2nd December, i! 



James Wilson, Esq., in the Chair. 



Robert M. Young, Esq., B.A., read a Paper on 

 OLD JAPANESE ART. 



Mr. Young divided his paper into different sections. The first 

 was devoted to a short sketch of the history of Japan from the 

 time of the Emperor Jimmu, 660 B.C., to the year 1868, when 

 the country was opened to foreigners, and that marvellous series 

 of changes was inaugurated which has transformed the country 

 from being the most backward to the position of the most 

 civilised and enterprising State in the whole of Asia. The 

 lecturer then proceeded to treat of the feudalism which formed 

 so curious a part of the internal economy of Old Japan. He 

 showed that it was almost identical with the military feudalism 

 prevalent in mediaeval Europe. The daimio, or baron, was then 

 described. His territory and castle, with the dwellings of his 

 vassals, the samurai, were shown completely to resemble the 

 strongholds of the middle ages, as depicted in the pages of 

 Froissart and Scott. The outline of the most popular Japanese 

 tale of chivalry, the History of the 47 Ronin, was given to show 

 what loyalty and devotion were displayed by the retainers to 

 their lord in critical times, death being always preferred to 

 dishonour. 



The swords of the various periods were described in detail, 

 and some interesting facts given of the etiquette practised with 

 regard to that national weapon. A quotation was given from 

 the " Romance of Prince Gengi," written by a learned Japanese 



