238 THE MIKADO. Chap. XIV. 
whose residence is Miaco, and a Tycoon , or Tem- 
poral Emperor, residing at Yedo. Curious stories 
are told about the manners and customs of the 
Spiritual Emperor at Miaco. It is said that he is 
never allowed to breathe the common air, nor are 
his feet allowed to touch the ground ; he cannot 
wear the same garment twice, nor eat a second 
time from the same dish. The dishes used by him 
are broken after each meal, for should any other 
person attempt to dine from them he would in- 
fallibly perish by an inflammation of the throat ; 
nor could any one wearing his cast-off garments, 
without his permission, escape a similar punish- 
ment. He was obliged in ancient times, we are 
told, to seat himself every morning on his throne, 
with the crown on his head, and there hold him- 
self immovable for several hours like a statue. If 
he happened to move ever so little, or even to turn 
his eyes, war, famine, fire, or pestilence was ex- 
pected soon to afflict the unhappy province to- 
wards which he had squinted ; but as the country 
was thus kept in a state of perpetual agitation, the 
happy alternative was finally hit upon of placing 
the crown upon the throne without requiring the 
head of the Mikado in it, by which it was rendered 
more steady, and consequently did less mischief ! 
Up to the end of the sixteenth century the 
Tycoons seem to have been active and efficient 
rulers, possessing much independent power and in- 
fluence, although their appointment appears to 
have been made and confirmed by the Mikado. 
