426 ART INDUSTRY AND RELATED OCCUPATIONS. 



chalcedony, cornelian, green jasper, and smoked topaz, which were 

 worked up into pretty little ornaments.^ 



Soapstone, Jap. Roseki (wax-stone), and In-seki (seal-stone), is 

 found principally in Bizen, in simple greyish white and also 

 coloured varieties. It is much worked up into seals (Ingio or In) 

 but for this purpose the Chinese Agalmatolite (To-R6seki) ^ is 

 preferred. 



7. Metal Industry.^ 



Prefatory Remarks. — The Working up of Iron into Swo7^ds, Armour 

 and Objects of Art. — Embossing of Cast Iron. — The use of 

 Copper. — The most important Alloys of Copper. — Japanese 

 Bronze. — Patina. — TJie use of Bronze in the HouseJwld, and 

 the Buddhist Religion. — Magic Mirrors. — Gold and Silver in 

 Japanese Industrial Art. — Bronze Analysis. 



Numerous indications and historic statements which cannot be 

 doubted, tell us that the Japanese people were acquainted with the 

 most important metals in very early times, and have made great 

 progress, especially with their preparation, since the 6th century of 

 our era. The finding of pre-historic bronze weapons, like arrow- 

 heads and swords, copper rattles and bells, and iron articles of 

 various kinds, we must leave to the further study of the anti- 

 quarian. Japanese art industry in all its branches, including that 

 of metal industry, was not really developed until Buddhism pushed 

 hither from the continent, with its new ideas. 



In the first half of the 8th century, at the time of Shomu- 

 Tenno, the ability to work skilfully in metals generally, and 

 especially in bronze, had already reached a high stage. This is 

 seen in the idols, vases, censers, and other articles which the old 

 celebrated temples at Nara, Kioto and other places have preserved 

 from that time. The influence of China and Corea, and the ad- 

 vancement of industry by Buddhism, are here also unmistakable. 



This stimulus on the part of religion to metal industry de- 

 creased with the imperial power and the development of military 

 despotism and feudalism. (See vol. i. p. 226). In the civil wars 

 which the parties of the Taira and Minamoto carried on in the 

 1 2th century, as well as others which followed later, the forging of 

 iron weapons and armour, became of greater importance than the 

 casting of idols and vessels of bronze. Whoever could make good 



1 Lyman : "Geological Survey of Japan. Reports of Progress for 1878 and 

 1879." Pp. 35 and 58. 



2 Their external similarity to variegated soapstone, in colour and veining, is 

 evidently the reason why the Japanese apply the name R6-seki to serpentinie, 

 and also to coloured marble (p. 313). 



2 Kane = the metal; Kane-mono = the metal-ware: Kane-dzaiku = the metal- 

 work. 



