970 



EMPIRE OF JAPAN. 



shelves ; the Japanese say there are 33,333. The population is stated to amount to 500,000. 

 Meaco is the centre of Japanese commerce and manufactures ; silks, tissue, soy, and lackered 

 wares are purchased here in their greatest perfection ; and all the money of the empire is coined, 

 and most of the books are printed here. 



J^angasaki, on the island of Kiusiu, is the only port in which foreign vessels are suffered to 

 come to anchor. 



4. Government. The Kubo or Jogun, (commander-in-chief,) is the real sovereign, and his 

 power is absolute. The government is a hereditary monarchy, sustained by a great number of 

 damios (hereditary princes), who are themselves kept in subjection by their mutual jealousies, 

 and by being obliged to give hostages. Many of them are even required to leave their families 

 in the capital, and to reside there themselves half the year. The dairi retains the title of em- 

 peror and the appearances of authority, but he is confined in the palace at Meaco, which he 

 never quits except on a visit to some of the principal temples. 



5. tManufactures and Commerce. The Japanese excel in working in copper, iron, and 

 steel ; their silk and cotton goods, porcelain, paper of the bark of the mulberry, lackered ware 

 (thence called japanned), and glass are also made in great perfection. Their foreign commerce 

 is inconsiderable ; the Japanese are forbidden to go out of the country, and the port of Nan- 

 gasaki is open only to the Chinese, Coreans, and Dutch, and even to them under great restric- 

 tions. The inland and coasting trade is, however, extensive ; the ports are crowded with 

 vessels, and the fairs thronged with merchants. 



6. Religion. There are 3 forms of religion prevalent in Japan. The religion of Sinto is 

 founded upon the worship of genii, or subordinate gods, from whom the dairi is supposed to be 

 descended. The genii or knmi are the souls of the virtuous, who have ascended to heaven ; 

 in their honor are erected temples, in which are placed the symbols of the deity, consisting of 

 strips of paper, attached to a piece of wood ; these symbols are also kept in the houses, and 

 before these are offered the daily prayers to the kamis. The domestic chapels are also adorned 

 with flowers and green branches ; and 2 lamps, a cup of tea, and another of wine are placed 

 before them. Some animals are also venerated, as sacred to the kamis. The sacrifices, 

 offered at certain seasons, consist of rice, cakes, eggs, &c. Buddhism was introduced into Japan 

 from Corea, and in many cases is so far mingled with the religion of Sinto, that the same tem- 

 ples serve for both, and accommodate the images of the kamis, together with those of the 

 Buddhist gods. The priests of Budda, in Japan, are called Bonzes, and they are numerous, 



comprising both males and females. They are under a 

 vow of celibacy, and there are here, as in other Buddhist 

 countries, large convents for both sexes. The doctrine 

 of Confucius has also been brought into the country, and 

 has many followers. 



7. Inhabitants. The Japanese have a brown complex- 

 ion, black hair, and the oblique eye, which characterizes 

 the Chinese. They are middle sized, well formed, and 

 active, and in character intelligent, courteous, industrious, 

 and honest, but suspicious and vindictive. They are more 

 cleanly than the Chinese, and more ready to adopt the im- 

 provements of other nations. Women hold a higher rank 

 than in China ; they are educated with the same care as 

 the men, and enjoy the same degree of liberty as in Euro- 

 pean countries. Most of the arts and sciences have been 

 borrowed from the Chinese, and in many respects the 

 Japanese are still much behind that industrious people. 



The Japanese are a religious people, and their religion 

 deals much in festivals, of which they have 5 great annual 

 ones, besides 3 smaller monthly ones, celebrated rather 

 with noisy mirth and revels, than with religious observan- 

 ces. Pilgrimage is the custom to which they are most 

 strongly addicted, and which they practise 'with the great- 

 Female Bonze leal. The roads in summer are thronged with crowds 



of devotees on their way to some sacred spot. Isje, the 

 grand temple of the chief of the celestial spirits, is the most holy of those venerated shrines 



