1894 NATURAL SCIENCE IN JAPAN. 187 



There is a tendency to underestimate the soHd and original 

 elements of the Japanese character, and to regard the Japanese them- 

 selves as a nation of mimics. It is pointed out that the art, the 

 rehgion, the Hterature and the government of Japan have, at different 

 times, been transplanted from foreign countries ; and there are those 

 who say that these various elements of national life have not greatly 

 improved in the transplantation. At the present day we see the 

 Japanese somewhat too rashly casting aside their ancient traditions 

 and embracing the customs, constitutions and even the clothes of 

 Europe with shamelessly open arms. Science comes with the rest, 

 and we have noted the considerable pitch to which its cultivation is 

 now carried. But, it is asked, will all this endure ? When the 

 foreign teachers have been dismissed and when the Japanese 

 endeavour to teach themselves and to advance by their own efforts^ 

 will they not sink back into a state of semi-barbarism, from which 

 their present veneer of western civilisation will gradually be worn 

 away ? And, what is after all of more importance to Japan, will 

 the nation be able unaided to stand its ground against the plundering 

 hordes of Europe ? These sneering doubts come, it must be 

 admitted, with rather a bad grace from a people so indebted to others 

 as we ourselves are. England of the sixteenth century surely owed 

 to Greek philosophy, Roman sagacity, Hebrew religion and Moorish 

 science as much as ever Japan could place to the credit of China and 

 Corea. But, apart from this very obvious analogy, there is no 

 reason why the foregoing questions should be answered unfavourably 

 to Japan, The Japanese are neither parrots nor monkeys. Compare 

 their decorative art with that of China ! In all qualities, except 

 perhaps that of technique, it is admittedly superior. As for the 

 Japanese and Chinese theatres, any comparison would be simply 

 absurd; the former is as far above the latter as a " Haymarket" 

 comedy is above a mediaeval miracle-play. The fact that there was 

 for two and a half centuries a period of comparative stagnation proves 

 nothing : Europe has had its periods of stagnation too. Now that 

 the incentive has come, there is no reason why we should not behold 

 in Japan a Renaissance with effects as far-reaching as those which 

 were seen in Europe when the re-discovery of the ancient world was 

 followed by the finding of the new. 



Such a conclusion will hardly be assented to by another class of 

 objectors. There are people who find in the Japanese nothing but food 

 for mild amusement, and a subject for the cheaper sorts of witticism. 

 As a rule these are the people who see small merit in anything outside 

 England, and it would be waste of time to discuss their opinions. But 

 when we find a writer so in love with his subject as Sir Edwin Arnold 

 uttering sentiments that differ from those of the minor scribblers only 

 in the delicacy with which they are expressed, we feel obliged to give 

 . these opinions more careful consideration. Sir Edwin says of the 

 Japanese, "They have the nature rather of birds or butterflies than of 



