tōkyō, 1888, p. 128.
160 Dening’s _Life of Toyotomi Hideyoshi_, p. 274.
161 See Dening’s _Life of Toyotomi Hideyoshi_, p. 278.
162 See p. 189.
163 His original name was Nakamura Hyoshi, the family taking its name from the village where he was born. Then at his induction to manhood A.D. 1553 his name was changed to Tokichi Takayoshi. At another turn in his career he became Kinoshita Tokichi Takayoshi. In the year A.D. 1562 he received permission to use the name Hideyoshi instead of Tokichi, and A.D. 1575 his name was again changed to Hashiba, which the Jesuit fathers wrote Faxiba.
164 See Satow and Hawes’ _Handbook_, p. 341.
165 The facts here related concerning this most interesting episode in the life of Hideyoshi are chiefly taken from a paper furnished by Mr. J. H. Gubbins to the _Asiatic Society Transactions_, vol. viii., p. 92.
166 The Emperor Ōgimachi retired from the throne A.D. 1586, and was succeeded by Go-Yojō, then sixteen years old. It shows of how small account the emperors had become, that this change in the head of the nation is scarcely mentioned in the histories of the time.
167 The spies and guides employed by Hideyoshi were priests of the Shin sect of Buddhists, who after the fall of Kagoshima were discovered and crucified. A decree was also issued that every inhabitant of Satsuma who was connected with this sect must renounce his creed. To this day there exists among the people of Satsuma a general hostility to the Buddhists which can be traced to this trying episode. See _Asiatic Society Transactions_, vol. viii., p. 143.
168 See p. 178.
169 See p. 186.
170 See Dening’s _Life of Toyotomi Hideyoshi_, pp. 148, 344.
171 When Father Valignani came to Japan in A.D. 1577 it is said that he brought as one of his presents a beautiful Arabian horse. It is not improbable that some of the improved breeds, now seen in the southern provinces, owe their origin to these valuable horses sent over as presents.
172 See Chamberlain’s _Things Japanese_, 1892, p. 298, note. According to Charlevoix this indiscreet speech was made by a Spanish captain. See Gubbin’s paper, _Asiatic Society Transactions_, vol. vi., part ii., p. 16.
173 For the text of this edict see Dickson’s _Japan_, p. 172.
174 See Satow and Hawes’ _Handbook_, 2d ed., p. 72.
175 See Dening’s _Life of Toyotomi Hideyoshi_, p. 405.
176 See Adams’ _History of Japan_, vol. i., p. 66.
177 See Dening’s _Life of Toyotomi Hideyoshi_, p. 263.
178 We are indebted to Mr. W. G. Aston for a full and clear account of Hideyoshi’s invasion of Korea, which he had derived not only from Japanese books and documents, but from Korean sources which, until his researches, were inaccessible. See _Asiatic Society Transactions_, vol. vi., p. 227; ix., pp. 87, 213.
179 The peculiarly Eastern form of expression is noticeable in announcing these presents: “You will find enclosed a list of some of the poor productions of our country, which we beg you will refrain from laughing at immoderately.”
180 He became one of the most famous heroes of Japan, and is worshipped under the name of Seishōkō, at a shrine connected with the temple of Hommonji at Ikegami. Satow and Hawes’ _Handbook_, p. 30.
181 See Mr. Satow’s identification of this name. _Asiatic Society Transactions_, vol. vii., p. 151.
182 See Mr. Aston’s paper, _Asiatic Society Transactions_, vol. ix., p. 90.
183 A Japanese scholar could read such a document in the ideographic Chinese characters without translation; but Taikō Sama was not a scholar and therefore was not aware of the purport of the document until it was translated to him.
184 See Mr. Aston’s description of this humiliating scene as given in _Asiatic Society Transactions_, vol. ix., p. 217; also Dening’s _Life of Toyotomi Hideyoshi_, p. 360.
185 See Satow and Hawes’ _Handbook_, p. 369.
186 See Dening’s _Life of Toyotomi Hideyoshi_, p. 380.
187 See Mr. Satow’s paper entitled “The Korean Potters in Satsuma,” _Asiatic Society Transactions_, vol. vi., p. 193; also as referred to in Mr. Satow’s paper, Mr. Ninagawa’s _Notice Historique et Descriptive sur les Arts et Industries Japonais_, part v., Tōkyō, 1877.
188 “In point of fact, however, making Ongoschio (Ieyasu) regent was placing a goat in charge of a kitchen garden.”—_Warenius_, p. 20.
189 See Satow and Hawes’ _Handbook_, p. 368.
190 See the pedigree of Ieyasu as given in _Mittheilungen der Deutschen Gesellschaft_, etc., Heft i., p. 19.
191 See Dening’s _Life of Toyotomi Hideyoshi_, p. 377.
192 This covenant is said to have been signed with blood in accordance with a custom still occasionally prevalent, in which a drop of blood is drawn from the middle finger and sealed by pressing it with the thumb nail. Rein’s _Japan_, p. 297, note.
193 See Dening’s _Life of Toyotomi Hideyoshi_, p. 397.
194 This place receives its name from a barrier that was erected in the ninth century to control the travel towards the capital. Its meaning is, “Plain of the Barrier.” See Chamberlain’s _Handbook_, p. 268.
195 See Dening’s _Life of Toyotomi Hideyoshi_, p. 399.
196 This proverb is quoted as having been used by Hideyoshi when remonstrating with Nobunaga about following up his victory over Imagawa Yoshimoto. See Dening’s _Life of Toyotomi Hideyoshi_, p. 156.
197 Kiyomasa was a bitter enemy of the Christians, owing no doubt to the rivalry and antagonism which had sprung up with Konishi, who was a Christian, in the Korean war. He is termed Toronosqui by the Jesuit fathers from a personal name Toronosuke which he bore in his youth, and he is characterized as “_vir ter execrandus_,” on account of his persecution of the Christians in his province. Perhaps on account of this fierce opposition he was greatly admired by the Buddhists, and is worshipped under the name of Seishōkō by the Nichiren sect at a shrine in the temple of Hommonji at Ikegami. Another monument to his memory is the Castle of Kumamoto, which he built and which still stands as one of the best existing specimens of the feudal castles of Japan. As an evidence of its substantial character, in A.D. 1877, under the command of General Tani, it withstood the siege of the Satsuma rebels and gave the government time to bring troops to crush the rebellion.
198 The plural of this word is here and elsewhere used in its English form, although no such plural is found in Japanese.
_ 199 Ancien Japon_, par G. Appert, Tōkyō, 1888, vol. ii.
200 A full account of the Castle of Yedo will be found in a paper by Mr. J. R. H. McClatchie in the _Asiatic Society Transactions_, vol. vi.,
## part 1, p. 119.
201 See p. 207.
_ 202 Asiatic Society Transactions_, vol. xi., p. 124.
203 See p. 204.
204 See Dickson’s _Japan_, p. 227.
205 His beatification was decreed by the pope in 1609, and his canonization in 1622.
206 Hildreth’s _Japan_, etc., p. 176.
207 The Jesuit historians relate with malicious satisfaction how one of the Spanish friars, in a dispute with one of Adams’ shipwrecked company, to sustain the authority of the church appealed to the miraculous power which its priests still possessed. And when the Hollander challenged an exhibition of such power, the missionary undertook to walk on the surface of the sea. A day was appointed. The Spaniard prepared himself by confession, prayer, and fasting. A great crowd of the Japanese assembled to see the miracle, and the friar, after a confident exhortation to the multitude, stepped, crucifix in hand, into the water. But he was soon floundering over his head, and was only saved from drowning by some boats sent to his assistance.—Hildreth’s _Japan_, etc., p. 140.
208 “This will seem to you less strange, if you consider how the Apostle St. Paul commands us to obey even secular superiors and gentiles as Christ himself, from whom all well-ordered authority is derived: for thus he writes to the Ephesians (vii. 5): ‘be obedient to them that are your temporal lords according to the flesh, with fear and trembling in the simplicity of your heart, as to Christ; not seeming to the eye, as it were pleasing men, but as the servants of Christ doing the will of God from the heart, with a good will seeming as to the Lord and not to men.’ ”
The above is an extract from an Epistle of St. Ignatius, the 26th of March, 1553, which is still regarded as authoritative and is read every month to each of the houses. It was supplied to me by Dr. Carl Meyer and verified by Rev. D. H. Buel, S. J. of St. Francis Xavier’s College, New York City. Dr. Meyer has also pointed out that the Second General Congregation, 1565, severely forbids any Jesuit to act as confessor or theologian to a prince longer than one or two years, and gives the minutest instructions to prevent a priest from interfering in any way with political and secular affairs in such a position.
209 This edict of Ieyasu is given by Mr. Satow in his contributions to the debate on Mr. Gubbins’ _Review of the Introduction of Christianity into China and Japan_. Fifteen rules to guide the Buddhist priests in guaranteeing the orthodoxy of their parishioners are also given.—_Asiatic Society Transactions_, vol. vi., part i., p. 46.
210 See Gubbins’ paper, _Asiatic Society Transactions_, vol. vi., part i., p. 35.
211 See Mr. Satow’s contributions to the debate on Mr. Gubbins’ paper, _Asiatic Society Transactions_, vol. vi., part i., p. 51.
_ 212 Asiatic Society Transactions_, vol. vi., part 1, p. 35.
213 See