1901.] 



COMMEKCIAL JAPAi^. 



2231 



only one port, and the Government levied a tax on all imported commodities ; 60 per cent on Chinefie, and 15 per cent on the Dutch 

 Company, and G5per cent on individual trade; this at one time raised §500,000 yearly revenue. This is the origin of our customs tariff. 

 During this period of communication with foreign countries the industry of the country improved -wonderfully, and produced 

 many noted men in all lines. Japanese products Avere exported to the continent of Europe for ornamental purposes, as" Oriental 

 curiosities, but not for general use. The art of engraving alone lagged Ijehind because of the spread of Christianity, which was opposed 

 to Buddhistic ornamentation. During this period the commerce of the country developed the most that the country had ever seen, 

 and foreign trade was carried on w ith all parts of the world. 



AETICLE IV. A. 1636-1868; FROM THE "CLOSED DOOS" TO THE EEVOLXmON, 



_ While Japan was in restriction of communication with foreign countries she improved her facilities of land transportation. The 

 origin of the mail system began by a private messenger between Osaka and Yedo, to which latter place the ruler removed in 1606, and 

 the concentration of people there made everything improve. At this time the people were advocating what was really the Physiocrat 

 doctrine, and rice was considered the source of the w"ealth of the country, and prosperity depended upon the production of it. t'rior to 

 this period literature, art, jurisprudence, and religion had greatly improved, but the economic idea was not yet aroused. As the ruler of 

 this time was fond of reading books, his subjects followed him, and they began to pay attention to economic views, and economic subject.^ 

 were greatly discussed among learned men. But they were never interested in navigation, and they thought it ridiculous to di.>^(;u.S9 

 foreign trade and communication. This w"ealth-producing rice was brought fromall partsof the country into 0.saka, where the water fa'^-ility 

 for transportation was developed, being near to the capital. The lord? also sent their products to this city, builrling storehouses, selling 

 in the market, preventing the monopoly of the wholesalers and giving the benefit to the consum.ers. The' quotation of rice was reported 

 by flags, and torches in night, to distant places. People concentrated at Osaka, improved the streets, facilitated commerce by building 

 canals, so commerce became prosperous. In consequence of the increase of population in this city, the muncipality now developed into 

 full power. For convenience of market, almost all products W'cre sent to this city and then distributed to other parts of the country'. In 

 payment.they brought back useful things, and for any balance they received credit in the market on which they could draw drafts in case 

 of necessity. The Government also helped the circulation of money by lending in the market without interest. Osaka became the 

 center of commerce and finance of the country. There was a money exchange market and drafts could be easily cashed. In 1G37 the 

 Government enacted a law for bills and notes, which were in private use before this time. They were made by farmers. On these they 

 wa'ote the measure of silver that was equivalent to the goods exchanged. These were signed by a rich neighbor, made payable to bearer, 

 and indorsed by the last payee only; because of the danger of carrying bulky money. People appreciated this convenience. Drafts, 

 notes payable on den:iand or on sight, depository notes, bills of exchange, notes of the exchange otiice, bills of storage of sugar and rice, 

 etc., were in circulation, limited for three years. The house tax began in 1636, levied according to the width of the front of the house, 

 for the purpose of improvement of the streets and roads. 



After the proliil^ition law of 1636 and the Christian riot in 1637, trade with Holland and China became less active than before. The 

 Government limited their trade, reducing their number of trading ships year after year, until only one ship for Holland and ten ships for 

 China yearly, were allowed in 1790. Their trading goods were silk, woolen cloths, lumber, buffalo bone, leather, candle, sngar, camphor, 

 coral, musk, perfume, glass, and dyeing materials from Holland; sugar, matches, ivory, buttons, lead, mercury, wood, porcelain, camphor, 

 rugs, medicine, calico, turtle shell, silk, brocade, crepon, avooI, brushes, fans, umbrellas, ink paintings, coral, playthings, cloths, leather, 

 matting, etc., from China; and in payment, copper, porcelain, embroidery, lacquer wares, umbrellas, screens, dried fish, oilpapers, rice wine, 

 sauce, tobacco, tea, etc., to Holland; and dried fish, copper, rice, etc., to China, were exported. The export of silk, cotton, hemp, silver, and 

 weapons to other countries were prohibited. 



It is worth while to study the development of the mail system of this time. At first private messengers of the lords reported to 

 their produce dealers in Osaka after the ruler had removed to Tokyo (Yedo); afterwards the merchants "began to send their private 

 messengers between the two cities. In 1663 only one person served as a messenger for public purposes, and he made the round trip only 

 three times every month. In 1672 money was sent by the messenger's company, six members being incorporated for this business. As 

 commerce increased between the two cities, people began to urge the importance of faster communication, then horses came into use and 

 the number of messengers was increased, and a great improvement was made in 1740. In the same year communication by public 

 messenger was made with other important places. Then parcels were also sent by the messengers, and in 1747 bills of lading," bills of 

 exchange, and insurance for transferred goods began to bo used. By doing this the corporation made considerable profit" and the 

 Government levied a tax of 50 yen a year since 1781 . The charge of the messages differed according to the speed. The distance between 

 Osaka and Tokyo is 356 miles; the charges-were as follows: 



Tlius, transpoi-tation facilities were opened to all parts of the country and the rate reduced year after year. But there was no regular 

 system until the Government established the post-oflice in 1871, wdien necessitated to do so by the importance of communicatii.n. 



In 1688 a gold coin was minted, having its fiiieness 86 per cent of gold and 14 per cent of silver, weighing 15.39 grains, and sold at 

 40 shillings. It was amended to 9 grains of 57 per cent of gold in the nineteenth century. Schools and libraries were established in 1697, 

 and were greatly encouraged by the ruler, who -vv'as much interested in reading. A series of books of 635 volumes was publisheti at this 

 time. 



As the Shogun made his permanent residence in Tokyo, this obliged all lords to live there at least three months in the year. The 

 streets were improved, a great many people concentrated in that city, and it soon surpassed Osaka. The comioi-ce of the country tlivided 

 among three cities — Osaka, representing the center of connnevce; Kioto, rei)resentlng the capital; Tokyo, the largest city in the country. 

 A market for rice and other products was opened also in Tokyo, and it gathered all the products of the north, and competition with 

 the southern products arose. 



Daring 1764-1805, the silk industry was revived and enough was produced in sixteen different provinces to meet the internal demand, 

 and therefore the importation was naturally decreased. In 1764 colors were added to printing papers and used 'or the illustration on 

 novels; this colored printing is at present highly valued in Europe and America. 



In 1842 the harvest was comparatively small and pnces rose, so the Government issued a law that wholesale and retail trade must 

 be carried on at the former wholesale stores, and its ratio was given; rice being limited as to price other necessiiry things were equalized 

 thereto. Commission sale and bailment were known at this time. The interest on loans Avas fixed at 15 per cent in 1S4S, but this 

 hindered business and it was obliged to be given up. The idea of saving was advised by the Government. The former common market 

 was changed, and a rice and stock exchange system took its place. 



England, having lost America, l)egan to pay attention to Oriental countries, and tried often to open communication with Japan, but 

 in vain, spending over $200,000. In August, 1803, she sent a squadron to Japan, asking, or rather, demanding the opening of the country. 

 In Scptomijer of the same year, Russia sent her messenger for the same purpose. From this time on the peopde began to discuss the 

 question of foreign communication. European countries Avere much interested in Japan, and began their race to conclude treaties of 

 peace and frieudsliip, and to open communication; the Dutch in 1845, the United States in June, 1852; Kussia the same yeai'; the Dutch. 



