12 Perry, An Ethnological Study of Warfare. 



The contrast between the Japanese and the Chinese illus- 

 trates this. The Japanese are warlike, while the Chinese are 

 pacific. The social constitution of the Japanese has already 

 been described. The Chinese have for centuries been governed 

 by successive dynasties ; but these dynasties have never estab- 

 lished themselves, and in the course of time China has become 

 a republic. China has no^ hereditary nobility; all the high 

 offices of the State are reached by competitive examination. 

 The difference in social constitution is accompanied by an en- 

 tirely different attitude towards warfare ; what is an honourable 

 thing in Japan is despised in China. The Chinese look down 

 upon warfare and those who practise it, and their army was 

 formed of Manchu Tartars, who are of a typical warrior race.'^^ 

 Therefore the contrast between the two countries is still further 

 emphasised ; the " children of the sun " have gained complete 

 control in Japan, and have infused a warlike spirit into the 

 nation; in China the "children of the sun" have not formed 

 an aristocracy, and the people have remained peaceful, the 

 fighting being done by the " children of the sun." 



India for centuries was ravaged by wars. Mr. ]\IcDougall 

 says that, " the mass of the people have been subjected for 



long ages to the rule of the dominant castes The bulk 



of the people are deficient in the pugnacious instinct."'*'^ They 

 may never have been warlike, and the pacific nature of the 

 country may be due to the fact that " the warrior caste of 

 Kshattriyas is conspicuous by its absence.""*^ Kings of solar 

 descent still exist in the warlike states, Ne])al and so forth, '^^ 

 and the Rajputs have succeeded to the Kshattriyas as a mili- 

 tary caste. The Todas and other tribes of the Nilgiri Hills 

 are peaceful. The Todas possess weapons, Vk'hich are now only 

 used ceremonially, but there is evidence that they were once 

 used for fighting. The culture of the Todas shows that they 

 have been influenced by the " children of the sun," but the 

 latter have not imposed a hereditary chieftainship or w^arnor 

 caste, so the Todas have once again become peaceful.'^'^ 



An example from Europe will show the effect of the pres- 

 ence of a warrior aristocracy upon a community. After the 

 break-up of the Roman Emj)ire, Northern Italy was overrun by 

 successive waves of barbarians; Lombards, Germans, Goths and 

 Franks. Many of the noble Italian families became extinct, 

 and cities such as Florence, Genoa, Pisa, Venice, freed from 

 the incubus of a class whose sole profession was warfare, grew 

 and prospered. These cities banded themselves together for 

 protection against " the brigandage of the barbarian armies, 

 which invaded their countries and treated them as enemies," 



3Q. Letourneau, " Sociolotry," p. 200; Oldham, "The Sun and the 

 Serpent," London, IQ05, p. 202. 



40. Op. cit.^ 201. 



41. R. Sewcll, ■■ [mp. Gaz. India,"' II., 1Q08, p. 323. 



42. Oldham, op. c'lt., p. mcj. 



43. A\'. H. R. Rivers, '■ The Todas,'" pp. 586, 716. 



