2230 COl^jnVIEEGIAL JAPAN. [Decembeh, 



material, brocade, embroideries, and other articles of clothing were imported, and exchanged for sealskin, sulphur, lacquered ware, 

 gold, and copper. The prices were enormous, and the profits were accordingly great. But international trade was still unopened. By 

 the end of this period people again began to give attention to literature, but the priests were the only instructors. Chinese and Korean 

 bronze money were in circulation again, and smuggling and counterfeiting prevailed all over the country. Interest on loans ran from 5 

 to 7 per cent, limiting their redemption to twenty years, doubling the amount in ten and three times in twenty years. If overdue, after 

 notifying borrower, three times the pledge would be forfeited by the action of law. A son was responsible for his father's debt. At 

 about 1521 the first silver mines in the country were opened, and many utensils were made of silver, and coins were minted afterwards. 

 Iron and bra.ss were minted for a one-tenth of a sen (perhaps this was the unit of value at this time, 1535); but on account of their 

 inconvenience and because they were not made of good metal for circulation their use ceased. 



AETICLE III. 1540-1636. BEGINNING OF FOEEIGN TEABE. 



After the long war panic of the country was over trade with China and Korea was reopened. With the reaction of the long 

 interruption the trade was enormous, as one can never imagine. Of course there was no statistics taken, but it is said that more than 

 2,001) Chinese merchant vessels came yearly to Japan, and mostly silk was brought. Prior to this the Japan Islands v,-ere made known 

 to European nations by an Italian, who lived long years in China, and was doing business in trade at about 1280. The fir.?t navigation 

 line from Europe to Japan was established in 1541 by three Portuguese merchants, who sailed for China from Siam, whose vessel was 

 wrecked and was saved by two Japanese vessels, which met them on their way to China. In Au.gust, 1543, more than a hundred 

 Portugese merchants came to Japan, a Cliinese acting as their interpreter by writing on the sands, and opened intercourse with our 

 country. They traded in woolen goods, leather, and silk clothing, with gold, silver, and copper. Rifles were first introduced into the 

 country at this time. Tliis trade with Portugal was the first of our trade with European countries. In 1549, a young Japanese murdered 

 his friend, and ran away to Portugal, and told them about the prosperity of Japan and the possibihty of spreading Christianity. Next 

 year many Catholic priests arrived in Japan. In 1548 Spain cameliext to the Portuguese, en route from the Philippines to Mexico, and 

 stopped to secure a food supply. The country allowed them to trade only at Nagasaki, a southern port of the country. The field gun 

 was introduced by the Portuguese in 1570. In 1592 cotton cloths were imported from Chuia and took the place of silk, which was imported 

 by the Portuguese merchants, but people never used it, so it remained useless in store. 



Prior to this. Buddhism spread all over the country, and was powerful, consequently the ruler allowed Christianitj' to counteract 

 the power of Buddhism; but afterwards he regretted this, because the new religious believers got the same power as Buddhists, and a 

 few years later he persecuted thousands of Catholic believers. By this time the navigation of the country was considerably improved, 

 and many vessels were sent to other countries for commercial purposes. As the Catholics got power, one of the lords earnestly believed 

 and sent messengers to Rome to pay his respects to the Pope in 1583, being the first message to European countries. They sailed 

 tlirough the Indian Ocean, rounding the Cape of Good Hope, along the western coast of Africa, arriving at Lisbon, Portugal: 3Iadrid, 

 Hpain; then crossing the Mediterranean Sea they arrived at Rome, having sailed 7,000 miles in nearly three years. They came back in 

 1591. They were entertained and welcomed wherever they stopped, and brought back some knowledge of European civilization. Other 

 lords followed him in 1585, 1587, 1591, respectively. Of course, these voyages were made in consequence of their earnestness of religious 

 belief, but one can easily imagine how hard it was, how brave they were, and how they were interested in the improvements of 

 navigation, sailing in such small, imperfect, and unscientific sailing boats, without full- knowledge of the ocean route. This great 

 experience helped the knowledge of navigation in Japan. 



In 1601 the Holland Dutch came, and from 1G09 they began their trade by the name of the Dutch East India Company, which 

 gave itself out as an agent of the King of Holland, on behalf of commerce. 



Tobacco was brought in 1605, and the Government considered it luxurious and aseless, and prohibited its imports in 1609; but the 

 people planted it in their own gardens, and used it secretly, so the Government was obliged to change the law. Then the product was 

 greatly increased. In 1596 printed books were introduced from China, and soon afterward, about 1610, people used copper for printing. 

 After i)rohibiting the circulation of Chinese copper money in 1604, the country minted gold in large plate, and silver and copper for 

 fractional coin. Lead was once coined, but the i)eople suffered by countfrfeiting. 



The communication with the Philippine Islands, Annam, Siam, and India began before 1500, and there were more than five 

 hundred Japanese emigrants living near about Manila and thousands in Siam. But the natives were afraid of the Japanese, and never 

 had close communication with them. For a short while the Philipjnne Islands were under the control of Japan. Japan advanced the 

 trade with those s(nithern islands, and encouraged the building of ships large enough to carry crews of 300 men, having guns 

 and weapons against pirates. Their trade was copper, lacquered wares, umbrellas, fans, screens, sulphur, camphor, cloths, and wheat, 

 with which they ])urchased from these islands onions, silk, rugs, sugar, and woods. 



In 1600 William Adams, of England, was wrecked in the Pacific Ocean and arrived at Japan. He became naturalized afterwards, 

 being the first naturalization of a foreigner in the country. In April, 1611, Capt. John Davis was sent by King James I, arriving in 

 Japan in 16I.'5. lIcMonsulted Adams about trade, and began the English trade; but there were Spanish and Porta.^uese already in active 

 business and the English could not compete with them, and finally left the country in 1623. In September, 1611, the world atlas was first 

 iiilroihiced into the country, and people learned lliat there were three other large continents beside Asia, and they resolvetl to open 

 communication and trade on a grand scale. Two schooners of foreign styles, of 80 and 120 tons, respectively, were built by the design 

 and assistance of William Adams, and were sent to Mexico to trade. This route has been kept open ever since. This is the first opening 

 of the Pacific Ocean to North America, being only eighty years after Columbus discovered America. This progress in navigation was 

 the pride of tlie country. There were 198 trading shi])s licensed during 1605-1618, trading with 20 different countries. There were 

 over 1,000,000 emigrants found in Annam, Siam, and Philippine Island>i, eslablisliing villages there, and they brought back some useful 

 things. \Vhilo Eun)j)ean trade excited such great interest in the people, that with China was somewhat neglected, or rather prohibited. 

 P>nl the i)eoi)lo, who gained profit in trade with China would not give it up, and over 300 were persecutetl to death and 300 intermarried 

 pcMsons were drivcui out of the country for violating the laws. In these days the quotiition of gold and silver was 1 to 10 or about po, 

 while' in ]''uroi)e it was 1 to 15 or 16, and European tnidv gained a large premium in exchanging goods for gold. It is no wonder that 

 many foreign merchants came to tlie country to trade, even though transportation was conducted under great ditTiculties. During this 

 period the "Refined Bohemianism" prevailed in the country, and the "tea ceremony" was one of their fa.«hions. For tliis reason 

 planting nf tea began in many i)laces. The colored porcelain which was introduced from China for the use of the ceixnnony began to be 

 useful, and soon afterwards it was exported to China. 



The (liffenMicc of the charaiter.s of foreigners necessitated their having different ports for their trading places; consequently the 

 country opened f^i'veral ])ort.s along tlie southern coast, which naturally improved. ac'X)rding to their business activity, and some of 

 them remain very important ports of tlic country. The first navigation law had regard to the captain and the consignor of goo<is, and 

 was issued hee^ause the art of the building of ships had so progressed and navigation was so improved that such a law was ncinlod. 



A.H Christianilv spread over the country and gained infiuencc over citizens, the oflicers in the Government began to susi^oct the 

 ax'lion of the Christians. A suspicion of then- motives was aroused by the remarks of the captain of a Spanish ves.>5cl, who said " We got 

 Mexico and Peru by seu<ling Catholic priests first, and letting them report the maimers and customs of the people, and then we sent an 

 army and took them by force." ('onseqnently, in 1636, tlie Government prohibited this religion, tosjethcr with traders, to come to the 

 country. The connnunication and trade with Spain and Portugal, whicli were verv active, were al).^)lutcly abolished. England was 

 also incluiled in this list, for she had an intimate intercourse with Spain. But Holland, who was jealous of Spanish and Poriugnoiie 

 merchant", and never mixed religion and trade, alone took their places. The trade with China became very active a>rain. By this 

 religious iirohihition the interest in navigation suddenly collai)sed. The Government being yet afraid of foreign religious influence over 

 the jieople, and on acountof the enormous export.s of gold, i-ssued the most conservative law of "the closi>d door," shutting up the jxirt*, 

 confiscating all ships large enough to cross the sea, anil prohibiting shipbuilding. J^ven Holland and China were allowed to trade in 



