1901.] COMMEEOIAL JAPAN. 2229 



A. D. China and Korea made a present of gold and silver to Japan, which they continued annually for a long while. Both raotals were 

 highly valued and used for ornament. The first production of silver in the country was in 675, and of gold in 749. Copper vras 

 produced in antiquity and used for mirrors, then iron wa3 used for the same purpo!=e, by polishing a side of a plate of the metal. The 

 joke was that peoi^le thought that these metals had some spirit in them, as rats frighten at their own reflection, and so they v.-r-re Ti^cd 

 only for ornament. Since 724 bronze has been used a great deal for making immense statues of stupid Buddha. The first o 



of mclallic money was in 485, said to have been brouglit from either China or Korea. Prior to thi.«, crops (mostly rice) -':. •.■i 



cloth were used for the medium of exchange. The poods in general use and the food supply were made by their o wi i:a. .''.&; 

 consequently exchangeal)lc goods wore not in great quantity, and the transaction of business was so small and of so little value that the 

 use of silver was abolished in G84, and copper, coined in China or Korea, of smaller value, took its place. In G94 a copper mint was 

 established, and from this time on people began to use the money mac3 in the country, which was coined in a somewhat fixed figure. 

 The law of 701 also regulated the monetary system. In 760 the ratio of gold, silver, and copper was fixed — at the rate of ten for silver 

 to one of gold, and a hundred for copper to one of silver. The unit of measurement for length was fixed from tip of thumb to tip of 

 Utile finger, and for quantity a handful, and for broadness the width of shoulders of a man. As early as 2o0 A. D., lineal measure was 

 applied, for they paid great attention to building, which necessitated a fixed measurement. In 690 the Government sent a messenger to 

 China and learned the metliod of measuring quantity by the decimal system, and in 697 and then in 701 a great act was passed fur the 

 establishment of measurements. 



The development of the mecha.nical industry of tlie country largely depended ujion religious believers and upon the wars of the 

 country. Engraving was encouraged by the making of idols of Buddha, and fine fighting weapons of iron were in great demand by the 

 warriors. These arts gave the people great skill in hand work, although their scope of working was very small and they used rude and 

 simple instruments pertaining to individual hand work. Skill in work was considered the treasury of the family or house, and was 

 inherited by the descendants. Most of the industries of the country originated in China and Korea — there were very few original ones. 

 Silk-spinning instruments (not machine at this time) were introduced from China in about 215. In 540 Korea presented a gift of leather 

 clothing to our country, and since then people have used it for general wear. 



Earthenware was used already in 29 B. C, said to have been introduced from Korea. Black japan ware was used in 71 A. D., and 

 in 673 red ware was added. GJlass plate and balls existed in 697. Engraving was the wonder of those ages, and, under the infuence of 

 Buddhism, the making of idols for worship, and they paid special attention to making fine ones. In tho.se times communication v.ith 

 China was only for the purpose of getting their manners and customs, or rather continental civilization, and trade was not in view, 

 although they did trade in luxuries and a few other things. Chinese literature was brought in and influenced many oflBcials, as no one 

 could get official position unless he knew somettiing of this literature. 



AETICLE II. 800-1540. 



In 805 the Emperor made his permanent residence in Kioto, which continued, reign after reign, until the present Emperor removetl 

 to Tokyo, in 1868. As Kioto became the capital of Japan everything concentrated there, and it became the center of the commerce and 

 finance of the countr}*. Prior to this there was no fixed place for commerce; but only those ports where transportation facilities existed 

 Avere doing business gathered froju neighboring places. The country vras not well settled; fighting occuri-ed among the lords, and battles 

 took place almost everywhere in the country in order to extend their own territories by defeating the Aveak and striving for power ; 

 disorder and conflict prevailed everywhere. Thus commerce and trade were neglected. But those ports to which neighboring towns 

 brought their products which they could not take into the interior, and which were deposited with the wholesale merchants to be 

 protected by guards, made grea,t profits. Then the bill of exchange began to exist for the benefit of producers. 



In a few reigns after the removal of the Emperor's seat to Kioto the central government lost its power; it went into the hands 

 of the normally appointed yet actually self-imposed ruler, who was the most fam-ous warrior of that tim.e, having defeated all others. 

 He issued laws as he pleased, but for the benefit of the people at this time. In transacting business the price of goods was fixe-1 in 

 order to prevent unjust dealing and the cheating of the people; and where there was scarcity of money, lice was used as. a medium 

 of exchange. The transfer of real estate Avas licensed and guaranteed and needed the agreement of both parties. In 960 lead was 

 •minted for money. AVhile the country was in disorder and war prevailed, minting operations were neglected, and Chinese money 

 Avas found in circulation. The roads Avere opened and improved merely for facility in transporting troops, and this was a great benefit 

 to foot travelers ; and the planting of trees on both sides of the road gaA'e shelter. But the inconveniences can be easily imagina.1, for 

 it is said that they made bundles of grass for their pilloAvs and passed the night under the trees. Interstate communication Avas almost 

 undeA'eloped, goods being carried on the shoulders of man. Communication Avith China and Korea Avas also destroyed, Avith the exception 

 of some i)riA'ate transactions. JMany pirates along the coasts Avere very powerful, and boarded the idiips and robbed them of their cargoes. 

 Therefore transportation on Avater almost ceased. Only the officers of the ruler Avere A'ery luxurious after great victories, and so some 

 ornamental articles Avere brought into trade. All industries for a long time were almost annihilated by ir.terual trotibles, except the 

 art of making armor, especially swords, and this produced many noted armorers. Lacquer and japan ware were used for their ornaments 

 and the arts were improved. Engraving and painting, on the other biand, were improved by the influ-.'nce of Buddhism. The paper 

 industry, Avhich Avas introduced from Korea, Avas considerably improved for the use of painting and printing. Printing originated in 

 1171 and gaA'c great benefit to the people, and the constitution of the country Avas for th? first time printed in this reign. 



In 1170 the Government collected money or compulsory labor for the purpose of building dikes, Avhich should protect from high 

 waves and also from the invasion of enemies. This someAvhat improved the ports and facih'^ated water transiKirtation. In 12C0, for the 

 purpose of repairing a temple, priests and their believers collected money by borroAving, Avith a certain payment of inter>:::t. Th.is is 

 the origin of the bond. In 1250 loaning without pledge Avas prohibited, and the result Avas that burglars brought stolen things to loan 

 offices for pledges, and laAvsuits occurred occasionally in this case, consequently they began to Avrite the name and reside: ce of the 

 pledger for the contract. Keal estate can not b'j pledged for more iiian twenty years. The ruler established his OAvn court, separate 

 from the Emperor's court, in the best naturally fortified place, Avhich made a second large concentrated place, and commmiication Avith 

 the capital began. The road between the Emperor's court and tiie ruler's was improA-ed, and towns sprung up and prospered. The 

 country Avas in good order and peace under this ruler, and people sang for joy, being tired of massacre and robbery for aAvhile. In 

 May, 1281, a great iuA'asion of 100,000 armed troops, Avith 4,000 Avar vessels from China, Avas reported. Thev landed on a small island, 

 but' the people fought Avell, and a storm broke the enemy's ships into pieces. This great event A\as a goo 1 lesson to the Japanet"?, and 

 they began to pay attention to shipbuilding. Japan now became a ])OAver on the sea; still the people Avere afraid of th.e revenge of 

 China, and prepared for it. Since then trade v/ith China Avas entirely checked until 1342, though many private vessels saileil to China 

 and acted as pirates. They all feared our pirates so nuich that the seacoa.st of China was deserted. '.Meanwhile th.ey sent an em':-aisy 

 demanding the opening of intercourse, but as internal Avar Avas again raging in Japan it Avas not compli'd Aviih. But" trade with J'Core'a 

 Avas considerably active, and in 1466 there Avas m.ore than 120 vessels floating on this roule, and more t;>an 45 hoi-'^es and 1,6.30 Japanese 

 immigrants were found in Korea. From these the improvement of our navigation and our earnestnet-s in but-ir.es? can l>e judged. 



At about 1470 the ruler's poAver Avas Aveakene(l, Jiaturaiiy resulting from his luxury and extravagance, Avhile the e'nij)ire Avas 

 divided up, and .'-everal lords Avere governing tlieir oavu small provinces, overpowering thcAveak, is.<i:ing their oAvn laws, and charv:ing 

 tolls on travelers for their revenue. These lords prohibited tiieir subjects from selling their tenancies, and persecuteii bc>th parties if 

 they violated the law. The laAV Avas so strict th.at subjects also liegan to leave off tiadii-g. Tins leaving off of trade became a cu.«tom 

 for a long time to the subjects; thus the ecor.omic idea Avas neglectcil. During tliese times there was no fixed price of goods; transactions 

 in generally useful things Avcre made by mutual exchange. But the Avholesale merchant in the ports and cities, where tlie poAverful 

 lords had their residences, made a good deal of profit. Trade-marks or store marks began to exist by this time for giving sign to the 

 guards by Avhich these houses Averc protected. The great inconvenience of traA-el made it nece.^sary "to set up milestones" in every 2i 

 miles, and the lords gave Avaruing not to travel after dark. During this period of disorder of the country people could not produce 

 enough supplies, consequently Chinese goods Avere brought in by messengers, sent by the lords, for their oavu use. Drugs, dyeing 



No. 6 13 



