Directory_and_Chronicle_1841 — Page 30

1840.

Notices of Japan, No. V

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usurpers during the civil wars, to weaken apprehended rivals by the subdivision of their dominions. The consequence of these proceedings is, that there are now said to be 604 distinct administrations, including great and small principalities, lordships, and imperial towns.

The princes, called kok-shyu [or kokushi], or lords of the land, are of two grades, the dai-mio ('very much honored'), who hold their principalities directly of the mikado, and the sai-mio ('much honored'), who hold theirs of the siogoun. Both dai-mio and sai-mio are nominally absolute in their respective states. They go- vern with all the forms and organization of actual sovereignty, and each, by means of his noble vassals, maintains his own army; but they are entangled in a net of suzerain policy, which disables even the mightiest from attempting aught against the siogoun or his council; and so completely and annoyingly are they controlled, alike in their public duties and in their private enjoyments, that in no class of Japanese is the practice of (inkio) abdicating in favor of a son so pre- valent as amongst these grandees. A reigning prince of advanced age is never seen in Japan.

The actual administration of every principality is conducted, not by the prince himself or ministers of his choice, but by two go-karó, or secretaries, appointed by the Yedo council, the one to reside in the principality, the other at Yedo, where the family of the absent secretary is detained in hostage for his fidelity. These double appointments extend to all high provincial posts, and it is only by the regular annual alternation of situation of the two colleagues that men holding such posts ever see their families. Nor are the secretaries, thus obtruded on their nominal master, allowed to act as their own or the prince's judgment may dictate. They are, in fact, the mere delegates of the council, whose orders are transmitted by the secretary at Yedo to the secretary at the capital of the prin» cipality.

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Either every alternate year, or the half of every year, the princes are compelled to spend at Yedo, and that is the only time during which they can enjoy the society of their families, there kept as hostages. During their residence in their own dominions, they are not only separated from those families, illegitimate as well as legitimate, but strictly prohibited from holding any species of intercourse, innocent or criminal; with the other sex. The ceremonious observances that fill their time, as the siogoun's, are prescribed from Yedo. They may not appear without their palace-walls, except at stated times and according to stated forms; nay, the very hours of their down-lying aud up-rising are imperatively preordain- ed by the council That no infraction of these intolerable restrictions can escape the knowledge of the council through the instrumentality of their spies, every prince and his household are well aware; but it is said that into some of the prin- cipalities those spies penetrate at the hazard of their lives; from one, Satzuma,* bardly any are said ever to return, and the Yedo government, never acknowledg 'ing them as its servants, never inquires into or avenges their fate.

But all this does not afford sufficient security in the opinion of government.

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*Doeff. [This principality lies in the southern part of Kiusiu, and its prince is one of the most powerful in the empire. He monopolizes the whole trade be tween Lowchew and Japan, and governs Lewchew and the intermediate islands by his own officers, and has the reputation of allowing an underhand trade with the Chinese in a few articles.]

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