120 
mon, which is a gate standing before the main building containing 
the statue of Prince leyasu. The gate is 37 feet high and the roof 
is 25 X 15 feet. Under each of the four corners of the roof is hung 
a bell of solid gold. The gable is decorated with carvings of rare 
animals. The inscription on the tablet on the front of the gate 
was written by the io6th Emperor, Goyosei, and the characters 
are of pure gold. The upper part of the pillars supporting the 
second story have carvings of dragons, gold and white, while the 
lower parts are decorated with lions. The pillars are twelve in 
number, of which the one here represented as standing in the 
center of the rear, is called the Inverted Pillar ; the carvings of 
wavelets upon it are upside down. The explanation given is, 
“That perfection being sure to be accompanied with waning, 
that pillar has been intentionally inverted so as to prevent any 
further diminution of the grandeur and perfection of that build- 
ing.” On the railings are carved human figures, birds, animals, 
treasures and musical instruments. Brilliant figures of birds and 
flowers decorate the walls of the partitions on either side of the 
gate, as well as the roofed fence on both sides, which is over 300 
feet long when extended, in one line. The amount of labor spent 
on its manufacture can be judged when it is. stated that a single 
face is the work of from three to ten days. Over four years, it is 
said, was spent in the production of this beautiful tapestry. 
Case 2* — Korean beds made in Palace at Seoul. 
Case 3 , — Ceremonial vestment. 
N 0 . 4 . — Japanese embroidered picture, “The White Phoenix 
on Paulownia Imperialialis. ” A striking specimen of Japanese 
embroidery. 
No. 5. — Double damask table-cloth. A duplicate of one of 
a set manufactured for Her Majesty, Queen Victoria. 
Case 7. — Collections of Italian tassels of the sixteenth to 
eighteenth centuries. 
Case 8 . — Upholstering goods, plush goods, dress goods and 
carpet covering, manufactured from Ramie fiber. White goods, 
laces, table damasks, etc. , made from Ramie fiber. 
Case 9. — Jamaica and Fayal fibers, ferns and articles manu- 
factured therefrom. Laces and needle-work from Fayal. 
Needle- work from Ireland. Nanduty lace handkerchief from 
Paraguay, etc. 
Case 10. — Old Japanese silk embroidered table cover. 
