INTEODUCTION. 7 



which shook the groimd and rent the Temple. The awful 

 character of this, and the deep impression produced on 

 men's minds, may be learned from the fact that the time 

 of its occurrence was subsequently used as an epoch from 

 which to reckon dates. 



The writings of Herodotus, Pliny, Livy, &c., &c., 

 show the interest which earthquakes attracted in early 

 ages. These writers chiefly devoted themselves to refer- 

 ences and descriptions of disastrous shocks, and to theories 

 respecting the cause of earthquakes. 



The greater portion of the Japanese notices of earth- 

 quakes is simply a series of anecdotes of events which 

 took place at the time of these disasters. We also find 

 references to superstitious beliefs, curious occurrences, 

 and the apparent connection between earthquake dis- 

 turbances and other natural phenomena. In these respects 

 the literature of the East closely resembles that of the 

 West. The earthquake calendars of the East, however, 

 form a class of books which can hardly be said to find their 

 parallel in Europe ; ^ while, on the other hand, the latter 

 possesses types of books and pamphlets which do not 

 appear to have a parallel elsewhere. These are the more 

 or less theological works — 'Moral Eeflections on Earth- 

 quakes,' ' Sermons ' which have been preached on earth- 

 quakes, ' Prayers ' which have been appointed to be 

 read .2 



Speaking generally, it may be said that the wricings 

 of the ancients, and those of the Middle Ages, down to 

 the commencement of the nineteenth century, tended to 

 the propagation of superstition and to theories based on 



* ' Notes on the Great Earthquake of Japan.' J. Milne, Titans. Sets. 

 Soc. of Japan, vol, iii. 



2 See Mallet's List of "Works on Earthquakes, Report of the British 

 Associatum, 1858, p. 107. 



