Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan/Series 1/Volume 2/Abstract

by Robert Grant Watson

ABSTRACT OF “HISTORIA IMPERİİ
JAPONICI GERMANICÉ SCRIPTA
AB ENGELBERTO KAEMPFER,
LONDINI, 1727.”

 

READ BY

R. G. WATSON, Esq.

Before the Asiatic Society of Japan,
on the 22nd October, 1873.

———o———

The work which I propose to bring before your notice this evening in the form of a précis is divided by its author into five hooks, to which are added in an appendix six separate papers on scientific or political subjects, the whole being illustrated by a series of carefully-drawn and carefully-engraved plates.

I propose in speaking of it to follow the order of the subjects to which the books and papers are severally devoted, and as it may be difficult to compress so elaborate a work, in however elementary a manner, into the compass of one lecture, I shall as far as possible confine myself simply to expressing the leading views and observations of Mr. Kaempfer, without attempting to illustrate them by the observations of later writers on the subjects to which he refers. I do not doubt that on a future occasion a comparison will be instituted by one of our members, showing how far the notes and conclusions of Kaempfer have been borne out or otherwise by the labours of the present generation in the same scientific field.

Before proceeding to an examinination of the contents of the work before us, I may refer for a moment to the circumstances under which it came to be written.

Dr. Kaempfer who was born at Lemgow in Westphalia in the year 1651, adopted the medical profession and, having gone to Sweden, accepted the post of Secretary to a Swedish Legation proceeding to Persia.

His desire of foreign travel not having been satisfied by his journeys in Russia and Persia, he joined the service of the Dutch East India Company, and sailed from Ormuz in the Persian gulf for Batavia in 1688. He in turn quitted Batavia for Siam and Japan in May 1690, arriving at Nagasaki on the 24th of September of the same year, and remaining in the Japanese dominions until November 1692. The work before us is consequently the result of his industry and observations during a period not exceeding two years and two months, he being then between 39 and 41 years of age. The difficulties he had to encounter were such as to deter most men from attempting to struggle with them, but Dr. Kaempfer’s German laboriousness and perseverance enabled him to bequeath to posterity a result of his twenty-six months’ residence in this empire, the value of which, as a whole, as a historical and scientific record, it would be difficult to exaggerate; and the interest attaching to it is enhanced by the circumstances under which his enquiries were undertaken.

Of the five Books into which Dr. Kaempfer’s History is divided, the First, which includes eleven chapters, after giving an account of the author’s voyage from Batavia to Siam, and of the Siamese court and capital, proceeds to a general statement of the political and geographical features of Japan; of its products, natural history, revenue and system of government, together with some speculations as to the origin of the Japanese race.

Dr. Kaempfer, as I have stated, landed at Nagasaki in September 1690 and was there received with the usual jealous precautions then observed. We were, “he says, no sooner come to an anchor, but we had two Japanese guardships put on both sides of us, which all the night long went the rounds with great diligence. All the Chinese junks that put to sea this day were each of them attended by a guardship until they got out of the harbour into the open sea. Not far from our ship we saw a fleet of forty pleasure-boats coming to an anchor, being the usual pompous train of a great man who had been on a voyage. * * This little fleet made a fine show with its many lights at night. * * * On the top of the neighbouring mountains stand guard-houses with guards in them, who with their spying-glasses are observing whatever happens at sea, of which they give immediate information to the government, and by this method they had notice of our arrival already two days before. We dropt anchor at about 300 paces from the city, and as far from Decima, the habitation of the Dutch on a separate island formed purposely near the shore without the city. Then came to us two gentlemen of the governor’s with many subordinate clerks, interpreters and soldiers, who called on all those that were newly arrived and made them pass in review before them one after the other, viewing everyone from top to toe, and writing his name, age and business, with a pencil on paper. Besides this about six persons more were examined concerning our voyage, whence we came, when we set out, etc., etc.—the answers were carefully written down. The review being over, soldiers and clerks were put into every corner, and the whole ship with her cargo taken as it were in possession by the Japanese. The boat and skiff were left to our men, only for this day, in order to look to our anchors. But pistols, cutlasses, etc. were taken into custody, the gunpowder packed in barrels. In our voyage everyone was obliged to give his prayer-book and other books of Divinity to the captain, who hid them from the Japanese until our return. * * To went on shore to Decima, on which occasion one is obliged to take out a passport from the Japanese ship-guard to those on store and on return another from the land-guard to that on board.”—Such was the jealous reception which Dr. Kaempfer met with at Nagasaki from the laboriously-trifling Japanese of those days: such were the humiliations to which the Dutch Trading Company was willing to submit. (p.p. 56–58.)

The 4th Chapter of this 1st Book is devoted to a general geographical account of Japan. The land known to Europeans under that word has for its natives several names—the most common Nipon, sometimes pronounced Nifon—the foundation of the Sun, from Ni, Fire (in a more sublime sense, the Sun,) and pon ground or foundation. Other names are (1) Tenka (Subcelestial Empire), (2) Fi no Motto (Root of the Sun), (3) Awadsissima (a terrestrial scum island (p. 59) to which term a fable is attached), (4) Dsinkokf or Cami no Kuni (the country of the gods), (5) Akitsima, (6) Tontsio (the true morning), (7) Sio (all i. e. all the Japanese islands), Jamotto and several others.

This Empire lies “between the 31st and 42nd degrees northern Latitude. The Jesuits place it between 157° and 157″ 30′ of Longitude. It extends to N. E. and E. N. E., being irregularly broad, tho’ pretty narrow in comparison with its length, which is supposed to be two hundred German miles (English miles?) in a straight line from the end of Fisen to the extremity of Osiu. It may, says Kaempfer, in different respects be compared to Great Britain and Ireland, being divided by corners and forelands, arms of the sea, great bays and inlets, and forming several islands, peninsulas, gulfs and harbours.”

So far, I think Dr. Kaempfer’s description will be recognized to-day as being an accurate one, but by the light of modern enquiry I am enabled, on the authority of Mr. Satow, to correct Dr. Kaempfer’s next assertion, in which he states that the first and largest island of Japan is called Nipon—that name being, as I am told, only applicable to the entire empire. “The 2nd island is Suikokf, the Western country. It is also called Kiusiu or the country of nine, being divided into nine provinces. The third island lies between the first and second. It is nearly square, and, being divided in four provinces, the Japanese call it Sikokf or the country of Four Provinces. These three large islands are encompassed with an almost inconceivable number of others. All these islands have been divided, in the year of Christ 590, into seven large tracts of land—called Gokesitzido. In 681 they were sub-divided into 66 provinces,” to which number two formerly belonging to the Corea, Iki and Tsussima, were afterwards added. These 68 provinces have been broken up into 604 lesser districts. The borders of this empire are its rocky, mountainous coasts and a tempestuous sea, which by means of its shallowness admits none but small vessels and even those not without imminent danger.

Amongst the neighbouring countries subject to the Emperor of Japan are specified by Dr. Kaempfer;

(1) The Islands of Riuku or Liquejo, the inhabitants of which style themselves subjects of the Prince of Satsuma.

(2) Tsiosin, the third and lowest part of the Corea, governed by the Prince of Iki and Tsussima.

(3) The island of Jeso, governed for the Emperor by the Prince of Mutsumai, whose own dominions form part of Osiu. (p. 61–62.)

With reference to a recent discussion at one of our meetings, it may be of interest to know that Kaempfer considers the Liukiuans, judging from their language, to be of Chinese extraction.

Under the head of the second of the three above-named dependencies of Japan (the Corea), an account is given of the invasion of the Corean peninsula in the reign of Taiko—a seven year’s war, which resulted in the temporary reduction of Corea.

Yezo is spoken of as being a Japanese possession “out of their own empire.” It was invaded and conquered by Yoritomo, the first secular monarch (p. 64). Yezo, says Kaempfer, is so thoroughly full of woods and forests, that it produces nothing of use to the Japanese besides pelts and furs and the famous fish karasaki, which is esteemed a great delicacy, The Japanese, he says, describe the inhabitants of Yezo as “being a strong but savage people, wearing long hair and beards, well-skilled in the management of bows and arrows, as also in fishing, the greatest part living almost solely on fish. They describe them further as being very dirty and nasty, but, adds the author, this accusation is not so strictly to be relied on, since the Japanese are themselves so nice and superstitious in washing, &c., a to have found the same fault with the Dutch.” The language of Yezo is said to resemble that of the Corea.

In the following chapter (the fifth) we have the names and subdivisions of the several provinces of Japan, and notes respecting its revenue and government.

Of the provinces above referred to five are designated as the five Provinces of the Imperial revenue, being so called, because their revenue is particularly appropriated for the support and maintenance of the Imperial Court. It amounts to 48 man and 1,200 kokf (koku) of rice (a man contains 10,000 kokf^[1] and a kokf 3,000 bags).

The five Provinces in question are:—

1.—Jamasijro or Sansju.

2.—Jamatto or Wosju.

3.—Kawatzij or Kasiu.

4.—Idsumi or Sensju, and

5.—Sitzu or Tsinokuni.

Of the 7 large tracts of land, into which the Japanese Empire was divided by the Emperor Siusiun, the first is—

(1) Tookaido or South Eastern Tract. The Tookaido includes 15 provinces.

Iga $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$ The revenues of these 15 provinces are 494 mankokf. Isie Ssima. Owari. Mikawa. Tootomi. Surungo. Kai. Idsu. Sangami. Musasi. Awa. Kedsusa. Simoosa, and Fitats.

(2) The 2nd of the 7 Tracts is the Toosando or Eastern mountainous Tract. This comprises eight large provinces, namely:—

Oomi $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$ The revenues of these 8 Provinces amount to 563 mankokf. Mino Fida. Sinano. Koodsuke. Simoodsuke. Mutsu, and Dewa.

(3) The Foku Rokkudo, or Northern Tract has seven provinces, namely:—

Wackasa. Jetsissen. Kaga. Noto $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$ Revennes of these 7 Provinces amount to 243 mankokf. Jetsju Jetsingo. Sado.

(4) The Sanindo i. e., the Northern mountainous or cold tract has eight provinces, namely:—

Tamba. Tango $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$ The yearly revenues of these 8 Provinces amount to 123 mankokf. Tsima   Imaba. Tooki. Idsumo. Iwami, and Oki.

(5) The Sanjodo, or Southern mountainous or Warm Tract, has likewise 8 Provinces, namely:—

Farima. Mimasaka $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$ The revenues of these eight provinces amount to 270 mankokf. Bidsen Bitsju. Bingo. Aki. Suwo, and Nagata.

All of the above-mentioned five tracts form part of the main island, which Dr. Kaempfer calls Nipon, but which Mr. Satow asserts to have no especial distinguishing name.

We now procced to the island of Kiusju.

The 6th large Tract of land is called Saikaido, or the Western Coast Tract.

It is composed of nine provinces, namely:—

Tsikudsen, The revenues of these nine provinces amount to 344 mankokf. Tsikungo, Budsen, Bungo, Fidsen, Figo, Fiugo, Oosumi, and Satsuma,  

An island of the third magnitude, which lies between the two former, and is called Sikokf or the Country of Four (provinces), together with the neighbouring island Awadsi, N. E. of Sikokf, and the great province Kijnokuni, which stands out from the continent of Nipon, make up the 7th large tract of land, called

(7) Nankaido, or the Tract of the Southern coasts. It is composed of six provinces, namely:—

Kijnokuni, The revenues of these six provinces is 140 mankokf. Awadsi, Awa, Sanuki, Ijo, and Tosa,

There remain, to complete Dr. Kaempfer’s category of the Japanese dominions, the two above-mentioned islands of Iki and Tsussima, which were conquered from the Corea.

Under each of the above-mentioned names of provinces Dr. Kaempfer enters more or less into detail with regard to the formation, climate, productions and subdivisions of the district he is describing (see pages 70 to 81). The entire revenue of Japan he states to be 2,328 man and 6,200 kokf, according to the above distribution. Another estimate from a Japanese author makes the revenue of the country to be rather less—that is to say, 2,257 mankokf. The former estimate, at the value of 16 shillings per koku would represent in our money a revenue of £18,628,960.

With respect to the nature of the Government of the country the author shortly states that “the whole empire is governed by the emperor with an absolute and monarchical power and so is every province in particular by the Prince who, under the Emperor, enjoys the government.” The emperor can disgrace or exile even the greatest princes, or can deprive them of their lives and dominions, according to his pleasure. Of the Daimios, the princes of Satsuma and Kanga, respectively, arc said to be the most powerful in the empire.

The lords of smaller districts, called Siomio, such as those of Goto and several others, are only permitted to reside for six months of each year in their hereditary dominions. The other six months they must pass at the Imperial Court, where their wives and families are dedetained all the year round as hostages. Some of these smaller districts are Crown lands or have been taken from the Princes by way of punishment. One of the chief political maxims of the Court has always been to lessen the power of the Daimios.

The 6th Chapter of the 1st Book is devoted to the author’s opinion respecting the origin of the Japanese. He gives two stories or legends tending to the view that the Japanese are of Chinese descent, which two stories he immediately afterwards proceeds to refute, expressing his own dissent from this theory. Having done so he next sets up a theory of his own, to which I shall presently refer. Dr. Kaempfer founds his chief argument against the Japanese race being descended from the Chinese on the difference betwixt their respective languages. He considers that on proper enquiry the Japanese language would be found to he entirely pure (p. 84). A native of Japan, he says, does not understand any of the three Chinese dialects of Nanking, Tsiaksju and Foksju. The Chinese language is, he adds, to the Japanese people what Latin is to the people of most European countries. The Japanese language is entirely different from the Chinese in two essential properties—construction and pronunciation,—and there is therefore no room to think that one of these two nations gave birth to the other. He here enters into some details respecting the construction of the two languages, respectively, and having done so he remarks that it is needless to give himself and his readers the trouble to prove Japanese different from Corean or Jedsoan as no one ever pretended to derive the descent of the Japanese from one or other of these two nations.

Of Dr. Kaempfer’s arguments founded on the different manner in which certain letters of the alphabet are pronounced in China and Japan, respectively, I would only say that he does not seem to me sufficiently to take into account the difference which climate is known to effect on the pronunciation of words even by people of the same race. Many English words, for instance, are pronounced in certain parts of America quite in another way to that in which we pronounce them in England, and South American Spanish also is something very different to listen to from the Spanish of Castile. I believe it is thought that the origin of this difference in both cases is chiefly to be traced to the influence of climate in contracting or expanding the throat. Another of Kaempfer’s arguments against the identity of the two races, the Chinese and the Japanese, is the dissimilarity of their respective religions.

Another is the difference between the characters anciently used by either people.

Another argument to the same end is derived from their different modes of life, as for instance in eating, drinking, sleeping, dressing, shaving the head, saluting, sitting, and many other customs. The characters of the two nations are, he considers, essentially distinct, the Chinese being modest and lovers of a sedate, speculative, philosophical mode of life, though given to fraud and usury, whilst the Japanese are warlike, dissolute, mistrustful, ambitions, and always bent on high designs.

The arguments employed by Dr. Kaempfer to prove that the Japanese are not of Chinese descent are at least philosophical if they are not conclusive; but when the learned author, not contented with proving, or endeavouring to prove, from whom the Japanese are not descended, proceeds to tell us what their origin is, what at the present day shall be said of the arguments which he employs in support of his theory? The Japanese, he asserts, are clearly an original nation, at least they are not descended from the Chinese. Whence then, he asks, is their descent? “Perhaps it is not inconsistent with reason and the nature of things to assert (p. 86) that they—the Japanese—are descended of the first inhabitants of Babylon, (such is the word he uses, meaning presumably Babel), and that the Japanese language is one of those which sacred writs mention that all-wise Providence thought fit to infuse into the minds of the vain builders of the Babylonian Tower.” On this conjecture, in support of which he does not even attempt to bring forward any argument whatsoever, Dr. Kaempfer proceeds to raise a further theory, his sole argument in favor of which seems to be of itself destructive of his theory. In view of the purity of the Japanese language and of the fact of its not affording the slightest trace of possessing any words belonging to the languages of the countries through which the author supposes the original Japanese to have passed on their way from the banks of the Euphrates to the Corean sea, he comes to the conclusion not that they never passed through those countries at all, which would seem to be the natural conclusion, but that they came through them as it were at express speed. Thus the only scientific argument which could be adduced with reference to the theory, and which seems to me to dispose of it, is misconstrued into its service. The Japanese, according to Dr. Kaempfer, must, it seems, have travelled from Babylon by way of Persia and the shores of the Caspian Sea, whence they ascended the Oxus to its source. It was then no difficult matter for them to penetrate to China, discovering in their route the lake Argüm, continuing their journey along the river of the same name and then descending the Amoor, whence they found their way to the Corea and—being now accustomed to navigation—across to Japan.

Such is the theory as to the origin of the Japanese nation which is propounded by Dr. Kaempfer, but he, with much more reason, admits that the original stock may have been supplemented by Chinese colonists and the crews of ship-wrecked vessels. He gives proof that the Chinese writers had influenced Japan, and he cites several interesting instances, from the times in which he wrote, of vessels from strange countries being stranded on the Japanese coast, their crews being saved alive. Of one of these the three black sailors who were saved could distinctly pronounce only one word “tobacco.” (p. 94.) “The Japanese in the main, particularly the common people of Nipon, are,” says Kaempfer, “of a very ugly appearance, short-sized, strong, thick-legged, tawny, with flattish noses and thick eyelids, yet the descendants of the eldest and noblest families have somewhat more majestic in their shape and countenance.”

Having given the above theory as to the beginning of the Japanese race, according to his opinion, Dr. Kaempfer proceeds to give the theory (or, as he calls, the fabulous opinion) of the Japanese themselves upon the same subject, an opinion which many will think scarcely more fabulous than that propounded by Dr. Kaempfer. (p. 96.) “They pretend, that they arose within the compass of their own Empire, though not out of the earth. They esteem themselves no less than offsprings of their very Deities.” From their Deities “sprang an intermediate race between gods and men, the greatest of the race of men being Sin Mu Tenoo, in whose family the hereditary right to the Crown with a more than human authority was continued down to the present 114th Mikado, that is 2360 years, computing to the year of Christ 1700.”

The next succeeding chapter (8th) is devoted to the climate and the products of Japan. It includes observations under the following heads—namely, “Whirlpools,” “Waterspouts,” “Soil,” “Rivers,” “Earthquakes and places free from Earthquakes,” “Volcanoes.” Under the head of “Earthquakes” the author mentions a violent convulsion at Yedo which occurred in the year 1703, whereby, and by a great fire, almost the whole city was laid in ashes, upwards of 200,000 inhabitants being buried under the ruins. Some particular places in Japan are, he says, free from shocks of this nature—a fact which, he adds, is not called in question—amongst these are the islands of Gotho and Sikubusima and the mountain Kojasan near Miaco, famous for its convents. (p. 104.)

Amongst the mineral products of the Empire the author enumerates sulphur, gold, silver, copper, tin, iron, coal, salt, agates, jasper, pearls, naphtha, ambergris, and submarine substances. Of these, sulphur, he says, is brought chiefly from the province of Satsuma. Gold is found in several localities, the richest ore being in Sado. After the mines in Sado come those of Surunga. There are silver mines in the province of Bingo, and in Kattami. Copper is found chiefly in Surunga, Atsingo and Kijnokuni; tin in Bingo; iron in Mimasaka, Bitsju and Bisen; coal in Tsikusen and the northern provinces. Salt is produced from the sea-water. Pearls were but slightly esteemed until it was found that they were prized by the Chinese, when they became an article of export. Naphtha is found is Jetsingo; ambergris on the coast of Satsuma and in the Riuku islands. It is found chiefly in the intestines of the whale, called from their supposed length by the natives Fiakfiro, or the hundred fathom Fish. Submarine substances are found in abundance in the Japanese waters. Amongst the minerals imported into the country are antimony and salamoniac, quick-silver and borax and sublimate of mercury.

Chapter ninth of this Book is devoted to the trees and plants of Japan. Amongst these are specified the mulberry-tree, the kadsi, or paper-tree, the urusi, or varnish-tree, the bay, the kus or camphire-tree, the tea-shrub, the sansio, the fig-tree, the wild-fig, the chestnut, the pear, the walnut, the pistach, the oak, naatsime, citron, orange, lemon, vine, bramble, raspberry, strawberry, plum, cherry, fir, cypress, bamboo, maki-tree, iron-tree, tsubacki-shrub, satsuki, sakanandsio, maple, fasi-tree, feverfews, various lilies, the hemp-plant, the cotton-plant, the wild hemp plant, plants affording oil, the turnip and others. In naming the above plants I have followed the order observed by Kaempfer. (p. p. 112–122.)

The two following chapters give a list of the Beasts, Birds, Reptiles and Insects, as well as of the Fishes and Shells of the country:—

Amongst the animals the author does not fail to introduce certain chimerical quadrupeds, with the delineation of which those who have lived in Japan are probably familiar. Of these is the Kirin, a creature of incredible speed, having two soft horns before its breast and bent backwards, having the body of a horse, the claws of a deer and the head similar to that of a dragon. The animal in question is so considerate that it takes care never to trample on any plant and never to injure any insect or worm. Its conception requires a particular constellation in the heavens, and on earth the birth of a Sefin or man of an incomparable understanding and remarkable love for mankind. A representation of the Kirin is giver amongst the plates at the end of Vol. I.

Other chimerical animals are the dragon and the water-dragon: These are likewise represented in the plates. The next chimerical creature of which mention is made is the Foo or Bird of Paradise, nearly akin to the phœnix of our classical legends. This bird, of which there is likewise a representation, dwells high in air and only visits the earth on the birth of a Sefin or of a great Emperor.

From these the author turns to creatures that have a real existence. They are given in the following order. The horse, the ox, the cow, the buffalo, the sheep, the goat, the swine, the dog, the cat, the deer, the monkey, the bear, the Tanuki (resembling a wolf, but of a brownish colour and having a fox’s snout) the wilddog, the Itutz, the Tin, the bat, the mouse, the fox, various reptiles, white ants, Mukadde or forty-legs, lizards, snakes, hens, ducks, cranes, herons, wild geese, ducks, pheasants, woodcocks, wild pigeons, storks, falcons, hawks, ravens (from China and the Corea) Foken, (a night bird,) Misago (a voracious sea bird), mews, larks, nightingales, bees, butterflies, beetles, and another kind of beetle, called Sebi or Cicada. It is asserted, says the author, that its noise may be heard at a full English mile’s distance. It disappears in the dog-days and is said to creep into the ground in order to undergo a metamorphosis previous to reappearing the next year anew in a dormant condition from which it again re-emerges (p. 131.) The Japanese name Semi which it bears is given to this insect from its sound resembling music. Other creatures produced in Japan are the Spanish fly and a peculiar night-fly of such beauty as to be preserved by ladies amongst their curiosities. There is a curious belief attached to this fly, namely that all other night flies fall in love with it—a fatal step on their part, since in proof of their devotion they must fetch it fire, in doing which they singe their wings.

Amongst the productions of the sea the first-mentioned is the Whale, which is found chiefly on the southern shore of the chief island. It is caught by means of darts or harping-irons. The Japanese whaling-boats are, says Kaempfer, smaller than ours, and apparently better adapted for their purpose, carrying each ten men, who row them with incredible swiftness. In 1680 a new method of catching whales was discovered, namely by nets of rope two inches thick, (p. 133). This method was practised with great success, but it was abandoned on account of its calling for more expensive tackle than the fishermen could afford. The various sorts of whales are called respectively. Sebio, Awo, Sangi, Nagass, Sotookadfura, Mako and Iwasikura. Of all these several kinds of whales nothing is thrown away as useless excepting the large shoulder-bone. The skin, flesh, &c. are eaten, either having been pickled, boiled, roasted or fried. The blubber becomes train-oil. The bones when fresh are boiled and eaten. Out of the various portions they make ropes, whilst several little implements are constructed from the jaw-bones, particularly the steelyards for weighing gold and silver.

The fish next mentioned is the Satsi oko, which is some times as long as five or six fathoms, having long tusks which are occasionally used to ornament temples and public buildings. Amongst other fishes are the Iruku, the Furuhe, the Sea-Horse, the Tai, the Kharo Tai, the Sufuki, the Funa, the Najos, the Mebaar, (a red-coloured fish resembling the carp, caught in great plenty and the common food of the poor people); the Koi, the Maar or Salmon, the Itojori, a small Salmon, the Makuts, the the Sawara, the Fiuwo, the Kasuna, the Kamas or Pike the Susuki, the Adsi, the Taka, the Kame, the Jeje, the Come or Jei or Sole, the Bora, the Kurasumi, the Katsuwo, the Managatsowo, the Sake, (not unlike the Cod: This fish is brought from Yeso) the Tara, the Sajori, the Tobiwo (a flying-fish), the Iwas or Sardine, the Kisugo or Smelt, the Jeso, the Saba or Mackerel, the Ai, the Sijoaiwo, the Konosiso (a sort of Herring,) the Kingio, the Unaji the Eel (several sorts,) the Ika, the Jako or Bait, the Kurragge; after which follow the names of forty varieties of shell-fish and minor products of the water, amongst them being included the Oyster, the Crab, &c., with which list the first Book of this work is brought to a conclusion.

The next Book (II) is devoted to the History of Japan properly so called.

The author divides the History and Chronology of the Empire into three sections, the fabulous, the doubtful and the certain.

Of these the first dates from the time of the creation, Japan being then governed by a succession or evolution of seven Celestial spirits, each of which reigned for a very long but undefined period, and who were succeeded by a race of Demi-Gods, five in number and called Dsi Sin Go Dai.

Passing to the second or doubtful era of Japanese history Mr. Kaempfer observes, “It is a little known what was the state of these countries and the way of life of the inhabitants, from the beginning of the creation to the time of their first Monarch, Sin Mu Ten Oo, whose reign comes down within 660 years of Our Saviour’s nativity. It is highly probable that in those days the Japanese lived up and down the country, disposed in hordes (as do the Scythian inhabitants of Great Tartary) separated from the rest of the world by a rocky tempestuous sea, being as yet in a state of nature and freedom, without a settled form of government, and destitute of arts and sciences. The neighbouring Empire of China was then already grown very powerful, arts and sciences flourished there and were by the Chinese brought over into Japan. It was owing to this that the Japanese became in time polite and civilised. That so considerable a period of time should not remain empty in their chronological books, they have filled up the vacancy with the names of the most eminent monarchs who after the demise of Katsurakuki and the five descendants of his family sat on the throne of China.” The names of the Chinese Emperors alluded to are as follows:—(1) Fuki or Fohi, who is said to have discovered the twelve Celestial Signs and divided time into years and months, and to have invented many useful arts and sciences. According to one of the Japanese historians consulted by Kaempfer this Emperor began his reign 20,446 years before the Japanese emperor Synmu, or 21,106 years before Christ; and this pretension is considered by the orthodox historian to be sufficient to exclude him from even the doubtful era, since, says Kaempfer, it would place him thousands of years before the creation of the world. Kaempfer, however, seems disposed to attach more belief to the statement of another Japanese writer who places the commencement of Fohi’s reign only 3,588 years before Christ or 396 years after the Creation, according to the Mosaic record as interpreted by Dr. Kaempfer. (p. 146.)

(2) The second Chinese emperor was Sin Noo, who is said to have taught mankind agriculture and to have discovered the uses of several plants. His picture, says Kaempfer, in which he is represented with the head of a horned ox, is held in high esteem among the Chinese, more especially by physicians. His reign extended over 140 years, a period which suggests the reflection that Dr. Kaempfer need scarcely have taken the trouble to divide his Japanese history into three branches, since the second or doubtful division seems scarcely less fabulous than the first.

(3) After this emperor came Kwo Tai, said by the Chinese historians to have really reigned, his reign beginning from the year B. C. 2,689, he being then eleven years of age. (4–8) His five successors reigned in the following order, viz: (4) Tei Gio, (5) Tei Sjun, (6) Uu, (7) Sioo Sei Too, (8) Siu No Bu O. (p. 148). Of these latter five the first named, Tei Gio was a Sefin, well-versed in occult arts. During the reign of the 2nd, Tei Sjun, a great deluge happened in China, overflowing many provinces. To the third of these emperors, Uu, China owes canals and sluices. In the reign of the fourth, Sioo Sei Too, there occurred a seven years’ famine, which reminds the author of the Egyptian famine of Holy Writ. The last emperor of these Siu No Bu O came to the crown 462 years before Synmu and 1122 B. C. and was succeeded in their turn by 37 descendants. In the meantime the authentic history of Japan begins, as apart from that of China, which brings the author to the commencement of the last of the three sras into which he divides the history of this empire. (P. 148).

(Chapter 2). Here begins the long line of Mikados, or, as Kaempfer styles the monarchs of Japan, “Ecclesiastical Hereditary Emperors,” and which dates from the year B. C. 660, being the 17th year of the reign of the Chinese Emperor Kaiwo. From that time till the year of Christ 1693 one hundred and fourteen Emperors of the same family have successively sat on the Throne of Japan. They value themselves extremely upon being the eldest branch of the family of Ten Sio Dai Sin, the sacred founder of the Japanese nation.

They have not inherited the title of Mikotto, which is given only to the divine and half-divine beings of the first and second succession, but that of Mikado, (which is a diminutive of the same words) as also the titles, Dai, Oo, Kwo, and Tai. They are likewise termed Tensin, that is Sons of Heaven. The Princes of the Imperial house are looked upon, says Kaempfer, as Popes by birth. A Mikado of the time when he wrote and of former times would, he says, think it prejudicial to his dignity to touch the ground with his feet. He must be carried on men’s shoulders. Much less may the monarch’s person be exposed to the open air or to the beams of the Sun. His hair and beard may not be cut. His ablutions are performed on his person at night during his sleep. In ancient times he was obliged to sit on the throne for some hours every morning wearing the Imperial crown, and not stirring hands or feet or head or eyes. This tiresome duty was later commuted, the crown being placed each morning on the throne. The vessels and table-furniture made use of for the Mikado must be renewed at each meal. These are clean and neat, but of common clay, and are generally broken after having been once used, in case they should fall into less holy hands. The ministers of the Court name the nearest of kin the next heir, without regard to age or sex. There have been even instances of an Emperor being succeeded by his widow, as also of a Mikado abdicating in favour of his son. The entire court is composed of the members of the same family of Tensio Daijin. At the same time of Kaempfer’s visit the secular emperor had assigned for the maintenance of the Mikado’s court the revenues of the city of Miako and its appurtenances, which were so insufficient for the purpose that the Court of Kiôto was remarkable for its splendid poverty.

The Mikado is the fountain of honour, but the titles which he confers are given not only to men of the sacred race, but likewise to secular persons—to the princes of the empire and to men of note, (p. 152)—this being done at the suggestion of the secular monarch or on the condition of money payment. All ranks or titles are divided into six (6) classes.

The title of the 1st Class is Dai Seo Dai Sin. ”The person who is honoured with this title is esteemed so great and sacred, that they believe that his soul becomes a Cami, or god, the moment of her departure from the body. For this reason the Mikado seldom bestows it upon anybody. The dignity of Quanbuku belongs likewise to this class. Quunbuku signifies the second person in the ecclesiastical court and the Prime Minister in all affairs relating to the empire. This title, says Kaempfer, is assumed by the secular monarch, or is given to the presumptive heirs. Quanbuku is the Dairi’s Vicegerent and Prime Minister in all affairs relating to the empire.

2.—The following three titles belong to the second rank, Sa Dai Sin, U Dai Sin, and Nai Dui Sin. They are never conferred on more than three persons at court.

3.—The Dai Nagon and Tsunagon make up the third rank. These two titles are always annexed to certain employments.

4 and 5.—The titles which belong to the 4th and 5th rank are Seonagon, Tsunagon, Tsiuseo, Seosjo and Sidsiu. Both of these classes are very numerous and are divided into different ranks. The whole ecclesiastical court assume the title of Kuge, by way of distinction from the Gege, that is to say the Laity and inferior sorts of people.

6.—The titles of the 6th class are Tai U, Goi and others.

When the secular Monarchs took the Government of the Empire into their hands the Dairi reserved to himself the prerogative of conferring titles in general, but with his consent the secular Emperor may confer two ranks Maquandairo and Cami, these being equivalent respectively to Duke or Count and Knight. The word Cami, used in this sense, must not be confounded with the same word meaning a deified soul.

The persons composing the ecclesiastical court wear a habit peculiar to themselves, and different from that worn by secular persons. The habit in question is thus described: (p. 153) Long trowsers covered by a large gown, a long train which they trail after them on the ground, their heads covered with a black lacquered cap. Some have a broad band of black crape or silk; others have a sort of lap before the eyes. The women’s dress at the court of the Dairi is likewise different from the costume of the secular women. But chiefly the Dairi’s twelve wives are dressed in sumptuous gowns interwoven with flowers of gold and silver, and so large and wide that it is difficult for the ladies to walk in them. Not only the Kuges but likewise many of the fair sex have acquired considerable accomplishments and reputations as poetical and historical writers. Formerly all the almanacks were made at court. The court are great lovers of music.

The Imperial consort occupies the same residence with the Dairi, the other wives living in separate palaces.

The Japanese reckon from two eras or epochs; from the beginning of the reign of Synmo Tenno or B. C. 660: the second and commonly-used once is called Nengo. It takes in a period of only a few years, generally less than 20, and is made use of in almanacks, proclamations, etc. They likewise reckon by periods of 60 years. (p. 156.)

The twelve celestial signs of the Japanese are:—(1) The mouse, (2) the ox or cow, (3) the tiger, (4) the hare, (5) the dragon, (6) the serpent, (7) the horse, (8) the sheep, (9) the monkey, (10) the cock or hen, (11) the dog, and (12) the bear. The same names are given and in the like order to the twelve hours of the day and to the twelve parts into which each hour is divided. What they call day is the interval of time between sunrise and sunset. This is divided into six equal parts, as is likewise the night, so that the length of an hour varies each day. The Japanese have five elements, wood, fire, air, earth and water. The beginning of the Japanese year falls about the fifth of February. They have a leap-year every other or third year, or seven in nineteen years. The necessity for this arises from their beginning a new year from the new moon next to the 5th of February.

(Chapter 3.)—The emperor Synmu is said to have done very much for his country and to have reigned during 79 years. He was succeeded by his son Sui Sei B. C. 580. In the 30th year of this monarch’s reign was born in China the illustrious philosopher Koosi, or Cumfufu, known to us as Confucius. Then follow in succession the names and reigns and principle deeds of 114 ecclesiastical emperors, down to the Mikado who succeeded to the throne in the year 1687, and who occupied it at the time of Dr. Kaempfer’s residence in Japan. The most noteworthy events of each year are likewise chronicled, Dr. Kaempfer being indebted for his information to Japanese historians whose names he gives. (p. 200).

The 6th chapter of the 2nd Book is devoted to the series of Crown-Generals, or, as Dr. Kaempfer likewise calls them, Secular Monarchs, of Japan, whose succession it is to be remembered was co-existent with a portion of the succession of the long line of Mikados, Yoritomo, the first Crown-General, having been born during the reign of the 76th Dairi in the year of Christ 1154. Of these latter monarchs—for Monarchs or Sole Governors they were in the true sense of the word—a series of thirty-six is named, beginning whith Yoritomo and coming down to Tsinajosiko who filled the Shogun’s throne in 1692 at the time of Dr. Kaempfer’s residence in Japan. Of these the most remarkable seems to have been Taiko Sama, originally a peasant’s son and in his younger years a nobleman’s domestic servant. Having become Shogun he reduced under his power all of the provinces of Japan which were until then governed by independent princes. He thus, properly speaking, became the first secular monarch of all Japan. On his death he was deified. With the termination of the chronicle of the Shoguns ends the 2 vol. of the work before us.

The third Book is devoted to a description of the state of religion in Japan, and its first chapter opens with the following passage:—“Liberty of conscience, so far as it doth not interfere with the interest of the secular government, or affect the peace and tranquillity of the Empire, hath been at all times allowed in Japan.” Hence it is that foreign religions were introduced with ease and propagated with success.

The four religions observed during the 100 years previous to the residence of Dr. Kaempfer in Japan were,

(1) The Sinto or idol-worship.

(2) The Budsdo, or worship of foreign idols, brought from Siam and China.

(3) Sinto, the doctrine of their doctors or philosophers.

(4) Deivus or Kiristando, i. e. the way of God and Christ.

With reference to the last of the four the author observes that “it was owing to the commendable zeal and the indefatigable care of the Spanish and Portuguese Missionaries, particularly the Jesuits, that the Christian religion was first introduced into Japan, and propagated with a success infinitely beyond their expectation, insomuch that from the first arrival of the fathers in Bungo about 1549 (six years after the discovery of Japan) to 1625, or very near 1630, it spread through most provinces of the Empire, many of the princes and lords openly professing the same. Considering what a vast progress it had made till then, even among the many storms and difficulties it had been exposed to, there was very good reason to hope that within a short compass of time the whole Empire would have been converted to the faith of our Saviour, had not the ambitions views and impatient endeavours of these fathers to reap the temporal as well as the spiritual fruits of their care and labour so provoked the Supreme Majesty of the Empire as to raise against themselves and their converts a persecution which hath not its parallel in history, whereby the religion they preached and all those that professed it were in a few years’ time entirely exteminated.” (p. 204.)

With the above extract the time allotted to me for this evening compels me to conclude my observations on Dr. Kaempfer’s History of Japan. They only relate to a portion of his entire work, but I shall place the remaining portion of my abstract of it in the hands of the Secretary, and I am happy to add that, in the event of the Council wishing it, Mr. Satow will append notes to this abstract, showing to how great an extent he is disposed to assent to the statements advanced in Kaempfer’s work.

I would say that no one could rise from a careful perusal of Kaempfer’s History without feeling disposed to pay an ample tribute of respect in reference to the large and valuable compilation of scientific facts which are in the volumes before us bequeathed to the world. The world which more immediately became the heir of this bequest was scarcely in a position to estimate the value of its possession, since in those days none could dispute many of the assertions of Dr. Kaempfer; but at the present day we are in a different position. The pages which were presented to the public one hundred and forty-six years ago have been now subjected to the full scrutiny of the scientific world. It would be beyond the purpose of this paper to examine minutely the exact correctness of Kaempfer’s assertions or speculations in one or other of the fields in which his investigations were conducted. My object has only been to do something towards bringing to the notice of this Society the varied contents of a Work which has in a great degree supplied modern writers on Japan with suggestive materials towards their respective compositions.

 

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1. Note 1 koku=3331/3 lbs. Therefore 148 man and 1,200 kuku, i. e. 1,471,200 koku=lbs. 493,733,3331/3 being the revenue above mentioned.