FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS, 1885-1887. 997 



in Japan) is the essence of water. It was born in the Vermilion cave. It roosts not 

 bu upon the most beautiful trees; iteatenot but of seeds of the bamboo; itdrinksno 

 but of the sweetest springs; its body is adorned with the five colors; its song contains 

 the fi notes^As it walks it looks around; as it flies, the hostsof other birds follow 

 it Virtue obedience, justice, fidelity, and benevolence are symbolized in the deco- 

 ration of its head, wings, body, and breast. Its appearance is waited with great 

 i, as the annunciation of some great event or the appearance of some great 



The Ho-wo and the Paulownia Imperialis tree are often blended as imperial 

 emblems on the Mikado robes, curtains, ete. This tree is an emblem of rectitude. 

 Its leaves form the imperial crest. (The Mikado's Empire, p. 481.) 

 No. 101. The Tycoon's sword rack, in gold lacquer. 

 No. 102. The sword of the Tycoon. 



No. 103. A specimen of Japanese carving in wood, representing a fishing junk 

 with crew, dog, and nets. 



In the long case resting against the north wall are the following pieces: 

 Nos. 104 and 106 are two Japanese screens, decorated with paintings on silk, rep- 

 resenting street scenes in the city of Tokio in the times of the Shogunate; and also 

 Japanese annual celebrations as, for instance, the Feast of Flags, the annual display 

 of the Nobori. This last is explained in the following sketch : 



Nobori (the paper fish). The fifth day of the fifth month 5th of May is celebrated 

 in Japan as the Feast of Flags, and is the day on which is displayed the Nobori, or 

 paper fish. It is suspended from a tall bamboo pole over every house wherein a 

 male child has been born during the preceding year. This fish is generally of paper, 

 but sometimes, among the wealthy, is made of silk, and graduated in size to suit the 

 purse in some instances 30 to 40 feet in length, generally from 6 to 10. They are 

 formed and painted to represent the carp, which fish is selected because of its ability 

 to swim swiftly against a rapid current and leap over waterfalls, thus symbolizing 

 great energy of character, the ability to surmount great difficulties and eventually to 

 achieve success. (Japanese Fairy WoAd, p. 227.) This fish being hollow and sus- 

 pended by the mouth, the wind expands the body and it floats in the air with all 

 the grace of movement of a fish in his native element 



Screens Nos. 106 and 107. On these screens the paintings are on silk. They rep- 

 resent the three ruling classes in the Japanese Empire, under the dual form of 

 government. The robes of state and the details of every article of dress in each of 

 the three ranks, the Mikado, the Tycoon, and the daimios, even to the color and 

 quality of the material, as well as to form, was regulated by edict; so also was the 

 style of dressing the hair. All were different down to the common cooly. The 

 double eyebrow, as seen upon the forehead of the Mikado, his wife, as also that of the 

 Tycoon's consort, indicate their direct descent from the royal family. The Tycoons 

 themselves were not of royal descent, but as commanders in chief of the armies had 

 usurped the whole power of the throne for several centuries. 

 Of the bronzes in this case- 

 No. 108 is an incense burner in octagon shape. 

 No. 108. Another small incense burner. 



No. 109. An elaborately carved falcon, perched upon the branch of a tree, which 

 may be used as a boquet holder, although it was not originally intended for that. 

 This beautiful specimen of Japanese carving in bronze will bear inspection; but to 

 appreciate more clearly the wonderful productions during past ages of this isolated 

 and half-civilized people it should be borne in mind that all this exquisite carving 

 in bronze and in ivory are the results of patient hand labor, unaided by any mechan- 

 ical appliances whatever. It is not infrequent that the decoration of one of these 

 pieces has required the work of a skilled artisan for years. 



