5V1II.] 



WEARING THE SWORD IN JAPAN. 



679 



and tempering, must admire the exceedingly tasteful casting 

 and embossing of the ornamentation, especially of the guard- 

 plates of the sword. They are often veritable works of art, 

 unsurpassed in stjde and execution. 



It is not veiy many years ago since the men who belonged to 

 the samurai class never showed themselves abroad without 

 being armed with two swords. Even schoolboys went armed to 

 the first European schools that were established in the country. 

 This gave occasion to several acts of violence during the time 

 which succeeded the opening of the ports, for which reason the 

 European ambassadors some 

 years after requested that 

 carrying the sword in time 

 of peace should be prohib- 

 ited. To this the Jaj)anese 

 government answered that 

 it would make short work 

 with the minister who 

 should publish such a pro- 

 hibition. Soon after, how- 

 ever, it gave permission to 

 those who desired it to go 

 without wea23ons, and the 

 carrying of arms soon be- 

 came so unfashionable that 

 one of the authorities did 

 dare at last to issue a distinct 

 prohibition of it. During 

 our stay in Japan, accord- 

 ingly, we did not see a 

 single man armed with the 

 two swords formerly in use. 



After we had seen and 

 admired the treasures in 

 the temple vestibule, we 

 \dsited the temple itself. 

 This is always of wood, 



richly ornamented with carvings and gilding. If it is dedicated 

 to Shinto, there are no images in it, and very few ornaments, if 

 we except a mirror and a large locked press with the doors 

 smashed in, which sometimes occupies the wall opposite the 

 entrance, and in which, as I have already stated, the spirit of the 

 deity is said to dwell. The Shinto temples are in general j)Oor. 

 Many are so inconsiderable as to look almost like dovecotes. 

 They are often completely deserted, so that it is difficult to 

 discover them among the magnificent trees by which they were 

 surrounded. The entrance to the temple is indicated by a gate 



A SAMURAI. 



