2228 COMMERCIAL JAPAN. [Decembkb, 



generous growth. Early civilization was introduced from China, but now the Japanese surpass the Chinese in advancement and mercantile 

 ekill, as the world has abundantly seen. Thirty years ago the Japanese themselves thought they were far behind the Chine.se. The 

 late victory and success of Japan over China, it goes without saying, was because she has a better geographical posi'don. The ^luestion 

 may arise, "Howsuch small islands escaped the mvasion of the Chinese?" The answer is, Becau.se no ancient scientist left any accurate 

 maps of the coast lines and the course of voyage; and also there was a lack of ships to cross with, although the islands were well known 

 to the Chinese; and also on account of their jealousies and their perpetual wars in their own country. But the intention of inva.=ion by 

 both countries was clear enough. The history of Japan tells us that the ancient Empress Jingo, in 200 A. D., and again Taiko, the 

 famous warrior and ruler in the seventeenth century, sent their armies and subjugated Korea; the latter with the hope of going into 

 China. The great Mongol conquerer, Ho-oe-ii, in 1281, invaded and sought to overwhelm Japan, to make a descent upon the south- 

 western island, with forces numbering 100,000 men; but, fortunately for Japan, a storm di.'^pei-.sed his fleets. 



Interesting parallels may be drawn between the relative positions of the United Kingdom and Japan to the continents which they 

 respectively adjoin; and the resemblance of the geograpliical situation of the British Isles on the fringe of Europe to that of the i-slanda 

 of Japan on the extreme eastern edge of Asia is so striking a« to have attracted universal attention. But Japan has a far greater range 

 of temperature and climatic variation than prevails in the British Isles. The great ocean currents exert their beneficial influence upon 

 both groujisof islands, so they enjoy this most excellent gift of nature, and the greatest facility for transportation. The Japanese islands 

 are particularly rich in harbors, having 56 large ones; and the development of a trade in coal and silk must inevitably bring more oi them 

 into proMiinen(;e, but the number already in constant use,as shipping ports for local produce, has grown to be very considerable. Some 

 ports are already well known to the Europeans, and, when the country is all opened to foreign trade, it is more than Ukely that they 

 may become ports of call for the mercantile fleets of the world. 



Thus Asia, Europe, and North America are tlie three grand stages in the life of humanity in its march through the ages. Asia ia 

 the cradle where man passed his infancy; Europe is the school where his youth was trained, where he waxed in strength and knowledge, 

 grew to manhood, and learned at once his liberty and his moral responsibility; North America is the theater of his activity during the 

 period of irianhood, the land where he applies and practices all he has learned, brings into action all the forces he has acquired, and 

 where he is still to gain the complete development of his being and his happiness. England in Europe, the United States in North 

 America, and Japan in Asia are preparing to act the parts of three sisters of the twentieth century in the development of the commerce 

 of the world. The recent war in China showed that Japan has a most excellent army and navy, and she has shown herself to be one of 

 the strong countries in the world. She has shown those forces which accompany the development of commerce, and whose civilization 

 increases with the increase in population and wealth. Hence, as .society advances it is absolutely nece.ssary that the facilities of 

 transi)ortiifion and communi<"ation f)e also developed. Japan, in every view, has all natural advantages, and recently has been rapidly 

 im])roving in her industrial products, and can compete with the world. In order to act with credit her i)art with her other two sisters 

 in the twentieth century, she must improve more and more of her facilities of transportation, her intuistry, and her coumierce. 



Now, let us go back and tiace lier hi.-tory and see how she has grown, and then look upon her present condition, which shows her 

 prosperity, and, lastly, discuss her future and how to improve it. 



Chapter I. 



THE HISTORY OF THE COMMERCE. 



ARTICLE I. PRIMITIVE AGE TO 800 A. D. 



Ancient history is never trustworthy, and it is difficult to trace with accuracy the record and get results worth much. Japan, like 

 England, is a country siirrouruicd l)y water, the coast abounds in capacious harl)or.«, and she had navigation facilities early in her 

 unknown history. According to the law of geograjjhical progress, in places where there are good facilities for navig-ation and an abundant 

 food supply, an increase of po[)ulation and rapid improvement in every way and in commerce will occur. The general feature of the 

 country is long; there is one great jange of mountains running through the middle, with rivers making their ways on both sides to the sea. 

 Population occupies the country, first along the seacoast, and thence spreads along the navigable rivers, although many of them ol^struct 

 easy passage by their shortness and rapidity. Then it extends along the line of the highways, which were long ago necessarily oj^ned 

 and improved into th(^ interior to make transportation easier and more rapid. Pack horses and oxen were then used for transjxjrting 

 goods and for traveling purpo.«es. Stations were establislied at the distance of a days' journey apart. In 1513 A. D., rivers were 

 bridged. Not only was attention jiaid to improvements in inland tran;#;)ortation but their eyes were opened to the advantages of water 

 transportation. The subjugation of Korea in 200 A. D., by the Empress Jingo, is the important fact tliat shows their advancement in 

 maritime i)ower, and it is wonderful that they crossed the sea with many thou.«ands of warriors and with ships, and returned successfully. 

 Traile, or the exchange of conunodities, was by barter, as is seen in other countries; a bearskin was exchanged for tX) pounds of cotton 

 in a trade with Korea in 050 A. I). They employed only things made by themselves, and each group or neighborhood was closely 

 confined to its own resources. Consequently, chiefly physical strength was needed. Their dwellings were simple, built of W(X>d; 

 ftharpeiu'd and burnt posts were put into the earth, and the joints of the building were fastened with twine. From earliest times they 

 used iron ut<>nsils for varir)us purposes, after a short stage of using stone. People were industrious, and though without scientific 

 knowledge, knew how to clean off the dust and perspiration of their bodies after their work by taking hot-water baths, allowing good 

 circulation of blood. Then contiiu'utal civilization came into the country and with it its religion. With increase of population in the 

 country they began to exchange their sur]>lus products. Silk was known early in this period and wa" highly valued. Dyeing and neeille 

 work were al.-^o known and practiced. Oil was made from the seeds of a ]ilant and was used for lightinc purposes. Their fo xi was 

 limited pretty miicii to rice, barley, and wheat. Birds and wild animals were food only in the liunting tlistrict.-*, and fish on the pea- 

 ehore and riversides. Win(>s made from ric(> were highly ai>preciated by the people. Such was the state of living, and jxHiple were 

 quite' cdntcMited with their situation. This simple and direct condition of life could not last long, and was followed by an increase of 

 populiitiun and a strngt'lc for means of s^b^;isten(•e and a better style of living. 



Wlien communities became sutliciently advanced a different state of things developed the necessity of means of exchange, division 

 of lal)or and of regulation of peace and onjer, and the idea of carrying on connuerco. They began to produce more than they noo«led 

 for their own retiuirements. The nece.^^sity of ex<'hanging the surplus with othei's taught them to travel to other communities and to seek 

 better terms. So the peddler was known as early as 457 A. D. In 701 A. D. the systematized market was established, giving the idea of 

 value to things. The bill of sale was signed and sealed, either by marking with the thumb or with a stamp, l^ian and Ixirrowing, 

 even interest-bearing at not ov(>r one-eighth of the principal in sixty days, and not twice in four hundred and eighty days, K^pan to 

 pnnail in tht> eighth (-(Mitnry. OHictns and priests were prohil)ted from lending at interest, by which they were pnnentiHl from sjiending 

 the money of tlu> ollicial tr(>asury. The loan on crops was limited to one year for redemption. The Ixirrower neede<l a guarantor, who 

 was resjionsible to comi>ensate the creditor if the borrower failed to return the loan, as is the ciu«e at this prt>sent time. A law of 

 UM asur«'m(>ut and the ratio of jiri»'es to commodities was enacted in 701 A. D. It regulattnl, by a central othce, the prices of the whole 

 country, except tiie large cities, where the nnmicipal governments were already independent and separate*.! from the central oflioe, and 

 sanctioned themselves. 



Kxchang(> of conunodities with China and Kon>a began in 0i97, but was not very active, and wsis only in luxurious things. Korea 

 priKiuceii gold and silver long before Christ, but did not know how to mint or use either for ornament or means of exchange. In 200 



