The Japanese Collections 5 



duarchy from the end of the twelfth century on to 1868. 

 While the emperor dwelt in luxury and seclusion in 

 Kyoto, the powerful generals, who subdued the war- 

 ring tribes in the north and west, gathered unto them- 

 selves all of the military forces. In time, the strongest 

 of them became the shogun, military master of the 

 whole country, establishing his court at first at Kama- 

 kura, and later at Yedo, the city now called Tokyo. 



Centuries of constant warfare evolved a feudal 

 system of elaborate organization, which was presided 

 over by the shogun. Under him were the daimyo, 

 feudal lords who were masters of provinces, each prac- 

 tically a chief over his own small kingdom. The daimyo 

 were supported by armed retainers, known as samurai. 

 These men were the scholar-gentlemen of Japan, privi- 

 leged to wear two swords, forbidden by custom from 

 engaging in business, living within the precincts of the 

 daimyo's castle, and supported by their feudal lord, for 

 whom they were ever ready to fight and to lay down 

 their lives. It is estimated that there were two millions 

 of samurai in 1877. The military men and the nobles 

 of Kyoto together formed the governing class. The 

 producing class, comprised of the farmers, artisans, 

 and merchants, was sharply separated from the gov- 

 erning class, who ruled over them, and who were sup- 

 ported by them. 



Under the Tokugawa shoguns, all daimyo were 

 required to make an annual visit to Yedo, the city 

 chosen in 1590 for the capital of the shogun. This 

 gorgeous procession has been the theme for many 

 painters and makers of color prints. The horse trap- 

 pings and armor, the banners and ornate bows and 

 arrows, as well as the highly decorated swords, com- 

 bined to make an admirable showing of color, as they 

 swept by the kneeling and prostrate commoners. 



[5] 



