JAPAN. 259 



Formerly the whole was divided into fmall independent Hates, 

 the rulers were ftiled kings and princes, many of which retain 

 the names, and govern abfolute enough ; but entirely under the 

 direction of the emperor. 



The antient title of the monarch was Dairo ; he was alfo 

 fovereign pontiff, and like the pope the fupreme head of the 

 church. In that character his perfon was held fo facred, that 

 little fliort of divine worfliip was paid to him ; for a long pe- 

 riod he governed by means of a prime minifter, who was called 

 the Cubo, a dignity ufually beftowed on one of his younger fons ; 

 the father, like other eaflern monarchs, devoting his whole time 

 to indolence and fenfuality. At length a Cubo arofe, who de- 

 throned the Dairo, or rather ufurped his more important office, 

 that of fecular emperor ; he permitted him to retain that of pon- 

 tiff. The Cubo thus ftripped him of all fort of power except eccle- Ecclesias* 

 fiaftical, but preferves the farce of paying him all external refped:, '^^*^^^* 

 as much as if he had enjoyed the antient plenitude of authority ; 

 he renders him an imaginary homage, and pretends to adl only 

 as his deputy, and to hold the empire from him. 



The Dairo was permitted to relide in the palace, in the old im- 

 perial ciij of Miaco, and to keep up the antient ftate, but that is 

 now done with difficulty, as the Cubos have fuccellively leffened 

 the revenues. Still he reigns fupreme over the church. The 

 people pay him the utmoft veneration, and the Cubo himfelf is 

 obliged to marry one of his daughters, in cafe he has any that 

 are marriageable. The firft Cubo who ufurped the empire, re- 

 tired to Jedoy which is the other great capital of the ifland. 



The laws of Japan, as is told of thofe of Draco, mny be faid Severe LAwr, 



L 1 2 to 



